Chapter 9

The doctors reluctantly discharged Mrs Valerie. They warned her it was too soon and she needed more rest but she insisted on leaving and the doctors didn't have a choice.

Mrs Valerie stole glances at Anthony as she sat beside her in the car.

"Anthony, what did the doctors say? When will you be able to stand again?" Mrs Valerie asked gently.

"If I take my rejuvenation seriously, I should be able to walk within months." Anthony explained staring out the window.

His mind was elsewhere.

" That's good news." Mrs Valerie gushed. "Maybe I and Avery could accompany you to therapy next time"

When he heard her name, something deep inside of him sank. He inhaled slowly, the weight of emotion pressing down on him.

He never cared before. Never hesitated to punish anyone who crossed him. But Avery… she was different, and it unsettled him.

"Whatever mum." He muttered in a flat tone.

Mrs Valerie got the message. He didn't want to discuss further. She sighed clasping her hand on her thigh and stared out the window.

Her mother instincts told her that Avery was the one for him but now she had begun to doubt it.

She silently prayed that one day her son would change, if not for anything but for the sake of love. And maybe, just maybe it would be for Avery.

The rest of the ride was quiet with the hum of the car engine and distant sounds of horns.

After what seemed like ages to Anthony, the car pulled over in circular driveway of the grand mansion

A chauffeur rushed over and opened the door. Mrs Valerie stepped out first and Anthony followed maneuvering his wheelchair with practiced ease.

When they both stepped inside the mansion, the driver drove the car away.

Mrs Meyer stood in the living room waiting to welcome them.

"Welcome master, welcome madam" she greeted in a cautious voice and a respectful bow.

"Where is Avery?" Mrs Valerie asked at once scanning the space.

Mrs Meyer didn't dare utter a word. She just stared down at her feet.

Anthony gave Mrs Meyer a nod and she led Mrs Valerie to Avery.

Mrs Meyer opened the door slowly and Avery laid at a corner of the room curled up like a ball.

Her hair was tangled and messy, her eyes swollen and red from crying. She slowly sat up with trembling efforts. Her lips were cracked, her face pale.

"Avery what happened to you?" Mrs Valerie rushed over to Avery and knelt by her side. Mrs Meyer quietly walked out and disappeared down the hall.

Avery's lips parted slowly, her voice was barely a whisper "I'm fine".

But she wasn't.

Mrs. Valerie's heart clenched.

"Anthony did this." Mrs Valerie's voice trembled like she was at the verge of tears. "Is he abusing you?" Mrs Valerie's blood pressure rose instantly.

Before Avery could respond, Mrs Meyer came back with a glass of milk.

"Avery have some milk. Now that Mrs Valerie is here you would be able to eat." Mrs Meyer had rushed in with a glass of milk and handed it to Avery.

Avery began gulping it down.

"What do you mean? So she hasn't been eating?" Mrs Valerie's face was white.

Mrs Meyer nodded.

Meanwhile, Anthony sat on his wheelchair by the door. His heart ached to see her like that.

Mrs Valerie turned to Anthony with a frown.

"Did you want to starve her to death?"

"She deserves to be punished for her mistakes." Anthony's voice was icy and controlled. His gaze was cold and distant.

"She is the wife I arranged for you, what would you have me think if anything happened to her?" Mrs Valerie trembled.

" It's because of you she's still here." Anthony snapped. "I never wanted a wife" he rolled his chair away

Mrs Valerie turned back to Avery.

"I'm so sorry Avery. I feel bad for the way he's treating you. I really hope he's going to change one day." She said and held Avery by the shoulders.

"It's okay, I understand" Avery murmured.

"Come on let's get you cleaned" Mrs Valerie tried carrying Avery up. "Mrs Meyer. Please help me"

Mrs Meyer rushed over and helped Avery up while Mrs Valerie went to find Anthony.

She found him in the sitting room flicking through TV channels mindlessly. His face was expressionless but she could see the storm behind his eyes.

"Anthony." Mrs Valerie called in a soft and firm voice.

Anthony sighed setting the remote down. "What is it".

His gaze was still cold and distant. He knew what she wanted to talk about and he wasn't ready for it. But he didn't have a choice, she was his mother after all.

"I know you've been hurt and you don't trust women but you have to give Avery a chance, she's a nice young woman." Mrs Valerie said as she sat on one of the couch facing Anthony.

"Yeah, every woman is nice" Anthony scoffed sarcastically.

"She sold her future, just to save her mother. Do you understand what kind of heart it takes to make such sacrifice?" Mrs Valerie's voice cracked.

"Her mother is dead" Anthony stated.

And Mrs Valerie's breath caught in her throat and she fell back on the couch weakly.

There was a long pause.

"How did you know?" Mrs Valerie's brows creased as she asked him.

"Does it matter?" Anthony said in a voice that showed he wasn't a single bit concerned.

"Anthony do you not see that she's going through a lot. She gave everything and still lost what she was fighting for, do you not see that she is trying so hard to hold on." sympathy wrapped around Mrs Valerie's trembling voice.

Anthony's jaw clenched. He saw behind her facade, behind that determined face, he saw the storm behind her eyes but he still did what he did.

"Anthony, you have to change the way you act towards her" Mrs. Valerie said.

"Mother, I don't need you lecturing me on how to live my life. I never wanted a wife." With that, Anthony wheeled himself away.

The guilt followed him like a shadow.

The truth sat heavy in his chest. He didn't want a wife but he wanted Avery.

Maybe one day he would forgive her and himself and he would be able to love her like he had always loved her. Except that this time, he would be able to show her just how much he loved her.