▪︎Sweet haven cafe▪︎
I took a sip of my coffee as I stared at Savannah's shocked face. We were currently having breakfast at a Cafe and I just finished narrating yesterday's enents to her.
"This is all too much to take in at once." She said after recovering from her brief moment of shock.
"You're really getting together with him?" The horror on her face was as clear as pure water.
"I won't say it like that yet.."
"How else would you say it? You couldn't even give that Marcus guy a straight answer when he offered to help you." She almost screamed.
"I know I wavered but I just don't want to jump into the conclusion yet. I still want to be watchful, I can't let my heart break all over again." I explained.
"You say that but all I can see now is that you already have your answer." She argued.
"Savannah.. why can't you be supportive of my decision."
"I can't because I'm your friend and I care about you. As long as Riley is in the picture, Liam will never fully be yours. He was sincere yesterday and you believed his words, I get it. But who knows when he'll go back to who he was. Don't forget how easy it was for him to close Riley over you, his own mate!!" She reminded.
"I know, I never forgot about that. Hell!! I can never forget how I felt."
"So why?"
"You don't understand Savannah.. he's my mate! I don't want to have any regrets in the future. He is being sincere so I want to at least give him a chance to make us work."
"And if he ends up disappointing you yet again?"
I paused for a moment; "Then I'll end it." I muttered, my body betraying the deciveness in my words.
Savannah's gaze softened as she held my hand in hers.
"That pause.. that tells me everything. You still have feelings for him." There was no disappointment in her eyes but she still felt sad for me.
"Still, I'll support you. I just don't want you to end up hurt at the end of everything."
"Thank you." I whispered with a small smile.
I am not a mind reader so I don't know how the end will be. I just hope that I am not making te wrong decision like everyone claims.
Even if I am, I can still say I tried my best. Whatever happens later won't be my fault and hopefully, I'll have no regrets.
"So... your mystery boyfriend.." Savannah's lips quirked up with a teasing smile.
"What mystery boyfriend?" I was confused.
"What's his name again? Mike?"
"Marcus." I reminded.
"Why were you disappointed with the way he reacted? Were you hoping he would tell you not to get back with Liam?" She teased.
I didn't reply. Instead, I thought more about my reaction last night. I didn't understand why his opinion mattered to me. I love Liam, I want to be with Liam.
So why?
"Maybe it's because you relied on him for so long." Savannah muttered like she had read my mind.
"Huh??"
"You have suffered for so long by your own family and from the looks of it, Marcus was like a real family to you back at the orphanage." She explained as she took a sip of her latte.
She's right. That's all there is to our relationship. We were like a family and I looked up to him then and even now.
Still, why am I disappointed? Why do I wish for more?
My silence must have made the air suffocating because Savannah suddenly changed the topic into something lighter; cracking jokes and making us laugh.
After spending time with her, we decided to call it a day as she was a busy person. After bidding her goodbye, I got in my car and was about to drive off when I received a call.
I rolled my eyes when I saw Benjamin's name flashing on the screen. I wanted to ignore it because I knew he was only calling to make me go back on my words but I decided to answer instead.
"It's funny you still remember to contact your insane daughter." My sarcastic voice rang out the moment I picked up.
"Avery.." Benjamin called and I could have sworn, there was no hint of fury or irritation in it.
"I'm sorry." He added.
Okay... what the name of the moon goddess is going on with him? Did he just apologize to me of all people??
"I made a mistake yesterday. I was just too hasty in trying to protect both our family's and the Russell's reputation that I messed up yours. I shouldn't have said what I said." I could hear the regret in his voice.
Ohh.. I know what's going on. I must be hallucinating. I've missed my family so much that I now hear things.
"Can you come home?" His voice came in, making me realize that my theory was wrong.
"Why?"
"I don't want to trouble you any longer. It's your mom... she has a gift for you." He said.
I didn't know what to do. There were a lot of reasons I shouldn't meet up but I still wanted to see what the gift was and why Benjamin was suddenly apologizing when he isn't one to feel guilty for his actions.
Also, I still had some belongings left at the estate I wasn't chanced to take with me before so decided to just kill two birds with one stone.
"Alright." I agreed and ended the call.
Within a few minutes, I was already hitting my horns in front of the estate. The large gates were opened for me and I drove my car to the mansion.
When I entered the large building, I was shocked to see all of the workers waiting to usher me in.
"Welcome back young miss." The head servant said as she led me to the dining hall.
What was more shocking was seeing all my favorite dishes lined up in the table. Madison, my mother and Benjamin were already sitted but they weren't eating yet like they were waiting for me.
"I prepared them for you myself." Madison said as she stood up to greet me.
"Avery!!" Benjamin called out the moment he saw me.
"You're here." He said, his face brimming with smiles. This was the first time he was giddy in front of me and acting like my father.
I've always wanted this, for them to treat me like their own daughter but they have never batted an eye at my direction all through the five years we've been living together unless Riley was involved.
Now they were treating me as theirs, I had to admit, I was surprised and still feeling doubtful. Why now of all time?
I didn't utter a word but joined them at the dinning. As we ate together, they kept offering me food and acting like the caring parents they never were to me.
Even though they had bright smiles on, I still had a feeling that something was going on. There was something they were hiding from me.
So, I decided to break the suffocating mood; "I heard you have a gift for me. Where's it?" I went straight to the point.
TBC