Chapter 3

“Excuse me, did you say Blackwood?” Ava asked, her eyes widened. James nodded. “You mean THE Blackwood?” The renowned wealthy family that has been in the upper-ups for generations? She asked again, to confirm

James nodded with an acknowledging smile “Yes Miss Patel”

This is unbelievable! She thought to herself. In all her life, she never believed she would step feet in a place others considered sacred…..but who was sick and in need of a PCA?

The majestic doors opened wide, and as though waiting for her arrival, Ava was greeted by three people.

She knew two out of the three. Standing right before her was the mistress of Blackwood, Thelma Blackwood, wife of the late Lucas Blackwood.

On her left was her second son, Kain, the second young master of the Blackwood family.

These two, Ava knew them, but the woman on Mrs Thelma's right was unfamiliar.

Of all of them, the blonde busty woman had on a mocking smile with her arms folded across her chest.

There she was, Ava Patel, standing like an ant before the formidable Blackwood family. She was speechless, or rather, she was too nervous and her brain couldn't formulate any words.

Thelma was the first to give a warm, welcoming smile “You must be Ava” she said

Ava nodded, “Yes I am, Madam Blackwood”

Thelma laughed heartily at her courteousness, “Please dear, I'd rather madam Thelma”

Ava nodded in affirmation. She still couldn't believe it. 

“James you can leave” Thelma dismissed him and called in a maid, “Ava, let this girl show you to the one you'll be caring for from now”

“Okay. Thank you, Madam Thelma, for this job opportunity,” said Ava before ascending the spiral stairs. The woman responded with a wide smile.

Going up, Ava frowned slightly. Thelma's smile just now wasn't genuine at all, she could tell because she noticed that the smile didn't reach her eyes. 

As they walked, Ava admired the state of the mansion, every turn was mesmerizing.

They soon arrived in front of a dirty brown wooden door that evoked an uncanny sense unlike the rest of the house, which had an ethereal quality.

The maid opened the door and scrunched up her face in disgust. The heavy stench from the room caused Ava's nose to wiggle and she recoiled.

The room was dimly lit, there were windows, but covered. There was a man whose back was facing them, he was seated in what looked like a wheelchair.

The room not only reeked, but it was dirty as well. Was no one taking care of him before her?

“Gosh, this place stinks,” said the maid, her fingers pegging her nose.

‘No doubt’ thought Ava. The room looked like it had been this way for days now, was no one looking after this man?

The maid turned to Ava, disgust still fresh in her eyes. “That's the one you're taking care of now, you'll also be responsible for his room”

“Are there any cleaning supplies I can get?” Asked Ava, a dirty surrounding is not good for a patient, even the tiniest bit of bacteria can be harmful.

The maid frowned, “do I look like your servant?” She asked angrily.

“Well….” She was dressed in servant attire, though.

The maid continued, “Find it yourself”, she turned her back and walked away while muttering “I'm just glad I no longer have to look after that dead weight”

So he was being cared for after all. The maid has been doing a terrible job.

Ava stepped in, the place reeked like there must have been several dead rats in hidden places. How was this man able to live here without even complaining?

“I think I should introduce myself” Ava started, waiting for a reply from him. They didn't exactly tell her his condition but she already saw that he was crippled and using a wheelchair.

He remained silent.

She continued nevertheless, “My name is Ava Patel; you can call me Ava if you like.” She tried a soft approach.

She placed her bag gently on the bedside table. Stepping over shattered glass on the floor, she headed for the windows to open them. “You know, being in a stuffy room won't do you any good. Fresh air comes in through the window, plus the view is always nice and offers a sense of serenity” she explained.

She opened the window and inhaled deeply, “see!” She faced him. Her eyes widened at the sight of the man's face.

He chuckled dryly, his eyes glued to the outside world beyond the opened window

“Seems like they didn't tell you” his baritone voice resonated within her very soul.

He continued, “I'm not just crippled, I'm blind as well”

Ava's eyes widened more. How is it possible? Since when? She knew him, he was the first young master, Liam Blackwood, the eldest son. 

There was news that he stepped down from his title as president of his family's business because of a mild illness. Was this a mild illness?? Crippled and blind? 

“You're…. Liam Blackwood” she gasped softly.

His face remained unchanged, “what now? You want an autograph?” He asked sarcastically.

“No, no,” Ava declined with a nervous laugh. “I'm not a fan; I barely know you, just by face and name,” Her colleagues used to speak of him nonstop.

Was he really blind? She asked herself. She reached out hesitantly to his face and waved her hand. His expression remained the same….so he was really blind.

But wait, Ava recalled back to earlier when that maid spoke of him, she even called him a dead weight. Could it be that she doesn't know that he is Liam, the former formidable president of the Blackwood's enterprise?

And why was he kept in such a small space? 

Her mind clicked, she had to remember that she was being paid to care and assist him and not meddle in their family's business.

First things first, she would need to do some serious cleanup.

After his interaction with the strange woman who was brought to care for him, Liam stopped hearing her voice. 

Since he was blind, his hearing became his most receptive sense.

He heard mild sounds of the glass scattered all over the ground, was she sneaking away? He thought inwardly

He chuckled, “That's unexpected, you're leaving already and I didn't even have to do anything to you”, his dry laughter caught Ava's attention

“I'm not leaving,” she said, and for some reason, hearing that made him slightly relieved.

“Wait,” she said, “have you been chasing all your other care assistants out?” She asked

He shrugged, “What can a Cripple like me do except get angry. It's best if you live now, I stabbed the last woman with a broken glass”

Ava felt an odd chill in her abdomen; she wanted to pass it off as a joke, but patients like him who were frustrated because of their states usually get very aggressive.

“Sorry, I'm not the type to give up,” she said. To simply put, she would endure whatever aggression he showed for a month, and after her payment, she would ghost.

Liam stayed silent, listening to her make gag sounds each time she came across something filthy. She wasn’t the first one brought in to care for him in return for a big price

He made sure that none of them went with that amount, so he treated them violently till they left on their own. Ava Patel, he repeated inwardly, I will show you hell!

“What the!” Ava gasped after looking underneath Liam's bed.