Chapter 9: The Edge of Deception

Ava sat in her apartment, her thoughts racing. She felt like she was walking a tightrope, torn between the desire to believe in Lucas and the mounting evidence that suggested she couldn’t trust him. The memory of their confrontation played repeatedly in her mind, his earnest pleas for trust and the undeniable sense that he was still hiding something. She stared at the USB drive Victoria had given her, its weight growing heavier in her hand. She had barely scratched the surface of its contents, but what she had seen already pointed to secrets Lucas wasn’t sharing. And now, with Arthur Collins in the mix, she had more questions than ever. Ava decided she needed a second opinion—someone who could help her make sense of everything. She picked up her phone and called Sophie, hoping for some clarity. Sophie answered on the first ring. “Ava, hey! What’s up? You sound tense.” Ava let out a heavy sigh. “It’s Lucas… again. Things are getting more complicated, Soph. I don’t know what to belie