Twisted Love

Ava leaves, and Alex yearns to follow her, to beg for forgiveness, “to keep her by [his] side for the rest of [their] days so nothing and no one could hurt her again” (265). Alex prevents himself from doing going after her because “[t]he only way to protect Ava was to let her go, even if that meant destroying [him]self” (265). He has never felt his emotions so deeply, and it is agonizing to him.

At the scene of the kidnapping, the only ones who now remain are Alex and his “clean-up team,” a crew masquerading as police officers and paramedics, whom Alex pays to cover up the evidence of questionable activities and incidents. Alex and the team set the house aflame to cover up the killing of Ivan.

In this chapter, Josh punches Alex over and over, but Alex doesn’t defend himself; instead, he “welcome[s] the pain. Revel[s] in it. It’s what [he] deserve[s]” (268). When Josh mentions Ava’s name, it pains Alex more than a physical blow. He thinks back to the moment she asked if their relationship was real, and although his answer to her implied that it was not, he knows that the relationship was more real “than [he] ever thought possible” (269). Josh, however, is angry and hurt. He believed Alex to be his best friend, only to discover that Alex had used him for eight years to get revenge on Michael. Josh leaves Alex on the floor of his house. Eventually, Alex gets up and leaves, only to find that it is pouring down rain outside, and the sun is nowhere to be found.

Two months have passed, and Ava’s friends coddle her. She has lost interest in many things and instead prefers to spend her days alone or sleeping. On this day, instead of spending the evening with her friends, Ava opts for a nap. When a notification sounds on her phone, she begrudgingly opens an email containing the orientation package for the WYP fellowship in New York City. It’s her dream program, yet she cannot “summon a flicker of excitement at the prospect” (276), which angers her. She is heartbroken when she should be looking forward to the opportunity of a lifetime, and she is “sick of it. Sick of letting men […] have this hold over [her]. Sick of being the object of pitying looks and worried whispers” (277). This anger prompts her to don a swimsuit and visit the college’s pool.

The pool room is empty, and Ava faces her long-standing phobia by getting in the water and swimming alone for an hour. The feat makes her smile. She has relied on others her whole life, but now she is reliant only on herself. Above her, the storm outside abates and a rainbow starts to form.

Two and a half months have passed, and Alex has been working nonstop. The Archer Group employees avoid him and his bad moods as much as possible. Ralph visits to tell Alex that he is retiring and moving to Vermont with his wife, Missy. They’re interrupted by Bridget and her bodyguard, Rhys. Bridget reveals that Rhys caught a man following Ava, and the man revealed that he had been hired by Alex to protect her. Alex tries to deny it, but Bridget is convinced that Alex still cares for Ava. She tells Alex that Ava started swimming on her own recently, but that although Ava might seem to be thriving, her signature “spark” is gone.

Bridget continues pushing Alex for explanations about what he did to Ava and what he feels for her until he finally explodes, surprising everyone in the room. He insists that Ava is better off without him, reasoning “I couldn’t protect her. She was hurt because of me. My uncle kidnapped her because of me. And I couldn’t stop him” (289). Bridget reveals that Ava changed fellowship locations and is moving to London. Alex admits that he loves Ava but is terrified at the idea of her traveling halfway across the world alone. With the flight leaving in only an hour, Alex rushes to the airport, but by the time he makes it to Ava’s gate, her plane has already departed.

Two weeks after moving to London, Ava is enjoying her fellowship. Alex has resigned as CEO of Archer Group to follow Ava to London, ask for her forgiveness, and win her back. Ava rejects his advances and insists that Alex leave her alone. Alex protectively follows Ava back to her apartment after she refuses a ride home, but she leaves him standing on her front step instead of inviting him inside.

Alex shows up every morning at Ava’s apartment to walk her to her fellowship. As the weeks draw on, Alex lavishes her with every form of gift. When Ava insists that Alex stop with the pining, Alex tells her for the first time that he loves her and says, “[M]aybe I still don’t deserve you, but I’m willing to work at it until I do” (305). When Ava continues to reject Alex, he comes close to crying—an emotion he’s never shown—and vows he’ll win her back “no matter how long it takes” (307).

The fellowship year has come to an end, and Ava attends an art exhibition with her classmates, in which they all showcase and sell their art. An anonymous buyer has purchased Ava’s entire collection, and she suspects that it must be Alex. In a grand display of emotion, Alex gives a speech and performs a serenade for Ava, showcasing his willingness to display his vulnerability and hopefully gain back her trust. Alex and Ava reunite in the emptied gallery once the night has ended and make amends. Ava admits to herself, “I missed him. Even though I’d seen Alex every day for the past year, it wasn’t the same as touching him and actually being with him” (318).

Ava and Alex spend Thanksgiving with Ralph and Missy in Vermont. Josh has refused to attend; he still hasn’t forgiven Alex for eight years of lies and is angry with Ava over her decision to date Alex again. Alex has been reinstated as CEO of Archer Group following his return to the United States, but his work-life balance is healthier than ever. One evening after work, Alex and Ava, happily together four months after returning to the states, watch the news report on Crown Prince Nikolai abdicating the throne to marry a flight attendant, making Ava’s friend Bridget the heir to Eldorra’s throne.