FORBIDDEN LOVE WITH THE BILLIONAIRE

Ava's POV I couldn't believe I had to go this far just to protect the last shred of dignity my family had left—the one my father was about to throw to the winds. Desperation fueled my legs as my eyes zeroed in on the towering gate ahead of me. As I opened the gate and entered, I glanced again at the invitation card in my hand. Yes! This is the exact venue. I clenched the card so tightly I nearly tore it as I stormed toward the entrance flanked by two guards. But the moment I got to the gate, one of the security guards quickly blocked me. “Excuse me! You must be at the wrong place.” “I am at the exact place I need to be,” I snapped. “Step aside and let me in!” The second guard darted his eyes up and down my back veil and gothic black corset gown. “No way you're going in there! This isn't a funeral or some Halloween party.” I rolled my eyes. “Are you done with your sermon? Well, it sucks, Pastor. Now let me in.” “I can't,” he spat. His eyes flicked to the invitation card in my hand. “Let me see that.” I shoved the card into his gloved hand without a word, barely meeting his eyes. While the two examined my card and looked at me as though I had stolen it, a gasp caught my attention. I turned to see another guard approaching. “What are you guys doing? You won’t put me in trouble. She's the VIP the groom told me about.” Realization dawned on them, but one of the guards still tried to speak. “But—” “No buts. Let her in at once,” the senior guard ordered. “Yes, sir,” they chorused. Before they could even usher me in, I pushed through them, leaving the card with them, their mouths still agape as I walked in. Ignoring the eyes that turned toward me, my eyes scanned the couples before zeroing in on the priest who was supporting this abomination. “I hereby pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.” Hell! I couldn't have come at a better time. “Don’t you even dare!” I squealed, storming down the aisle toward the couple who were about to kiss. Ignoring the cacophony of gasps that rippled through the audience, I pressed forward, closing the gap between me and the couple. “Fiona, what the hell! So you think you could go ahead and marry my father after I warned you to stay away from him?” My father's displeasure was apparent. “Ava, what is the meaning of this?” “Meaning of what?” I retorted. “Just look at yourself. Even if you wanted to marry someone else after Mum died, aren't you ashamed to be getting married to her?” My father stood akimbo now. “And why can’t I get married to her?” “She was my best friend, Dad. Someone you’re old enough to father!” “Ava,” he held out a hand he hadn't offered to me in years, trying to caress my cheek, but I flinched, making his hand drop. Then he let out a sigh, as if trying his best not to lose it in front of all these people. “I’ve told you innumerable times that Fiona and I are deeply in love, and love is bigger than anything—age, status, anything.” “Yes, Ava,” Fiona chimed in, batting her lashes and fanning herself with exaggerated flair. “You heard him. Your sixty-two-year-old father and I—his twenty-seven-year-old fiancée—are in love. That’s what ma...” “Hey, hold it there,” I cut her short. “I wasn't talking to you, bloody gold digger.” I turned to the small audience. “Don’t you all see anything wrong with this union?” But there was no response. Obviously, they were all from my dad’s close circle at work. Of course, they’d support him. “Ava,” my father muttered under his breath. Then his eyes flicked to one of the hefty guards at the entrance, who looked as though he was waiting for permission to do the needful. I didn’t miss the subtle communication in my father’s gaze. Before I knew it, the hefty guy marched toward me, and my feet left the ground in a beat. Despite my protests, he slung me over his back like a sack of potatoes and headed outside while I kicked wildly and beat against his back. “Let me go, you heavy chunker! Leave me the hell alone!” He didn’t budge. His grip remained firm on my thighs. I knew it. Nothing but a rebel to him. A stubborn daughter standing in the way of his perfect little fantasy. “Hey, handle my baby with care,” my father waved, as though he really cared. I shot him a dead stare, which he ignored as he turned to the audience with a wide grin. “Sorry for that little interruption, everyone. She’s still my precious little girl, so we’ll settle it at home.” Then he turned toward the priest again. “Can we start from the kiss part again?” Once we got outside, I felt the guard's other free hand caressing my ass under the guise of support. “Set me down, you f*****g pervert.” At his hesitation, my eyes zeroed in on his shoulder, and with my most useful weapon at the moment—my teeth—I bit hard into him. He dropped me with a loud groan. Disgusted, I spat on his face. Ugh, I need mouthwash for a year. “You little...” he tried to chase, but I didn’t wait for him to reach me before I fled like a shadow at sunrise. ~•~ I sat up on my bed with a start at the loud bang on my door, my heart thudding wildly. “Ava! Come out here! Don’t let me repeat myself. Open this door. Now!” Despite my thudding heart, I clambered out of bed. After I unlocked the door, I had barely opened it when it was kicked open from the outside with a force that nearly made me jump. I was greeted with Fiona’s smirk as she folded her arms over her bosom, and my father’s face, a mask of fury. What in the world was that tantrum out there all about? she must be wondering. “Robert, just let her be. Don’t let her ruin our night of bliss,” Fiona pouted. “No, Fiona,” he protested. “This girl needs to be taught a lesson.” Well, he wasn’t the only one with a storm brewing inside. I looked up defiantly at his imposing form. “Oh, you couldn’t shout at me and teach me a lesson out there with your close circle? Now is the best time?” “Did you even love my mother at all when she was alive?” I asked. Silence ensued for seconds before he spoke up. “If you must know, I loved your mother. But twenty years is more than enough time for me to move on with my life.” “Oh really! I saw all the love you showered her with. And till now, I’m so jealous of it,” I remarked sarcastically. “Don’t worry, Robert. I’m here for you now,” Fiona snuggled up to him. “You’ll never feel lonely again.” I rolled my eyes as my father planted a kiss on her forehead. Then Fiona turned to me again. “You should stop hating, Ava. Maybe you’ll finally be able to get a boyfriend.” My eyes clamped shut for a moment, fingers drumming on my hips in a frenzy. Then I opened them and chose not to dignify her statement with a response. “So…” I focused on the man who was only a father to me by blood. “Even if you wanted to move on, you didn’t see anyone else to marry other than this gold digger who once called herself my best friend?” “Oh!” my father exclaimed. “Your best friend, you say? Well, whether you like it or not, she’s now your stepmother, and you must accord her the same respect you accord me.” I scoffed. “Respect? Who told you I respect you anymore? Haven’t you always been a distant and cold father since Mother died?” His next words hit me like a thunderbolt. “Ava, get out of my house. Now!”