CHAPTER 3: REGRET AND RESOLVE

Cold beads of sweat formed on the forehead of Ryan. His eyes had dilated fully as he stared at the medical report in his hand.

“What is it, Ryan?” Erik asked inquisitively. He was concerned about his friend.

When Ryan raised his face, it was entirely flushed. Agitation was creeping all over him.

“What's going on, man?” Erik asked again. “Who sent that to you?”

“Ava,” Ryan replied. “Ava is carrying my child.”

The statement hit Erik. “What the—?”

Ryan slammed the medical report right on the table and sprang on his feet, throwing quick strides as he left the office.

“Hold on, Ryan,” Erik said and followed immediately.

Ryan got to the secretary with a serious look in his eyes. “Who sent this to me? Where's the lady?”

“Sir, one of the security men at the gate brought it. He said a lady desperately wanted to see you. She had the envelope with her.”

The secretary went on to describe the person in question. Ryan's heart exploded. It was Ava. He had no idea she was pregnant.

He dashed out and took the nearest elevator downstairs. When he found his way outside the gate, there was no trace of Ava. She had left. The frustration on his face was very clear. All of a sudden, he wanted to make things right.

“I told you, Ryan,” Erik said. “I warned you.”

Ryan shut his eyes and opened it. Then,he turned to his friend immediately.

“Erik, we have to find her. I don't want anything to happen to my child. I have to find Ava.”

They rushed back in and settled in Ryan's car. Then, he drove off with one person in mind— Ava!

★★★★★

Many meters away, Ava was walking sluggishly. The whole event that transpired the previous night left her dazed. Not even in her wildest dreams could she have thought that things would turn out this way. Ryan had turned his back on her. But somehow, she was hoping the medical report would turn the tide.

When she got to the restaurant where she worked, her boss, a chubby looking fifty year old woman, was standing outside. On seeing Ava, a thick scowl formed on her face.

“Take this shit!” The lady said.

“Good morning, ma'am,” Ava greeted her.

But the angry woman wasn't ready to entertain her greeting.

“That right there, bitch, is your sack letter. Your shitty services are no longer needed.”

Ava dropped on her knees. She lost Ryan. Losing her job would ruin her life completely.

“Please, please,” she pleaded. “You can't do this to me. You haven't paid me for three months. Don't fire me this way.”

“Get lost, lowlife!!” The lady said and pushed her down.

In the heat of the moment, three black SUV cars stopped and serious looking men stepped out. Just one of them walked to the two ladies.

Ava's callous boss chuckled broadly at him.

“Good morning, sir,” she greeted him. “You are welcome to—”

The wealthy looking man shut her up with a raise of his finger. He proceeded to make a phone call. After that, he smiled at her. Then, he said politely, “From this moment, this property belongs to Avalon corp. You have three days to evacuate.”

“What?” The lady asked in shock.

Her phone rang and she took the call which confirmed to her that there had been a change of ownership. Her nerves froze and she went on her knees.

“Please, you can't do this to me,” she pleaded. “I will—”

The man in suit ignored her and turned to Ava. Then, he bowed his head to her.

“Miss Woods, pardon my manners. You are safe now.”

The men restrained Ava's boss. Ava got up to her feet and carefully studied the specimen before him. The man was probably in his fifties. How could he have bowed to her?

“Who…are you, please?” She managed to ask.

“My name is Aaron and I am the personal assistant of your father.”

The statement made no sense to the innocent girl. She was an orphan. At least, that's what she always knew. Her mother died before her eyes. And the late woman always told her she had no father.

“What..? My father?” She stuttered.

Aaron nodded in agreement. “The chairman of Avalon corp is your birth father. He has been looking for you.”

Ava shook her head. “I'm sorry, mister. But you have the wrong information. I am not the person you think I am. Sorry.”

Aaron was not moved. He straightened his suit. “If you don't mind, could you come with me to the car? Don't be scared. I'll explain all you need to know.”

Ava curiously but doubtfully followed him into the car. By the time he was done explaining the whole situation to her, her tears were all over her face. All these years, she lived as an orphan when she had an ultra rich father.

Her fate was similar to that of her mother. The poor woman fell in love and got pregnant by Avalon Woods. When Mr Avalon was faced with the situation of either marrying a woman of his class or choosing Ava's mother, the poor woman took the bold step. To make the burden less, she eloped without letting him know about the pregnancy.

“Miss Woods, your father is now aware of everything that they did to you. He knows you're pregnant also. You should leave this country. Go to your father. He's waiting for you.”

Ava was subbing. She dabbed on her tears with the back of her palm.

“I.. I don't want to run away,” she replied. “What I want is revenge. They have to crumble before me.”

Aaron smiled. “Miss Woods, go to your father. When you have built power, you will return to this place and make it yours.”

Ava was mute for a while. She thought about it. Leaving would be the best option. She needed to leave and heal from everything. She would put to bed and watch her child grow a little before making her return.

“I will leave the country,” she finally said.

Aaron slid his hand into his pocket and brought out a card.

“Miss Woods, this is a little token from your father.”

“What's this?” She asked as she received it.

“There's a little money in the account. It's an apology f*e for taking so long to find you.”

“How much are we talking about?” She asked.

Aaron shrugged and smiled broadly. “Just five billion United States dollars.”

Ava's jaw dropped in that instant. Five billion United States dollars was what Aaron called little money. She found herself wondering how much wealth was out there for her to possess.

“Five…five billion dollars?”

Aaron nodded. “There's something else for you to see.”

They eventually left. Many moments later, they arrived at the headquarters of Avalon corp in the United States— an incredible mass of land with structures matching the ecstasy of the organization. Ava's life had transformed from a lowlife to a billionaire.

He followed Aaron to an elevator that took them straight to the most prestigious office. From that height, she could see the city very well.

She gasped in wonder at the magnificence of the office.

“Your father occupies here whenever he visits. Miss Woods, it will be your turn soon.”

Ava looked at him with curious eyes.

“You are the heiress to your father's empire. This place will be yours to occupy. Be gone for a few years, build power and return.”

Ava walked to the window and looked out to the city. She thought about the humiliation Ryan caused her. She would avenge it all.

When she spoke again, her voice carried a powerful aura.

“I will be gone for five years,” she said. “Then, I will return to this city and make it mine.”