Comforting each other's heart

Oliver felt bad for Ava, he was well aware that he was the reason Ava lied to her parents and he also could understand as per Ava's character she probably didn't tell her mother the truth. The pain in her face suddenly made his heart ached for her.

He asked lightly, "So you had a fight with your mother?"

"No, not really." Ava fell silent again. She really didn't want to continue this conversation.

Oliver understood that she didn't want to talk about it but he wanted to know what was on her mind. To reassure her he held Ava in his arm tightly and said softly, "Ava you know you can tell me anything right? You are mine and I won't let you suffer because of anyone, not even your own family."

Ava didn't know how to react, she still hadn't forgotten how he treated her last night but now when she was miserable he was giving her reassurance as if he was letting her know that she could depend on him no matter what. She felt confused. She didn't want to believe him because she was scared the moment she will start to believe him he will throw her into an abyss.

"Oliver, please don't ask me anything else, leave me the last bit of my dignity," Ava said in low voice.

Oliver felt a little distressed because suddenly he seems to see another woman's shadow in Ava. Her eyes were also full of endurance just like Ava's. They were so much alike, maybe that's why Ava keeps reminding him of her.

"OK, let's not talk about it then," Oliver said in an understanding tone. He still held her tightly giving her comfort, there was a rare gentleness in his deep dark eyes.

Both of them stayed there like that for a long time without any word, holding each other in the arm and soothing each other's hearts.

Mrs. Lee came out of the kitchen to call them for dinner but seeing them so cozy she didn't disturb them. She just quietly left them alone.

After a while Ava thought of something and asked Oliver in a low and hesitant voice, "Oliver can you do me a favor, can you please not let my mother find out that I am living with you?" Ava bit her lips she was afraid to make Oliver angry again but she didn't want her mother to find out either.

"What?" Oliver's tone was mixed with confusion and faint anger.

Why she always wanted to hide that she lives with him? was it so disgraceful for her? Then Oliver thought about it carefully, Ava's concern was not unreasonable. After all, even though they were living together they were not official. Ava was a woman, and living with a man without any commitment was not good for her reputation. Of course, people will think low of her character. Ava was his woman so her reputation was his responsibility. So until they became official it's probably best to hide it from others.

"OK." Oliver agreed.

"Thank you and Thank you for Sarah too, I got a call from her school today. Everything is resolved." Ava said gently, her voice was full of gratitude.

"You don't have to thank me. If you have any trouble in the future, just let me know, I will sort it out for you." Oliver said smiling. He got up and pulled Ava toward the dining table to have dinner.

Inside the villa, the atmosphere suddenly became very warm because of Oliver's words. Ava began to think about what Mrs. Lee told her in the morning. Does he really care about her? Otherwise, why would he take care of all her troubles silently?

As for Oliver, he has been bearing many things since he was a child so taking care of things silently had become his habit. His parents were always very strict with him. Since he was five years old, his parents made him stand alone. At that age, Oliver didn't know how dangerous the outside world was. Several times, he came home with bruises all over. Ella was very distressed and Conner was quiet. So Oliver started to form a cold temperament. He understood his parents did that so he wouldn't have to depend on anyone in the future. His father started to train him from an early age so he could be on his own. He explained to him clearly how calculative and cold the business world was and also told him he could not trust anyone, especially in the mall. So naturally, he learned to hide his true self.

Conner knight was preparing Oliver to take over the business when he was 16, however, the board of directors had objections because of Michael Jones's influence. They said he was a child and was not ready to take over the burden of the company. Left with no choice Conner had to wait until Oliver turned 21. Oliver took over the company at the age of 21 and the first thing he did was to reorganize the whole management. He dismissed many old employees mercilessly who had been working at the company for years especially the ones that opposed his leadership. There was an uproar at the company but no one dared to say anything. Even though his uncle was one of them who was strictly against Oliver leading the company but because of his mother he couldn't dismiss Michael.

In just three years, under Oliver's leadership, KNIGHT International was at its peak. Conner and Ella both were very satisfied with Oliver's way of doing business. They felt blessed to have a son like him. Now, the only thing they were waiting for Oliver to find someone and get married.

"Let's go to the cinema this weekend." After dinner, Ava and Oliver sat down on the living room couch enjoying each other's company.

"Why do we have to go out, there's an entertainment room on the third floor." Oliver raised his eyebrows and said with a smile.

"Really? You have an entertainment room in your house?" Ava asked surprised. She had been living here for more than half a month, but she never actually checked out Oliver's villa so naturally, she didn't know.

"When you are free, have a look around. There are many facilities available in the villa including an entertainment room, game room, gym. You can go anywhere except the locked room on the third floor and my study." Oliver said with a doting smile on his face.

He thought this woman was so simple, she had been living here for so long but never actually looked around to see what was there, if it was some other woman they would probably turn the villa upside down to find out everything that was here. Again Ava's simplicity moved him.

"Locked room? Why is there a locked room? What secrets are you hiding in there Mr. Knight?" Ava asked with a playful smile, she had a mischievous look on her beautiful face. Although she asked playfully but she was actually curious about that room since Mrs. Lee mentioned it to her.

Oliver's bright eyes suddenly turned cold, he stopped smiling and with an indifferent face, he said, "I have hidden a dead body in there. Do you want to see it?"

Ava shivered at his cold words and the smile on her face froze she stared at him blankly then said in an angry voice, "You don't have to say such nonsense to keep me away from your secret room. If you don't want me to go there, I won't go."

Oliver could see that Ava got scared because of what he said but he felt amused at her reaction so he simply said "That's good for you."

Deep at night.

Ava was really scared by what Oliver said, although she didn't believe him but the thought of a dead body in the house stayed in her subconscious mind and when they were in deep sleep Ava had another nightmare. In her dream, she saw that she was inside a room with a white door with a golden frame. The room was dark and smelled damp suddenly she saw a dead body covered in blood was crawling towards her and shouting crazily: 'Give me my life back...Give me my life back.