Avery's POV

As we stepped into Rick's apartment, a sense of weariness settled over me like a heavy cloak. The events of the day had left me emotionally drained, and the familiar surroundings offered little solace.

Without a word, I made a beeline for the staircase on the left side of the living room, eager to retreat to the sanctuary of my room. Before I could reach the stairs, Rick's voice stopped me in my tracks.

"Avery, wait."

I paused, turning to face him, my heart heavy with the knowledge of what was coming next. His gaze was steady, unwavering, and I could see the unspoken question in his eyes.

"The letter," he said, his tone soft but firm. "I need to see it."

I hesitated for a moment, my mind racing. The letter from Maria felt like a secret burden, something I wasn't ready to share – not even with Rick. But as I glanced down at the box in my hand, the one that held the letter and my childhood picture, I knew I couldn't keep it from him any longer.

With a sigh that seemed to echo through the room, I handed the box to Rick, feeling as if I were putting down a weight too heavy to carry alone. Rick took the box and nodded, his eyes searching mine for something I couldn't quite decipher.

I nodded back, not trusting myself to speak, and turned away, leaving him with the letter that might hold the key to everything. Climbing the stairs with a sense of urgency, I reached my room and closed the door behind me, shutting out the world beyond.

Setting Maria's diary that I had brought from the orphanage on my nightstand, I felt a surge of emotion welling up within me. But I pushed the feelings aside for now. There would be time to confront them later.

Turning away from the nightstand, I headed for the bathroom, my steps heavy with exhaustion. Stripping off my clothes, I stepped into the shower, the warm water washing over me like a cleansing tide. The sensation of the water against my skin was invigorating, but it did little to ease the tension that had settled into my muscles.

After what felt like an eternity, I emerged from the shower and stood before the mirror, the steam slowly dissipating around me. I wiped away the fog from the mirror, revealing my reflection staring back at me.

My eyes looked tired and puffy from crying, the weight of the day etched into every line and crease. My gaze flicked to the necklace around my neck, its chain glinting softly in the dim light. Reaching up, I touched it briefly, a reminder of the past and the memories it carried.

Sighing heavily, I reached for a towel, wrapping it around myself as I began to dry my hair. The rhythmic motion was oddly soothing, and as I worked, I felt a sense of calm settle over me.

As I finished drying my hair, the realization dawned on me that it was already dinner time. I wrapped the towel tighter around myself and made my way out of the bathroom.

The grumble of my stomach reminded me of the more immediate need at hand – food. I slipped into a pair of comfortable pyjama pants and a baggy shirt and made my way towards the staircase, my stomach growling in protest.

However, just as I was about to descend, the murmur of voices reached my ears, halting me in my tracks. My curiosity piqued, I paused at the top of the stairs, glancing down the hallway where a door stood slightly ajar. The soft glow of light spilling from the crack revealed only shadows, but the voices were clear enough to capture my attention.

Moving quietly, I approached the door with cautious steps, careful not to make a sound that might alert those inside to my presence. Pressing my ear to the crack, I focused intently on the conversation unfolding within.

Rick's voice was unmistakable—steady and calm, as usual. But it was the second voice that sent a chill down my spine. The thick Italian accent carried an air of menace that contrasted sharply with Rick's measured tone.

"You're positive it's her?"

"Sì, Maria didn't leave much room for doubt. She named Avery's parents – Marco and Sofia Verona - in the letter."

The stranger's gasp of realization echoed in the room.

"With that stronzo Sergei back in the picture, he won't stop until he's near Gianna."

Rick's nod was barely perceptible as he leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable.

"I need to trace Maria's link to the Veronas. There's something there, something that ties Avery—no, Gianna—to that night when we all thought she was gone for good."

My heart pounded in my chest as I absorbed Rick's words. Hearing my real name coming from Rick's mouth felt strange and unsettling, as if he were speaking about someone else entirely.

The name felt foreign, distant, yet somehow unavoidably tied to the person I had become. It was like hearing a ghost whispering secrets about a life I didn't even know I had.

My mind raced, a whirlwind of emotions making it hard to breathe. The realization that Rick knew about my past—a past even I was unaware of—sent a wave of unease through me, leaving me feeling vulnerable and exposed.

But before I could dwell on the implications further, the doorbell rang downstairs, jolting me back to the present. With a sense of urgency, I backed away from the door, my mind racing with questions and fears. The sound of my heartbeat seemed to grow louder, drowning out everything else as I hurried down the stairs, my steps quick and uneven.

I reached the bottom and flung open the door with a mix of urgency and curiosity. Bryce, Fred, and George stood there, grinning widely.

They looked like they'd just hit the jackpot, holding up an impressive array of pizzas, drinks, ice creams, chocolates, and a bouquet of white heather. Their smiles were infectious, and the sight was so unexpected that I stopped in my tracks, momentarily forgetting to breathe.

"Surprise!" Bryce exclaimed, practically shoving the flowers into my hands with a beaming smile.

Confusion etched across my face, I stared at the assortment of goodies. Before I could react further, Rick's voice floated down from the staircase.

"Avery, who's at the door?"

I looked back up, still bewildered, and shrugged slightly.

"It's Bryce, Fred, and George."

I turned my attention back to the three of them, who were already making their way into the apartment, each carrying their respective items with a sense of purpose.

"Hey!" they said in unison, their voices filled with enthusiasm.

Fred and George gave Rick sheepish grins as they entered, while Bryce continued to beam.

"Oh, and Thomas is here too," he added.

Rick, still halfway down the stairs, rolled his eyes. It was then that I noticed a man standing just behind them. He appeared to be in his early 50s but looked remarkably youthful, almost as if he were in his late 30s. He was tall—around six feet, almost the same height as Rick but slightly shorter. His hair was neatly styled, resembling Rick's own.

I found myself engrossed in analyzing the man, completely unaware of the collective gaze focused on me until Rick cleared his throat, jolting me from my daze. I blinked, taking in the group with a surge of awkwardness. Everyone's eyes were on me, including the man's.

He stepped forward, extending his hand with a warm, friendly smile.

"Hi, I'm Thomas - Rick's uncle. It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Gianna."

My eyes widened at the name.

"Oh, uh, Avery," I stammered, forcing a small, nervous smile. "I prefer Avery."

Thomas's smile broadened, and he gave a courteous nod.

"Of course, Avery. It's lovely to meet you."

I shook Thomas's hand, offering a polite smile.

"Nice to meet you, Thomas."

Thomas's eyes twinkled as he said, "Last time I saw you, you were just a baby. Look at you now, all grown up!"

Wait, what? How did he know me from when I was a baby?

I scrunched my eyes and raised an eyebrow at his remark. The realization hit me like a bolt of lightning—if Rick had known me since I was a baby, then of course, Thomas would, too.

Before I could say anything, Rick let out an exaggerated cough, and I saw him shoot a sharp look at Thomas. His eyes were narrowed slightly, clearly a warning. Thomas's eyes widened in recognition of his mistake, and he made an "o" with his mouth before quickly backing away. He gave me a small smile, trying to smooth over the awkwardness.

Clearly eager to shift the focus, Rick turned to Bryce, Fred, and George.

"Alright, what's all this about?"

The three of them exchanged nervous glances, their smiles faltering as they scrambled for an explanation.

"Uh, well, these are all for Avery," Bryce stammered.

"Since, um, she's the first one to come to our sanctuary in ten years," George added, his voice trailing off.

"So, we're, um, officially welcoming her to our family," Fred finished, trying to sound convincing.

Rick shook his head, though a small, bemused smile tugged at his lips. I couldn't help but let a slight smile slip through, despite the long day I'd had.

The guys, along with Thomas, bustled into the kitchen to set up dinner. I felt a sudden, intense jolt of awareness as I caught Rick's eye. He looked at me with a mixture of amusement and something else I couldn't quite place. My smile faltered, and I immediately dropped my gaze.

Rick leaned in close, his breath warm against my ear, his voice a low, dangerous whisper.

"Eavesdropping isn't good, you know."

My eyes widened in surprise, and my heart pounded like a drum in my chest.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Sorry for the delay, everyone! Here's a fun tidbit: I started writing this story last year during my internship. On days when work was slow, I would sneak in some writing time. Although I had planned to finish the entire story before publishing, something pushed me to share it with you all earlier. 

A quick update: I've been quite occupied over the past few weeks, so I haven't had the chance to check my notifications yet. Unfortunately, there won't be any appreciation messages with this update. However, once I catch up on my notifications, I'll be sure to announce the Readers of the Month for August. Thank you for your understanding and continued support!

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