Chapter 006

A loud bang landed on the door snapping me out of my thoughts and I got out of bed and made my way towards the door.

I'd locked it earlier so he wouldn't try to barge in.

“Are you messing with me now?” His voice was laced in frustration as he spoke and for a moment there I was scared.

“What do you want?” I asked as soon as I got closer to the door.

“Open up, Ava let's talk.” He responded and I hesitated for a brief moment before opening the door for him and moved away but he caught my wrist stopping me from getting away from him.

“What is the meaning of this?” He raised a few documents so I could get a clear view but what I wanted at that moment was to break free from him.

“Let go.” I muttered as I glared daggers at him.

“Do you think this piece of paper is going to make any difference?” His eyes burned with anger but none of that mattered to me.

“You're hurting me.” I half yelled.

“Can we stop bickering for once and have a nice conversation?” His expression didn't change as he spoke.

“You and I have nothing to talk about, okay? We're done.” I reminded him even though it was killing me inside.

I was carrying his freaking child which I hadn't thought of telling him.

“You have nothing else to say to me,Jerome.” It came out as a whisper as I tried not to let my emotions slip.

“At Least let me explain myself.” His blue eyes bore holes into my skin as he spoke.

I felt him squeeze my palm gently.

My walls were crumbling as I felt tears at the back of my eyes.

“Explain what exactly? That you were having an affair with my step sister and even got her pregnant? Or the fact that you would never touch me unless drunk but have no problem doing it with my step sister!” my voice trembled as I tried not to let those tears fall.

He didn't deserve any of it!

It was my fault for falling in love with him.

“She lost the baby.” He just knew a way of pissing me off even more.

“I don't care anymore! We're getting divorced.. I don't need anything from you, I just need you to sign the papers and set me free from this hell hole.. You have done more than enough damage already. Thanks to you the entire world sees me as a vengeful ex wife who wouldn't let go." This time my walls came crumbling to the ground as hot tears rolled down my cheeks.

“Ava..”He whispered as he pulled me into his arms.

“Don't touch me! I hate you!” I screamed at him as I kept hitting his chest while trying to get away from him but he simply held me in his arms tenderly.

“I'm sorry.” He whispered just loud enough for me to hear as he held me in his arms while stroking my back..

I sobbed in his arms and for the first time in weeks I felt vulnerable in his arms. I stopped struggling and just let him hold me.

I felt like I needed it one last time before breaking up with him.

He broke the hug and held me at arm's length and gently wiped away my tears with my thumb.

Our eyes locked and that turned out to be a big mistake as I wasn't able to look away and before I knew it he inched closer till our faces were inches apart.

I didn't know what happened at that moment but I forgot how to breathe and didn't dare make a move. I was petrified, unable to say a word or move away. The only sound I could hear was my heart beat across the room.

Jerome pressed his lips on mine without warning and I found myself kissing him back.

This wasn't supposed to happen! I wasn't supposed to be kissing him on the same lips he had kissed Autumn with.

That harsh reminder jolted me back to reality and without hesitation I pushed him off me.

“Get out.” I couldn't find my voice as I looked away immediately.

“Here. You left it in the car.” He handed me my hand bag which I took out of his hands and waited for him to leave.

“You'll have to stay here for the meantime until things cool down.. You also cannot go to Helen's place, it's also packed with reporters waiting for you to show up.” He informed me but all I wanted at that moment was for him to leave me the hell alone.

He waited for Me to say something but left when I didn't say a word.

Once I was sure he'd left, I locked the door behind him and heaved a sigh of relief.

I walked towards the bed and fished out my cell phone from the bag and just as I'd suspected Helen had called multiple times including dad.

I hesitated for a brief moment but ended up calling Helen instead.

“Thank Goodness, Ava! I was worried sick!” I could hear concern In her voice and I smiled.

“Calm down,Helen, I'm fine.” I informed her and I could hear her breathe a sigh of relief.

“I went back to the condo but couldn't find you, for a moment I thought that man had kidnapped you.”She voiced out her frustration.

“Well he did nab me off the street but it's not what you think. He didn't do anything to me.” My mind wandered back to what transpired earlier and I shook my head immediately to get rid of that thought.

“Are you sure? I wish I could come get you right now but it's a whole lot of mess out here. That bitch is making sure you sit and watch how she's able to manipulate everyone against you.” Helen said spitefully.

“There's reporters everywhere, including the company and my apartment complex . I tried to get them to leave but I'm afraid it's no use.” She added and I took a deep breath.

“I'm sorry for putting you through all that, Helen.” I felt sorry for dragging into my own mess.

“You meant the world to me,Ava and I'm willing to do whatever it takes to help you but I guess right now you're safe wherever you're now.” I could hear sadness in her voice.

“Sadly yes…I'll be staying here until things cool down and maybe get Jerome to sign the documents.” I informed her and there was a long pause on the other end.

“I can't come to you right now cause it seems like the reporters are tailing me but I'll come to you as soon as possible.” She said and I felt better knowing I had someone like Helen by my side.

“Thank you, Helen, I love you.”I smiled like she could see it.

“I love you more… Uhm Ava?”

“Yeah?”

“Did you speak to your dad

“I can't face dad right now.” I answered sincerely and she heaved a sigh over the phone.

He was only going to speak to dad after the divorce was finalized.

“Don't you think he needs to know?” She knew how close Dad and I were and it was important I tell him about it.

“Not right now, Helen.. I need to make a decision first.” I still haven't made a decision to keep the baby but deep down I knew I badly wanted to keep it.

“Remember I've got your back all the way.. I'm always here for you okay?” I smiled sadly.

“I know right and I love you too.”

“I'll be in touch.” She said and I nodded unconsciously before hanging up to read up on all the articles written about me.

Apparently Autumn had walked into the hall after I'd fallen and passed out while bleeding from in between her legs.

It was around the time Jerome had found me.

I scoffed when I remembered how she'd slashed her thigh when I fell.

Could she'd faked it?

I rubbed my temple gently as I felt a headache coming.

I was finding it hard to understand what could be her endgame or what she was hoping to achieve.

I took deep breaths as I read through the horrible comments and in a blink of an eye I'd turn to the vindictive ex wife who has refused to move on.

Even though I never wanted any of this to get to me I couldn't help but feel so angry.

I heaved a tired sigh before turning off my iPad and kept it aside before heading towards the bathroom to clean up.

I took off my clothes and prepared a warm bath for that's what I needed at the moment.

I felt my tensed muscles eased as soon as I stepped into the bathtub.

I closed my eyes as I enjoyed my moment in the tub.

I spent quite some time in the tub and by the time I was out I felt refreshed and better than earlier.

I wore a bathrobe around my body and a towel wrapped up around my hair before stepping out of the room and shortly after a knock landed on the door, I wanted to ignore thinking Jerome was at the door until the housekeeper spoke up.

“I brought your dinner, ma'am.” She spoke up and only then did I walk towards the door and open the door to find her standing with a food tray.

“Hello Amanda.” I smiled at her as she made her way towards the coffee table at the center of the room and carefully placed the tray on it before turning to me.

“It's nice to have you back here ma'am.” She said with a bright smile before excusing herself.

I wanted to ask if Jerome had left but decided against it and shut the door after her.

Amanda has been the housekeeper of Jerome for years and was moved to the new mansion when we thought we were going to move in soon or so I thought.

I shook off the thoughts of him and went over to the walk-in closet to get a pair of new clothes. Obviously Jerome had filled the closet with clothes. I just had to look for something that fits.

I skimmed through the clothes in the closet and realized that they were all in my sizes.

I brushed off the thought of him going to the store and buying something that fits.

Probably a coincidence. I shrugged my shoulders as I took out a blue floral dress and immediately changed into it and walked out of the closet with the bathrobe and towel in my hand.

I took them to the bathroom and tied my hair into a messy bun before returning to the bedside.

I scoffed when I realized that the meal was actually my favorite.

Of course it was all Jerome's doing but unfortunately I couldn't think too much about it as I was starving so I dug right in.

JEROME'S POV.

“Mr James left this at the office.” Andy, my assistant informed me as he handed me a brown envelope.

I raised an eyebrow before accepting it and opening it up and sure enough it was divorce papers from Ava’s Attorneys.

“Tsk..” I scoffed before placing it on the desk in front of me and rubbed my chin thoughtfully.

I couldn't help but wonder if she'd fallen asleep already.

“The situation seems to be out of control and the shareholders are demanding answers… should I have the team take action?” He asked but shook my head with an expressionless face.

“Don't do anything until I tell you to.” I muttered while staring at my laptop screen.

“As for those old fools, set up a meeting and I'll handle the rest.” I muttered mindlessly.

“Right away, Boss.” He bowed and was ready to leave when I stopped him.

“One more thing, Andy… Make sure my wife doesn't leave the Estate no matter what else you're going to suffer the consequences of your failure.” I sternly said and he trembled slightly.

Of course I knew how stubborn Ava could be and I knew she was going to try to leave one way or the other but I wasn't going to let that happen.

My eyes fell on the brown envelope once again and a strange glint flashed through my eyes.

I picked it up and took out the divorce papers before placing it in my shedding machine and it was immediately shredded to pieces.

This was the second divorce paper handed to me and this brought a frown to my face.

At first she was only throwing a tantrum because she was mad at me but right now the whole thing seemed to be getting out of hand.

“Did you find the flash drive?”