I’m Ava, 28, and months ago, I was a dreamy bride, marrying my guy, Lucas. Our wedding was epic until Lucas dropped before the party started. Medics couldn’t revive him, and doctors called it a heart attack at 32. My world crashed. Lucas and I met at a record store where I worked. He was a chill customer, always browsing, with killer brown eyes and a sly grin. I was floored when he asked me out, but our first date, a late-night taco run, felt meant to be. A year later, we were hitched.
Lucas’s death left me lost. His funeral brought his adoptive parents, who I’d met once. They were loaded, stuck-up, and blamed me, thinking I chased Lucas’s cash. His buddy, Jake, spilled that Lucas kept his family’s wealth secret to keep our love real. His parents’ glares and nasty comments stung, but I was too wrecked to clap back. Their creepy calls made my place feel like a cage. I had to bounce, so I packed a bag and grabbed a cab, dreaming of Mexico or Barbados.
In the cab, the driver’s voice hit me like a brick. “Buckle up,” he said. It was Lucas. I stared at his eyes in the mirror, gasping, “Lucas?” He pulled over and turned to me. “I’m sorry, Ava,” he said. He admitted his family adopted him young, using his smarts for their shady deals. He built a clean business to ditch them, but they threatened me to control him. To keep us safe, he faked his death with a drug, a fixer, and paid-off folks. He was in the coffin for show, then snuck out.
I was shook. Lucas said it was for us, his eyes wet. We sat quiet for hours, his sorrys soft. At home, I let loose, yelling, “You made me think you died!” By dawn, I asked, “Now what?” Lucas said his assets were mine, safe from his family. He was moving abroad and asked me to come. “I can’t trust you yet,” I said. “I need time.” He left, swearing he’d wait. I ghosted his texts, pissed, but dealt with his business, facing his scary parents in court. My lawyers won, and I sold stuff.
Weeks later, I knew I still loved Lucas. His crazy plan saved us. I called. “Where you at? I’m coming, but don’t pull that again.” Now, I’m in a new country, beach close, learning a new tongue. We had a dope second wedding. Lucas’s family can’t track us. I left my old life, but love’s worth it. We’re living large, free from their grip, and I’m finding peace.
