Destined to Love

Present Day

Ava's POV

It’s been a week since my date night, I receive one message from him early this morning which quite surprised me, Claire! And just one sentence “Be ready for the Surprise – Alex” So cold I thought to myself ignoring the giddiness I decided to spend my weekend with my Mom and Dad, it has been a while and moreover today Uncle Jade and Aunt Mellissa are coming over for lunch, I just love them, both of them are friends to my parents since childhood. I woke Mom and Dad with the breakfast tray I prepared for them after so many days, I like pampering my family whenever I can. “Oh honey, we missed this so much, thank you for this sumptuous breakfast today” my Mom said with pride in her eyes and Dad joined in too “She’s my daughter, perfect at everything. I am proud of you Em” yes Dad calls me from my middle name Emma “She’s our daughter don’t forget it” and we ended up laughing. I have been missing this so much. After our breakfast, we all freshen up and now we are sitting up in the living area, Dad with his newspaper, Mom with her novel and me I am sitting on the floor playing with my nanny’s dog, Aunt Lilly has been nanny for all of us siblings and she’s the caretaker of our house too.

I run after Zoe, playing hide and seek with him, ohh he loves it so much. I am giggling all over and my Mom and Dad are shouting at me, to watch my steps otherwise I’ll fall. This taken as a queue I hit a wall and lose my balance but I did not fall, I am in the air!! I open my eyes slowly and find him staring directly at me. Is he really in my house? His arms are snaked around my waist in the most protective stance. His orbs are way to intimidating that I forget breathing and come to my senses when I hear my Mom and Dad saying something. “What are you doing here?” “You guys know each other?” “Yes Uncle James, we have met one-two times” “Wait a min, Uncle?” I am so confused right now, what is happening as I am about to speak I hear “Ava, honey” I turn and run over to hug Uncle Jade and Aunt Mellissa. I am almost in tears “I’ll not talk to both of you, you both don’t get time to visit me at all” “We are sorry honey, we got stuck up at something, how have you been?” Aunt Mellissa soothes me “I am doing great, now let’s get to lunch, I made both of your favorite dessert” I hear a coughing sound behind me, ohh I forgot about him, I need to talk some sense to him, how can he barge in my home like this that too infront of my family!! “Ava, meet my son Alexander” Uncle Jade informs me. I stand dead in my tracks “Son” “The have already met Jade, may be at some business events, let’s go we are dying of hunger” Dad states and jokes. I am still at my spot when someone tugs me, Alex tries to catch my hand which I wave of and walk up to the dining table where all the oldies are joking around. I smile and take my seat, while our maids are serving us, Alex sits beside me. I cannot really concentrate on anything, the conversations, the food nothing. I keep playing my food “Ava, are you ok honey? You’re not eating anything” “hmm? Yes Dad I am fine” I start eating my food. Alex every now and then tries to hold my hand, but keep them up on the tables. “Ava, we have decided something, and only if you agree we will go ahead” “Ok, so go ahead, am all ears” “Would you like to marry our Son?” Uncle Jade says “Ava, we had this thought since you were born” Mom enlightens me “We all agree to this engagement” Aunt Mellissa joins “Only if you both agree” Dad says looking at both Alex and me. I see Alex, and he is showing no expression. He might not be interested in commitment with me? Or with anyone I guess? I should say a no to make it easy for him, and I am also not sure of marriage. “No” I say “What?” no one else but Alex says this time, controlling his rage? Is he angry? Disappointed?

“Can I have a word with Ava alone please?” Alex says and everyone agrees, he picks up my hand in front of everyone and drags me to the garden area. I am all shivers but follow him quietly, let’s hear him out, why did he sound disappointed?