Chapter 31

Ava

I found myself lying on the bed when I opened my eyes. I was feeling a little giddy and my head was pounding. I sit up on the bed holding my head. I found the door a bit open and saw three people arguing. Also, the woman who was asking for help with the address.

There was a man, his back was facing me. The woman and the second man looked down as they talked to him. I squinted to look at them. My head was painting a lot because of the hit.

The man was tall and had a strong physique. From the side, I could say he was in his forties. I don't know him. What does he want from me? I found my hands untied. This kidnapper is stupid if he left me untied. Isn't he scared that I will run away or try to do something?

One thing was for sure Harry or Maisha was not behind this but I was still not confident about that. I tried to get a look at them and lost balance. When the man came rushing and helped me sit. Why does it feel like I have some connection with him even though I don't know him? Why do I feel like I saw him somewhere?

"Ava, Rest. Don't worry I won't hurt you. You are safe. I will answer all of your questions." He says and he was just a stranger but my mind said I should believe him.

He gave me a glass of water and a tablet to reduce my pain. I don't know why I didn't get a feeling he would hurt me. It was unusual but I wasn't scared. I was kidnapped and this man has been nothing but nice. As I was a little composed I thought of David and Shane. He would be so worried.

"What do you want from me?"

"Ava you are not fine. I will answer all your questions but for now..."

I didn't have the energy. My eyelids were heavy and I was exhausted. Eventually, as soon as my head hit the pillow, I drifted off to sleep.

Next morning

David

Last night, I came into Shane's room, and when I saw him sleeping peacefully. I felt a bit better and then drifted off to sleep. I woke up early morning staring at the empty side of the bed. I was so worried.

A thousand questions filled my mind. Is she doing fine? I will not leave Harry and Maisha when I find them. At night, Shane came crawling in because he couldn't sleep in his room. I gently stroked his hair as he sleeps. I slowly stepped out of the bed hoping to find some news as I check my phone. I stare at the phone screen...nothing...No news of her

Meanwhile

Ava

When I woke up this morning. I was feeling a lot better than yesterday. I looked around to find ways to escape or a phone to call. Nothing. Just then the man from yesterday entered the room with a tray in his hand which looked like breakfast.

"I see you are awake. I brought you breakfast." He says and I take a look at him properly. He had black hair and crystal blue eyes. He looked like a man in his forties but still looked young.

"What do you want from me? I don't even know you. My fiance and my son must be worried."

"Don't worry, Ava. Here take this phone and call him you are safe and will be home before tonight. I promise." He says placing the tray on the table and handing me his phone he took out from his pocket.

"Are you serious? Don't you want anything? You won't leave me just like that. I don't believe you."

"If you don't believe me. Tell me which kidnapper keeps their hostage so comfortable and free. I even brought you breakfast."

He was right and I don't know why I believed him. I took the phone from his hand and dialed the number. Strange and weird kidnapper. I quickly dialed David's number. Come on David. Pick up...

"Let me speak first." He takes the phone in his hand. Shane picked up the phone and I heard him.

"Hello..."

"Can I speak to David?" The kidnapper says. I don't know his name and he did kidnap me so till I get his name I would address him as the kidnapper.

"Dad will call you later," Shane says. Knowing David he was thinking it was some work call and he must be worried about me that he won't attend work calls.

"Can you do me a favor and put it on speaker?"

"Hello, David." The man says and David replies."Whoever this is I am not in the mood to conduct business calls." I could sense the tiredness in his voice and hearing his voice I knew he had been crying. The kidnapper hands me the phone which was on speaker.

"David. It's me..."

"Ava. I will come to find you. You don't have to worry. Did he hurt you? I swear to God I will kill him."

He replies as soon as he hears my voice. I take a deep breath and reassure him."I am fine David. Trust me. I will be home before tonight.

"I assure you of that. I can send you proof if you want." The kidnapper says.

"Hey, you. Tell me what do you want. I am ready to give you how much ever money you want." Whatever little talk I had with this man I knew he didn't want any money and he did scold the other man and woman for hurting me.

He let me call David and brought breakfast. I know for sure he isn't going to hurt me.

"I don't need any money." He implies and I continue saying.

"David. I am fine. Trust me. Take care and Tell Shane to feed the dog."

I hang up the call and look at him.

"He won't be convinced until he sees me safe."

David

I get a call and when I deny picking it up Shane picks up. He then puts it up on the speaker. I was in no mood to talk to others and about work. Even if my company was going bankrupt I wouldn't pick it up which isn't going to happen. I was worried about Ava. That's when I hear his voice.

I jumped off the bed taking the phone from Shane's hands. He was smiling. She just said she was fine and will be back by tonight. What? I don't understand a thing.

She hangs up the call saying feed the dog. "What the heck. We don't even have a dog. I am sure she is in danger. That was her way of telling me she is in danger."

I look at Shane who was calm.

"That's our code word of I am fine."

"Seriously. Feed the dog. You two are weird." I thought.

Ava

"I know what I did was wrong and I regret it every second of my life." The man says. If one thing I hated was when people beat around the bush. "Get straight to the point."

And in the wildest dreams, I had imagined what he was going to speak next. "I am William, Your BIOLOGICAL FATHER." He mumbles. I couldn't believe my ears. No-no-no. My biological father. This can't be possible. It's been so many years and I had no contact with them.

"No-no-no. My parents left me at the orphanage, I don't get it." They left me at the orphanage with a necklace and then I was adopted.

"I knew you wouldn't believe this."

William sighs and takes out a necklace from his pocket.

It seemed more real now. It was a replica of the necklace I had. The people of the orphanage said to me they saw the necklace with me when they found me. It struck me as I take a look at him closely.

I did look like him. His blue eyes, his nose, and black hair. He was my father. Those instincts and inner feelings were true. I felt this connection because he was my father. I didn't know what to say and how to react and all the frustration stored up in all these years I blurted out.

"Why why would you do that? Why did you leave me? What sin I had done that you left me there? I was a baby. All those times I thought it was me. You left me. My foster mother and sister died. Where were you when my high school boyfriend forced himself on me and my friends bullied me? Where were you when my foster father used to take out his anger on me? Where were you when I slept on the streets and starved at night? If you hadn't left me none of this would have happened and now when I am finally happy you are back. Why?"

I could feel the tears brimming in my eyes thinking about the past. I controlled my tears biting my lower lip. I look at him and he was sad. He too had tears in his eyes.

"I know, nothing can justify my actions but let me explain. Back then five years before you were born. I was a rich wealthy man. I had inherited a lot of wealth from your grandfather. One day when I was on a business tour to Europe I met your mother. I fell in love, the moment I saw her. Then I went to meet her in Europe and she came to New York to see me. Three years later we got married. We were happy and I couldn't ask for more."

"Your mom was getting used to the lavish lifestyle. She started gambling money. She associated herself with dangerous people. She gambled all my money and we lost everything. We were in debt. I was still with her after everything. Our fights were frequent. I did everything so that she stops her bad habits. She promised me she will leave and then the same repeats. I was too late. We were already in trouble. They used to come home and threaten to clear the debt."

He takes a deep breath and continues."A year later we found out she was pregnant with you and the men threatened to take you away if we failed to clear their debts. We couldn't gather the money they needed. Your mother died the day you were born. I was scared of what the men will do if they got hold of you. I left you outside the orphanage and I moved to Europe. I thought it would be best if you stayed away from me but I immediately regretted my decision of leaving you."

"I came back to get you after a few years when it was a bit settled but you were adopted and they lost all their records in the fire so they didn't know where you were. I tried finding you lost hope. I tried to find you but nothing. Then six years before I saw you in the news. You were at the gala accompanying David. I recognized you at once when you were wearing the necklace. It was one of a kind. Your grandfather made it for his first grandchild and daughter-in-law before he passed away.

"I appeared to find you but you were gone and then yesterday I saw you at the fair with David and Shane. I told Tim and Jill to bring you here but instead, they hurt you to bring you here. I had no intention of holding you hostage but I knew the moment I tell you about who I am you would run away and I wanted you to know the whole truth. I am sorry, Ava. I am. I wish I could go back in time to reverse everything. You have every right to stay mad at me. Ava, please say something."

I.I don't know what to say. All this time I didn't know anything about my parents. Now all of it out in front of me. I don't know what to think. I don't know what to say. I was shocked. I didn't know what to feel. If I should be angry or sad.

"Drop me home..."

"Ava, please don't do this. Get mad at me, yell at me but please don't leave me again." He pleaded and I said it again."Just drop me home."

A tear rolled down as his cheeks and his voice broke as he said.

"If that's what you want. Tim will drop you home. Forgive me if you can Ava."

I saw the sad face of my father. He regretted his decisions and I could see it but I was overwhelmed. It was a lot to take in. You don't know anything about your family and then suddenly when I am happy. He decides to appear.

I stared out of the window as the houses pass by. Did I make the right decision by leaving? I don't know what to think. After an hour's drive, I reached home. I stood in front of the door and rang the doorbell. David opened the door and hugged me but I stood still.

"Ava..."

"Leave me alone, David..." I let go of this hand and go straight to my room locking it.

I heard him yell from outside the door but I didn't.

"Ava, please talk to me."

David

I dropped Shane at Silver's and waited for some news. I couldn't trust the call so I decided to wait till tonight and if she isn't back I would search for her myself. I ran to the door when the doorbell rang.

I was so so relieved when I saw Ava. I instantly grabbed her in my arms but she didn't hug me back. She stood still and didn't say a word. Her face was expressionless as if she was broken. She got rid of my hands and left."Leave me alone, David..."

"Ava, please talk to me."

But she didn't say a word and went into her room and locked it...

(Ava's biological father is back. How will Ava cope up with it? Will, she forgives her father or not?)

...Thank you for reading...

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