CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE - Whispered Conflicts

"I'm sure there's more to the story than that." "Always defending him," Isabella sighed. "I wonder, will you still stand by him when you learn the truth about the night his parents died? When you realize the guilt he carries, the reason behind all his self-destructive behavior?" Before Ava could press for more information, Isabella glided out of the room, leaving Ava with more questions than answers. As the days passed, Ava found herself increasingly torn between her loyalty to Max and the doubts Isabella had planted. She noticed changes in Max's behavior – he was more withdrawn, his temper shorter. She caught him staring at old family photos when he thought no one was looking, a haunted expression on his face. Unable to reconcile the conflicting versions of Max, Ava decided to seek advice from her friend Zaya. That evening, she showed up at Zaya's apartment, a bottle of wine in hand. "Ava!" Zaya exclaimed, pulling her into a hug. "Perfect timing. I was just about to start dinner.