Then he saw pictures of her, from the days she became a part of the Blake family and when she had her induction as a medical doctor, a few months back.
So she’s alive? He has sobbed, regretted, did charity all for her soul to find rest and in return, she forgives him. But alas, her soul still exists with this mortal body.
As Adrian was still searching more about Ava, Elsie Blake came over and sat next to him “you see uncle, that’s why I don’t like Ray Grimard. He takes my mommy away from everyone and keeps her to himself…” she complained.
Adrian Lester turned and was going to hold the little girl in his arms when a feminine foot approached them. He raised his head and found Ava staring at her daughter with a frown.
Actually, she was stealing glances at Adrian. She only fixed her gaze on Elsie when she perceived that Adrian was going to look up in her direction.
This is the man who reminds her over and over where she belongs, in society; a low class tramp. He used foul adjectives to qualify her and said horrible words about her parents.
He hurts her over and over again despite the love she secretly nurtures in her heart for him. He preferred her, he’d always preferred and wanted Lola Carrero not her. They probably should have been married now.
A quick flash of that singular night with him came back to her memory and she shoved it aside as quickly as it came. That they both once were intimate and he drilled her to the point where he planted Elsie in her belly was all she’d always ruminate upon for these past few years.
But one thing is non-negotiable, Adrian Lester is still the handsome and charming dude that she used to know. He seemed to pay a lot of attention to his looks and workout a lot.
“Elsie, come over” she doesn’t want her daughter anywhere close to strangers even if that stranger is her biological father. She’s glad he doesn’t know a thing about that night and that she was pregnant.
Then it dawned on Adrian that Elsie might be his daughter. The resemblance is found in her, now it makes a lot of sense to him. She’s his daughter, his baby girl.
Aurora held Elsie’s hand and turned to go, she treated Adrian like hair. She didn’t spare him a glance. She will have Elsie to her nanny immediately. Someone needs to watch over her until the launching is over.
“Ava Leon” Adrian called and quickly stood up, standing before her. She’s the one. She’s his wife. His supposed dead wife. She’s the same as Aurora.
“Excuse me sir” Auruea said, forcing a smile. But anyone can see through the smile that hatred was staring back at Adrian.
“Ava Leon, I know it’s you” Adrian declared. He cannot be deceived by the new identity. The person is the same, the name might change but it’s the same person in the same body.
“I thought you already knew my name, sir. I’m Aurora Blake” Aurora said and walked by his side away. Her face growled in irritation. Bastard, he recognised her.
The Ava Leon he used to know was a lowlife, a tramp and someone he could tread upon. Can he compare the Aurora he’d just met to that woman he was forcefully married to?
She needs to inform Patrick Connor that his friend was there and they’ve met. She will keep up with the pretence that she’s not Ava Leon but Aurora Blake.
Still dazed on how, Ava Leon denied her real or maybe previous identity, Adrian was shocked. Is she so unwilling to be addressed as a Leon now?
“We welcome everyone present here today…” It was the beginning of the program. The music reduced to the lowest minimum and Adrian turned to look in the direction of the stage when another surprise hit him like a blow.
On the stage were different slides of Aurora and her partner being displayed. More than the surprise of meeting Aurora, Adrian glued his gaze on the different display.
Aurora and Patrick?
Adrian felt his temple went blank. He kept staring until he couldn’t help but chuckle in frustration. Patrick Connor, his friend and Ava Leon?
“… We want to invite the presence of some important dignitaries in the business world….” It went on until Adrian heard his name mentioned.
He suddenly came back to himself and smiled. Many stood up when his name was mentioned and the audience turned in the direction where Adrian was seated.
As he stood up, his aura seemed to take over. The atmosphere was charged with Adrian’s compressing aura and he stole the stage presence.
Until he got to the stage, everyone kept applauding him and remained standing. But when he’d been lost in his reverie, he didn’t know when Aurora and Patrick were invited to the stage.
He waved at everyone before they took their seats. Adrian is handsome in every sense of the word. His height, his perfect physique well outlined in his fitted suit gives an instant impression that he does workout a lot.
Patrick turned and glared at Aurora and their eyes locked. Both shrugged at the same time. None of them know a thing about Adrian being present and even being invited to the stage.
“… Someone whispered in my ears that Adrian Lester is a wizard in business and investment. He knows what leverage meant and he is the number one business tycoon in New Jersey, an only son of…” the introduction went on and everyone started applauding him again.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you” Adrian stuttered, he chuckled but hardly put up a smile before the audience “I feel honoured to be here. Thank you Santiago Blake for the invitation…”and he didn’t feel like saying anything else.
When he was to shake hands with the host, he glared at Patrick Connor for a time longer than normal. The latter maintained a poker face and he simply walked past him to stand before Aurora without shaking hands with her.
“Ava, you and I need to talk” he whispered and didn’t bother to embarrass himself by stretching a hand to Ava. She isn’t going to take it and the latter is glad he didn’t.
When he went back to take his seat, Aurora could see women and ladies passing glances at him but Adrian didn’t seem to care.
“Did you know he was coming?” Aurora whispered to Patrick. Seeing Adrian Lester here isn’t going to be easy henceforth. He knows she’s Ava and he saw her with Patrick. But what does she care about?
“If I had known, wouldn’t I have informed you?” Patrick responded. Now the die is cast, the deed is done. He would have Adrian to contend with in the coming days.
When the launching eventually came to an end, Adrian lingered a bit. Exhausted, tired and unhappy, he decided to leave. As he turned to step out, he bumped into Clara Leon…