Chapter 0351 “What do you mean?” he asks, clearly not believing what I was saying. Before I could answer, a knock on the door interrupted. Brian excuses himself and goes to open the door. For some reason, I’m not surprised when Rowan walks into the room. “You’re just in time, Rowan,” Brian tells him. “Ava […]
Chapter 0350 Ava. My memories have come back, and understatement. I was beyond angry. I nat I’m pissed off would be an yell ero was furious. “You lied to me!” I yelled at Rowan, my hand slapping his chest. It was similar to hitting a brick wall, but I didn’t care. “You fucking lied to me, you bastard. For months. Months, Rowan” The knowledge that my memories are back dawns on him. Fear fills his eyes, and at first I’m surprised since Rowan has never shown fear, but then I remember that I was angry at him. “I need to leave. Thereed to be,” I say without really addressing I search the room, and whe anyone in patar. and when I spot my car keys, I grab them. I was about to leave when Rowan grabbed my hand and stopped me. “You can’t leave. I have to take you to a hospital; you fainted, Ava. You need to see a doctor.” His eyes are soft as he pleads with me. “Let go of me, Rowan,‘ me, Rowan,” I hold. Cand. I try to shake his hand, but he tightens his “I won’t fucking tell you twice, Rowan.” “Please,” he begs, but I’m so done with him. I twist my body, and using my right hand, I punch him right in the face. I feel a kind of sick satisfaction when I hear his nose break. Since he wasn’t expecting my punch, he released me, his face showing a mask of shock. “I’ll deal with you later,” I tell him, the warning in my vo voice clear. Without another glance, I leave. Only when I was leaving the room did I notice Calvin standing near the bed. I don’t tell him anything either. He also fooled me. In fact, everyone fucking lied to me, but I wasn’t as pissed off with them as I was with Rowan. Jumping into my car, I crank it up and speed out of there. The memories that had been forgotten and the new ones that I made all mesh and become one. My head is pounding, but I know that I need to do this. I needed to get this out of the 1/3 +15 BONOS As the lies Rowan told me are exposed, I become even angrier. I don’t know why I’m surprised. This is Rowan we are talking about. He is the king of grabbing opportunities and bending them to his will and desire. I should have seen this coming, but hindsight is a fucking bitch. I played right into his game. I was a fucking fool; I don’t know how I didn’t read the signs. Correction: I did read the signs. I knew he was lying. Keeping things from me, yet I turned a blind eye because I wanted the fucking fairytale he painted. At this point, I don’t know whether to cry or be impressed by the lengths he took to have me. I don’t know how I get to the station, but I do. I was so distraught and so fucking angry that it’s a wonder that I didn’t get into an accident. Pushing thoughts of my current state aside, I focused on what I needed to do. Everything that happened a few minutes ago could wait
hapter 0348 Rowan. I stare at my blank laptop screen, not really in the mood to work. Noah was piaying video games, and Iris was sleeping. It’s been a while since Ava left to drop off Gunner; she should be back by now. Since her shootout, my worry for her has been constant. I can’t
Chapter 0347 “Morning,” I greet, standing at the kitchen entrance. Gunner rushes and hugs his father while telling him about the wonderful time he and Noah had at our house. “Good Morning, Ava.” I chuckle. He was trying to multitask. He was attending to me while listening to his son and still trying to do
Chapter 0346 “I can’t be sure, but trust me,” I finally answer him. “My instincts are never wrong.” He looks unsure at first until he wipes schools his features, and wipes the look from his face. He then stands up and comes to stand next to me. Before I can understand what he’s doing, he
Chapter 0345 I didn’t sleep well last night, and it shows in the way I look this morning. I am exhausted, both mentally and physically. Rowan and I haven’t slept in the same bed since the night of our date. For the first time since then, I’d been tempted to invite him after we came
Chapter 0344 We get to the station, and my anxiety spikes up. I was a nervous wreck, not really sure I wanted to hear what Brian had to say. What was I going to do if she’s really the one who was behind my attempted murder? Sure, we don’t get along, but I’ve known her
Chapter 0343 I nod my head, understanding why the call would have him on edge. I wanted to rush there as fast as I could, but we also had guests, and Noah’s birthday was still in full blast. “Let’s be done with Noah’s party first, then we will go and meet with Brian,” I tell them, standing up. We all agree on that and head back to the party. I was right; Rowan had left Iris with my parents. I go to my friends who have worried looks on their faces. “What’s going on? And where are Emma, Trevor, and Kate?” Letty’s eyes scan the area, probably looking for her boyfriend. “Emma was arrested, so Trevor and Kate followed her to the station.” “What?” Their shocked shout startled some kids who were playing near us. I sush them and then told them everything that had happened. Calvin still had the cold and detached look, whereas Corrine and Letty just looked stunned. “Why would they think it’s Emma?” Corrine poses the question that has been driving me insane since Emma was arrested. “That’s what I’d like to know,” I replied. “The cops just told us that their order was to arrest Emma. They didn’t really give any other explanation.” We sit silently. Each of us was lost in our own thoughts. The party flies by quickly after that. It was a blur because all I could think about was Emma and what the chief of police wanted to tell us. I couldn’t focus anymore on the party. Not even when Sierra came and chatted me up a little bit. Letty left earlier that intended, but I understood. She may not be Emma’s biggest fan, but she had to be there for Trevor. She had been torn at first on whether to stay with me or go. I assured her that I was okay and pushed her to go be with Travis. 2 When the party was finally over, I wanted to rush over to the station. We said our goodbyes to the guests and soon just friends and family remained. “Mom, can Gunner stay over for the night?” Noah asked, his face still radiating happiness from the events of today. I turn to Calvin, silently asking if it was okay with him. When he nods, I face Noah and give him a small smile. +15 BONUS “Yeah, sure… You two can have a sleepover.” They screech in happiness, before Noah grabs Gunner’s hand and they rush up the stairs. A few minutes later we hear his bedroom door opening then closing. “Are you ready?” Noah asks. “We can leave right now if you are.” My parents look at me in question, and it hits me that I didn’t tell them what had happened. I give them and Rowan’s parents a quick and short version. “You guys go. We can stay here with the kids,” Rowan’s mom says after I’m done. Since everyone was okay with the idea, we left in different cars, but I drove with Rowan. “Do you think she’s guilty?” I asked after a while of driving. I was curious to hear his thoughts, but I also wanted to see his reaction. After all, this is the woman he once loved. “I don’t know,” he begins, side–eyeing me before his eyes focus on the road. “I mean, she did have motives, and it wasn’t once or twice that you two had an altercation since she came back.” “Really?” “Yeah. I found out she verbally attacked you and warned you to stay away from me a few times. So yes, she may have done so. If it were Emma I knew, I would have disagreed, but the Emma that came back is different and capable of anything.” I kept quiet after that. I just didn’t know what to believe. I mean, without my memory, I can’t really tell what type of woman Emma became. Sure, there were two times after I woke up from my coma when she was nasty to me, but did that translate to her wanting me dead? Today’s Bonus Offer
Chapter 0342 I continue staring at the officers in shock. We all were. It’s like we were all frozen, not believing what was going on. It wasn’t until they were done cuffing her and had begun dragging her that Trevor and Kate unfroze and moved into action. “What the hell? You got the wrong person!” Trevor shouted, but the cops just gave him a dirty stare. They stop and turn to look at him. Emma looked like she was in a dream. It’s like she’d detached somehow, and a look of unbelief was plastered on her face. “I’m sure we didn’t,” the blonde answered. “She told us herself that she was Emma Sharp and that’s who we were sent to arrest.” Emma didn’t move, and she didn’t struggle. She was frozen in place, her eyes lost and confused. I get her, though. I was also confused as fuck. Why would they arrest her? Why would they think that she was responsible for my attempted murder? “There has to be a mistake. Emma wouldn’t try to kill Ava no matter their issues,” Kate pleads, but her pleas fall on deaf ears. “We are just following orders, ma’am,” the other cop said. “I suggest you start looking for a lawyer.” They start dragging Emma away, with Travis and Kate shouting profanities at them. The rest of us are left there, stunned, and completely out of it. It happened so fast, or was it so slow? I can’t tell because I was having a hard time wrapping my head around everything that was happening. Emma couldn’t be the one to order my shouting, could she? “Why did none of you do anything?” Trevor comes back and shouts at the rest of us. “And what were we supposed to do?” Gabe fires back. He was right. This was beyond us. This was something that none of us were prepared for. And what the hell did he expect us to do? Fight the police and get arrested too. We are a lot of things, but stupid isn’t one of them. Trevor then turns and glares at Rowan. It’s only then that I realize that Iris isn’t with him. He most likely left her with my parents or my friends. “Is this your doing?” he grounds out with disgust coating his tone. “You had her arrested last time; I wouldn’t be surprised if you’re behind her arrest today.” +15 BONUS “I suggest you tread carefully, Trevor; I’m not going to let you spill baseless bullshit while you’re in my house.” Rowan’s eyes turn cold and dangerous. He was pissed, and it wasn’t hard to take a guess. Unlike Trevor, whose anger is all up in your face, Rowan’s anger is different. Rowan’s anger fills a room, and it always feels like a cold chill down your back. Kate comes back, crying. She was about to speak when Rowan’s phone rang and interrupted what she was about to say. He excuses himself and answers. The duo, on the other hand, turned and left, not bothering to say anything to me or Gabe. When the door locks behind them, I sit down, already feeling a headache coming. Five minutes later, Rowan comes back with a puzzled look on his face. “What’s wrong?” Gabe asks him. I twist on the sofa so that I can get a good look at him. For some reason, I just felt that I wasn’t going to like what he was about to tell us. “Brian,” he begins and I look at him with confusion, not really knowing who that was. “The chief of police called. He asked if we could come by the station.” “Why?” I asked curiously. “He didn’t go into details because he said he’d rather tell us in person, but it has something to do with your case and why Emma was arrested.” +15 BONUS
Chapter 0341 “Noah, it’s time to cut the cake.” I shout his name once I get outside. His head turns in my direction before he rushes towards me with a big smile on his mouth. A couple minutes later, Rowan joins us after taking Iris from my parents. “Happy birthday to you…” We all start singing, and I can tell that Noah is basking in the glory and attention. Once we are done, he blows out the candle, and joyous shouts ring out through the entire backyard, with the majority of the happy shouts coming from our families. Startled by the noise, Iris begins to cry, but she stops the moment both Rowan and I lay a kiss on her cheek. We didn’t plan it; it just happened, but it didn’t stop the ‘Aaaws‘ from our guests. “Happy birthday, Noah. I love you very much. Always remember that.” I hug him tightly, and he reciprocates. “I love you too, mom.” He then cuts the cake. I feed him a piece, and so does Rowan. Then he reciprocates by feeding us cake too. The cake is shared among the guests, and then soon it’s time for Noah to open his gifts. Seeing him so happy, I realize that there is just no room for regrets. Gunner was standing next to him with a big smile on his face. it’s then that it hits me. I don’t know about Emma, but I know that neither Rowan and I nor Calvin would regret our kids, despite the pain and heartache we’ve all been through. “Hello, miss,” a tiny voice pulls me from my thoughts. I look down to find a cute little girl in a pink chiffon dress. She had an oval–shaped face, pretty green eyes, tan skin, and red lips. She had glasses on, and her pretty blonde hair was in pigtails. She immediately captured my heart. “Yes, sweet heart.” I kneel down to her height. “Are you Noah’s mom?” she asks curiously, and I nod my head. “You’re really pretty,” she tells me, looking at me like I hung the moon and stars for her. “Thank you, doll, and who are you, if I may may ask?” Her smile grows, and I can’t get over how cute she is. She’s sure going to be a head–turner when she does grow up. “I’m Sierra, and I just wanted to let you know that I’ll one day marry Noah.” 1/3 +15 BONUS I couldn’t help but chuckle. So this is the girl who has my boy in a twist. I liked her though; she was straightforward and confident, and she wasn’t afraid of speaking her mind. Characters that I admire and wish I had when I was younger. “Is that so?” I tease. She nods her head. “Yes. He says he doesn’t like me; you see, he thinks I’m weird because I like studying bugs and plants. I hope to be a biologist one day, but you’ll see, I’ll make him change his mind,” she tells me confidently. A light dims in me a bit. How do I explain to this charming little girl that you can’t change a person’s mind? Especially a man who doesn’t fancy you? But weren’t you able to change Rowan’s mind? The question glares at me. Yes, I may have been able to change his mind, but at what cost? Look at the pain and heartache I went through just to achieve that. Pain I’m not really sure was worth it. I wouldn’t want this kind of burden on such an innocent girl. Before I can say anything, though, Teresa rushes to me with a worried look on her face. I stand “What is it?” I ask, my anxiety starting to rise. She leans in and whispers. “There are policemen at the door, and they’re looking for Emma.” Well, that can’t be good. “Go and inform Rowan and the others. Let me go see what this is about. Also, while we’re dealing with it, please keep the kids outside and entertain the guests.” My heart was in my throat, worrying about what the cops would want with Emma. Rowan had dropped