AVERY WENT SEARCHING FOR GAVIN when she didn’t see him in her ward. She found him in an empty ward, muscles taut with his face in his palms.
She halted for a while and stared at him, her face shaped into a wry sneer. Even if she wasn’t able to make him stop loving his wife, she could turn it the other way around. She could use his jealousy for her benefit and make Sydney dread the ground he walked upon.
She smirked. Sydney’s biggest mistake was not telling her husband about her mother’s alignment.
Standing by the door, Avery voiced, ” I saw you two, Gavin; when would you stop being such a fool.”
Gavin ignored her, making her talk to him in a fury.
” You heard what I said, Gavin.”
His head snapped up, his eyes red with anger as he glared at her. ” And what the f**k do you want me to do with that information?”
Avery smiled grimly and winced as she squatted, holding his face. She looked at him with hypnotic eyes.
” Don’t tell me you are still in love with her after everything she has done,” Avery said calmly.
Gavin looked away. He wasn’t sure if it was love but he just didn’t like seeing her with another man.
” She’d ruin you before you can even realize what came your way. She doesn’t consider you and she never had. That’s why she blamed you for everything that happened to her and used her insecurities to make it look like she was right.”
Gavin’s eyes burned. He didn’t want to hear any of this because he believed it.
Avery caressed his cheek. ” While you were busy racking your brains with self-blame because of her, she was with her lover, and they were wallowing in your pain.”
” You are wrong Avery.”
” Oh but you know I’m right. Deep down you know I’m saying the truth.”
Gavin’s eyes challenged. He fought to believe it. For once, he put all his hope and faith that it wasn’t true.
” Sydney loved me. Maybe she doesn’t anymore, but I know she did.” The words tasted like garlic to him.
Avery smiled. ” You don’t believe me? Fine. I overheard Sydney and her lumberjack lover talking. He told her he was tired of waiting and pretending. He wants to flee with her and your kids and start a new family somewhere far from you.”
” Sydney promised she would cajole you into giving her some money. She said she’d use her mother as a tool to deceive you, and once you send the money, they’d elope. If you don’t trust me, Gavin, before the end of tomorrow, Sydney will come begging at your feet for financial help. ”
Avery left Gavin to wallow in what she had said. Finding her way back to her ward, she locked the door and held her bruised chest. Anger raced through her remembering how Gabriel held the dagger to her.
She growled. ” Once Aaron carries out the plan, you all won’t realize what came your way.
As Avery was busy conspiring, Sydney paced around the ward, waiting for a six-million-dollar alert. She had sold her Mercedes to a Russian business associate she’d met in a conference meeting. The woman had eyes for Sydney’s sleek vehicle, so it was easy to sell it off.
Sydney couldn’t care if it was a gift from Gavin, her mother’s life was far more important.
Her heart jumped when she heard her phone buzz.
Six million was transferred into Sydney Reed’s account.
Sydney didn’t waste any time; she was about to call the doctor, but he beat her to it.
” Hello…. Mrs. Reed.” The Doctor stammered.
Sydney was too eager to get her mother’s treatment to commence; she didn’t realize the Doctor’s breathing was uneven.
” I have the money, I’ll wire it to the Hospital account immediately-”
” Wait!” The Doctor jumped in. ” Um… The account details you have is currently not functioning anymore. I’ll send you another; as soon as the money is sent, your mother’s treatment will begin.”
” Okay, send it, and if my mother is conscious, tell her I’ll be there tomorrow.” Sydney’s voice quivered.
The Doctor released a long breath as if contemplating. ” Okay Mrs. Reed, I’ve sent it.”
Sydney ended the call. She quickly did the transfer, and when she was done, she tried to call the Doctor, but it didn’t go through.
Her heart raced, she tried and tried again but it kept saying unreachable.
Then, a WhatsApp message came in. Sydney’s fingers trembled as she read the message.
– Thank you for your generosity, Mrs. Reed. Your mother has limited time left; if you don’t want her dead, I advise you to send the money for her treatment as soon as possible and don’t try calling me.-
Sydney’s phone slid off her hand and fell to the floor as she stumbled backward in shock. She felt the whole world was against her. The only money she’d have to save her mother was gone. She was duped!
Sydney sulked. Ashley was going to die because of her negligence and stupidity.
Sydney’s head shot up, the mere thought sent ants running down her spine.
No, her mother wasn’t going to die now. She thought. She’d do everything in her power to make sure that didn’t happen but right now, she had only one hope left.
Even if it meant going down on her feet to beg Gavin, she would do it as long as it would keep her mother alive.
__________________
Avery sat on the hospital bed, eyes closed, legs crossed with a cigarette in her mouth as she awaited good news.
Five minutes left, Aaron; you better not f**king mess things up. Avery thought viscously.
In less than a second her phone rang. She smirked and answered the call, her eyes still closed.
” Tell me you’ve executed the job.”
” Yes, baby. We are twenty million dollars richer. ” Aaron laughed.
Avery grinned and opened her eyes. ” Keep the money, Aaron, take care of yourself. From now on, you can let me be. I’ve paid you for everything you’ve done for me, tell your dad I’ll drop my resignation later tomorrow.”
” But, baby wait. You said if I scammed Sydney, you’d come back to me.”
Avery replied savagely. ” Well, I changed my mind. Use the money and find a woman that loves you-”
” You are the woman I want Avery, please listen to me-”
Avery cut in through gritted teeth. ” No, you listen, I can never and will never go back to you. I have no feelings for you, I never had and never will. Thank you for helping me; I’ve repaid the favor. Never call this number again unless you’ll see what I’m capable of doing.” She ended the call.
Although she had feelings for Aaron, her longing for revenge overwhelmed it. She would do anything she could to ruin those she despised.
Throwing her head backward, she laughed wickedly and said, ” RIP Ashley, you were a good pawn. Now, let the fun begin.”