91Ava glared at the phone, willing it to break into a million pieces. Her sister had just hung up on her! And she still had no clue what exactly was going on over there. When she had gotten that anonymous call from a student in her school claiming Kim had absconded from school after sucker punching a guy in the face and whacking him to death, she had barely believed her ears. Okay, perhaps she had believed the person instantly. Who was she to blame? Kim wasn't the type to properly reflect on her actions before carrying them out and Ava had been terrified to hear that.Shoving the phone into her purse, she walked down the hallway of Angel Modelling Agency towards the exit of the building. Once she got home, she would make sure Kim understood how important it was to maintain a good image for her and Sebastian's sake. Their hard work could not be undone by her younger sister's impulsive attitude. She had barely stepped out of the building however when the cameras came clicking. Stunne
Chapter 92Sebastian finally closed from work around 7pm that night from work and instead of going home directly he decided to check up on Ava.He has been trying to get through to her but it wasn’t really going and he just felt it wouldn’t hurt for him to check up on her.He was very tired because he just finished a very important business conference and the next thing he was supposed to do was go home and have enough rest to get ready for the next day.He kept on thinking about her throughout the day and thought it’s better if he just went over to see her.He picked up his phone and dialed her number to know if she was going to be home but it wasn’t going through.He shrugged it off thinking probably she wasn’t wearing her phone at that moment and that was why she didn’t pick so he decided to go anyway.Ava normally kept her phone in her room so she was probably watching a movie or so,he thought.After some minutes of driving,he arrived at her house and parked his car outside.He c
93Frantic, Sebastian repeatedly dialed Ava's number, desperately hoping for a response. Where the hell was she? And how had someone broken into her house? Where was Kim too?! Each call went unanswered, deepening his worry. Had somethubg happened to her? Frustrated and fearing the worst, he quickly dialed Kim's number, needing someone who might have information about Ava's whereabouts.Kim picked up after a few rings, her voice filled with concern. "Sebastian, what's wrong? Why are you calling me?" she asked, her voice trembling. Sebastian's instincts told him immediately that something was wrong. "It's Ava, where's Ava?" "What?" Kim asked and he dragged a palm down his face to contain his frustration. When he replied, his voice was laden with anxiety. "I've been trying to reach her, but she's not picking up. Do you know where she is?"Kim paused for a while as if musing over her thoughts. "I don't know. I thought she would be home." "Well she's not. Where are you as well? Aren't
Chapter 94: Rescuing Ava "I don't think they're gone yet," Addison mumbled when Ava turned her gaze to the clock on the wall. It was well past nine in the night and while she wasn't sure if the paparazzi were gone or if they remained, she wasn't sure she wanted to find out. Sighing deeply, she nodded at Addison Monroe and yawned. She had been feeling sleepy for a long time and it took everything in her not to succumb to it. "Just sleep," Addison urged. "I'll let you know if they're gone." "No," Ava mumbled groggily and shook her head. She had to go home soon. Kim would be so worried. Perhaps Sebastian would be worried too. She wouldn't know, she could not reach him no matter how many times she had called. Peeking through her heavy lids, she eyed her bag. It lay on a chair rather far away from her. She must have dropped it when she was discussing it with Addison. "Let's just talk," She continued, rising to her feet, trying to shake herself awake. "What did you mean when you sai
Sebastian stroked the mass of hair spilled all over Ava's bed, watching as she slept rather soundly. It was morning and he most likely should be on his way to work, but after the scare he had received yesterday, he never wanted to leave her side. Ever. He watched her lips part as she muttered something lazily and turn on her side. She looked so adorable. Chuckling, he glanced at her closed window and wondered if he should open it. No he decided. There was no good in that anyways. She would get cold or worse the sunlight would filter in and wake Ava up. Her phone shrilled, cutting through the silence that had enveloped them. Sebastian gritted his teeth in irritation, snatched the device and considered tossing it against the wall. If the device had functioned properly the day before, perhaps he would have reached Ava soon enough. Perhaps he would not have had to worry so much. He had almost hurled the device to the wall when he thought about the distaste on Ava's face if she found ou
96When Ava finally opened her eyes, it was late in the afternoon and there was a loud pounding in her ears. It rang incessantly, driving her crazy. Groaning, her eyes flitted up, taking in the ceiling of her room and then sideways to search for a pillow. Instead of a pillow beside her, however, there was a man. A very sexy shirtless man. He had his arms wrapped around her waist, broad chest towering above her as she laid on her back, and his scent... Oh damn, she purred, closing her eyes. His musky scent assaulted her senses, dulling the loud ringing that disturbed her earlier. Sebastian. What exactly had happened? Still closing her eyes, Ava tried to recall what had happened the day before. Flashes of Kim's call with her, the video of her sister slamming her purse into the face of a rather huge guy that had stormed the internet, and then the crazy paparazzi at the gates of Angel Modelling Agency. If Addison hadn't been around, she really would have been mauled by that mob. She
97. Ava groaned. "Who could that be?"Sebastian smirked. "Probably your sister Kim. She's probably still mad at me yelling at her last night."Ava dug her head into the pillow, letting out a muffled scream. "You haven't apologized?""Why should I?" Sebastian asked, frowning,"I was right, she was wrong, end of story." Ava roller her eyes, "Sometimes you are sooo immature."Sebastian shrugged rolling of her and rubbing his eyes. The knock sounded again, louder and more insistent this time."I know you are in there Sebastian you jerk! Open up to I will stay here all day."Sebastian looked at her, mock worry on his face. "Do you think she would do that?"Ava chuckled quietly, "That girl is as resilient as a cockroach in a nuclear testing site okay? One day when we were little, my mom refused to let her go for a tea party next door and she went on a hunger strike for days.""What?!" Sebastian was shocked."Yeah, my mom had to throw her own tea party to appease her." Ava finished, smiling
98They made their way to the downstairs suite, Sebastian on tow practically skipping through the staircase. Summer vacation in some exotic European and Caribbean nation for free was of course one of the perks of dating a billionaire business man. Immediately opening her laptop, Ava went online to find the hottest vacation locations for summer that year. Soon they were browsing through pages and pages of exotic pictures over their Bacon and scrambled egg breakfast."Ooh, Bali looks amazing," Kimberly said, pointing to a picture of a luxurious resort.Ava shook her head. "I don't know, I feel like we should go somewhere with more history and culture."Kimberly rolled her eyes. "Ugh, you're such a nerd. I just want to relax on a beach."Ava laughed. "Well, we can do both. How about Italy?"Kimberly perked up. "Ooh, that could work. I heard they have amazing food."Ava nodded. "And beautiful architecture."They continued to browse through the magazines, discussing different locations and
One month laterThe wedding had been a splendid affair and from the start, Ava was practically forbidden from lifting a finger for herself by Kim, Renee, Violet, and the flock of servants at her disposal due to how heavy she had become and she resorted to staying put unless she risked the ire of the women helping her dress up. Sebastian had planned a proposal with the rest of their friends leaving her in the dark. It was unexpected and it felt real and different this time around, they had come through so many difficulties and they both knew it was the right time to make it all real this time around.At the stroke of midnight on her wedding, Ava was standing at the entrance of the hall already adorned with palatial decorations with cascading floral arrangements hanging from every side of the grand room, sparkling white chandeliers hung high above with delicate draperies completing the settings designed to evoke an atmosphere filled with love and warmth. A group of violinists was posit
It’s been two months since Sebastian was released from the hospital and Ava moved into the mansion with him. The penthouse held too many hurtful memories and she wasn’t eager to go back there and be plagued by nightmares during her sleep. Jake’s trial hadn’t taken a lot of time either, there was a ton of insurmountable evidence against him and the jury didn’t take much liking to him either, or the judge. In reality, no one was going to take the side of a journalist with murderous intentions over New York’s most desirable couple. Their return to the spotlight had been a field day in the media world especially as articles and gossip about their breakup had been going on for a while now, their appearance together had all but quietened every rumor going on about them. Ava was becoming used to being pregnant and after a few weeks of tedious work down at the agency, she had gone on maternity leave that would run well into a few months after she gave birth.One of her favorite parts of be
Damian looked back and forth between Ava and Sebastian and it was pretty obvious that they had eyes for just each other right now, everything else faded into the background. He didn’t need any further clue, his time here was up.“I believe it’s best I give you both some space to talk things through.” Damian cleared his throat, gave Sebastian a nod, and patted Ava’s shoulders as he walked past her. “Do you think they’re going to be fine?” Violet asked Damian as soon as he got to the door. Sebastian spared them a glance over his shoulder before returning his gaze to Violet. “I can’t possibly say for sure but if what I noticed between them was true then we’ve got nothing to worry about.As soon as Ava heard the door shut behind her, she walked towards the bed, maintaining a friendly distance as she pulled out a chair and sat on it. Sebastian didn’t know how to start tackling their issues so he decided to make small talk first, it always worked for him and he was hoping that it wouldn
Ava made her way outside the building and towards the parking lot, it was lonely, just how she wanted it to be. She didn’t want any disturbance or interference from anyone. All Ava had wanted was for Sebastian to wake up from his coma. She spent days at his bedside, urging him to come back to her and he eventually did but she ran. There was no telling why she ran and she didn’t even have any logical explanation as to why she did it, the only thing she could say is that she was scared shitless and that was all she could say. She would eventually have to go back and talk to him afterward but she didn’t know if she could bring herself to do it. “Hey, sis.” Ava looked up to see Kim walking towards her flanked on either side by Renee and Violet, they all wore worried expressions on their faces and she could tell from their hesitation that they didn’t know if they should come any closer or maintain a healthy distance. “How did you guys find me?” Ava asked, her eyes were fixed to the g
“I’m only trying to look out for you,” Kim sighed. “I’m tired of seeing you crying after a couple of months where you think you’re in love and your troubles are behind you. It hurts me as much as it hurts you, Ava.” “I know,” Ava smiled sadly. Kim was right, she’d always been eager to jump right back into it without putting provisions in place in case her assumed fairytale moment didn’t come to pass. But things were different this time around, she had been through a lot and as a result, she’d been forced to put herself first for now before anyone else and if anything was going to happen, she would be the last person to instigate anything. She’d done enough and it wasn’t going to work, she wasn’t going to invest her time lifting a finger. She’s done enough already. “Things aren’t going to be the way it once was. I promise you that.”“Tell me you’re sure you know what you’re doing?” Kim nibbled on her lower lip. “I can’t promise you I know what I’m doing, Kim. But my heart is in the
“You really should stop feeling this way and making us feel like we’re strangers as well,” Kim frowned. “We’re here because we love and care about you, that’s the truth. You’re part of our lives so I don’t see how you keep interfering in what you’re a major part of. You’ve got to accept that so you’d stop feeling like you owe us something because you don’t.”Ava sighed. “Okay, you’re right and I’m sorry for feeling this way. It’s unusual to see a lot of people wanting to help me at the same time and that’s why I reacted that way,” “It’s okay, we don’t hold it against you. We know your past and how you’re still getting used to a couple of good gestures. Kim suffers from the same problem as well.” Violet assured her. “So, you mentioned that Sebastian woke up a while ago?” Kim asked, eager to steer the conversation away from their childhood. She wasn’t prepared to visit memories that she had worked so hard to repress. “Yes, he did. He wasn’t a hundred percent conscious and the doctors
Ava walked back into the hospital room as soon as the doctor mentioned it was okay for her to return. She walked back into the room to see Sebastian soundly asleep. “Is everything alright, doctor?” Ava sounded worried. “Did he go to sleep on his own or did he pass out?”“We gave him a sedative to keep him under for a couple of hours until he regains his full strength, he should feel much after he wakes up this time around and that’s what we’re hoping for. When that happens, we can then begin the final stage of his recovery process.” Ava nodded. “Thank you, doctor. We’re so grateful for the help you’ve rendered.”“It’s my pleasure to help. I’ve known Sebastian since we were both boys and my father has been the Bancroft’s family doctor for decades. He’s like family to me as well.” “Do I need to call you guys once he wakes up?” Ava asked, her eyes fixed on Sebastian. “You don’t need to, we’d be counting down the hours ourselves and carrying out checkups before midnight. You’ve got no
It’s been a week since the ugly incident and Sebastian hadn’t woken up yet. Ava was struggling to pull it together but she knew she didn’t have any other option, she couldn’t afford to break down right now not when she had to look after herself and the baby as well given the fact that the pregnancy was entering into its crucial phase.The doctor urged her to give him time and be patient till he decided to come around. His vitals were good and his condition was improving, he was going to wake up any moment from now, the doctor would always say giving her a warm smile in return. The conviction in his voice always seemed to calm Ava’s nerves so she waited calmly until Sebastian decided to come around.She was in his hospital room, sitting on a chair next to the hospital bed, her knees were pulled up under her chin with her face buried between a historical romance novel by Nora Roberts. Reading helped her calm down and forget her worries and she’d been doing a lot of it during the past f
“Life isn’t meant to be fair to everyone,” Damian offered Ava a soft smile. “It’s just the way life is and we’ve got to make the best out of what we’re given.”“Sebastian doesn’t deserve this,” Ava grumbled.“No one does but shit happens.” Damian shuffled his feet as he struggled to find a comfortable situation. “Do you think he’s going to come out of this? Be honest with me. I could use that right now if you don’t mind.”“Sebastian’s tough as nails. He’s one of the most stubborn men I’ve ever met and if there’s anyone I know who’s going to come out of this, it’s Sebastian.”“Thank you, Damian.” Ava rubbed her arms, trying to calm her nerves. “You’re welcome. If there’s anything you need, please, do not hesitate to inform me.”“I’m good. Besides, I have a lot of people doting on me already and you have work to do.” “If you say so but I’m still here if you need anything.”“I should’ve done this a long time ago but I want to thank you for talking to Sebastian and managing to convince