BOUND BY REVENGE

Ava went to bed in the night with everything that played out at her engagement in her mind. When she woke up the next morning, nothing was happening. Perhaps, Damian Blackwood only put up a show. Nothing to be worried about. However, by noon, she began to think otherwise. There was tension all around the sleek headquarters of Sinclair Holdings. People spoke in hushed tones behind desks and as they passed. At the mere sight of her, their lips all went shut. A few moments later, Ava stepped out of the private elevator and strode anxiously to her father's office. She knew something was going on. But, what was it? She got to the office and pushed it open. It was then she confirmed it. There was trouble. Charles Sinclair stood by the window with his phone tightly pressed to his ear. “Hello! Hello!!" The man yelled frustratingly into the phone. “Listen to me!" Ava watched as he took the phone down. The senior executives sat around the long table. None of them had a happy expression on

In the next couple of moments, Ava was seated anxiously outside the Intensive care unit. The unpleasant hospital smell of drugs and antiseptic was everywhere, but she cared less. She just wanted her father to be okay. A little above twenty four hours ago, Charles Sinclair looked very okay. In fact, he had the look of a proud father at her engagement party. But right now, he's fighting for his life in the ICU. When the doctor finally stepped out, she bolted to her feet. “Doctor?" The man smiled. “Hello, Ms Sinclair." “My father." “He's stable now," the doctor replied. Ava exhaled heavily. It was a relief. “However," the man continued, “he suffered a great cardiac hit. Cardiac arrest is not a joke. He needs a lot of rest. Nothing should stress him. If not, it could be triggered again." Ava almost laughed. This was clearly almost impossible to achieve. Charles Sinclair spent decades of his life investing everything into the business. And it was falling apart. Investors kept on p

When Ava got back to her work space, she was no longer herself. Her heart was pulsating. She pulled out the contract and stared blankly at it. Then, her gaze landed on the place she signed. One signature that was about to change everything. On the other hand was her hospital report confirming her pregnancy. “Hmm," she exhaled heavily and placed her hand calmly on her stomach. No one knew. And no one should know…especially not Damian. She was still thinking when a sudden wave of nausea hit her and she rushed to the bathroom with her mouth covered. The next morning, Ava was supposed to meet Damian at his home. She drove to the Blackwood Manor and killed the engine of her car. She stepped out and for a moment, paused. The estate was enormous. She had seen pictures of the place, but they didn't do enough justice to it. The mansion in front of her looked less like a home and more like a fortress. Security guards were everywhere around the property. Everything simply screamed power…and

An hour later, Ava sat beside Damian in the back seat of his car. Neither of them had spoken a word since they left the Blackwood Manor. Ava looked at him. His gaze was forward with an expressionless that could not be read. Ava could not say what he was thinking. “Okay." She finally broke the silence. “Do you mind telling me where exactly you are taking me to right now?" Damian didn't look at her. “You will find out. I already told you that." “You will," she muttered. “I see you enjoy saying that." “I enjoy making you curious," he replied. Ava scoffed at that. “You wish. I am not curious." He looked at her. “Are you not?" A wry smile escaped the corner of his lips, but quickly faded. “You have asked me the same question a good number of times to show you are curious." Ava accepted defeat. She simply rolled her eyes and kept calm. Soon, the car finally rolled to a stop. She looked through the window and her eyes widened completely in shock. She knew this place.The Blackwood hea

Ava woke up the next morning with one thought all over her mind. It was the photograph she had seen. She had barely slept. Each time she tried to get some sleep, the same faces flashed before her. Her father had been smiling with Damian's people like they had been family. And then, everything fell apart. Damian spent the past fifteen years hating them. She sat on the edge of her bed and stared at the floor as she tried to wrap her hands around the whole chaos. She had intended to visit the headquarters last night. But the opportunity never presented itself. Something wasn't adding up. Damian sounded too certain. At the same time, he admitted he wasn't sure. Soon, she would become Mrs Blackwood. The wedding could be any moment from now. Her hand moved to her belly. She was yet to tell him. Not yet. A soft knock landed on the door. “Come in," she said. Charles opened the door and entered. "Good morning, Ma'am,” he greeted her. "Good morning, Charles,” she responded. “Mr Blackwo