CHAPTER 4_ Fear

The dining room was oddly quiet, all eyes were on Ava who was eating away on her meal. It was obvious from the way they looked at her that they were having certain doubts about reality. She does look like the late Ava but not the same eyes and hair.

Her eyes and hair could be altered too but they all watched her coffin lowered into her grave a month ago. So it wasn't possible, Eric seemed to have gotten out of his shock completely. He had no reason to fear anymore since he didn't kill Ava, only those who did couldn't shake off the lurking fear no matter how they tried.

“The least you could have done is to invite us to your wedding. I know we fight over minor things but I'm still your father and being a part of your wedding is my fatherly right..”

“No” Ryan denied, although he was talking to his father, his eyes lingered on Ava who was eating. He brushed her hair behind her ear carefully. “It’s my wedding and only I can choose who to honor my invite or not. Clearly, you weren't part of the people I wanted there..” He completed his sentence with a deep breath.

“Then where did you find her? You actually brought a lady who looks exactly like my late wife and took her as your wife! Why?” he asked. “To mock me? And i’m sure the bitch already knows this before she chose to marry you!” Matt snapped throwing his gaze to Ava.

Before Anna could stop her son from speaking back to his uncle, the deed was already done. She held his hand under the table and gave it a tight squeeze. The table was now silent and Ava raised her head slightly to Ryan.

His eyes darkened. “Get up,” he said calmly only to see Matt hesitate. “I said, get your fucking ass up!” He roared. The table shook along with the sound of his voice, not only Matt was shaken at that moment, every one of them was.

Matt looked briefly over to his mother for help as he moved his chair backwards. He stood up and swallowed when he met his uncle's gaze. He watched his uncle stand too and gently pulled his wife up.

“Come over here..” He ordered.

Anna panicked at once, she stood on her feet shaking her head slowly. “He is my son, Ryan. Don't do anything that you might regret later on..”

“And she is also my wife” Ryan said. Once Matt pulled in closer, his face fell to the other side after receiving a slap from his uncle. “And he must learn how to respect his elders. Most especially his aunt..!” he fired.

“Ryan!” Anna snapped.

“Now kneel and tender an apology to your aunt. And after you're done, kiss her feet.” Ryan ordered.

“That's insane, Ryan.” Anna murmured, she turned to Eric immediately. “Father, say something to him. He can't treat my son as he pleases!”

Eric remained quiet.

“I'm sure it was a mistake. Please spare him this once..” Agnes pleaded.

It seemed like Ryan was waiting for her to speak before he pounced. He snapped his head to her quickly. “Join him!”

Ava watched with Interest, she had a little smile on her lips as she saw Agnes face go pale. The latter left her seat and stood next to Matt.

“Don't make me whip you both..” Ryan warned.

As soon as they heard his words, they both fell on their knees with their forehead kissing the floor.

“I deeply regret my words, Mia and I hope—

“Aunt!” Ryan corrected before Matt could tender his apology.

“I'm sorry Aunt for the way I spoke to you. Please forgive me..” He moved closer to her right foot and was about to kiss it only for Ava to move it away.

“Not this one,” She stretched out her left foot. “This one..”

Although enraged, he had no other choice than to fulfill his aunt's orders otherwise he'd get into a tight space with his uncle. Agnes followed suit and kissed Ava on her left foot.

“You may rise.” Ava said.

“If this happens again, you'll do more than just kissing her feet. Now both of you, go prepare the master's bedroom for my wife. She's tired and would like to rest..”

Matt gave a firm nod to his uncle before leaving the dining room with Agnes.

“What is the meaning of this, Ryan? My son is not a servant and you—

“Trust me sis, you might be older but I'll certainly punish you if you don't keep your mouth shut! You've raised a fool rather than a son, the fool can't even zip up properly.” Ryan paused for a second. “He's fucking another woman just a month after his wife's demise. Shameless!”

“And you're fucking someone who looks like your nephew's wife! You're the shameless one here, Ryan!”

Ryan looked briefly over to Ava standing next to him. “Honey, go up to the room. I'll join you shortly..”

Ava gave a nod before walking away. As soon as she was gone a distance, she could hear the sound of glass breaking. Almost as if someone had flipped the dining table over.

****

“It can't be her, Matt. We killed her and the doctor even confirmed her death! We saw her lifeless body on that theatre table and we saw her buried and covered up with dirt!” Agnes argued.

Matt pinched the space between his brows, he has no idea of what to think. She looked like Ava, but he has always known her to be a soft and naive lady before her death. That lady out there wasn't behaving like the woman he knew.

“My uncle already met Ava once or twice, so he knows about her. But why did he suddenly get married? And also to a woman who looks like Ava? Something's fishy..”

“I hate her already! He made us bow and kiss her feet. And I'm very sure that he'll be against us getting married too”

The door was swung open which startled them, they began to pretend like they were arranging the bed thinking that it was Ryan coming in but to their surprise, it was Ava.

“Hmm..nice room.” Ava said softly as she looked around. “I thought that you would be done by now. Make it snappy, my feet are getting tired, it must be the bacteria from your mouths that's making it weak..” She mocked.

Ava walked calmly to the bed and took a seat, she raised her head up to find the two staring at her.

“Do we look like servants to you?!” Matt snapped.

“Oh, I thought you were servants. Wasn't that the reason my husband asked you both to make my bed for me?”

Matt closed the gap between them, he made an attempt to speak but Ava stood to her feet immediately.

“Your mum is getting her ass wacked downstairs don't make me call my husband on you too. I bet you this time that you'd definitely do more than just kissing my feet..I'll make sure you eat my shit instead” Ava threatened.

“You—

His words ran back down his throat when he saw the door open and his uncle stepping in.

“What is going on here?”