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T H I R T Y
S E V E N T H
C H A P T E R

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AVA'S POV

"Here have some tea."

I was still in his room now wrapped in a blanket. I took a cup of hot tea from him. I sniffed it and felt great. "Please, Aaron, you don't have do this all."

"So give me back my tea."

"No."

We chuckled.

"Thank you for everything." I said taking a sip.

"Thank you for sharing." he sat beside me a few inches away.

There was silence and we both drank hot and soothing tea.

"I should go now." I said completing my tea.

"Are you sleepy?"

"Are you?"

"No."

"Same." I said sighing. "What should we do?"

"Work?"

"Really?" I looked at him surprised.

"No." He chuckled. He said out of the blue, "Ah, this work is so tiring. So much files, so much meetings. It's tiring."

Something flashed by my mind when he brought up 'files' and I said it, "Aaron, do you remmeber the other day you asked me to bring file from your cupboard. I know I shouldn't have looked at it, but it fell."

"What fell?"

"A photo."

He, for a moment, became still like a mummy.

"It was very weird--- I couldn't recognize anyone from the picture and I've seen everyone in your family except your mom."

He looked down, still silent.

I think I shouldn't have brought this up.

"I'm sorry. It must be private." I quickly apologized.

He said readily, "No--- it's okay. You want to know who's in that picture? It's my ex-girlfriend."

"Oh.."

"Do you remember all the times you kept asking me questions about why I am like this and that. Well, all the answers are directly or indirectly linked to my ex-girlfriend."

"It's okay. I don't want to know anymore."

"I loved her. I was sure it was love. Because the pain I received, it's unexplainable." He let out a deep breath. "Sadly, she didn't love me back. She pretended--- but she didn't."

I diverted my complete attetion to him and listened to him.

"Do you know why I hate being called Aaron?"

"No."

I really want to know the answer to this question.

"It's because the guy she actually loved. His name was also Aaron."

WHAT?

That was the reason all this time?

The mystery was revealed to me now and I couldn't believe that this was the only reason.

He was looking upset. He further added, "The reason I hated being pointed at because she used to point at me all the time--- it was one of her acts I really found cute."

He was right. All his problems were related to her ex-girlfriend. I still couldn't believe that it was his ex-girlfriend behind his rudeness all this while.

But it was true.

"You should love your name and it's okay to be pointed at sometimes. You shouldn't think about her or give her space in your mind or heart."

"Now she's totally out of my heart and mind." He said smiling and continued, "Now there's someone else."

"Who?"

He cleared his throat. "I was saying that she always loved somebody else, but she lied to me."

He didn't answer my question and changed the topic, but I didn't insist.

"How did you know that she was lying? I mean how did you find out?"

"She was pregnant and I was very happy the day she told me about our baby. I always wanted to be a dad and my dream was about to come true. The day Christian born, I was out of city. Mom was sick and she was calling for me, but I wanted to see Christian born. I asked my ex-girlfriend and she gave me permission very easily to go see my mom."

He stopped.

"Then?"

"It was okay when she lied about love. But something she lied about which I can never forgive her for."

"What?"

"After I came back. I went straight to the hospital. There I saw Christian lying in the bed. He was so little. His tiny hands, his tiny feet. He was mine. I kissed his head."

I smiled. He's really a great dad.

"But then I couldn't find her, my ex-girlfriend. I picked up my phone to call her and saw a message. I still remmeber each and every word of that message. She told me everything on a message."

"Told what?"

"Told that I'm not the actual father of Christian."

WHAT?

"You're not?" I was perplexed and shocked.

"Yes, his lover was. She lied to me. I was completely broken that day--- completely." He hid his face with his palm.

I can't believe someone can lie about something like this.

He looked down and I getting out of my blanket, quickly wrapped my short arms around his great body.

He was warm.

I wanted to calm him the way he calmed me.

He also pulled his arms around me and in a few seconds, I was sitting on his thighs.

We broke the hug, our arms are still around each other.

He kept looking at me and I at him.

My eyes surfaced on his face, his jaw, his lips.

I stared at his lips.

I wanted to kiss him.

I really did.

I don't know the reason, but I was aching to feel his lips on me again.

Out of nowhere--- I placed my lips on his.

He responded pulling me closer towards him and we kissed.

His hands moved over my back and he caressed my back, then he held me tightly and pulled me more closer to him. Still kissing, his hands traced my thighs.

I moaned with the contact. His touch was making me insane. Electricity flowed through my whole body.

I couldn't stop.

Without thinking, I held his tee and pulled it up. For the moment we broke the kiss and I took off his shirt. He sat half-naked in front of me. As I moved my hands slowly on his muscles, we kissed again.

He got up, holding me up in his arms. Kissing, he placed me softly on the bed and kissed me.

While we were passionetly kissing, I broke the kiss and looked away.

Heat radiating from my body.

I should stop.

I can't do anything. I can't let anyone come this close.

What am I doing?

What am I really doing right now?

It's just that we both are hurt today that's why we're doing this.

I got up from his bed. He kept looking at me, but I couldn't look at him. I was embarassed. I started the kiss. I took off his shirt. I started everything. 

Oh, I'm so silly.

"I'm sorry." I said still looking down and I dashed towards the door.

"Ava!" he called for me, but I kept moving. He quickly wore his tee and also came out of the room and saw me moving farther away in the lobby.

I don't know where I was going and why I was going away from him.

I was afraid. I was afraid because--- because I was developing feelings for Mr. Aaron.

I was afraid of love.

I was afraid of the destruction of love.

I couldn't come close to anyone and let love destroy me--- completely.

He was following me in the silent lobby when someone called Aaron from behind. "Hey!"

The voice was familiar.

We both turned and looked.

It was him.

ETHAN!

How? How was he even here?

What was Ethan doing here?

He was holding a cricket bat in his hands.

I was petrified to see the murderer of my baby and my father right in front of me.

"Hey you. How dare you touch my wife." He yelled at Aaron.

He rushed towards Aaron and hit the bat harshly on Aaron's head making him unconscious.

"AARON!" I screamed and ran towards them.

He kept bashing Aaron with that bat.

"STOP IT. I BEG YOU TO STOP." I cried running.

Before I could reach them, Ethan stopped and ran out.

This time I was more afraid for Aaron and didn't worry about Ethan running away.

Aaron was lying down, blood oozing out of his head and body.

He was ruthlessly beaten.

I groaned looking at him in this condition.

"Someone HELP us! We need HELP," I screamed for help. "PLEASE!" 

I called the hotel attendant and 911.

Why was this happening?

♣

23 HOURS LATER

"Doctor, how is he now?" Aaron's mother asked who just came a few minutes ago from California.

It's been a day almost and Aaron's still under doctor's care.

He hasn't woken up yet. His dad and mom had decided to transfer him to the hospital in California, his birth place. They say that the doctors there will take great care of him.

But I wanted to see him. I wanted to see him wake up. I wanted to know how he was. If he'll be taken to California how will I be able to see him.

I couldn't interfere in his parent's decision.

Every thing is happening because of me. I thought while pacing near the ICU ward.

I sat down and waited.

Please, Aaron, be okay.

I prayed.

♣

"Ava," Mr. David presence brought me to attention. "Your mom is alone at home. I have ordered a private jet for you. You should leave now. We're here to take care of Aaron. He's also going to be transferred soon. So you should go."

"Did he wake up yet?"

"No, he hasn't." Mr. David was very dejected.

"But, Mr. Smith, I want to sta..."

"Please Ava, your mom is alone. Go."

I had to listen to him, but I wanted to see Aaron.

He was also right about my mom.

"The plane is here. We're transferring him, David." Mrs. Smith came from inside and informed him.

"Okay," Mr. David said and went inside the ICU with her wife.

My eyes were glued to the door of the ICU when it opened and I saw Aaron lying on the stretcher and being taken by nurses and doctors outside.

Tears escaped my eyes to see him like this.

I looked at him for the last time.

"Please be okay, Aaron." I whispered. "Please."

He was taken away.

I stood in the hospital all alone.

The smell of the medicines and drugs making me dizzy.

I fell on the floor and started crying.

"It's all because of me. All because of me." I cried.

♣

5 HOURS LATER

"Mom, I'm home." I reached home.

The sun was dull, covered by clouds. I didn't know how I was going to survive this new day.

I made breakfast for mom and fed her and then I moved to my room.

I sprawled like an eagle on my bed and kept thinking.

It was because of me. Ethan was there because of me. If I wasn't there, he would've never hit Aaron.

People around me get hurt--- ALWAYS. 

I'm bad luck.

No one should be around me.

I checked my phone, hoping to get some news about Aaron. I checked the news:

//The multimillionaire, Mr. Aaron James Smith, son of famous business-man, Mr. David Smith, is being treated at their family hospital. It's reported that Aaron Smith is still unconscious.//

Gloomily, I kept looking at the news.

I need to put an end to this. 

I need to.

I picked up my phone.

Are you sure, Ava? my inner voice asked me.

I can't let him hurt more people around me.

I need to call him.

I scrolled and found the number from which I received the filthy texts.

Pressing on the call button, I called him.

Nobody was picking up.

I kept trying to reach him.

After several attempts, I put my phone down.

As I was about to get up from bed and take a shower, my phone started ringing.

It was the same number.

I picked up the call.

"So finally my wife wants to talk to me." He laughed in a devilish way.

"Stop calling me your wife and tell me why are you doing this." my tone was full of anger.

"Don't you get it by now? It's you. I want my wife back. You're mine."

"Stop saying this."

My hate for him was increasing every passing moment.

"Then don't expect for me to not hurt people."

"What do you want?"

"For now a dinner will do." He said in a cocky tone. "Dinner tonight at my place."

"No."

"Then why did you ask? Now next time when someone will get hurt--- blame yourself because you didn't listen to me."

NO! I don't want him to hurt anyone anymore.

"Okay. I'll have dinner with you." I gave in.

"I'll send you the address, my wife." He chuckled and cancelled the call.

I stared at the phone for I don't know how long.

I was going to meet my ex-husband alone tonight.

I'm scared.

✴ ✴

N e x t :
Last Chapter.

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