Every attention turned to Molly. They all had inquisitive looks in their eyes. “What do you have there?” Mr Blake asked her. “Something else has taken over the internet,” she replied. “What are you talking about?” Kristie queried her. “What else could there be other than the fact that this group is supposed to launch the new company tonight?”Molly shook her head and turned the screen of her phone to them. Everyone drew closer and looked at the screen. The caption read, “Avalon corp set to reveal the new chairwoman.” The moment Ryan saw it, his heart began to pound. It was Ava. She will reveal herself to the world tonight. “Did you ..know about this?” Mr Blake asked Ryan. Ryan shook his head. “No, I didn't.” “Damn it!” Mr Biden groaned. It became clear to them that the reason everyone didn't come for the launching of the new company was Avalon corp. And Ryan knew this was not just a coincidence. Ava simply wanted to hunt him. Everyone flipped out their phones and started str
Ryan, at this point, felt completely broken. Ava mentioned she had a tough life. And he knew she was pointing fingers at him. He knew he was the one. But beyond that, she announced her love for Arnold to the people all around the globe. He was still sitting there, bleeding in his heart, when his father and Molly found him. He stole a glance at them approaching him and heaved a sigh. He knew he was up for another issue. “What did I just watch, Ryan?” Mr Blake asked him. Ryan said no word. He just kept mute without even looking at him. “Ryan,” Molly called him. “How is that low life the new—” Before she could finish the rest of the words, Ryan cut her off. “She… is not a lowlife,” he corrected. “As a matter of fact, she was never a lowlife.” Mr Blake heaved a disgruntled sigh. “How long have you known about this? Why the hell didn't you mention that your ex is the new chairwoman of Avalon corp?” Ryan was exhausted and needed a break from everything. If he had told them, what wou
Later in the night, Ryan drove back home. He had purposely delayed his return to make sure his wife, Kristie, was deeply asleep before he returned. He parked in the garage and killed the engine of the car. For a couple of moments, he stayed back in the car and stared at different pictures of Ava that were online. He just had no way of getting over her. He soon got out of the car and carried himself into the house. The lights were already off. His hands groped to find the light switch. When he turned it on, his eyes met with those of Kristie. His heart flew. He wasn't expecting to see anyone there. But Kristie was there. She sat on the couch with her legs crossed. On the table was a bottle of wine and a wine glass. “Oh my goodness,” he muttered. “You scared me.” Kristie smiled at him. “You were obviously not expecting me to be here by twenty minutes past two in the morning.” Ryan said nothing. He just stole a glance at his wristwatch. “You reek of alcohol,” she continued. “
When Ava got to work the next morning, she could see there was a little commotion outside the headquarters of Avalon corp. There were people loitering around and being held back by the security personnel around the vicinity. “What's…going on here?” She muttered while focusing her attention out there. Arnold chuckled slightly. “Are you really asking that question right now? Come on, Ava.” Ava looked at him. “What do you mean?” “In case you don't know, you are currently the most popular person in this city at the moment. The event last night has taken over the internet. I bet these people are here to get a few words from you.” Ava smiled on realizing what that meant. The moment her car was spotted arriving at the office, everyone turned their attention to her and raced towards the car. But the security guys were good at their job. They held the people back while Arnold found his way to the parking area. Arnold got out and opened the door for her. They locked arms and walked in, st
Kristie was in her father's house. She had tears rolling down her eyes as she thought of Ryan and Ava. At that moment, it was very clear to her that Ryan would never come to the point of having any affection for her. A couple of moments later, the engine of her father's car revved into the premises. She knew better than to keep crying. Her hands quickly wiped off the last traces of tears in her eyes. Mr Biden walked in with a broad smile on his face. “And my angel came visiting,” he said and spread his arms. Kristie stood and hugged him while forcing a smile. “Good evening, daddy,” she said. Her father quickly noticed the change in her tone. He pulled away and looked at her. “Kristie, you were crying,” he said. Kristie sat down. “No, I was not.” Mr Biden smiled and sat beside her. “Is this still about Ryan?” When Kristie didn't give him a response, he chuckled and said, “I paid him a visit earlier on.”Kristie looked at him. “Why?” “For my daughter, of course,” he replied a
The next morning, Arnold walked into Ava's room when she was giving her hair the last few touches before leaving. Ava eyed him through the mirror before her. “Good morning, Arnold,” she greeted him. “Good morning, sunshine,” he responded. Ava paused what she was doing and stared at him through the mirror for a few seconds before continuing. “Arnold, I already told you this,” she said. “You don't have to sound this way when there is no need to.” Arnold caught sight of the lavender on the bed. He walked to it and grabbed it. “How…did you get this?” He asked her. Ava stole a glance at him. Then, she said, “I have no idea. A present from a fan, I guess. It came anonymously.”Ryan crossed her thoughts. There was no way Ryan would send a bouquet of lavender to her. At least, not now. But who else would it be? He was obviously the only one who knew about her love for lavender. Arnold giggled. “I sent it to you,” he said. Ava immediately stopped what she was doing and looked at him.
Ryan was in his office idling with his phone. He had his eyes fixed on the message he had sent to Ava. It didn't look like any response was going to come. When he got no response, he dropped the phone and slid a picture out of his chest pocket. It was a picture Ava took on their first date on a summer afternoon. He still had the picture in his hand when the office telephone rang. “Hello,” he said as he took the call. “Sir, someone is here and wants to see you,” his secretary said. Ryan wasn't expecting any guests. He quickly stole a glance at his schedule board. It didn't indicate that he was supposed to meet someone. “Who might that be?” He asked. At the same time, he flipped the CCTV footage on his system. When he looked, the guest came into view. His eyes were definitely playing pranks on him. There was no way Ava's husband had come to see him right in his office. “Mr Arnold.. Arnold Clifford, Sir,” she replied. Ryan smiled partly and reclined in his chair. “Let him in.” H
Ava heaved a sigh of relief as the wheels of the car came to a stop. She was in the private parking area of the city lounge. The entire space was exclusively kept for her for tonight's event. She had promised to give the people what they wanted to know about her— the story of her life. And tonight, she will do so. She took her phone and dialed home. It was apparent she would be taking a good while before returning back to her kids. One ring ..two rings… three rings…The video call connected and the faces of two little cute lovelies appeared on the screen of her phone. “Mommy!!”“Mommy!!” Adrian and Adrianna called out to their mother, their voices soft and endearing. A proud smile crossed the lips of Ava. Those two pumpkins leaping for joy right on her screen were the only reason she had to be happy. “Hey, pumpkins,” she said with a smiley face. “Mom, when are you coming home?” Adrian asked her. “We miss you, mommy,” Adrianna chipped in. Ava grinned broadly at them. “I miss yo
The next morning, Ava was ready for work. But it was a surprise to her that the kids had not come to greet her. She called Gladys to her room. “Good morning, ma'am,” Gladys greeted her. “Good morning, Gladys,” Ava responded while fixing her earrings by the mirror. “How are my kids? I haven't heard from them this morning.” Gladys smiled. “Oh. That. They are set for school. At the moment, they are playing with your husband.” Ava paused and turned to her. “What? With who?” “Your husband, ma'am. Mr Arnold is with them right now.” “Oh. Okay. You may leave.” When Gladys left, Ava stopped what she was doing and thought about it for a while. Arnold was already trying to prove her wrong. But then, he always had a good relationship with her kids. After a while, she knocked it off and got up. It was a workday and business had to be taken care of. She was wearing a black shirt and orange pants. A pair of gold earrings and matching black high heels gave the right look. When she got downst
The next morning, Ava was ready for work. But it was a surprise to her that the kids had not come to greet her. She called Gladys to her room. “Good morning, ma'am,” Gladys greeted her. “Good morning, Gladys,” Ava responded while fixing her earrings by the mirror. “How are my kids? I haven't heard from them this morning.” Gladys smiled. “Oh. That. They are set for school. At the moment, they are playing with your husband.” Ava paused and turned to her. “What? With who?” “Your husband, ma'am. Mr Arnold is with them right now.” “Oh. Okay. You may leave.” When Gladys left, Ava stopped what she was doing and thought about it for a while. Arnold was already trying to prove her wrong. But then, he always had a good relationship with her kids. After a while, she knocked it off and got up. It was a workday and business had to be taken care of. She was wearing a black shirt and orange pants. A pair of gold earrings and matching black high heels gave the right look. When she got downst
The next morning, Ava was ready for work. But it was a surprise to her that the kids had not come to greet her. She called Gladys to her room. “Good morning, ma'am,” Gladys greeted her. “Good morning, Gladys,” Ava responded while fixing her earrings by the mirror. “How are my kids? I haven't heard from them this morning.” Gladys smiled. “Oh. That. They are set for school. At the moment, they are playing with your husband.” Ava paused and turned to her. “What? With who?” “Your husband, ma'am. Mr Arnold is with them right now.” “Oh. Okay. You may leave.” When Gladys left, Ava stopped what she was doing and thought about it for a while. Arnold was already trying to prove her wrong. But then, he always had a good relationship with her kids. After a while, she knocked it off and got up. It was a workday and business had to be taken care of. She was wearing a black shirt and orange pants. A pair of gold earrings and matching black high heels gave the right look. When she got downst
It was bedtime for the kids. Ava was done telling them stories and was set to make them sleep. But then, the kids had something on their minds. “Okay, pumpkins,” Ava said with a smile on her face, “you should catch some sleep right now. Okay?” She crept out the bed and covered them properly. “Okay, mommy,” they responded together. Ava drew closer and pecked both of them on their foreheads. Then, she reached out to turn off the light from the bed switch. “Mom, wait,” Adrian said, interrupting her action. She looked at him. She could tell when the kids had something to talk about. Two of them definitely wanted to say something. “Mmm. I know that look. What do you want to talk about now? Can't it wait till you wake up in the morning?” The little ones shook their heads. “No, mom.” Adrian said. “It has to be now,” Adrianna supported her brother. Ava knew better than to deny those young ones the attention they were craving. If she did, they would definitely go to bed in a sad moo
Later that day, when it was evening, Ryan was in a pub sipping a glass of wine. Erik walked in and went straight to him. “Good evening, man,” Erik said. “Sorry I took some time.” “I've been here for the past twenty minutes,” Ryan replied. “What were you doing the whole time?” Erik sat down. “I already apologized. I just had to deal with something that came up.” They ordered extra bottles to serve their time there. While they drank, Erik brought up the topic for discussion. “What did you say happened back there in Brazil? I was definitely not expecting to see you here.” Ryan heaved a sigh and dropped his glass. A little flash of what had ensued the previous day came running through his mind. “Erik, those kids are mine,” he said. Erik was confused for a minute. He had no idea what Ryan was talking about. “Those kids,” Erik said. “I don't think I understand what you are trying to say.” Ryan gulped at his drink and dropped it again. “I mean Ava's kids. They are definitely mine.
After twenty-four hours had passed, Ryan arrived in the states. His bags were immediately carried to his private jet. While he walked to the jet, he flipped his phone out and dialed his friend's number. One ring… two rings… three rings…The call connected. “Hello, Ryan,” Erik said over the phone. “How's your vacation going?” Ryan sighed badly and said, “We should meet later today.” Erik chuckled in a clueless manner. “What are you saying, man? You are kilometers away in Brazil and you expect us to see. Come on. Be serious.”Ryan stopped walking for a moment and stroked his cheek. Then, he said, “I'm back already. I just entered the country.” “What?” Erik asked. “What happened? Was this the plan?” “When we meet, we talk about it,” Ryan replied. “At the moment, things aren't looking good. My vacation was cut short.”“But, why? What went wrong?” Ryan paused for a while before responding to the questions. “I happened to cross paths with Ava,” he said. “She was just close by. I wil
She turned slowly while trying to suppress the anger that she felt inside her. Ryan struggled to keep his ground. His eyes were fully dilated in anticipation of what Ava was going to say to him. “What did you say?” She asked him. Ryan shut his eyes and opened them. Then, he swallowed down and repeated himself. “The children, they are mine, aren't they?” Ava smiled in a mischievous way. Then, she said, “No, Ryan. My children are not yours. They can never be yours.” “Swear!” Ryan said. “Swear they are not mine. Have you taken a look at them? That girl is a miniature you. And the boy? Hmm. That's a reminder of my childhood. Can you really not see it? He's an exact copy of me.” Ava grinned broadly. “You know, I used to think it was just you being arrogant. But now I see you have gone nuts. I must warn you now. If you repeat this nonsense you just spewed here anywhere else in this world, you won't like what the outcome will be.” Ryan shook his head in frustration. He was going crazy
At that moment, it appeared time had come to a stop. Right before Ryan was the mistake of not choosing the woman standing before him five years ago. On the other hand, there was Ava, who had anger burning inside her for the betrayal she suffered in Ryan's hands. Ryan tried to walk closer to her but got stopped by her. “Stop right where you are,” she said, her voice mean and firm. Ryan stopped and heaved a disgruntled sigh. It did not seem like Ava was going to let go of what happened that night at the paradise resorts and suites. “I just want to have a word with you,” he said as calmly as possible. “Well, it is obvious you have had many words with me already,” Ava replied, her tone unwavering. “You should leave here before I throw you out.” Ryan shut his eyes for a while and cocked his hair. He just wanted to talk with her. “Listen, Ava, you should —” Ava cut him off before he could complete the rest of the words. “I said you should leave this place this minute.” Ryan remain
“Ryan, are you there?” Erik's voice queried his friend over the phone. But Ryan was not there. He was dazed by the sight before him. Erik was just telling him about the presence of Ava in Brazil. How could he have thought, even for a split second, that she would be that close to him? It was beyond doubt that their fates were somewhat tangled. Ryan stared at the little children with great shock in his eyes. He could not believe his eyes. Ava's kids were right there with him. “He is scary, Adrian,” Adrianna muttered behind his brother. “I'm scared.” Ryan heard her. He realized the shock on his face must have been terrifying for the little children. He quickly let out a broad smile across his lips and took a step closer to the kids. But they retraced their steps from him. “Hey,” he said and waved at them. “Adrian. That's what your sister called you, right?” The kids gave him no respite. They kept stepping backwards. “I won't hurt you,” Ryan said. “I promise not to do that. Don't b