Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Shattered Illusions

Ava’s POV

I wasn't expecting that response. How could he say it so casually—that it was "the best sex of the month"? He looked at me and chuckled, a dark, melodic sound that sent a shiver down my spine.

“You’re cool...” he uttered, leaning in to press a lingering peck against my lips.

Reality hit me like a physical blow. I gasped as I remembered I hadn’t come here alone. I was here with Gold.

“I have to go,” I rushed out, the words tumbling over each other.

He released his grip on me, but not before collecting my details and handing me $17,000 in cash. I turned to flee, but a nagging sensation in the back of my mind made me stop dead in my tracks.

“Do I know you from somewhere?” I asked. I had no memory of ever meeting him before tonight; to me, he was just a famous face, a celebrity I admired from afar.

“Who is Nadaline to you?” he countered.

My heart skipped a thousand beats. Hearing him say my boss’s full name felt like a bucket of ice water over my head. I racked my brain, trying to find a connection. This was my first time ever coming to a water park—Madam Nada hardly let me out of her sight, let alone out of the house.

Seriously, what is wrong with me? I thought, my mind racing. I tried to resist him, but I found myself wanting more. I’ve screwed everything up. Should I tell Naomi what happened between Dalton and this guy?

The fog in my mind cleared instantly when Lucky’s hand snapped in front of my face.

“Why are you asking about her?” I asked, my brows furrowing into a frown.

He chuckled again, but this time it lacked mirth.

“Well, you might be shocked by what I’m about to say, but it’s the truth.” His voice took on a somber, heavy tone that made my stomach churn. “I’m Nadaline’s step-brother.”

I felt dizzy, the room spinning on its axis. First, I had slept with her boyfriend, and now, her step-brother. Someone wake me up from this nightmare. Tears began to stream down my cheeks before I could even process the emotion.

Lucky stood up, his expression shifting to one of concern. “Why are you crying?”

I didn’t know if he was faking his worry or if it was genuine, and frankly, I didn't care. My head was pounding. I wrenched my arm out of his grasp when he tried to comfort me. He looked shocked by the rejection, but I was past the point of politeness.

“The news just made me realize how stupid I’ve been,” I mumbled, shaking my head. “How did you even earn her trust? She vowed she’d never trust anyone again.”

I turned toward the door, desperate to escape.

“What do you mean?” I stuttered. I hated how weak I sounded.

Is he really her brother? It took me years to earn a fraction of her trust. What happened that made her shut the world out? No wonder she never talks about her family.

“Ava,” he called out, his voice softening. He stepped forward and pulled me down to sit beside him.

“About what happened... the sex... you know... it was nothing, right? Just a—”

“Why are you stuttering now?” I snapped, refusing to look at him. “How do you even know who I am?”

He smiled sadly. “I saw you with Nadaline at a party a year ago. You were already in the car, but I saw you.”

“Was she happy to see you?” I interrupted.

He exhaled sharply, a long, tired breath. “She’s never happy to see me.”

“Why?”

“That’s what I’m trying to explain,” he said, taking several deep breaths as if preparing for a confession. “She hates me because of what happened in the past—between my mother, her mother, and me. I don’t know how much she’s told you.”

“She doesn’t talk about herself,” I replied flatly.

“When I saw you with her last year, I thought she’d finally become a mother. But I investigated. I realized you were adopted.”

“Yeah, adopted,” I spat, rolling my eyes. Was he trying to rub my status as an orphan in my face? “I don't think she sees me as a daughter anyway.”

“She does,” he corrected me firmly. “She was furious when she saw me near that car. She threatened me—told me never to get close to you or have anything to do with you... or else.” He even mimicked Madam Nada’s signature threatening tone, the one she used on her staff.

“If she hates you that much, there must be a reason,” I challenged. “Madam Nada isn’t the type to go looking for trouble, but she doesn't forgive easily. So, what did you do?”

He went quiet for a moment, then looked me dead in the eye. “I took her virginity forcefully.”

I gasped, my hands flying to cover my mouth. “You raped her,” I whispered, the weight of the word hanging heavy in the air. “Don’t dress it up in pretty language.”

He looked down at his hands. “I was drunk that night. It was a mistake. Her mother rescued her before it went further, and I’ve been apologizing ever since, but she thinks I did it on purpose.”

Before I could respond, a voice shattered the tension.

“Ava! Ava!! Ava!!!”

It was Gold. I panicked.

“I have to go,” I cried, bolting for the door. Lucky stood up to follow, but I didn't wait.

I wished the ground would simply open up and swallow me whole when I rounded the corner and ran straight into Madam Nada. Gold was standing right beside her.

“Where the hell have you been?” Nada demanded. I could see the raw panic in her eyes—the genuine fear that she had lost me. For a second, I felt a pang of guilt. She really did care.

But then, her expression shifted. The worry vanished, replaced by a mask of pure fury, agony, and betrayal.

She looked past me, locking eyes with her step-brother as he emerged from the room. I slunk over to Gold’s side, trembling.

“What is she doing here?” I hissed at Gold.

“I was worried sick!” Gold whispered back, her voice tight with stress. “I called her when you disappeared. I didn't know what else to do!”

“But I told you I was coming back...” I stuttered.

Gold scoffed. “I did what I had to do. Don’t blame me for being terrified while you were in there with a celebrity.”

I looked back at Madam Nada and Lucky. The air between them was thick with years of unspoken hatred and fresh pain.

I have a feeling this isn't going to end well, I thought. Only God knew what was coming next.

TBC