“I know, it’s you, Niamh,” Ava replied without thinking, only to hear Niamh saying that was not what she meant.
“I was talking about your mother.”
Ava fell silent when Niamh said that.
“Ava, I know I wasn’t there at the scene, but I think your mother really wants to make it up to you and regrets what she did when she left you behind last time.”
Niamh patiently persuaded Ava.
“And I also know that you’ve always wanted to feel the love of your parents again. I suppose both of us have gone through the same thing in that regard, so why don’t you give yourself another chance? And perhaps give your mom another chance too?”
After they ended their call, Ava was lost in thought again.
Daniel could tell that something was bothering her. “Ava, I think your mom has been waiting outside. It’s really cold outside today. If we keep her waiting outside the door like this, she might catch a cold. Why don’t we invite her in to sit down and talk?”
Although he was just suggesting, Daniel’s tone sounded cautious.
When Daniel saw that Ava was quiet and frowning, he hurriedly changed his suggestion. “Of course, we don’t have to invite her in. After all, t’s getting a bit late.”
As soon as Daniel finished speaking, Ava suddenly stood up and walked straight toward the entrance.
Worried that Ava might not be able to control her emotions, Daniel hurriedly chased after her. “Ava.”
Click. He tried to pull Ava back, but Ava had already opened the door.
When Raegan, who had been waiting at the door, saw Ava opening the door, her face lit up with joy. However, the joy was quickly suppressed and she spoke in a patient, loving tone with an apologetic look
“Ava, I’m really sorry about tonight. I didn’t know that you would be there tonight, but maybe that was God’s plan. I know you must not want to admit our relationship, let alone acknowledge an irresponsible mother like me. But I just couldn’t stand by and watch you get bullied and taunted like that.”
“Are you done now?” Ava suddenly spoke coldly. Even though the person in front of her was her own mother, it seemed as though she was talking to a stranger.
Raegan’s heart that was filled with anticipation sank for a moment, and the light in her eyes dimmed considerably. “I-I’m done.”
“If you’re done, you should go.” Ava coldly tried to get her to leave.
Raegan’s heart felt even sadder. “Ava…”
She tried to convince Ava again, but it was only followed by Ava’s sudden shift in tone.
“It’s getting late. You should go back and get some rest. I’ll be free tomorrow during lunch break. If you don’t mind, come and wait for me at the restaurant downstairs of my office.”
Ava’s words shocked both Raegan and Daniel, who were standing by the side.
Both of them thought that Ava would be heartless, but it turned out that she was not. Raegan froze for a few seconds before a look of surprise and joy appeared on her face. She had not felt so happy in years.
“Of course, I don’t mind! I don’t mind at all! I’m not busy tomorrow. Come and see me tomorrow when you’re done with work! I can wait for you!” Raegan’s voice was a little shaky, and she could not hide the joy flashing in her eyes.
“You guys should rest early, then. I’l] go back too. Daniel, take good care of Ava. I’ll be leaving now.” “Okay, take care, Mrs. Xander. I’ll take care of Ava, don’t worry,” Daniel promised Raegan.
He could clearly see how happy Raegan was.
Even though Raegan’s back was turned, he could see the spring in her steps.
Ava stood at the same spot until Raegan was not in view anymore. After that, she withdrew her gaze, and her eyes quietly turned red.
Daniel saw the subtle change in Ava’s expression and immediately closed the door. He guided her by her shoulders and brought her back inside. “Treally thought you’d completely shut her off. Although I don’t know what happened between the two of you, I can see that she’s very apologetic and genuinely concerned about you.”
Ava smiled bitterly. “Unfortunately, her concern came too late.”
Daniel furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. “Can you tell me what happened between both of you?” Ava gently sat down on the sofa. After a few moments of contemplation, she parted her lips lightly and said, “When I was in junior high, my parents split up because they were incompatible. My mom wanted a career while my dad scolded her for only thinking about work and not her family. Then, the two of them separated.
“I thought it was fine because many parents ended in divorce. ] accepted it, but I didn’t realize that neither of them wanted me.”
Daniel gazed at Ava with a heartfelt look but did not quite understand. “You mean neither of them wanted to raise you?”
“Yes, neither of them wanted me.” Ava’s eyes narrowed. When she said that, she could not help but clench her hands.
Daniel felt a sharp pain in his heart. He reached out to hold Ava’s hands tightly, trying to reassure her and give her some warmth.
Ava felt Daniel’s kindness and gentleness. She smiled slightly, but it was a bitter smile. “Compared to my mother who only cared about her career, at least my father was a little more conscientious. He left me with my elderly grandmother, but she died in an accident within six months. I had no relatives who were willing to take me in, and my parents couldn’t be contacted. After all that, I ended up in an orphanage.”
When Daniel heard what she told him, his heart broke.
When Daniel saw the tears rolling out of the corners of Ava’s eyes, he took her into his arms and offered her comfort.
“That’s all in the past.”
“Yeah, it’s all in the past.” Ava shut her teary, red eyes. Even after being alone for all these years and despite all the dark days being behind her, she suddenly felt scared again.
“Daniel, will there suddenly be a day when you won’t want me anymore like my mom and dad?” Daniel loosened his embrace, gazing deeply and sincerely into Ava’s teary eyes.
“No matter what happens in the future, you’ ll always be my number one.”
When Ava got such a sure and sincere answer from Daniel, she could not hold back her tears any longer. She cried her heart out.
Daniel lifted his hand and wiped away every one of her tears sadly.
Before this, he did not know about Ava’s past. Now, he understood why Ava had reacted the way she did to her own mother. It was because she was traumatized at a young age.
However, he believed that this trauma would one day be healed.
Daniel intended to stay with Ava, but in order to give her a good night’s rest, Daniel did not stay late.
When he returned home, he found his parents waiting for him in the living room. |
As soon as Mrs. Graham saw Daniel, she rushed over to him and pulled him to ask, “Is Ava really Raegan’s daughter? The same Raegan who’s the richest person in Y Country? Ava is her biological daughter? Why didn’t you tell us about it? If you had told us, all this trouble could’ve been avoided.”
Mrs. Graham started grumbling.
“If you had told us about Ava’s family, your father, your grandfather, and I would’ve never objected to your relationship!”
After Daniel listened to Mrs. Graham’s remark, he was incredulous and frowned deeply.
“The reason I got together with Ava is that I genuinely and truly like her as a person! It has nothing to do with her status! Haven’t you guys understood this by now?”
When Mrs. Graham saw that Daniel was starting to get a little angry, she hurriedly agreed. “Yes, yes, you’re right. Whatever it is, it’s fine now. Your father and J are fine with the marriage, but your grandfather…”
Daniel was still a bit upset about Old Master Graham faking his illness to make him get married to Naya, but he was his grandfather, so he decided to let the matter go.
When Daniel saw that his mother was quiet, he calmly asked, “Why is Grandpa against it now?” “Your grandfather felt humiliated that he was exposed at the hotel for faking his illness. His temper got the better of him and he said that he would never approve of Ava.” Mr. Graham told Daniel what Old Master Graham told them. “But you don’t have to worry too much. Your grandfather has always loved you. If you try to persuade Grandpa, I’m sure he’]] eventually relent.”
Daniel understood what his dad meant, but he started to look even more serious.
“I’ve already given in as much as I can, but your behavior tells me that doing so will only aggravate and upset the people I love. There’s no way I’ll continue to compromise any longer from now on.”
The expression on Mrs. Graham changed, and she tried to persuade him again. “Daniel, are you…” “It doesn’t matter if Ava isn’t accepted into this family because I’ve already accepted her in myheart. Besides, I plan to use the money I earnedover the years to give us a home of our own. Iwon’t let you worry about my marriage anylonger because I can handle it myself.”
After Daniel finished, he started walking toward the stairs.
“It’s late and I’m getting tired. I’m going to rest now. You guys should go back to your rooms to sleep too.”
“….”
Mrs. Graham looked at Daniel’s decisive back as he walked up the stairs before looking back at her husband with a depressed look. Similarly, Mr. Graham was just as confused and stressed as she was.
It was probably because neither of them could have imagined that Daniel would come to sucha decision.
The next day, Ava naturally woke up at the same time and went to work after washing up.
As soon as she entered the office, Ava felt a very odd atmosphere.
It was still early, so she put her bag down and was about to go to the pantry to have some breakfast. However, as soon as she turned around, her path was blocked.
Ava was holding her glass of water with a puzzled expression as she looked at the two people who were blocking her way.
They were the two most gossipy women in her office. As Ava looked at them, it gradually dawned on her that they were there for something.
Even so, she just looked at them with confusion and asked, “What is it? Do you girls want to go have breakfast with me?”
As soon as Fiona and Kendra heard that, a flash of surprise lit up in both of their eyes.
“Sis, if you don’t mind, we’d love to have breakfast with you!”
“Yeah, we’d love to, Sis!”
au
When Ava heard how Fiona and Kendra addressed her, she felt goosebumps all over her body.
She tried to smile but it just looked like an awkward and impolite fake smile.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.