The next morning, it was Saturday. But Ryan was up early enough and ready to leave the house by seven in the morning. His house was definitely beginning to bite him in the ass. He was wearing his perfume when Kristie turned on the bed and looked at him. “Good morning, babe,” she greeted him. Ryan smiled at her. “Good morning, sweetheart. I was just about to leave the house.” Kristie faked a sad expression on her face. “It's a Saturday morning, Ryan,” she said to him. “We should at least spend the weekend together. I can't remember the last time we did that.” Ryan grabbed his phone from the bed and pecked her. “Father will go on a short trip today. I have to see him before he leaves. I will make it up to you.”Without giving his wife any room to press further on the matter, he hurried out of the room and found his way out of the house. A couple of moments later, he arrived at his family's house. When he got in, his dad had just finished having breakfast and was resting for a whi
TWO WEEKS LATERRyan and Kristie were on a vacation. It was a conscious attempt by him to see how he would be able to turn the situation of his marriage around. For the past couple of days, he has tried to play the role of a very caring and loving husband to Kristie. This time, he isn't trying to fake it. He was literally pushing himself to the limits to see if he would start growing feelings for her and let go of Ava. It was a couple of minutes to eight in the morning on Brazilian soil. The rays of the sun could hit Ryan through the windows of his beach house. Kristie lay by his side. “Sweetheart, regarding what I told you before, you have said nothing,” Kristie said calmly. Ryan winced. He knew what she was talking about. The appointment of a position in the business. “I thought we agreed that there will be no talks about work while we are here,” he pointed out. It was without a doubt that Kristie loved Ryan. But at the same time, she was doubtful in her heart if Ryan would e
“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
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
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
“You're three weeks pregnant,” the doctor said to Ava. A mix of emotions welled up inside her. I… I am pregnant,” she stuttered. The female doctor nodded. “Yes, miss Ava. You're pregnant.” This had to be the best news ever. Excitedly, she dashed out of the hospital into the night. She got home and quickly got herself dressed. There was no better time to tell Ryan about this than tonight. A couple of moments later, her eyes were almost pressed against the glass of the cab's window. The heart of the twenty-five years old damsel was filled with excitement.It was only a matter of minutes before she would break the sweetest news to her boyfriend, Ryan, who happened to be the richest bachelor in the country and eldest son of Mr Blake. His family was the richest in the entire country, with the most flourishing businesses in their name. However, there was just one organization that no one marched. Avalon corp… they were the most powerful business enterprise. But the family wasn't ba
Kristie used both hands to cover her face. Then, in the most tender tone, she blurted out, “Yes, yes. I will marry you, Ryan.” Ava felt her world crumbling right before her own eyes. Tears formed around the corners of her eyes and rolled down. Her heart was pounding. She had come with good news. But then, her pregnancy might have been her worst mistake. With a broken and shattered heart, the damsel found her way out of the hall. She walked to the corner and began to cry out her heart. “Take this,” Molly said and threw two dollar notes at her. “You will need it to take care of your wretched body.” Ava couldn't say a word. Her tears would not let her. As a matter of fact, Ryan held the answers to the questions in her head. Molly chuckled and continued. “In case you're wondering, Ryan never sent you the invitation card. I did. I wanted a loser like you to see that my brother has finally come to his senses.” She hissed. “Get out of here before you're thrown out.” She left Ava a
Cold beads of sweat formed on the forehead of Ryan. His eyes had dilated fully as he stared at the medical report in his hand. “What is it, Ryan?” Erik asked inquisitively. He was concerned about his friend. When Ryan raised his face, it was entirely flushed. Agitation was creeping all over him.“What's going on, man?” Erik asked again. “Who sent that to you?”“Ava,” Ryan replied. “Ava is carrying my child.” The statement hit Erik. “What the—?” Ryan slammed the medical report right on the table and sprang on his feet, throwing quick strides as he left the office. “Hold on, Ryan,” Erik said and followed immediately. Ryan got to the secretary with a serious look in his eyes. “Who sent this to me? Where's the lady?” “Sir, one of the security men at the gate brought it. He said a lady desperately wanted to see you. She had the envelope with her.” The secretary went on to describe the person in question. Ryan's heart exploded. It was Ava. He had no idea she was pregnant. He dashed
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
TWO WEEKS LATERRyan and Kristie were on a vacation. It was a conscious attempt by him to see how he would be able to turn the situation of his marriage around. For the past couple of days, he has tried to play the role of a very caring and loving husband to Kristie. This time, he isn't trying to fake it. He was literally pushing himself to the limits to see if he would start growing feelings for her and let go of Ava. It was a couple of minutes to eight in the morning on Brazilian soil. The rays of the sun could hit Ryan through the windows of his beach house. Kristie lay by his side. “Sweetheart, regarding what I told you before, you have said nothing,” Kristie said calmly. Ryan winced. He knew what she was talking about. The appointment of a position in the business. “I thought we agreed that there will be no talks about work while we are here,” he pointed out. It was without a doubt that Kristie loved Ryan. But at the same time, she was doubtful in her heart if Ryan would e
The next morning, it was Saturday. But Ryan was up early enough and ready to leave the house by seven in the morning. His house was definitely beginning to bite him in the ass. He was wearing his perfume when Kristie turned on the bed and looked at him. “Good morning, babe,” she greeted him. Ryan smiled at her. “Good morning, sweetheart. I was just about to leave the house.” Kristie faked a sad expression on her face. “It's a Saturday morning, Ryan,” she said to him. “We should at least spend the weekend together. I can't remember the last time we did that.” Ryan grabbed his phone from the bed and pecked her. “Father will go on a short trip today. I have to see him before he leaves. I will make it up to you.”Without giving his wife any room to press further on the matter, he hurried out of the room and found his way out of the house. A couple of moments later, he arrived at his family's house. When he got in, his dad had just finished having breakfast and was resting for a whi
Later that night, Ryan drove himself to a tavern in a broken manner. Not even in his wildest dreams could he have imagined that Ava would possibly want to pull such a string on him. He had called his friend to come and meet with him the moment he left the city lounge. He got out and walked in. Erik was just on a stool close to the bartender. Ryan walked to him. “Hello, man,” Erik said with a glass of wine in his hand. “What's with the long face?” Ryan sat down and ordered wine from the bartender. Then, he cocked his head in a frustrating manner. Erik gulped down his wine and dropped the glass. He had seen the trouble written all over the face of his friend. “What is going on?” He asked Ryan in a concerned tone. “Are you having issues at home?” Just as the bartender was pouring wine into Ryan's glass, he turned to Erik with those worried sick eyes of his. “Have you been online this evening?” Ryan asked Erik. Erik adjusted his position on the stool. “Ryan, don't tell me that th
Ava was beyond words. She wore a silk emerald dress that conveyed nothing but a high sense of royalty. The dress shimmered in the lighting of the podium. Her steps were in tune and served as a subtle reminder that she was the most powerful businesswoman in the city. The story of her journey to the top was the topic everyone was dying to hear. Arnold grasped her hand gently but firmly. He was in an Italian made tuxedo with a bowtie to his neck. He stole a glance at Ava and smiled proudly. This woman should just become his. Amidst the cheers and applauds, the couple walked to the center where two comfortable armchairs were. A slender microphone was fixed right in between them to capture their voices as they spoke. “Thank you for having us,” Arnold said calmly and waved to the crowd. The host, a potbellied fifty years old man, cleared his throat and began. “Once again, we welcome the couple of honor,” he said. “Uhm.. There are a ton of questions on my list here. And I don't even th
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
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