Chapter 68
Ava
The system goes quiet.
Not dim.
Not fading.
Gone.
Like someone cut the power to something that had always been there—always humming just beneath the surface.
I inhale.
Deep.
The air fills my lungs clean.
No pressure.
No pull.
No чужое voice buried under my thoughts.
Just… me.
Jonah stares at the screens, then at me.
“They can’t touch you anymore.”
I nod.
I can feel it.
The absence is louder than anything that came before.
“I know.”
Ethan doesn’t move.
Not even a little.
His hand is still wrapped around mine, grip tight like he’s afraid if he loosens it, I’ll slip away again.
“You’re sure?” he asks.
I turn toward him.
Meet his eyes.
“Yeah.”
He studies me like he’s searching for cracks.
For hesitation.
For anything that says this isn’t real.
Then—
his shoulders drop just a fraction.
Enough.
Good.
Because I don’t think I could survive him carrying that fear forever.
My fingers lace through his.
Hold on.
“I’m not going anywhere.”
He watches me.
Longer this time.
Then—
“Good.”
Low.
Uncompromising.
“Because I’m not letting you.”