Avery couldn’t fathom the surprise and joy he felt when he saw Zoe. She still looked the same, not that he was expecting her to look any different after just five days of being absent from his life. Her perfume enveloped him immediately and he moved closer, to have a more thorough look of her.She wore a red lipstick that brought out the full shape of her lips and a ridiculously short gown that revealed delicious legs that he wanted to run his hands over. He thought about whistling but caught himself immediately.This wasn’t a time to whistle. He knew Zoe wouldn’t leave her mother’s house, the place where she was safe from Aaron and the psychopath who wants them dead to come back to him without ulterior motives.“Did you come here to seduce me?” He asked, removing his suit and allowing her see that he was indeed staring seductively at her. He wanted her to remember what they used to share and to see that it was not gone.“What do you think?” Zoe replied, walking with him to the smalle
Zoe tried her best to hide her anger and disappointment when she saw Aaron’s car but it was difficult. The thought of facing him again after the knowledge she now has of him made her heart to surprisingly beat against her chest. Avery came towards her, wanting to take her hand in his but she shrugged away from his hold again. The arrival of Aaron in their house reminded her that Avery was not innocent either. He was in fact, the biggest obstacle between Aaron and prison and that pissed her off more.“You don’t have to see him if you do not want to.” He said to her and she scoffed.“Why wouldn’t I want to see him?” She asked. “Did I do something wrong to shy away from him?”“Zoe…”“Go and receive your brother, Avery.” She said, heading into the bathroom. “I am just going to get dressed.”She closed the closet door behind her and leaned on it, trying to get her courage back. No matter how tough she tried to be, she didn’t know facing him again could bring in a lot of memories. Downstair
Avery could see the shocked look on Aaron’s face as he told him the truth. He wasn’t surprised because he too had found it so hard to believe that his mother would kill his father and still act normally as if nothing had happened. After the dream where Simon revealed the truth to him, he had woken up to realize that his brain had been unlocked like someone flipped a switch and he was suddenly able to remember everything. He remembered going into the house to see his parents arguing and how the trigger of the gun had gone off. Yes, it had been an accident but his mother had played along, using his forgetive memory to her advantage. Thinking of her now brought so much pain in him that was unable to go away.Avery sighed and took his seat again. His fist was still throbbing from the punch he gave to Aaron but his heart felt relieved that he had done it. His brother was reckless and he wasn’t sure he would forgive Aron for triggering the perpetrators into killing Mia. Maybe Mia would have
“What do you mean I am under arrest?” Aaron asked Gonzalez with a perplexed look on his face. He turned to look at Avery who was equally as surprised as he was. “Did you do this, Avery?”“Don’t be ridiculous, Aaron.” Avery replied, collecting the arrest warrant from Gonzalez and going through it. The warrant was indeed valid and up to date and with the serious look on Gonzalez’s face, he could also tell that the arrant was an order from the top.“How did this happen, Gonzalez?” Avery asked while the latter shrugged his shoulders, giving a nod to his subordinate to seize Aaron’s arm.“Don’t you dare lay those filthy hands on me.” Aaron said harshly to him, making the police officer drop his hands in respect. Avery turned to look at Zoe to see if this was her doing but she equally had no idea what was going on.“Take him, officer.” Gonzalez said to the man on uniform again, ignoring the death stare Aaron was throwing at him. When Aaron made to hit the young police officer, Avery came in
Avery shook his head calmly before walking inside the well decorated office, shutting the door quietly behind him. He didn’t sit immediately, he just walked around, taking in every detail starting with the color of the walls and the interior used to decorate the space. He nodded his head with approval before allowing his eyes to settle fully on Margery.“I have never been to your office before, Margery.” He said and she shrugged her shoulders, opening her palms at the same time.“So, what do you think?” Margery asked him. “Do you approve of the interior?”“Oh, it is magnificent.” He replied, taking the sofa opposite her and crossing his legs. “It is feminine, better than the interior in my office. I should have the contact of your interior decorator to redo mine.”“Oh, yours is just perfect, Avery.” She replied, smiling at him. “You are just being nice.”Avery shrugged his shoulders, looking at her with a very calm expression. “You know why I am here. In fact, it looks like you were e
Avery looked sternly at Margery and the arrogant look on her face. He had not been expecting that statement from her. Hell, he hadn’t thought she could say such a ridiculous thing to him. How was he just supposed to give up Zoe when they had been talking about business and Aaron’s freedom? Her condition made no sense to him and he was about to tell her when Zoe rushed into the office, the anger of a thousand people visible on her face. She flung the purse she came in with on the floor before walking straight to them, standing in the middle.Margery watched her daughter with interest, not even the least worried that her proposal might have worried Zoe but Zoe on the other hand turned to Avery, looking at him with anger.“Go ahead, Avery.” She spoke harshly. “Answer the damn question. Afterall, you came here to negotiate like you always do.”“Calm down, Zoe.” Margery called to her.“I cannot believe you, mum.” Zoe spat, channeling her anger on her. “You do one good thing for me and then
Avery prepared for work the next morning knowing fully well that Zoe had her eyes on him throughout the process. She had refused to speak to him or take any of her mother’s call after finding out from him that Aaron had been released. He understood her perfectly, knowing that she felt betrayed not just by him who claimed to love her, but also by the woman who birthed her and promised to stand by her.As he knotted his tie carefully while looking at his reflection in the mirror, he promised silently that he was going to protect her from his brother with everything he got.He picked up his tablet and phone from the bedside table before heading out of the room. Downstairs, he gave specific orders to the servants to keep their ears open and their minds alert in case of any intrusion even though it was unlikely without his knowledge. After making sure that he had been perfectly understood, he headed to the garage where his Mercedes Benz was sitting pretty waiting for him to go in. He eyed
Avery watched Jacob stand to his feet and faced his brother. Both men looked at each other like two wrestlers about to face off in a ring filled with audience and well-wishers. He had tried all he could to get them to get along personally but none seemed to like the other much. Not knowing what to say to either Jacob or Aaron to dissolve the matter, he decided to fold his arms and watch the both of them go at each other.“Criminals do get arrested, Aaron.” Jacob said. “And you have proven yourself to be a very good one beyond reasonable doubts. You also deserve your own punishment.”Aaron scoffed at him, adjusting his suit arrogantly. “I have always known that you do not fancy me much. But may I remind you that I have my name on the wall of this company.” He started, pointing to the Trent Airlines written in bold letters on the wall across Avery’s desk and Jacob’s eyes followed his fingers. “But you are just an employee who never stops running his mouth.”“I might just be an ordinary
Zoe went round the little church Avery had picked for them in her simple floral white dress. She had pleaded with him that she didn’t want anything extravagant so he had done his best to get something small in the province close to their vacation home in Maples.Everything was finally going on well with her life. She and Avery were now in a place that she could never have imagined and they were going through life together. Sometimes he sends Aaron messages, to assure him that they were still brothers, but as usual, Aaron ignores them. As a couple, the both of them had visited Francis’s grave together in Maples, bringing him flowers and she had assured Francis that she forgave him for the lies and deceit while they were together.Zoe continued to look at the statue and altar in the catholic church where Avery had agreed they got married because he wanted everything to her taste. She was grateful for him and knew for sure that the both of them were going to have a good life together.“Z
‘I need you home right now’ kept resonating in Avery’s mind even as he dropped the call. He looked at Jacob who was busy surfing through the media, looking for ways to savage the remaining reputation that they had left.“Zoe said she needs me home.” Avery said to Jacob and the latter lifted up his head to attend to him. Avery stood up from his work chair and began to roam around the space between his work table and the window.“She needs you home can mean so many things, Avery.” Jacob said, watching him keenly. “What are you getting worried about?”“She needs me home could also mean that she is tired of the life I am leading with her and wants an out.” Avery responded, watching Jacob who sighed.“If she wants an out, then you have to let her go.”Avery shook his head immediately, knotting his tie that he had loosened when he had been working. When he put on his suit, he turned back to face Jacob.“I cannot live without her, Jacob.” He said. “I have to let her know that I cannot live w
Zoe woke up in the morning to an empty bed. She yawned weakly and rolled off her side of the bed, wondering where the hell Avery had gone to so early. The wall clock in her room read twenty minutes past eight which meant he was supposed to still be in the house.She searched the bathroom and the closet but he was nowhere to be found so she made her way down the stairs. The maids she met on her way greeted her differently and with pity as if they knew exactly what she had been through for the past two days. In the dining room, Kara brought a cup of coffee to her which she accepted with gladness in her heart. Finally, she was in the comfort of her home and could eat anything she liked. That wasn’t possible when she was at the mercy of Aaron.Zoe sipped her coffee, watching Kara who was looking at her with keen eyes. She smiled when she lifted the coffee from her lips at the young girl.“Did you miss me?” She asked, making her blush. “Where is Avery by the way? Have you seen him this mo
Avery held Zoe outside the warehouse as Aaron and his crew were being taken into the police van. His fear had known no bounds while driving to save his wife and that was when he realized that he couldn’t live without Zoe. Jacob was right all along. Aaron, his brother had gotten out of hand and the best thing to do to make sure that he doesn’t do more damage is to put him behind bars.He continued to rub Zoe’s shoulders, kissing her temple when Aaron was brought to stand before the both of them in handcuffs. There was a sorry look on his face but Avery was determined not to be swayed by it.“Avery.” Aaron called, trying to meet his gaze. “You are not going to allow them take me to prison, right?” He asked with a shaky voice.Avery scoffed, finally looking him straight into the eye. “Why wouldn’t I allow them take you to prison?” He asked. “You are a criminal and a murderer. People like you deserve to be in jail.”“Come on, Avery.” Aaron called. “Remember our family name is going to be
Zoe laid still on the cold ground completely ignoring the bed Aaron had asked his people to provide for her the previous day. The room was dark but she was staring at the ceiling, wondering how long it would actually take for Avery to forget her just like Aaron had threatened. That was the only thing keeping her alive at the moment because he had promised to kill her when Avery forgets she existed.She remained still in the dark even when the door opened but squinted when the light on the ceiling was turned on directly above her. Aaron walked up to where she was and looked at her but she ignored him.“Just a little while now, Zoe.” He said, drawing the chair close to him and taking a seat on it. “I was at the house yesterday and Avery is still looking frantically for you. Just a little while now before he forgets about you completely.”Zoe scoffed arrogantly at him, her eyes still focused on the ceiling which she could see clearly now all thanks to the light in the room. His words ind
Avery’s head of security was the only one watching the security cameras and he sat up when he saw Avery walk in.“You had just one job.” Avery said, trying not to scream at the top of his lungs. “You had just one job and that was to make sure you kept her safe.”“Mr. Trent, what…” Daniel stammered.“You were supposed to keep her safe and watch her at every time, what the hell were you doing when she left the house?” Avery continued without giving him time to talk.“Your wife went out in a hurry and we tried to follow her, but she was able to escape the cars.” Daniel spoke“What the hell does that even mean?” Avery screamed this time around. “What the hell is your job if she could disappear out from your sight?”“Mr. Trent, she said you knew where she was heading to.” Daniel said, trying to defend himself. “She told us she had your permission to leave the house and we couldn’t argue with that. She is your wife.”“Don’t you dare remind me what she is because I think I am very well aware
Avery shut his work laptop closed and headed out of the office. He had had quite a tedious day and wished nothing but to go home and be in the presence of his wife whether she hated him or not. At least anytime he was with Zoe, a lot of thoughts is being blocked from his head. The only thing she worries him about is Aaron but with that at least, there was a way to maneuver it. He just had to seduce her and she would forget totally about Aaron.Thinking about it now, it had been very long since he seduced Zoe and suddenly, he couldn’t wait to get home. Charlotte knocked on his office door and when he gave her leave to enter, she stuck her head and part of her shoulder in. He saw the strap of her handbag on her shoulders and could tell she too was about to leave.“Do you need anything else sir?” Charlotte asked and he shook his head immediately.“Nothing.” He replied. “You can go home Charlotte. Drive carefully.”She bowed at him and closed the door quietly behind her. Avery on the othe
Zoe tilted her head to watch Aaron and the look on his face carefully. Of course, it was him. She thought, sighing with distress. But why had she not thought about it and why the hell would he kidnap her when Avery had warned him not to come anywhere near her? She clenched her fists in anger, hating that he was two steps ahead of her just when she had thought she had the perfect opportunity to get him the punishment he finally deserved.“You keep on surprising me, Aaron.” She said, trying her best to keep herself calm. “You surprise me every single time.”“Of course, Zoe.” He replied, taking off his suit. “I am full of surprises, am I not?”The man who had brought her the glass of water, came in with a wooden chair for Aaron to sit on and he took the seat from him.“Do you not need me, boss?” The weird looking man asked and Aaron shook his head after giving his suit to him.“I don’t.” Aaron replied, smiling. “I will just have a little fun with my sister-in-law here and be on my way.”
Zoe relaxed on her seat and crossed her legs again. There was a certain thing she was feeling that she could barely understand. Yes, Aaron had confessed to killing Francis and she had it on her recorder. Then, why wasn’t she on her way to delivering it to the police together with the pictures Amelia had given her? Why was the satisfaction that he was going to surely be behind bars suddenly feeling bittersweet? Was it because she wasn’t sure how Avery would react to it? Or because she was scared Avery would no longer want her in his life if she puts his brother behind bars.The fact that Avery had become such an important part of her life up to the point that she thought about him before making her decision surprised her so much. She just wanted everything to be settled so that the both of them could savage the remaining aspects of their lives and live safely together. Was that the reason why she was stalling?“Did you just confess to murder?” She asked Aaron, who arrogantly shrugged h