Three

Avery's POV

The one time I attempted to step out of my room, my bodyguard Gomez notified me my father had warned him not to let me out, not until he was home at least. I wouldn't have obeyed if it weren't for his poor job.

Now it's been a long day of constant anxiety that hasn't left me alone, not even when Amelia stopped by to give me dinner, watched a movie with me and assure me things are going to be fine. 

The clock struck eleven and I felt another tear cascade down my face as I sat by the window couch staring at the empty night. The clouds were dark and gloomy, and the moon was hidden somewhere. 

This wasn't the way I thought I'd tell dad about my plans for the future, maybe arts isn't a celebrity career, but it's nowhere worse than my father made it sound. 

Still, I have more than enough followers on Instagram who love my work and are a lot more appreciative than my parents. That kinda hurts, but I have to drink down this reality. Your life couldn't be perfect by any means. There have to be some flaws, some moles that make it human life. A tale of surviving it anyways. 

At that moment something in me clicked, and I knew that I wasn't going to be one of those people who give up on their dream and live in regret all their lives. I am going to fight for it, even if it means I have to run away and get caught.  

A soft knock on the door broke me out of my shallow thoughts, I bit my lip wondering who would be this late. 

"Come in," I said a little loud for my voice to reach out. 

The door creaked open and my father strolled in, now in his nightwear and a tray with Ice Cream Tub and bowls. I wanted to cry so bad at the sight of him, it reminded me of his behaviour this morning. My eyes stung, and my lips pouted on their own. 

"Is my princess sad or mad?" He asked and I turned away. 

"Both," I whispered but it came out in a sob. I was pulled over and into his arms, where he hugged me tightly. I cried in his arms, letting my anger and hurt flow down.

He rubbed my back and let me cry until nausea in my chest had eased down, though the ache didn't soothe. 

"I am sorry my love, will you forgive your dad?" He asked, wiping my tears once I pulled back, but it only made me more emotional. 

"Pretty please?" He asked again and I scowled, pressing my lips. He laughed at that and wiped a small tear from the corner of his eye. That's the thing, my dad loves me so much. 

And it wasn't like he had done this to me before, maybe he was stressed, maybe he was furious. Still, what's wrong is wrong. 

"I brought you ice cream." He pointed and I licked my lips. Ice Cream is my weakness, and he knows it well. 

He sighed and pulled my hands gently, making me sit on the bed as he sat beside me as we finished the ice cream first-hand. That taste at least melted my worries for a while. 

"Avery, you know papa loves you right?" He questioned and I sighed and nodded still silent. I was just not in the mood to speak. Not when my words mean nothing. 

"So, listen to me carefully alright?" He implied making me frown, he was making this too significant. Or is he addressing something else? What Amelia said…..hmm

"Well, I know that you don't have a boyfriend but is there any guy you happen to like?" He inquired, I rolled my eyes, sighing. 

"What is this even about? No, I don't like anyone and I thought we were to discuss my studies." I exclaimed, frustrated waving my hands. 

"If you'd let me." He grimaced, and I gritted my teeth nodding. Maybe I am gonna get my period soon, that could be the reason I feel grumpy. 

"The thing is someone. A guy precisely," he clears his throat and I raise my brow. My dad was acting uncomfortable, and he is never uncomfortable. 

"And what does this guy mean?" I frowned, he narrowed his eyes and shrugged. 

"He wants to marry you." He hissed in irritation, making me jump in surprise. Marry me, What century is this? 1880. 

Hearing those words bubbled a surge of anger in me, what does this even mean? He wants to marry me, I don't know this dude, he could be, old, bald fat for all I know. 

"What the fu–," I began but my father glaring at me made me shut up. 

"But Dad what is this, where did marriage come from?" I argued standing up and pacing.

"Avery." He called out but I kept pacing thinking about the stupid sentence he just announced. 

"How can someone be up and say I wanna marry your daughter? Do I even know him?" I laughed and laughed at such a ridiculous thing. 

"Avery." He warned me, making me roll my eyes. 

"And why the hell would I marry? I don't want to marry anyone right now. Plus, he could be a psychotic for all I know, Dad are you dumb too?" I blabbered and my dad shook his head, getting up and holding my shoulders. 

"Oh my God it sounds so tacky please tell me he is not some old–," I ranted again and he yanked me slowly. 

"AVERY." He shouted in a modest yell silencing me. 

"Try to be a little reasonable, my love." He coaxed me to sit down again. He went around grabbing the tray and scooping our blueberry ice cream. He handed me mine, and I nodded knowingly he was trying to bribe me. But I'll take this one. 

"I am not sure if you've heard his name or bothered." He began and I just decided to pay half attention and try being reasonable as he said. 

"His name is Aaren Hilton, he's a self-made businessman. Just a year ago we initiated some business with him, and he saw you at Gloria's engagement party." He explained uninterestedly, satisfying my curiosity.

Because honestly whoever this Ton Of Hills guy is I am not interested in him. 

"I don't know if we were more shocked or furious when he brought up his interest in you and proposed this last weekend at the dinner." He sighs, running a hair through his curls. Oh, I see, that reminds me why everyone was acting exceptionally weird when I came back home the next day from Tahi's. Now I understand why Gloria was behaving unusually. She certainly believed I was having an affair with this Hilton guy and didn't tell her about it. Typical Gloria! 

I only knew Dad had someone coming over for dinner, my mind didn't pay attention to the name. My throat seemed to just freeze hearing what my dad had disclosed, and my just mind had a surprise death. 

"Your Mother of course loved him and this Idea. Giovanni hasn't said anything besides that your opinion matters the most. Amelia liked him as well, she said the same thing though." He explains.

Now my mind was paying more attention to it than it had paid to any of my classes. My head was spinning and I wanted to whack it against the wall, just so it would stop fluttering like an annoying fly. This wasn't what I was looking forward to, Ugghhh! 

"I don't know Dad, just yesterday I was planning about arts and going to France. I don't even know how to react." I hollered struggling to get the right words out. 

"Well, going to France, that too alone. That's something I'll say you have to forget." He commented, making me frown. 

"No way we're going on and on about this Dad. You've always known I love art. What has changed now?" I questioned keeping my mind together. 

He sighed deeply, a long frustrated sigh before pulling out his phone, he ran his hands over his face while asking Gio to bring some files. 

I waited patiently and it wasn't long until Gio and Amelia were walking in by my door. They were dressed in night attire making it obvious if Dad had interrupted them, there had to be a severe reason. I bit my lip in apprehension while Gio opened the file and laid it out on my coffee table. 

I wouldn't have gasped if it wasn't for my pictures scattered all over, my body felt light creepy goosebumps, to the extent I could feel the thumping of my heart clear enough in the deafening silence. 

The pictures were taken from everywhere, my university, our hang-out cafe and spots, outside Tahi and Wren's place. The art supply store, the mall, and the bank every single place I've been in the last six months. All this while when I thought I was trying to live a life someone was stalking me, keeping an eye on me. 

"We received this a month ago," Gio uttered. I remember my father confronting me for being out late. 

The worst scenarios flooded my mind, they could've abducted me or worse killed me and I would be nothing but a corpse now. 

"Dad?" I crooked out a muffled sob, my feet stumbling back. Dad caught me on time, caressing my back as I hugged him shivering in terror.

"Breathe princess, breathe. Nothing is gonna happen to you. I swear." He persuaded me to nod with him as he assured me over and over again. 

Now I was seated on my bed, with a bitchy headache and half of my family surrounding me. 

"Avy don't be scared. You're safe." Gio assured me by holding my hand, I gave him a small smile. 

"I am just shocked." He nodded in agreement at my whisper. 

My life had drifted into the desert just in one day where everything was a path of blur and thorns.

My dad was seated on the chair, his head hung, he grumbled shaking his head. 

"Avery, you see in this case Aaren's proposal is just a reward." He started and I furrowed my brows. 

"Not only is he a good man, but he also lives in France." He mumbled hesitantly and the word France highlighted everything. I blinked my eyes, asking God what he was exactly planning, goodness!!!

"That makes this a whole lot easier you see, maybe whoever this is would leave you alone once you're married and especially married to a man who's more powerful than your father." Amelia justified, I hated that she always made sense. 

"Hey nobody is forcing you Avy, it's all your decision." Gio ensured and I smiled warmly at him. He's just so sweet, I wonder if that guy–woah, woah where are you headed, Avery? 

"Avy, leaving you alone there isn't something I am going to agree on. Not in these circumstances." My dad proclaimed standing up from his seat. 

"But you could always hire security," I mumbled tentatively, biting my tongue. Gio sighed and my dad shook his head. 

"This happened under the watch of my bodyguard Avy, I can't gamble on testing the waters." He asserted. I fretted disliking how everyone was making a logical point.   

"But I can't marry a stranger, Dad. It's just so overrated." I disagreed. He nodded, leaning down and kissing my head.

"It's late, don't pressure your mind too much. Whatever you want will happen, I can see what art university can be arranged somewhere near and safe." He affirmed and walked out sleepily. 

"I'll be in the room, Mel, you can talk to her for a while. Goodnight."  Gio kissed my head as well, leaving us alone. I let myself fall limp on the headboard grunting in exasperation.

"Avery, come on, you're making this way too difficult." She says snarkily. 

"Oh yeah? And it's not?" I shot back and she shrugged, moving closer.

"Look no one is declaring a death warrant of marriage against your will. You say no if you don't like him. And you can always just attend one of the universities nearby. That way it's safer Avy." She alleged fluttering her sleepy eyes. 

Well, maybe I am being highly opposed for no reason when I am not even threatened or something to marry this guy. But I sure could not, or shall I say it better would not want to be all alone in a foreign country with just bodyguards and a psycho stalker.      

"Go sleep Amy, I'll think about it." I nudged her and her eyes widened in surprise.

"Good choice, goodnight." She winked, making me roll my eyes. 

Being left alone I embraced the voices of my thoughts and the exhaustion of a hectic day.