Stars Waited Above Empty Streets by Lorin Wren 145

The Five Powerhouses Who Match the Unwilling Bride 

Chapter 145 Old Feelings, New Boundaries 

But in truth, she had never been easy to get close to. Even after six months together, they hadn’t so much as held hands, let alone anything more. And yet now, this other man was doing things Daniel himself had never done, and Ava showed not the slightest resistance. 

What exactly is their relationship? It hasn’t even been a full month since we broke up. Even if she’d moved on instantly, it shouldn’t have been this fast. And more than that, this man is Ethan Brock. How did they even know each other?! 

Daniel’s expression darkened. He became convinced that Ava must have been seeing someone else while she was still with him; otherwise, how could Ethan be this familiar with her?. 

Ethan glanced at Daniel coolly. “Sir, interrupting a woman who’s resting isn’t very polite.” 

Daniel’s face shifted through several shades at once–Ethan’s words stoked an inexplicable anger in his chest. “Ms. Ava and I are old acquaintances. We were in the middle of a conversation. You’re the one interrupting.” 

“Is that so?” Ethan slowly straightened, his expression turning cold. 

Ava rubbed her temples and spoke flatly. “Daniel, we were nothing more than exes. We’ve already broken up -calling us ‘old acquaintances‘ is a stretch. Let’s leave it at that. There’s nothing left to talk about between 

1. us. 

“There was never much feeling to begin with. You didn’t love me, and I didn’t love you. You were the one who asked to break up, and I agreed without hesitation–no drama, no dragging it out. So now that we’ve met again, don’t act as if I deceived you. 

“I never cheated on you, and while we were together, I was never seeing anyone else. I’ll say this one last time–you were the one who chose to break up. So stand by that choice, and stop trying to have it both. ways.” 

As she finished, Ava stood up from the rocking chair and handed the jacket back to Ethan. “Put it on.” 

“You’re a Morren now–your status isn’t what it used to be. I didn’t expect even Mr. Brock to be one of your admirers,” Daniel said through clenched teeth. “When you were with me, you never showed me your real self. And you still dare say you didn’t deceive me?” 

This was the one thing he could never let go of. From the moment he’d seen her descend the stairs, it felt as if someone had stabbed straight into his chest with a pair of scissors. 

Ava looked at him steadily. “Every classmate I had, every teacher I studied under, saw this face. How exactly did I deceive you?” 

“But you never said you actually looked like this…” 

Ava sized him up. “Turns out, you’re just another ordinary man who only cares about looks. I underestimated you. And you said it yourself–your family pressured you. But you’re making it sound like if I’d looked like this back then, you would’ve been able to withstand that pressure. I owe you nothing. If anything, you make me sick.” 

With that, Ava stopped engaging with him and turned to walk back inside. 

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Chapter 145 Old Feelings, New Boundaries 

“Ava-” 

Finished 

Ethan shot Daniel a look. “Since you’ve already broken up, Mr. Crowe, don’t make meaningless attempts. It’s not a good look.” 

Ethan watched as Ava disappeared into the room. Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at Daniel. A sudden blade of wind sliced past Daniel’s cheek, opening a shallow cut. Blood beaded immediately. 

“That was just a small warning. Stay away from her. Next time, it won’t be just a cut.” 

Ava returned to the hall and saw Jane and Isa chatting about something. Isa was leaning against Jane’s shoulder, smiling brightly. 

She really is an adorable, likable girl. 

Then Ava thought of Daniel again, her brows knitting tightly. Under that gentle, scholarly face is a heart that doesn’t match what it shows. 

“Ava,” Ethan called her name. 

She stopped and turned back. Ethan walked up to her, stopping two steps away. In his hand was a pure–gold, fan–shaped hair comb set with tiny pearls. “Your hair comb fell onto the chair.” 

Ava touched her updo and indeed felt nothing there. “I must not have noticed earlier.” 

She held out her hand. “Give it to me.” 

Ethan wanted to step forward and place the comb back into her hair himself, but when he saw her clear, composed face, he restrained the impulse. Calmly, he set the comb into her palm. As he did, his fingertips brushed lightly against her skin. Ava quietly withdrew her hand. “I’ll go find Jane then. You…” 

“I know. Go.” 

His expression gave nothing away. Ava wanted to say something, but in the end felt that anything she said would be pointless. He’d seen her speaking with her ex, asked no questions, and even stepped in to help her out. She frowned slightly and let out a soft sigh before turning to find Jane. 

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