Chapter 4

Avery stirred as she felt a dull, throbbing pain in her head. Her eyes fluttered open to a room, with artificial light brightening it. She blinked slowly, until her eyes got used to the brightness. Her hand brushed against something too cold.

Her breath caught.

She turned her head and saw her mother’s still body beside her, lifeless. In that moment, the memories surged in her head like a wave.

Earlier That Day

She had raced to Uncle Harris’s house as fast as she could. But she was too late. She arrived just in time to watch the remainder of life sip out of her mother.

Her chest felt like it might explode. Grief heavy on her shoulders, and her stomach twisted. Now she had to plan a funeral, but how? The only money she had was the fifty thousand dollars she managed to save working as a waitress.

Dragging herself upright, Avery reached for her phone and called the hospital.

The ambulance arrived swiftly. Her mother’s body was taken away, wrapped and silent. Avery stood frozen on the porch, watching the vehicle disappear down the street. She felt like a part of her had just been ripped apart. Tears blurred her vision. Her sobs broke the silence.

Aunt Tori was nowhere to be found. She had vanished after the paramedics arrived. No goodbyes. No comfort. Just silence.

Avery packed the rest of her things and called for a cab. She had nowhere else to go but the mansion. A place she couldn't even call home. The thought of going back there sent a cold shiver through the length of her spine.

She sat in the cab feeling nervous, her hands trembling as she looked out the window. What other devastating experience did life have in store for her.

The cab pulled over in front of the iron gates. As Avery stepped out, the cold night breeze sipping into her coat, raising goosebumps along her arms. She walked to the front lawn and gazed up at the stars, the sky was dark and silent.

Her chest tightened. Memories fought their way to the surface.

Flashback

"I always knew you were a snake," her father spat, pacing the living room. "I can’t believe you tried to poison me. To what end, Veronica?"

Her mother collapsed to her knees. Eyes swollen with tears“Harry, I would never! We’ve been married for twenty one years. I could have done it then. Why now?”

He scoffed, shaking his head. “That’s the question I kept asking myself… until I remembered. You were the one who brought up Avery. You said she was old enough now to take a position in my company.”

His laughter was dry. “So this is your plan? Kill me and take over everything?” then his brows raised, eyes wide and his mouth formed an "O" "so this is why Avery kept stealing from the company!"

Avery stepped forward, heart pounding. “I never stole from you.”

His gaze swung to her like a whip. “So this was the conspiracy, I should have known.”

“I said I didn’t take anything!” Avery snapped, her voice sharp and firm.

“I can't take it any longer.” He turned and stormed out.

Her mother sobbed, broken. Avery knelt beside her, holding her close. She couldn’t understand it. Her father had never been this cruel. Had Laura, his mistress poisoned his mind?

He returned with bags, his eyes burning with rage.

“I want you both out of my house. Now.”

Avery’s blood turned cold. He was joking?

But the look in his eyes, cold, unforgiving confirmed it, he wasn't joking. This was all real.

“Please, Harry,” her mother cried. “We’re your family, I'm your wife, your wife."

“I said get out!” he thundered and his voice rumbled throughout the room. “Or I’ll drag you out myself.”

"Please father, it hasn't gotten to this" Avery begged through sobs.

"You're getting on my nerves now." He grabbed Veronica and shoved her out the door. She stumbled, hitting her head hard against the porch wall and fell unconscious.

Avery screamed and ran to her. “You’re going to regret this,” she cried as she cradled her mother.

Behind them, a voice cooed with false sympathy. "Oh dear, don't you think you're being a little too harsh on them?” It was Laura, perfectly composed in her silk robe.

Avery clenched her jaw, her blood boiling. She wanted to punch the hell out of that monster.

Since the day she came into their life with her daughter Freya, everything had changed from good to bad and now terrible.

“They deserve it,” her father muttered before walking away. He didn't look back. No he walked straight into the house and Avery's heart shattered. The words cut through her heart like swords.

Laura walked up, smiling triumphantly “Poor things. Nowhere to go. I told you I was going to win this, I own him now. Everything he has is mine.”

“Ciao.” she winked.

She turned and walked inside slamming the door shut. Avery’s once happy home had shattered like glass.

She fell on her mother's limb body as she cried bitterly.

“Mistress… is everything all right?” the chauffeur’s voice jolted her to reality.

Avery quickly wiped her tears with the back of her hand. “Yes. I’m fine.”

She turned and walked toward the house, her steps heavy.

The chauffeur frowned but said nothing. It wasn’t his place.

Meanwhile, from the balcony above, a pair of ocean-blue eyes watched her until she disappeared inside.

***********************.

Anthony sat on the balcony, he held a stick of cigarette between his index finger and middle finger. He had a frown on his face.

It was definitely not normal that when the plane was about to crash, the pilot was nowhere to be seen.

He was onboard that plane with his father but unfortunately his father had died but he was in a vegetative state for months, it was as if he had been given a second chance but what puzzled him was the pilot's disappearance.

could it be the pilot must have ditched the plane but why? or could it be the crash was planned?

If it was planned, then it means the ones behind it wanted both his father and his legal heir dead. if that was it then who was after his empire? The Hartford's empire.