Chapter 17

Chapter 17: The Man Named Demon

Ava's Pov…

I wasn’t even sure why I smiled when I saw Richard and Lydia standing outside the hospital doors like they owned the place. Maybe it was the ridiculousness of it. Like they had nothing better to do than stalk me. Lydia had that fake little smirk she always wore, the one that tried way too hard to look innocent but always ended up smug. Richard looked... well, like Richard. Arrogant. Cold. Still dressing like he ran some kind of empire, even though I knew the cracks in his life were starting to show.

I adjusted the strap of my purse on my shoulder and walked straight up to them like I hadn’t just left Kieran unconscious in a hospital bed. “What are you two doing here? Don’t tell me you actually care about my health now.”

Lydia laughed like she was in on some joke only she thought was funny. “Health? Is that what we’re calling it? Last I checked, you didn’t show up to work today. But here you are, playing nurse for your sugar daddy. Cute.”

I wanted to slap her. Right there, in front of the sliding doors and the half-asleep security guard. But I kept my hands at my side and forced a polite smile, the kind that said I could ruin her day if I wanted to, but I was choosing not to. For now.

“I came for a check-up,” I said simply, brushing off her comment. “Whatever I’m doing, it doesn’t concern either of you. Actually, why are you here? Don’t tell me you’re stalking me. That’s a little desperate. unless you have something else to do?.”

Richard stepped forward, blocking part of the exit, his cologne hitting me like a wall I didn’t ask to walk into. “You? Worth stalking? Please. You killed my children. That’s all you’ll ever be. A murderer. If I really want to stalk you I would have paid someone to do it.”

His words hit harder than I expected. It wasn’t just what he said—it was how casually he said it. Like he’d been saving that insult just for today, waiting for a moment where I wouldn’t be able to pretend it didn’t hurt.

I snapped. “Don’t you ever talk about my kids again.” My voice wasn’t loud, but it was sharp. Clear. I didn’t realize my hand was moving until I felt the sting of it against his face hard leaving him in shock.

He turned back slowly, touching the red mark on his cheek like it surprised him. “Why are you angry? Because I told the truth? Why are you trying to deny it? You know very well you killed my children.”

I didn’t answer. I couldn’t. Everything inside me was screaming. I turned to walk away, just to end it, but he grabbed my arm and yanked me back. It was like a reflex, his grip tightening just enough to make my shoulder ache.

“Let go,” I said through clenched teeth.

He didn’t. Instead, he shoved me backward, and I stumbled to the pavement, landing hard on my elbow. I stared up at him, breath caught in my throat.

He looked down at me with disgust. “You’re nothing. Just a sad broken lady who thinks she’s important. Don’t forget to show up to work tomorrow. The floors aren’t gonna clean themselves you know.”

Lydia giggled behind him like it was all just so entertaining. Like watching me fall was her favorite pastime. Then the two of them turned and walked off, leaving me on the sidewalk with bruised pride and an arm that was definitely gonna turn purple.

I stood slowly, brushing off my clothes, and forced a smile back on my face. I wasn’t going to let them see me broken. Not anymore. They had their little moment, but their time was coming. One day, Richard would be the one scrubbing floors.

I turned to head back inside, but then I heard my name.

“Ava.”

I stopped and turned. A man I’d never seen before was walking toward me in a sleek black suit. He didn’t look like a doctor. Too polished. Too... something. His shoes didn’t even make a sound on the pavement. His smile was calm but unreadable, and the way his eyes watched me made me instinctively step back.

“Yeah?” I asked cautiously.

“Nice to finally meet you.” He extended a hand like this was a business meeting. “I’m Demon.”

I blinked. “Sorry. What?”

“Demon. That’s my name.”

I didn’t take his hand as I stared up at him. “That’s a pretty dramatic name.”

He chuckled like I’d said something clever. “You’d be surprised how fitting it is.”

Something about the way he said it made the hairs on my arms rise. I shifted my weight, ready to turn away, when I felt something press over my mouth from behind. My heart jumped.

I thrashed, trying to pull away, but the hand behind me was strong, and whatever was on the cloth smelled sharp and chemical. My knees buckled almost instantly. I heard my own muffled scream die in my throat. I reached for anything—the air, the sidewalk, his face—but it all slipped through my fingers.

Demon crouched in front of me as the world tilted sideways. He reached out and tilted my chin up with one finger.

“You really are something, Ava,” he said quietly, just as everything around me turned to black.