Chapter 63: The woman who stole my heart*

" Happy New year my love."

Zain, cupped Ava's sleeping face so gently to the point she actually felt like a new born baby. Ava opened her eyes ever so slowly meeting Zain's eyes.

" Good morning."

She smiled sweetly. " I made you breakfast."

Zain gave her a quick kiss... Taking the tray of food from the bedside table and laying it on the bed. Ava sat up staring at the beautiful mouth watering breakfast, surprised.

" You made this?"

" For the most beautiful woman ever to exist in my life." He smiled.

Ava took a bite from the french toast, her eyes closed as the butter melted in her mouth carrying flavor.

" Hmmm, my goodness this is so good."

" You should try the bacon and eggs."

Zain handed her a glass of orange juice. " We'll be having lunch with my family this afternoon." He added simply.

" Okay."

Ava simply answered taking a sip, suddenly paused when she replayed what Zain just told her. Her eyes glancing up from the glass to his calm composed face.

" Wait...what?."

" You look like you've seen a ghost." Zain spoke. Ava blinked at him a couple of times.

" Did you say what I heard you just say?."

" Hm, my parents are eager to meet the woman who stole my heart."

Ava, blushed staring down. " Eat up, I'll be downstairs if you need me."

... Whilst in the courtyard...

Emma was reading a book in the beautiful garden while she laid out a fluffy blanket on the soft grass for Eli to wonder on, since she began crawling it's been impossible for her to sit on one spot. Emma watched her crawl up and about and couldn't help but smile at her baby girl.

Returned her attention back to her book, Eli continued her patrol around her fluffy cover. Seeing her mother wasn't paying any attention to her she came to a stop staring at Emma, ' how do I get her attention?' Eli thought. Emma was so drawn into her pages that she couldn't notice Eli staring at her, waving her little hands in the air turned out to be worthless. Emma still couldn't see her, ' plan B.' Eli thought.

Trying to get some words out was the toughest thing she could master, she thought crying and mumbling some unknown language wasn't this tough, ' but a sensible clear word, it's havoc.'

With all her might and strength she kept on trying and trying till.....

" M...ma...maa...mama."

Emma, confused and not sure if she heard right finally looked up from her book looking at her baby.

" Eli, sweetheart did you say something?."

Emma dropped her book dashing over to her baby girl on her knees. Seeing this, Eli was excited, ' I finally did it, she noticed me... I got mommy's attention '

Eli clapped her tiny hands together giggling and screaming cutely.

" Say it again sweetheart, call mama."

" M...mama."

Emma dropped a tear gathering Eli in her arms, embracing her little baby.

" Alec!.... Alec! Come here, hurry!."

Emma called out. Alec, was on the front porch making a call when he heard Emma shouting out his name, he quickly rushed over worried something had happened.

" Emma, something wrong? What happened...why are you crying?."

" Alec, Eli... Said her first word, she called me mama."

Emma smiled staring into Alec's ocean blue eyes.

" She did? Oh wow." Alec held Emma kissing her hair and his daughters. " I'm so happy."

" Mama... Dada."

Eli giggles. Emma and Alec, shared a look of amazement and gratitude. This was the happiest day of their lives.

A couple of hours went by.

Ava, wore a flawless brown dress that reached her knees. Held her breast area and let loose all the way to her knees, she wasn't sure about the dress but the rest were just too tight for the state she was in. And her wearing sweats at her first meeting with Zain's family wouldn't be so appropriate.

" Are you ready?."

Zain held her from behind.

" Does this dress make me look fat?."

" I think it looks good."

" You think, Zain. I want to make a good impression in front of your parents, good isn't good enough."

" You're perfect my love, remember the dress won't be the one impressing my parents it's your personality and kind heart."

Zain told her with a reassuring smile. Ava nodded looking in the mirror one last time.

Heading out. Zain drove 5 miles to the city, they were meeting his parents at one of their family restaurants in Beverly Hills.

Stopping in front of the restaurant. Zain opened the car door taking Ava's hand in his, they entered the restaurant and was led to the private booth were his parents and sisters were waiting.

" Zain. My love."

A woman with blonde hair stood to hug Zain. She looked to be in her mid 40s. And the man next to her in his mid 50s, ' they must be Zain's parents ' Ava gave a slight smile when the woman turned her gaze towards her.

" And you must be. Ava, you're quite beautiful."

" Thank you. It's a pleasure meeting you."

Ava shook their hands. " These are our daughters. Rachel our eldest... and Merlin, our youngest."

" Hi."

" Hey." Rachel simply gave a slight nod. Zain pulled out a chair for Ava.

" Good afternoon, this is our finest wine we have for you today.. hope you enjoy it."

The waiter said pouring into their glasses. Ava covered hers telling the waiter.

" I'll have an orange juice, I don't drink during the day."

She said biting the corner of her lip, knowing perfectly well she does drink during the day and Zain knows it. To her surprise he didn't say a single word but nodded to the waiter to bring her order.

" So you're Emma Anderson's elder sister huh, how come no one never heard anything about the Anderson family having another child?."

Rachel simply spoke.

" Rachel."

Zain gave his elder sister a stain look. " What? It's just a simple question little brother."

" I was out traveling, pretty sure I made that clear in an interview. I wasn't interested in taking over my family's business at the time."

Ava still kept a slight smile even though she felt a bit irritated by the girls sudden interrogation.

" And it's true you have a teenage daughter?."

" Turned 17 last year, wow... It feels like it's been a long time meanwhile it's just today we've entered the new year."

" Indeed, what about her father, is he in the picture?."

" He's in her life yes."

" So you guys are in touch?."

" That's enough, Rachel. Is this an interrogation?."

Zain snapped. " If she's going to be part of our family one day, that's if she will. We need to know more about her don't you think."

" I know Ava, and that's more than enough."

" Excuse me, I'm gonna use the restroom."

Ava stood walking towards the restroom.

" I agreed to bring Ava here cause you people insisted on meeting my girlfriend. I didn't bring her here to be interrogated."

" Come on Zain. I'm just trying to make a conversation." Rachel said.

" Since when have you tried making a conversation, you don't even try that with your own sister."

Rachel scoffed taking a sip and said.

" Look at her, does she look like someone who can make a conversation? I bet she's high as we are seated on this table right now."

" Enough! Rachel." Ms Woods spoke. " Honestly, both of my daughters are a disappointment to this family. You can't keep a marriage and you call yourself a Woods, you've been married five times and five divorces in the past two years. And don't let me start about your younger sister who's a drug addict and alcoholic. You can't even be a role model for your younger siblings as the eldest child. The only sensible child I have and can proudly say is my child is Zain. Now listen to me, you won't bad mouth Ava any longer... Understood."

" Whatever."

" Do I make myself clear?."

" Yes."

Ava. Returned to the table, Zain held her hand gently squeezing it.

" Are you okay?."

He asked, Ava nodded taking a sip of water. The conversation between her and Zain's parents went smoothly from that point on, they talked and laughed. And Ava felt welcomed to the family, Zain's parents to be exact. His younger sister never uttered a word through out the meal, and kept silent till they parted ways.

***

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I'll continue updating new chapters, try being patient with me for I have a lot of things on my plate right now concerning school and work. But I'll do my best to update new chapters. Thank you for your support and stay safe ❤️