Chapter Four

AVA'S POV

I rolled my eyes around the ward as I woke up to the sound of soft rustling of the white sheets, tangled around my legs.

The sterile scent of antiseptic filled the air, a reminder of the accident that I had endured and the decision that had led to this moment.

James. Mr. Follow-My-Desires.

I rolled my eyes as thoughts of his dominating aura resurfaced through my mind. Although I’ve fully recovered, my mind raced as my thoughts tangled in series of doubts and decisions that had been unknowingly made for me.

Yesterday, I had agreed to marry James Valquez, the cold hearted billionaire who had offered me an escape from a life of debt and uncertainty.

Despite his cold and agonizing presence, his facial appearance, encompassed with dark blue eyes, a slim-built but perfect shape nose and rosy pink lips made my mind skip multiple beats.

Reminded of this, I briefly thought about Brandon, his whereabouts-If he’s still alive. A strange wave of reality encapped me, knowing too well he isn’t going to let me live after what I owe him.

I bent my head backwards, resting my head on the blue-covered pillow. Series of flashbacks ran through my mind, creating feelings of regrets and fake trust.

***********

5 years ago

Mum paced to and fro around the living room.19-year old me watched helplessly from the kitchen, as I bake cookies which I’ll sell at school tomorrow to support mother’s currently financial situation.

“Mum, what happened? You have been talking to yourself for the last ten minutes? Mum, is it about the light bill—”

“Shut up that damn mouth up! I’m in no mood to play with you, Ava. Focus.” She said, cutting me off from my voiced concern. I stared hard onto the kitchen table top of our one-bedroom rented apartment, focusing on the cookies mum asked me to focus on. I grumbled quite loudly, knowing she would refuse my plan to meet up with Jessie and Malik.

“If only Affleck’s family didn’t deprive me of my inheritance, all this problem won’t have happened. How the fuck I’m I suppose to pay the sum of three million dollars?! I should have invested in my self, before depending on his wealth.” She said with a heavy sigh. She slumped into the only comfortable chair we had. I watch mum panicked, muttering dad’s name in almost every sentence she spoke.

I looked at her, pitifully remembering the lifestyle we had before dad’s death, one and half year ago. Mum struggled to keep our seven-hundred thousand dollar mansion, but later lost it to my uncles in a court case earlier this year. Most nights was dark and gloomy as Mum started drinking-a habit she condemned with her entire existence.

The nine cars owned by my late father, was sold by his elder brother, the same man who promised to support our family in days of darkness and agony during dad’s dinner party of having being inaugurated as the minister of works and local power here in Simville.

I slammed the kitchen knife on the cutting board fiercely in frustration, creating a loud bang. I abstractly remembered mom being force to sell her business colmgarate, as dad’s sisters filed a lawsuit claiming that her business was mainly owned by father, accompanied with further claims of having a second family elsewhere.

Their claims were backed with the fact that she only conceived a daughter for their late brother. Unluckily for mum, she lost the lawsuit, having no choice than to buy the company back with a humongous loan, which she insisted to me that she has repayed it earlier this month. I further pondered over what could make her furious right now. She abruptly looked at me as she briefly maintained her gaze on my flour stained face and partially torn apron.

“Put on your cloak Ava. We’re going to make a short trip to a friend of mine.” She said, abnormally calm.

“Right now?”

“Yes Ava. Right now.”

I frowned lightly praying the mysterious trip mum has abruptly planned won’t take much time as promised, knowing Jessie and Malik would be crossed if I missed our hang out evenings for the fourth time in a row.

“Put the dough inside the cupboard. We won’t be long.” She said, as if reading my mind.

Grabbing my Cloak, I passed through the tiny kitchen, placing the dough tray inside the cupboard. A wash of relief flowed through me, hearing her promise.

We both stepped out of our front doors into the alley way, Mum leading up front. My eyes glittered gleefully seeing my two best friends suddenly exited the building stairs and started walking towards our direction.

I observed my mum acknowledged their greetings as I mouthed a “Sorry, I’ll be late but I’ll make it.” Towards their direction.

Jessie reacted by shooting me with an imaginary gun, making me giggle half-heartedly. I carefully made out the sentence: “I’ll kill you if you don’t show up." from Malik, watching him place his thumb and sliding it slowly across his neck, symboling my demise. I giggled again, promising to show up in no time.

Mum led me to an unfamiliar street as she climbed unto the pavement of an unknown house. She knocked gently, leaving me curious on her relation with the strange building. The door gently opened, revealing a good looking man of around age 21.

“Hello, Mr. Brandon. I’ve changed my mind.” Mum said, striking confusion in my head. I looked over to find a muscular youth staring at me endlessly.

I turned my head around in discomfort, observing his persistent gaze. I noticed Mum started to fidget slightly as if trying to produce harsh words. “This is Ava, My daughter. You can take her as your girl. She’s very handy. She’s—”

I stared at my mom in disbelief before suddenly cutting her off.

"Wait, WHAT!!?"

“Mum? What’re you talking about? Is this the thing that you wanted to do? Selling me off for some reason unknown to me?” I sparked.

Mon looked at me without a single word. Her unusual rage had dispersed into guilt and shame, portrayed on her face. “ In fact, no need for any explanation. I’m out of here.” I calmly said, fighting back heavy tears.

My mind clouded in despair, believing this dirty of business were all extinct, but more disturbing, My mom could have it within her to do it with her only daughter. I walked quite hastily, refusing to turn back.

*Ava. You can do this, there’s no need to cry.*

I walked quite hurriedly from where they stood. I became relieved as a familiar doorstep followed me.

Mother’s probably had her reasons. I abruptly paused as I got pulled back by someone. My eyes flickered with anger seeing Mum trembling eyes.

“Your dad messed up Ava. I tried to cover it, but—”

“But what? The next step is to sell your own daughter? Without telling me anything? You could have said something mum!” I said without any emotional restrictions. My defenses broke down as I started to cry.

“Come here..” Mum said suddenly.

I snatched her into my arms, hugging her tightly.

“You could have said something mum…” I said, wailing into her arms before she suddenly pulled me out of her arms.

Looking at me with tears pouring down her cheeks, she wiped my face with her woolen sleeve.

“I’ll get the money soon. I’ll—”

“No..Mum, No! Don’t say that! You’re not leaving me with that man!” I screamed.

“Please Ava!! I could go to jail! Worse, they’ll dig up some of your dad’s past files and we both can go to jail.”

“How?!”

She paused with empathy portrayed blankly on her face. “Documents we’re signed under your name. My name. Our name. We could be killed by the people who have been cheated by your father, if this past records get out.” Mum explained.

“Ava, I need you to listen to me, you’ll go live with him pending the time I’m back. I’ll be back sooner than you think Ava. I’ll have amass so much wealth to take care of the both of us.” She finished.

“Mum! He could assault me?! How could you allow him to harm me when you know you’ll not be there to protect me!” I said, yanking her woolen coat.

“Please, Ava.” She muttered. I looked at her with empathy and started to quiet myself if I was being stingy with the only help I could possibly offer to save her—to save us.

Relieving me of my thoughts, mom abruptly held my hand and attempted to turn me back. I relatively accepted, as we turn back and started to hear back.

“One more thing darling, you are going to be in a relationship with—”

“I understand the consequences of your actions mother. I won’t forget this, talk more of forgiving you.” I coldly stated.

“I’ll soon be back.” She said, looking at my direction.

“I won’t still forgive you when you get back. Dad wouldn’t. But I’ll be glad if you did.” I said, without looking at her direction as we both headed back.

***************

“Ava! Are you sure that’s her name? Ava!? Hello?!”