Chapter 50
25: Pandora’s Box
I spend the rest of my evening strolling in the garden then browsing some books in dad’s study. When I get back to the living room for dinnertime, I see Nikki and Joy sitting there. They don’t even greet me, so I ignore their sheer existence too and turn on the TV.
There is palpable tension in the room and I can feel Della glaring at me. I cannot help but wonder how she would have felt if that attacker had succeeded in his attempt last night.
“Ladies…” Dad calls us out and a smile forms on my lips.
He sits next to me and changes the channel to the news. I roll my eyes.
“What? You are not supposed to watch TV anyway,” He says, amused, and I shake my head.
“I guess I should help Uncle Orin with dinner preparation,” I say, getting up and making my way to the kitchen. Uncle Orin smiles and hands me a platter of veggies to cut.
“Where are the rest of the staff?” I ask him.
“I do most of the cooking nowadays. Staff is around only for cleaning and if there are guests.”
“Oh well, I am a guest! Or am I not important enough?” I raise my brow and take a bite of carrot.
He laughs. “You are not a guest. You are family.” he takes a pause then asks, “Why aren’t you sitting
outside with them?”
I shrug. “I was getting bored.”
He glances at the kitchen door and says in a low voice, “If you want to get close to your father, you
need to spend time with him. Don’t sneak out. That is what she wants.”
By ‘she‘ he means Joy.
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My face goes hot. Has Joy shut me out of Dad’s life long enough that even subconsciously, I am doing
what she wants? Uncle Orin is right. I could have stayed with them to watch the news.
Why did I come to the kitchen?
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I nod and head back to the living room after a while and take a seat next to dad. The local news. channel is brimming with the footage of my attack and I wince when they highlight Liam in the lift.
“He is the real hero! He saved her,” the news reporter says and I frown. He didn’t do anything before or during the attack. Although he was a great help afterwards.
“We asked for his comments, but he politely refused. He doesn’t want to be named, so we have to
respect his privacy.”
“Nobody asked me for an interview.” I say, amused, and dad chuckles.
“Oh, they did. I outright denied them. We don’t need another drama. You need rest.”
9
“Too bad we need to talk to heroes like him… So he can inspire us.” The journalist says and the panelist interrupts her.
“Technically, he didn’t save her. She saved herself by being brave. Not all girls need saving.”
“Yes!” Dad says in approval and my cheeks turn pink hearing the praise.
Della gets up and turns off the TV muttering, “Even a mouse will react bravely if he is attacked.”
I gape at her.
“What the fuck is your problem?” I ask her.
“You are my problem!” she yells at me.
“Avery! Della! Quiet both of you!” Dad rebuke both of us like little girls.
Della takes a deep breath and complains to dad.
“She is trying to steal Ethan from me. Even when she is…” she trails off without completing her
sentence.
I roll my eyes. To my relief, dad replies, “I have been meaning to talk to all of you about it. Now that we are all sitting in the same room. I guess it’s high time we discuss this.”
“About what?” Joy asks.
“It’s about Ethan. His behavior has been irking me lately. The way he cheated on Avery and trapped
Della.”
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My lips twitch at dad’s choice of words. ‘Trapped Della!‘ I am sure she willingly slept with Ethan. I
don’t think there was any trapping involved. If there was, I am sure it was another way around.
Because Della always wants what I have.
But If I see from a father’s point of view, I understand why he used the words ‘trapped Della‘. No father would want to admit willingly that his own daughter can be such a spiteful–venomous bitch.
“There is no need to discuss it in front of her,” Joy says sternly, pointing at me.
“Yeah, of course… because I am not family.” I complete the sentence for her bitterly.
“Stop bickering for a minute!” Dad bellows, and we all go quiet.
Then he turns to Della and asks her, “Do you know what he said to me at the party last night? He said
he wants to break the engagement and marry Avery because…“Dad trails off, then adds after a pause, shaking his head. “I still cannot believe he said this..”
I see Della seething in anger. As if it’s my fault he is an unfaithful bitch.
“He said it because she is back!” Della gestures at me with disdain. “If she wasn’t around, none of this would have happened.”
Oh my God! Can you believe her?
“I still want to marry him, Dad!” she tells him firmly.
“Can’t you see he is not a good person? He has trapped you, “Dad tries to convince her and I internally roll my eyes.
“I love him and I will do anything for him,” she tells him stubbornly.
“But he clearly said he wants to marry Avery.. do you realize how fucked up this is Della?”
Della, almost in tears, yells, “He cannot marry Avery! Avery is married!!”
My eyes pop out and there is pin drop silence in the room. How does she know about it? Did Ethan
tell her? Why would he tell her?
“What are you saying?” Dad asks her in a tight voice.
“She is telling the truth.” Joy says, “Avery doesn’t consider us family. If she did, she would have told
us about her wedding. We did some investigation and figured it out. She is married.”
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“You got married, Avery?” Dad asks me with hurt in his voice. My heart aches and I swallow hard,
unable to answer.
I haven’t even talked to Liam if he will help me out with this Fake husband thing or not. I am not
sure what to tell dad.
“Answer me Avery!” Dad asks in anger and I almost flinch.
“Yes, Dad. I did.”
He looks at me with so much disappointment; it hurts.
“She probably married some scumbag. This is why she kept it a secret,” Joy adds, and it serves like
an oil in fire.
To be honest, I want to punch her face. M is rich and considerate. Probably handsome too. Everything that can make Joy and Della jealous. Too bad he is a secret.
Dad gets up and says, “We will talk about it tomorrow. I am not hungry for dinner anymore.”
He walks towards his bedroom. I knew dad would be unhappy about it. But he looks so hurt and
disappointed. I don’t want to go to sleep without resolving this issue, but I keep my mouth shut. It’s
good that I will have time till morning to figure out my story and details.
If Della and Joy have investigated my background for the past 2 years, I have to make it believable.
I wonder if they know about the money too. That is not possible, though. I shake my head and go into my room without having dinner.
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