**Raymond’s POV**
The drive back to Ava’s apartment was suffocatingly silent. The only sound came from the low hum of the music playing through the car speakers. She sat stiffly in the passenger seat, her hands clenched together on her lap. I could tell she was blaming herself for almost ruining the plan, but somehow, she’d managed to turn the moment around. No one suspected anything, not even my grandmother, who could see through most facades.
When we finally pulled up outside her building, the tension was still thick. Ava unbuckled her seatbelt, and we both exchanged polite nods, bowing slightly to acknowledge the end of the night. Just as I turned to leave, her soft voice stopped me.
“Raymond...”
I turned back, my hand still on the car door. She hesitated for a second, her head bowed slightly as she said in a low, almost broken voice, “I’m sorry for almost ruining the plan tonight.”
I froze, my eyes lingering on her face. There was something so vulnerable, so... innocent about her expression. My mind flashed back to the dining room earlier—how she’d covered up her slip so smoothly, twisting the whole “daughter” comment into a lighthearted joke. Everyone had ended up laughing, even Grandma, who’d been so taken with her quick wit.
“You...” I started, unable to hold back the words forming on my lips. But before I could finish, her phone rang.
Ava glanced at the screen, her face tightening with concern. “I should take this,” she said quietly.
I gave her a brief nod, stepping back to let her answer. Just as I turned to leave, her sharp, panicked cry froze me in my tracks.
“No... Bella! Bella, relax. Mummy will be there now, sweetheart!”
Her voice cracked, raw with urgency, and before I could process what was happening, she bolted past me, running toward the street. “Ava!” I called, catching her by the arm. She was shaking, tears streaming down her face, completely lost in her panic.
“Bella needs me!” she cried, her words tumbling out in a frantic mess. “Something’s wrong—my daughter—she needs me!”
Her daughter.
The realization hit like a punch to the gut, but I didn’t have time to think about it. Ava was unraveling, and someone had to keep their head straight. I grabbed her shoulders gently, steadying her. “Calm down,” I said firmly, meeting her panicked eyes. “Where is she?”
She stuttered out an address, barely coherent, but it was enough. I guided her back into the car and jumped into the driver’s seat, starting the engine with a roar.
The address she gave was on the outskirts of the city—miles away from here. Without hesitation, I slammed my foot on the gas, the car leaping forward as I pushed it to its limit. The speedometer climbed higher and higher, but I didn’t care.
Ava sat beside me, clutching her phone and whispering frantic reassurances to her daughter. “Mummy’s coming, sweetheart. Just hold on for me, okay?” Her voice broke again, and she buried her face in her hands, sobbing softly.
I tightened my grip on the wheel, my jaw clenched. I didn’t know what I was racing toward, but whatever it was, I had a gut feeling it wasn’t good. The fear in Ava’s voice told me that much.
“Just hold on, Bella,” I muttered under my breath, pressing the gas pedal harder.
*****
Before the car even came to a full stop, Ava threw the door open and bolted out.
“Ava, wait!” I called after her, but she didn’t even glance back.
I slammed the door shut and ran after her as she sprinted into the small building, her movements frantic and unsteady. The apartment door was slightly ajar, creaking as she pushed it wide open. Inside, the place was dim and quiet, the faint smell of old furniture lingering in the air.
In the corner of the living room, Bella sat huddled, her small body shaking with sobs.
“Mummy!” she cried, reaching out toward Ava. Ava didn’t hesitate, dropping to her knees and pulling Bella into her arms.
“Shh, sweetheart, I’m here,” Ava whispered, though her voice quivered. She kissed Bella’s forehead, holding her tightly. “What happened?”
Bella sniffled, her tiny hand trembling as she pointed toward a room at the end of the hallway.
“She’s in there…” Bella whimpered, her voice barely audible.
Ava froze, her body stiffening as fear flickered across her face. Then, without a word, she stood and ran toward the room.
“Ava, wait,” I said, following her closely.
She shoved the door open, and the sight inside hit like a punch.
An elderly woman lay slumped on the floor beside the bed, her head tilted at an unnatural angle. Her skin was pale, lifeless.....no doubt, she's dead
“No…” Ava whispered, her voice breaking. She rushed to the woman and dropped to her knees. “Grandma? Grandma, wake up!”
Her voice rose into a scream as she shook the body, her movements desperate and frantic. “No, no, please, no! Don’t do this to me! Wake up!”
I stood frozen for a moment, the scene unfolding before me too heavy to process. Ava’s cries tore through the room, raw and unrelenting. She clung to her grandmother’s body, sobbing uncontrollably, her hands trembling as she tried to wake her.
“Grandma! Please! Don’t leave me, you are the only one I have left” she screamed, her voice cracking with each word.
Behind us, Bella’s cries echoed through the apartment. I turned sharply, rushing back to the living room.
Bella stood in the doorway, her wide, tear-filled eyes fixed on the scene. Her little hands clutched a stuffed bunny, her lip trembling.
“Bella,” I said softly, crouching down in front of her. I scooped her up into my arms, her small body trembling against mine.
“It’s okay,” I murmured, though I knew it wasn’t. “You’re okay, smart girl. Come here.”
I carried her to the couch and pulled a pair of earbuds from her bag. Sliding them into her ears, I turned on the music from my phone. “Smart girls don’t cry,” I said gently, brushing her tears away. “You’re so brave, Bella. Just sit here, okay?”
She nodded, clutching her bunny tighter as the soft melody drowned out the chaos.
I turned back to the bedroom. Ava was still on the floor, rocking back and forth as she sobbed, her hands clutching her grandmother’s frail shoulders.
I walked to her side and knelt down, placing a firm hand on her shoulder. “Ava,” I said quietly, my voice steady despite the ache in my chest. “Ava, you need to let go.”
She didn’t respond, her body trembling as tears poured down her face.
“Look at me,” I said, my grip firm but gentle.
She finally turned her tear-streaked face toward mine, her eyes wide with anguish.
“She’s gone,” I said softly, my voice cracking despite my best efforts. “Ava, she’s gone.”
Her face crumbled at those words, and she let out a heartbreaking wail that shook me to my core.
“No! She can’t be gone!” she cried, clutching her grandmother tighter. “She was fine earlier! I should’ve been here!”
Her sobs grew louder, more desperate, and I could see the guilt consuming her. I gently pulled her into my arms, holding her as she fell apart.
“It’s not your fault,” I whispered, though I knew nothing I said would ease her pain.
Ava buried her face in my chest, her body shaking as her cries echoed in the room. I held her tighter, my own chest heavy with an ache I couldn’t explain.
***
**Later That Night**
The silence in the apartment was deafening after they’d taken her grandmother’s body away. Ava looked like she was barely holding herself together, but she stayed strong for Bella, tucking her into bed with shaky hands.
I watched from the doorway as she leaned down and kissed Bella’s forehead, whispering soft reassurances. “Mummy’s here. Everything’s going to be okay.” Her voice was calm, but the weight behind it was crushing.
Bella finally fell asleep, clutching her stuffed bunny like it was the only thing keeping her grounded. Ava smoothed the blanket over her one last time, lingering by the bedside before she quietly left the room.
She didn’t look at me as she walked down the hall, her steps slow and heavy. I didn’t say anything either. Instead, I followed her, watching the way her shoulders slumped under the weight of everything that had happened.
She walked outside, heading toward a small flower garden tucked behind the building. The air was cool, the faint scent of roses drifting on the breeze. She stopped in front of the blooms, her arms wrapped around herself.
I stepped closer, careful not to startle her. “You can cry if you still want to cry,” I said softly.
She turned her head slightly, just enough for me to see the faintest trace of a smile. “I think I’ve run out of tears,” she said, her voice quiet and tired.
She moved to sit on a small stone bench, her fingers brushing against the petals of a flower. I stood a few feet away, giving her space, but I couldn’t take my eyes off her.
After a long moment of silence, she spoke, her voice so soft I almost missed it. “I can’t believe I couldn’t say goodbye to her too.”
I stayed quiet, letting her set the pace. She tilted her head back slightly, staring up at the dark sky as if searching for answers.
“This… this was exactly how it happened ten years ago,” she said, her voice trembling. “I got a call, just like tonight. I rushed back, and…” Her breath hitched. “I found them. My parents. Both of them, lying there. Gone.”
My chest tightened as she spoke, the pain in her voice cutting through me. I didn’t interrupt, just stood there and listened.
“They disowned me when they found out I was pregnant,” she continued, bitterness laced with pain. “My father… he had all these dreams for me. His only child. He wanted me to become a doctor, to carry on the family legacy.”
She let out a bitter laugh that made me wince. “When they found out, they didn’t even ask questions. They just threw me out. My grandmother was the only one who took me in. She’s the one who held my hand when I gave birth to Bella.”
Her voice cracked, and I took a step closer, not sure what to say. I wanted to comfort her, but I knew she didn’t need empty words right now.
Instead, I asked quietly, “What about Bella’s father?”
She froze. The question hung in the air, and for a moment, I thought she wasn’t going to answer. Then, slowly, she turned to look at me.
The expression on her face stopped me cold.
Her eyes were wide, filled with a mixture of fear and something else—something darker.
“You want to know about Bella’s father?” she asked, her voice low and strained.
I nodded, unsure of what to expect. But the way she looked at me sent a chill down my spine. Whatever she was about to say, it wasn’t going to be simple.
