CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-THREE - In the Court of Public Opinion

Max ran a hand through his hair, a gesture Ava had come to recognize as a sign of his inner turmoil. "It's just... Sophia. Jackson. This whole circus." He let out a frustrated sigh. "I thought I was past all this, Ava. I thought I'd left that part of my life behind." Ava stepped closer, her hand finding his. "The past has a way of catching up with us sometimes," she said softly. "But that doesn't mean it defines us. You're not the same person you were when you were with Sophia, Max." He met her eyes, and Ava saw a vulnerability there that he rarely allowed anyone to see. "I know that. Logically, I know that. But seeing her face plastered everywhere, hearing people speculate about our relationship... it brings back memories I'd rather forget." Ava nodded, understanding dawning. "It's not just about Sophia, is it? It's about who you were back then." Max's silence was answer enough. Ava squeezed his hand, her voice soft but firm. "Listen to me, Max Bennett. The man I know, the man I..