Fear

Ava's house at the bay.

Ava woke up on her empty bed the next morning. Last night by the time she got home it was already midnight so Daniel took Nina to bed in his room. Ava was very upset because of Oliver so she straightway went to her bedroom and fall asleep.

Ava sat up on the bed and start to rub her temple, it was throbbing with pain. She had a few drinks last night and now was paying for it.

Daniel entered her room smiling after knocking on the door once, he was holding a soup bowl in his hand. "Good morning!"

"Good Morning, Danny! Why are you still home, don't you have work today?"

"I do but I wanted to see you before I leave. Having a hangover?"

"Yeah, I shouldn't have drunk so much last night." Ava could barely keep her eyes open.

"Here, I bought some hangover soup for you. Have some you will feel better." Daniel sat down on the bed.

"Oh, thank you, Danny, you are a lifesaver." Ava took the bowl from Daniel feeling grateful and started to drink it immediately.

"How was the event last night? Did you enjoy it?" Daniel asked lightly.

Ava paused for a second and her eyes flutter but she said lightly while drinking, "It was ok. You know I don't like social gatherings much."

Daniel raised one of his eyebrows and asked, "So, nothing unusual happened?"

Ava was stunned, she blinked a few times wondering if Daniel found out what happened between her and Oliver last night. At that possibility Ava felt very nervous, she said stuttering with a nervous smile, "No… No…nothing happened. It was a normal event...what could possibly have happened."

Daniel narrowed his eyes but with a warm smile, he said, "Ava, why do you look nervous like you are lying to me? Did you do something behind my back last night?"

Ava's heart missed a beat, did he find out? How she was going to explain it if he did? "What do you mean Danny? What makes you think I am lying?" Ava said a bit harshly, although she didn't mean to.

Daniel was taken aback a bit but he still smiled and said, "Ava relax when you try to hide something or lie you tend to stutter, that's why I said that. Don't be so stressed, it was just a joke."

Ava instantly calmed down and whispered, "Danny, it wasn't funny." Ava lowered her eyes because she was feeling guilty. Oliver keeps putting her into difficult positions and she has to suffer guilt and grievance because of him. God knows when that man will leave her alone.

Daniel reached out and held Ava in his arm and said in a serious tone, "I am sorry I didn't mean to annoy you but… " Daniel paused, he wanted to say he was afraid Oliver would try something. He heard Oliver went to the party last night, he was very restless, he wanted to go there right away but couldn't which made him fear the worst. What if Oliver said something about the boy? What if that boy was actually their child? Won't she leave him if she found out? He didn't want them to have any contacts. However he couldn't tell Ava about his fears and he also didn't want to say he was afraid she will leave him, she already asked for a month's time. He needed to be patient, he already put a lot of pressure on her, if he keep doing that she will feel suffocated and probably leave him. In the end, he said, "I love you, I am worried about you, so don't drink while I am not with you."

Ava smiled and said softly, "Ok..I understand Danny. Thank you."

"Next time if you have to attend any event or social party let me know in advance and I will accompany you. "Daniel pulled back and looked Ava in the eyes then said, "Ava, always remember no matter what, I will always be by your side. No matter what's out relationship is, If you have any difficulty don't ever hesitate to tell me, I will face it with you."

Ava was touched, she felt like crying. She said in a choking voice, " I know Daniel, I believe in you." Ava put her head in Daniel's chest and closed her eyes, what is she doing? This man stayed by her side all these years and even now he promised to be always by her side without asking for anything back, and she keeps Oliver taking advantage of her, putting her in a situation where she has to lie to Daniel. She can't keep living like this, she has to find a way to divorce Oliver once and for all.