Chapter 3 - The Proposal

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Chapter 3 - The Proposal

Ava

Pin-drop silence filled the room after the woman said those words.

After recovering from the immediate shock, I shared a look with Ace. He gave me a curt nod, which gave me the strength to ask the woman, "Can you elaborate, please?"

The woman sucked in a deep breath. "Look at me." When we looked at her, she shook her head with a fed-up sigh. "No, I mean, look at my stomach. I am five months pregnant."

I looked at her stomach to find she had a small baby bump. "I want to believe you, but I need more proof than that," I said to the woman. That baby could be anyone else's, and this woman could only be trying to frame an innocent person.

"I knew you wouldn't believe me, so I brought everything," said the woman and handed me a few medical reports, including a few close pictures of her with Simon.

I took those and started going through those papers. Ace was also looking at those. We couldn't believe Simon would try to hide these from us. I was beyond humiliated. Just that. Not hurt. Because I wasn't that connected to him to feel any other emotions.

"If these are fake by any chance, you will directly go to hell and I will make sure of that," Ace said in a harsh tone, making me glare at him at that instant. "It's either her or Simon Rainstorm. One of them is definitely going to hell. How dare he even try to betray you?" He was fuming in anger.

Knowing this woman wasn't lying and I couldn't even prove Simon was innocent because I didn't know him properly, the mistake I was about to make sunk deeper.

How could I marry someone I barely knew? I knew Simon for barely two months and I wanted to spend my entire life with him. My life would've been ruined if this woman didn't appear on time. Maybe God had some other better plans and saved me from ruining my life.

"I am going to shoot that guy," Ace mumbled in fury.

My eyes grew as wide as saucers, and I instantly reached out for his hand, preventing him from walking out of the room with blinding rage.

"Ace, don't," I said calmly, looking at his green eyes with my gray ones.

"How can I not?" he snapped at me. "He was about to ruin your life."

"Excuse me, give us some time," I told the woman, and she got out of the room without another word. Then I heaved a sigh and put a hand of mine over Ace's shoulder. "Ace, I am okay right now, aren't I? It can be that they had a one-night stand, and she got pregnant, or maybe they were girlfriend-boyfriend. I didn't even know him five months ago when she got pregnant with his child. Either way, it doesn't matter. I am not marrying Simon anymore."

Ace brushed my hand away. "Do you even realize that he would've ruined your life if this woman didn't come here with proof?" When I nodded, he ran a hand through his brown hair in frustration and asked in disbelief, "How can you stay so goddamn calm?"

I was confused as to why I was calm. Maybe it was because I was already having second thoughts about this marriage and the woman's pregnancy, which gave me a reason to not marry Simon Rainstorm.

"Whatever happened, it happened. We can't do anything about it now," I breathed out.

"What will you do now?" he asked curiously, now a little composed. "I swear, if you still marry him, I will take you to hell with me."

I shook my head. "No, I won't ruin that unborn baby's future by marrying the father. Besides, why can't you say heaven for once instead of hell?" I arched an eyebrow with a smile.

His lips curved into a small smile, but he covered it up and put his hands in his pocket. "We both know we are going to end up there."

"How can you be sure I will land up in hell?" I asked with interest.

"I don't know about you, but I will be there for sure. And I will drag you with me. We won't separate, come what may," he responded, making me burst into laughter. He smiled too when he saw me. "Ava, you should tell Robert that you can't get married today. And definitely not with Simon."

"Yes, I am going to his study. Today is his daughter's wedding, but of course, nothing will stop him from doing his work," I deadpanned, and Ace chuckled.

"I will be waiting in your room," he said while I walked out of my room.

As I was on my way to my father's study, I bumped into someone. I glanced at the person, to find it was Blue Stone, my father's personal assistant. A few papers scrambled from the file he was carrying.

"I am so sorry, Blue," I mumbled and got down to pick up the papers.

"No, Ava, I am sorry. Let me do this," Blue said and got down to pick the papers too.

While handing the papers to him, one paper caught my attention and my heart almost threatened to stop beating. As Blue was about to take the paper from my hand in a hurry, I stopped him. "Wait a minute, Blue. Did you know about this?"

Blue gulped, seeing the paper I was holding. He averted his gaze and nodded hesitantly. "I'm sorry, Ava, but Sir was diagnosed with this three weeks ago. He didn't want to tell you about it before your wedding."

I could feel tears forming in my eyes, but I managed to control myself in front of Blue.

My father had a weak heart, and he didn't tell me.

"Don't worry. It's the initial stage, and he started his treatment already," assured Blue. "Don't let him find out that you know. He doesn't want to see you sad at your wedding. You know how much he cares about you. You're his world."

I hummed in response and handed him the paper. I started walking towards my room.

If I told my dad that I wasn't getting married today, it would affect his health. I would rather die than see him getting worried about me. He did so much for me. The least I could do was to get married today in front of so many people and avoid my father getting humiliated.

I couldn't cancel my wedding. I had to get married by today. But I couldn't ruin an unborn baby's life as well.

Never have I ever felt this much helpless in my life.

As soon as I stepped into my bedroom, I heard Ace's voice as he walked toward me. "What's wrong, Ava? Did you tell Robert everything?" He further spoke when I didn't reply, "I am sure he is as furious as I am. I should discuss with him about the ways to kill Simon. Robert loves me too much to not plan a murder with me, especially of someone who was about to ruin you." As soon as Ace said that, I looked at him with a blank expression.

My dad loved Ace. He was my best friend and a nice guy. I knew him since we went to a summer camp together. At that time, he was a senior while I was a freshman in high school. He was the only one who could save three lives—the unborn baby's, my father's, and mine.

"Ace..." I started speaking. He patiently waited for me to continue. Sucking in a deep breath, I asked, "Ace Valentino, will you marry me?"


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