"Sometimes, pretending normal feels like the hardest thing in the world."
– Ava Carter
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Ava's Point of View
The soft rustle of curtains brushing against the window woke me. For a moment, I blinked in confusion, the unfamiliar ceiling staring back at me. Then it hit, this was Dylan's world. My cage, though a beautifully decorated one.
I sat up slowly, the events of last night replaying in my mind until my stomach churned. My eyes landed on a neatly folded set of clothes resting at the edge of the bed. A soft blouse, tailored trousers, and a cardigan. He'd thought of this? Dylan Reed, the man who barked orders like breathing, had arranged clothes for me. I shook off the thought quickly and slipped into the bathroom for a shower.
The water washed away my exhaustion, but not the unease twisting inside me. By the time I was dressed, I looked almost… normal. Too normal for someone trapped in a game where love was currency and survival meant compromise.
I stepped out of the room cautiously, the hallway quiet except for the faint clatter of dishes. Following the sound, I arrived at a wide dining area where two men and a girl I hadn't seen before were already seated.
Mt eyes instantly caught on the man seated at the far end of the table. Recognition struck, he was the one who had shown up at the house with that cursed envelope.
He must have noticed the flicker of realization in my eyes because he smiled faintly and gave a small nod. "I don't think we've been properly introduced," he said, his voice even but not unkind. "Ian. And, by the way… thanks for not throwing your coffee in my face that day."
I blinked, caught off guard, then let out a reluctant laugh. "Trust me, it crossed my mind."
The table chuckled, and the awkwardness between us melted into something almost… normal.
The second man, Andre flashed his usual smirk. "So, Sleeping Beauty finally decided to join us."
Before I could reply, the girl beside him jumped up, her eyes bright as the morning sun.
"You must be Ava!" she exclaimed, walking over with a bounce in her step. "I'm Elena." She extended her hand with such sincerity that I couldn't help but smile.
Her energy reminded me so much of Ana that my chest tightened. I shook her hand gently. "Hi, Elena. It's nice to meet you."
"It's so nice to meet you too! You're really pretty," she said with a grin. "Now I see why my brothers won't stop talking about you."
I froze, heat creeping up my neck, but she meant it innocently enough. Ian chuckled into his coffee while Andre shot her a warning glance. Elena only stuck her tongue out at him, then tugged me toward the table.
Breakfast was surprisingly easy. Elena chatted nonstop about school, her favorite desserts, and how boring the gala had been until she spotted her "big brothers". Her laughter was light, genuine. For a little while, it almost felt like I was back at home, sharing a meal with Ana and Avie.
But the entire time, I noticed one thing, Dylan was nowhere to be seen.
I didn't ask where he was. Maybe because I didn't want to know.
By midmorning, I excused myself. I couldn't sit in this mansion all day, not when tomorrow was so important.
The hospital smelled faintly of disinfectant and hope. My feet carried me straight to the VIP ward, my heart pounding as I opened the door.
"Mom?" I whispered, stepping inside.
She looked fragile lying there, but her smile, oh, her smile still had the power to break and heal me at once.
"Ava," she said softly, reaching for my hand. I rushed to her side, gripping her fingers tightly.
"Mom, you scared me." My throat ached as the words tumbled out.
Her thumb brushed against my skin, comforting. "I'm stronger than I look."
Tears threatened to fall, but I blinked them back. "Tomorrow… it's your surgery. You'll be okay, right?"
She gave a small laugh, though her eyes glistened. "I'll be fine, because I have you. You've always been my anchor, Ava. From the moment you were little, you carried more than your share. Sometimes I hate that… that life forced you to grow up too fast."
Her words hit like a knife, and I lowered my head. "I'd do it again, Mom. A hundred times over. You and Ana and Avie, you're all I have. Everything I do… it's for you."
Her grip tightened, as though she could read the unspoken heaviness in my chest. I leaned closer, resting my forehead against hers. For a moment, the world outside didn't matter. It was just us, mother and daughter, clinging to each other like breath itself.
I spent the rest of the day at home with Ana and Avie. We cooked, argued over silly things, and even laughed until our sides hurt. I pretended I wasn't afraid of tomorrow, pretended everything was fine, even as my thoughts circled endlessly around the surgery.
At night, after Ana and Avie had fallen asleep, I sat quietly by the window. The streetlights cast faint shadows across our tiny living room. I wrapped my arms around myself, whispering prayers I wasn't even sure I believed anymore.
Tomorrow would change everything.
And for the first time, I let myself wonder: what if things don't go as planned?
The thought chilled me, leaving me wide awake, staring into the darkness.