It had been a month since Ava and Jae had become an official couple, and things were smoother than ever—until Ethan resurfaced.

Ava had been walking alone in the hallway when a hand grabbed her wrist, yanking her into an empty classroom. She barely had time to react before she was shoved against the wall.

Her breath hitched as Ethan loomed over her, his expression dark and twisted. “You rejected me for him?”

“Let me go,” Ava snapped, struggling against his grip.

Ethan smirked. “No. I don’t think so.”

He trailed his fingers along her arm, making her skin crawl. That’s when she saw it—the blood on his knuckles. Her body went rigid.

Flashes of her past trauma rushed back to her. The helplessness. The fear. The blood. She couldn’t breathe.

Ethan leaned in closer. “You should’ve picked me, Ava.”

Then, the door slammed open.

Jae stood there, his face a mask of pure rage.

And in that moment, Ethan knew he was dead.