Avery rushed into the hallway, her head heavy with thoughts as she tried to digest the news Evan had broken to her just moments ago. Her gaze was glued to the floor as she shuffled through the crowd, finding her way to the restroom. "Avery!" Maxwell called out to her from behind and pulled her by her arm."Let me go," Avery said, licking her lips nervously as she fought the urge to burst into tears."Are you okay?" Maxwell asked, a look of concern etched on his face.Avery broke free from his grip. "I told you I'm fine," her voice came out firm this time. Maxwell watched her dash into the restroom. As soon as she closed the partition, she pulled out a pregnancy test strip, hoping it would come out positive. Her period had already been delayed for over a week.Meanwhile, the hallway was clear, as everyone had moved to their respective classes. Avery finally emerged from the restroom after what felt like an eternity. Once she stepped out, she saw Maxwell leaning against the wall, pati
As the day ended, Natalie accompanied Avery to her place to help clean up, as she would be moving back to her house. The place was dusty, as Avery had thought it had been more than two weeks since she last visited their neighborhood. Everything was exactly how she had left it the day she moved into the Bensons’ residence.Her heart grew heavy at the thought of Evan Benson. As she walked toward her bedroom, she came across the portrait of their perfect family—her mom, Monica, and her smiling happily as they held each other so closely.The picture was taken at Monica's graduation from high school. Tears welled up in her eyes as the memory flashed in her mind, causing her to break down in tears.“Come on, Avery. You need to stay strong,” Natalie said gently, giving her hand a small squeeze.“Are you sure you can stay alone? Dad wouldn't mind if you moved in with us; that way, we could stay together, and you wouldn't have to think about Evan Benson anymore,” she suggested, but Avery imme
As Avery and Natalie walked out of the gym, Natalie couldn't help but marvel at Maxwell's great basketball skills. "Well, who knew he turned out to be as good at basketball as he is at annoying people?" she taunted."He once mentioned he used to be the captain of his ex-school basketball team," Avery replied, taking a bite of her apple.Natalie snorted loudly. "If you know he's a legend at basketball, why did you agree to his condition? Wait, do you really want to go out with him?" she asked, raising her brows in surprise.Avery quickly fired back, "That's not the case! I promised! I totally forgot he's a basketball guru. There are just so many things going on in my head, and I guess Maxwell is just one of them now," she said, massaging her temples.As the afternoon slowly came to an end, Avery and Natalie had to part ways. "Maxwell is here.""Alright, you just have fun and loosen up a bit," Natalie said, giving her a smile before walking off.Avery went over to Maxwell, who had been
"Huh? I think you must be mistaken, Mr. Benson. You told me you're no longer in need of my services, and now you show up at my house asking me to come back with you?” Avery let out a breath in one go as she looked away from him.“Yes, I’m aware of that, and I didn’t show up at your house because I have a change of mind,” Evan explained calmly as he interlocked his fingers and placed his hands on his crossed legs.This made Avery’s breath shaky as she looked him straight in the eyes; her gaze was so sharp it felt as if she were trying to kill him with her eyes.“I just happen to feel guilty for breaking the contract without letting you know beforehand."This wasn’t what Avery wanted to hear. A look of disappointment clouded her features. She thought he would apologize for making the decision alone, without considering what she wanted.“Please, Mr. Benson, just leave my house. I don’t want the neighbors to think otherwise, especially knowing my mom is in the hospital,” Avery stated matt
Avery's eyes snapped open, greeted only by darkness. She tried to move her hands and legs, only to discover that she had been tied up. It suddenly occurred to her that she had been abducted by some unknown men not long ago.Her heart sank as various devastating scenarios played in her mind, leaving her paralyzed with fear. "Hello? Is anyone here?" Avery yelled, her voice trembling. Her breath came in ragged gasps, and cold sweat beaded on her forehead, sticking to her hairline.The door swung open, and Avery heard slow footsteps coming towards her. She tried to maintain her calm, but she could swear she heard the sound of her heart pounding crazily, as if it was going to burst out of her rib cage.Avery's blindfold was abruptly taken off, the brightness of the room hitting her eyes, causing her to squeeze them shut for a moment as she tried to adjust to the light."Hey, dear!" a chilly masculine voice said, causing Avery to look up at the figure in front of her."Who are you?" she ask
"Nothing," George answered as he consciously got to his feet, walking toward his grandson by the door."I thought you said you wouldn't be coming over for dinner tonight," the old man smiled at Evan, who had his gaze locked on Avery the entire time.Avery began to hiccup and used her hand to cover her mouth, feeling embarrassed by her repeated hiccuping. George snapped his fingers and immediately ordered one of his men to bring her a glass of water."Can I speak to you for a minute?" Evan said to Avery. He led the way, and she quietly trailed behind him. "What are you doing here, and what did you tell him?" Evan asked as they stood on the balcony.Avery hesitated and remained silent, earning herself a deadly glare from Evan. "I didn't come here willingly. Your grandfather sent his men to abduct me at school, and he already knows there's something between us," she said, crossing her arms over her chest.Evan scoffed loudly. "Was something between us?" he corrected before walking off, l
Avery paced back and forth in the dimly lit hospital hallway, her heart pounding in her chest like it might burst at any moment. She tried to reach her sister on the phone, but Monica didn't answer. "Monica, please come on, pick up," Avery muttered desperately, her eyes shut tightly. Just as she was about to lose hope, the call finally connected. Monica's voice came through, laced with sarcasm. "Avery, do you really think I'm going to ruin my life for some guy I barely know?" she laughed. Avery's expression darkened slightly as she listened. "What are you saying? That you're just going to bail on everyone at the last minute?" Monica's laughter echoed through the phone line. "Oh, dear, sweet Avery, that's your own problem to worry about. I'm not coming back." Avery's voice rose in anger. "Are you out of your mind? You're just going to leave Mom and me like we're nothing to you?" The line fell silent for a moment before Monica spoke again. "I'm already at the airport with M
Avery swallowed hard, her mind racing with uncertainty as she weighed her options. At 18 and a virgin, agreeing to the surrogacy arrangement felt overwhelming, especially given her final year of high school. But the prospect of benefiting her mother's health by settling her medical bills was tempting.As she considered Evan's proposal, she thought about the benefits it would bring. She would also gain financial security, which could improve her mother's care. Her body quivered slightly as she thought about the implications.Avery looked up at Evan, searching for any sign that he was hiding something. His expression remained calm and reassuring, but she couldn't shake off the feeling that there was more to this arrangement than met the eye.Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Avery drew in a sharp breath and spoke. "Deal," she said finally.Evan nodded, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "Great! I'll send the new contract papers to you as soon as they're ready. My lawyer wil
"Nothing," George answered as he consciously got to his feet, walking toward his grandson by the door."I thought you said you wouldn't be coming over for dinner tonight," the old man smiled at Evan, who had his gaze locked on Avery the entire time.Avery began to hiccup and used her hand to cover her mouth, feeling embarrassed by her repeated hiccuping. George snapped his fingers and immediately ordered one of his men to bring her a glass of water."Can I speak to you for a minute?" Evan said to Avery. He led the way, and she quietly trailed behind him. "What are you doing here, and what did you tell him?" Evan asked as they stood on the balcony.Avery hesitated and remained silent, earning herself a deadly glare from Evan. "I didn't come here willingly. Your grandfather sent his men to abduct me at school, and he already knows there's something between us," she said, crossing her arms over her chest.Evan scoffed loudly. "Was something between us?" he corrected before walking off, l
Avery's eyes snapped open, greeted only by darkness. She tried to move her hands and legs, only to discover that she had been tied up. It suddenly occurred to her that she had been abducted by some unknown men not long ago.Her heart sank as various devastating scenarios played in her mind, leaving her paralyzed with fear. "Hello? Is anyone here?" Avery yelled, her voice trembling. Her breath came in ragged gasps, and cold sweat beaded on her forehead, sticking to her hairline.The door swung open, and Avery heard slow footsteps coming towards her. She tried to maintain her calm, but she could swear she heard the sound of her heart pounding crazily, as if it was going to burst out of her rib cage.Avery's blindfold was abruptly taken off, the brightness of the room hitting her eyes, causing her to squeeze them shut for a moment as she tried to adjust to the light."Hey, dear!" a chilly masculine voice said, causing Avery to look up at the figure in front of her."Who are you?" she ask
"Huh? I think you must be mistaken, Mr. Benson. You told me you're no longer in need of my services, and now you show up at my house asking me to come back with you?” Avery let out a breath in one go as she looked away from him.“Yes, I’m aware of that, and I didn’t show up at your house because I have a change of mind,” Evan explained calmly as he interlocked his fingers and placed his hands on his crossed legs.This made Avery’s breath shaky as she looked him straight in the eyes; her gaze was so sharp it felt as if she were trying to kill him with her eyes.“I just happen to feel guilty for breaking the contract without letting you know beforehand."This wasn’t what Avery wanted to hear. A look of disappointment clouded her features. She thought he would apologize for making the decision alone, without considering what she wanted.“Please, Mr. Benson, just leave my house. I don’t want the neighbors to think otherwise, especially knowing my mom is in the hospital,” Avery stated matt
As Avery and Natalie walked out of the gym, Natalie couldn't help but marvel at Maxwell's great basketball skills. "Well, who knew he turned out to be as good at basketball as he is at annoying people?" she taunted."He once mentioned he used to be the captain of his ex-school basketball team," Avery replied, taking a bite of her apple.Natalie snorted loudly. "If you know he's a legend at basketball, why did you agree to his condition? Wait, do you really want to go out with him?" she asked, raising her brows in surprise.Avery quickly fired back, "That's not the case! I promised! I totally forgot he's a basketball guru. There are just so many things going on in my head, and I guess Maxwell is just one of them now," she said, massaging her temples.As the afternoon slowly came to an end, Avery and Natalie had to part ways. "Maxwell is here.""Alright, you just have fun and loosen up a bit," Natalie said, giving her a smile before walking off.Avery went over to Maxwell, who had been
As the day ended, Natalie accompanied Avery to her place to help clean up, as she would be moving back to her house. The place was dusty, as Avery had thought it had been more than two weeks since she last visited their neighborhood. Everything was exactly how she had left it the day she moved into the Bensons’ residence.Her heart grew heavy at the thought of Evan Benson. As she walked toward her bedroom, she came across the portrait of their perfect family—her mom, Monica, and her smiling happily as they held each other so closely.The picture was taken at Monica's graduation from high school. Tears welled up in her eyes as the memory flashed in her mind, causing her to break down in tears.“Come on, Avery. You need to stay strong,” Natalie said gently, giving her hand a small squeeze.“Are you sure you can stay alone? Dad wouldn't mind if you moved in with us; that way, we could stay together, and you wouldn't have to think about Evan Benson anymore,” she suggested, but Avery imme
Avery rushed into the hallway, her head heavy with thoughts as she tried to digest the news Evan had broken to her just moments ago. Her gaze was glued to the floor as she shuffled through the crowd, finding her way to the restroom. "Avery!" Maxwell called out to her from behind and pulled her by her arm."Let me go," Avery said, licking her lips nervously as she fought the urge to burst into tears."Are you okay?" Maxwell asked, a look of concern etched on his face.Avery broke free from his grip. "I told you I'm fine," her voice came out firm this time. Maxwell watched her dash into the restroom. As soon as she closed the partition, she pulled out a pregnancy test strip, hoping it would come out positive. Her period had already been delayed for over a week.Meanwhile, the hallway was clear, as everyone had moved to their respective classes. Avery finally emerged from the restroom after what felt like an eternity. Once she stepped out, she saw Maxwell leaning against the wall, pati
Avery couldn't believe her ears or process the situation. Her palms became sweaty, and her head spun for a few seconds, leaving her light-headed.She had only watched such scenarios in dramas, where the evil mother-in-law pays off the wife to leave her son. But this case was different; this was a reality she never thought would happen to her, and it shattered her expectations."I can't take it!" Avery exclaimed, her voice barely audible as she got out of the car and rushed into the house, her heart racing.Once she entered her room, her phone buzzed, jarring her from her thoughts. It was a text message from an unknown number: "I promise, you'll regret your decision." An icy shiver ran down her spine as she glanced around her surroundings, suddenly feeling vulnerable.A knock at the door caused her to flinch in fright. “Who’s there?” she asked, her voice trembling.Meanwhile, Michael strode into his mansion, and his wife, Grace, rushed over to him, her face etched with worry. "How is I
"Take care of yourself, Avery. Don't let it bother you, okay?" Natalie said after stopping a taxi. She had a shift to cover for her coworker at the coffee shop where she works after school hours.Avery forced out a smile, giving her best friend a hug. "Thanks, Nate. See you at school tomorrow," she said as she embraced her."I love you," Natalie said, and Avery returned the sentiment as she watched her friend get into the taxi. As the taxi drove further into the distance, a surge of loneliness washed over Avery, prompting her decision to walk to the hospital.Upon arriving at the hospital, Avery stood outside Christine's door, gathering her composure before facing her mom. Things had changed over the past few weeks, and her heart ached with the weight of it all.She slid the door open with a wide grin on her face, putting on a brave front despite having shed tears on her way to the hospital. In her hands, she held fresh lilies she had bought along the way."Mom!" she called out excite
"Thanks for the ride," Maxwell said dryly as he prepared to get out of Vincent's car."Max, I think you should let Avery know how you feel about her; that was the only reason you reacted that way," Vincent replied, letting out a sigh. He hated seeing this troubled side of Maxwell.Maxwell glanced at him, a mix of frustration and defeat in his eyes. "Well, thanks for caring, but I don’t think that’s necessary. Avery hates me after what happened last night.""As long as she loves you, she'll definitely forgive you," Vincent insisted. Maxwell pressed his lips together, nodding, though doubt lingered in his mind.Vincent snorted, fully aware that Maxwell wouldn't take his advice and would likely continue with his original plans."Don't forget to send my bike to school after getting it repaired by the mechanic," he reminded Maxwell before walking away.As soon as Maxwell stepped onto the school grounds, he spotted Avery and Natalie talking and giggling as they walked past him.A sad smile