Something’s changed


    Ava


    I was dead on my feet and I wanted nothing more than to soak in a bathtub before going to sleep.


    We had been nning this banquet for weeks. At first I wasn’t supposed toe. It was supposed to


    be like always where Mary represented me. After my breakdown in the kitchen that day, I decided it


    was time to stop hiding.


    Mary was excited when I told her that I would be attending the dinner party. For five years my identity


    had remained a secret. Not because I was afraid of anyone finding out but because I just wanted to live


    my life in peace.


    I didn’t want to be in the limelight. I didn’t want people all of a sudden sucking up to me because they


    realized I was rich. Now, though I coulde out of the shadows. I knew those that are


    genuine and those that are not.


    I mean fuck, there are already people here tonight who were trying to get on my good graces. Men and


    women who had looked down on me and treated me like shit before, simply because I didn’t


    have a high paying job and ording to them. Because they believed I didn’t have a dime to my


    name.


    It was fucking frustrating. I just wanted to be away from them all.


    “I still can’t believe that you’re the founder of Hope Foundation” Letty says awe in her voice. “Why


    didn’t you tell me?”


    It was hours after my talk with Rowan. I stood next to him and told him my mind. Told him how


    things were going to be like and I felt nothing.


    There’s just something so rejuvenating about letting the past go. I wasn’t fully healed, but my heart


    didn’t hurt every freaking second like it used to


    Iteel nothing towards Rowan and my so called family. No anger. No bitterness. No hatred. I was sort of


    numb and I liked that I liked that I could now breathe easily without the constant feeling of drowning


    “Ava?”


    I turn to Letty “Yes?”


    “You haven’t answered my question” Letty says with a pout


    “I didn’t tell you because no one else knew except for those who work at Hope foundation, the


    children and Noah I had requested them to keep it a secret till I was ready for my identity to be


    made public”


    She nods her head in understanding Then she grows quiet. Her eyes shift to Rowan’s table Landing on


    Travis and staying there for a while before she pulls them away


    Since Rowan was our biggest donor, our tables were close to each. I heard everything that was said


    earlier From Christine and Emma mocking me to Letty defending me and calling out their childish


    behavior


    When Travis told her to leave, I knew I couldn’t let her I asked Mary to tell the bodyguard to stop her


    and bring her to our table. As for Christine, it was just a little payback for all those times she was cruel


    to me. It was so satisfying seeing her leave with her tail tucked between her legs.


    “You can go to him Letty it’s okay. I don’t mind I tell her nodding my head towards Travis direction


    He also threw nces at Letty once in a while She didn’t notice it, but I did.


    *I can’t. Not after his abominable behavior. He says he wants you to be forgiven by you and yet he lows


    Emma and Christine trash talk you” her anger lises just a little, showing just how mach in still passed


    her off a


    “I’m thankful that you stood up to me, but as you can see I don’t need anyone fighting my battles I give


    her a soft smile “You love Travis, I see that You’re my friend Letty My bestled if I was being howest and


    that means i want the best for you I want you happy and if Travis makes you Sappy then I can ept


    that


    She stares at the, before her eyes grows big “Something has changed”


    What do you mean?” I ask trying to hide my smile


    There is just something different about you, now that I’m looking at you what is whats


    I dont know Head be that I just got thed of living in bitterness of could be that that sex with


    it 1


    san ? Tot my chip in thought “It’s definitely the cer


    “What cerns, making some people tom taus


    I


    Iugh at howical she looked.


    “You had sex with Ethan?” she repeats as if she just couldn’tprehend what I was telling her.


    “Yes” I smirk remembering it. “Multiples times actually” (1


    “When you say multiples times, do you mean in one night or more than one night?”


    I can’t help the grin that takes over my face “I mean multiple times a night for several days”


    Her jaw drops open before her mouth curves and she grins at me like an idiot.


    “Damn woman! I mean if him sexing you is what is bringing that goofy grin on your face then continue


    doing you babe. You deserve to have great sex and be happy” 2


    This is one of the reasons why I love Letty. She didn’t judge and she was so supportive.


    I throw my hands around her and bring her in for a hug. “Thank you Letty, for just being you”


    She’s caught off guard for a while, but then she recovers and hugs me back.


    “Now, go and talk to Travis. I know you want to” I tell her.


    This time she doesn’t wait around. She excuses herself and leaves our table just as Ethanes back.


    He takes his seat before turning and kissing my lips


    “You’re truly addictive” he whispers in my ear.


    I swallow as his warm breath and words ignite a new kind of heat inside me.


    “Ethan…” the wordse out as a breathy moan.


    “Your dress leaves nothing to the imagination, Ava….I want nothing more than to have those beautiful


    legs wrapped around my waist as I bury my cock so deep inside you, you’ll be feeling me for days“>


    I clench my legs at the image he painted.


    It was safe to say I was truly fucked when ites to Ethan. He has taught me so much about myself


    and my desires. My likes and dislikes in bed. I didn’t even know there was so many ways of bringing


    someone pleasure.


    With Ethan, I was slowly rising from slumber. I was finally epting my sexuality


    I came to the realization that I loved sex a lot. Ethan taught me to ept that. He taught me to never


    be ashamed of that. To never be ashamed of asking and to never be ashamed of initiating it.


    With Rowan, I tried pushing my needs down because deep down I knew he was sleeping with me out


    of need not because he wanted to. He’s the one that always initiated sex. I never once did for fear of


    being turned down. So even when the need arose, I used to push it down until he came to


    me.I was just about to ask Ethan if it was possible to find a private ce when my phone rings.


    I see mother’s name shing, the mood was instantly killed.


    “Excuse me, I have to take this” I tell him.


    Having seen the calls several times and knowing they were Noah, he nods his head with a smile.


    I walk out to the garden and answer.


    “Hey mommy” my sweet boy greets.


    “Hello, my love…how are you today?”


    “Bored” he grumbles. “How’s the party? I feel so bad I couldn’te”


    I did want him to attend, but I was afraid of putting him in danger. The chief officer called me earlier


    today and told me that the man who had attacked me was killed.


    He also told me not to let my guard down. He said that just because the guy was dead, it didn’t mean


    that there wasn’t any more danger.


    “I know honey. It is a wonderful party and I will send you pictures.” I pause. “Your friends also told me to


    say hi to you”


    We used to go with Noah to the foundation houses on Saturdays. He hit it off with the kids there, even


    the older ones. They all loved him and even asked for him today.


    “Is Kingstone there?” he asks in excitement.


    “Yes he is…I gave him your grandmother’s number, he said he will call you soon”


    Caleb and Noah had a rtionship like I had never seen before. Caleb viewed Noah as his baby


    brother and vice versa. Even though they had a huge age gap between them, they were close Those


    two could fall for bound


    “Yes” he screams through the phone. “I’ve missed him so much.”


    “And he has missed you too” I smile even though he can’t see it.


    “Alright mommy, it’s time for me to sleep…I just wanted to hear your voice before I do” he tells me


    sweetly and my heart warms at that.


    It was now night. The children had already gone back to Hope House a couple of hours back. Just like


    with any other house with children. Hope House had curfew


    “It’s okay. Goodnight and remember that I love you so much”


    I felt my eyes moisten. Damn it, I miss him so much. It’s been months and I just want him with me.


    “I love you too, mommy. Goodnight”


    It’s after I hang up the phone that I feel eyes watching me. I look around, but I see nothing. I hadn’t


    realized that I’d walked a bit far away from the hall. That I had gone deeper into the darkened garden,


    where there were no people around.


    I start moving.


    I could still feel those eyes burning at my back. Picking up the hem of my dress, I increase my speed.


    The moment I do, I start to feel heavy footsteps behind me.


    My heart starts racing and I start running. Shit, how could I have been so stupid? There was still a


    target on my back and yet I walked to a secluded ce.


    Whoever the person is, increases their pace also. I wanted to look behind me, but I knew that would be


    a mistake. I was running in heels. The possibility of tripping was great and that’s thest thing I wanted.


    I start panicking when I feel them gaining on me. The air was filled with something dark and sinister.


    Something dangerous. I knew I was good as dead if I don’t get to the hall quickly.


    I push myself to run faster. The person was right on my tail when I crossed into the glittering lights


    illuminated by the hall.


    The moment I do, I feel the suffocating presence recede. I stop and breathe heavily. When I don’t see


    anyone after surveying the ce, I turn and quickly walk to towards the hall.


    I was thankful but confused The person could have easily killed me. Even when I was running All it


    would have taken was a bullet to tha baali-


    Deep in thought, I wasn’t focused on where I was going.


    “Sorry” I mutter after bumping into another person.


    I look up after steading myself. My whole body freezes. I had bumped into Emma.


    She thest person I wanted to be around right now. I wanted to ignore her but the look on her


    face told me she wasn’t about to let me go. She was out for blood and it was mine she was


    desperate to spill.