Chapter 9 - A New Home

Ava

We were currently on the plane. I was sitting quietly, reading a novel.

Ace was sitting next to me on the window seat. I knew how much he loved the window seat, so I didn't argue with him about that. Besides, I preferred to read novels whenever I needed some peace. My favorite genre was Romance, though I read all genres as long as it kept me hooked till the end.

While flipping over the next page, my eyes shifted to Ace. He was engrossed in work, busy doing something on his laptop. I stole a glance at the screen, only to find he was reading some kind of contract. On the way, my eyes also did the honor of glancing at his lips.

I jerked my head and decided to not even think about the kiss from last night since Ace pretended like it never happened. All I knew was I had to keep my thoughts clean and straight. Even though he was now my husband in the eyes of the world, he was just my best friend in real life, nothing else. I would not think about anything else with him except our friendship. Absolutely not!

"What's going on in your mind?" Ace asked, snapping me out of my trance. He was looking at me now, instead of his laptop screen.

"Nothing. I just needed a break from reading at a stretch," I lied bluntly. I couldn't tell him that I was thinking of how to not be more than friends with him.

He raised his brows. "You needed a break from reading a novel? Seriously? Since when?"

I sighed. "Please, at least I read novels. Look at you, reading some boring contracts," I pointed out.

"Well, despite this being a 'boring' contract, it's keeping me entertained. Unlike you, who got bored by reading a novel."

I could see the smirk on his face. I couldn't even lie to Ace properly. Why did I even say I needed a break from reading? Now, he was making fun of me, of course.

I rolled my eyes and averted my gaze to the novel I was reading. It was pointless to make a point while talking with him because he always had more points than me!

To divert the topic, I spoke up, "I was just thinking about the conditions you said you were going to tell me after our wedding."

"Oh, that? I'll tell you when we get home. I need to think about it more."

"What are you planning, nuclear bomb formula? What's there to think about so much?"

"Well, I do need to cover everything. Unless you don't mind me adding conditions whenever I want."

I rolled my eyes. "Sure. Do what you want." I didn't even care at this point. He couldn't seriously be wanting to impose impossible conditions on me, now would he? It's Ace, after all.

"Okay. But you can't take that back."

I gave him a thumbs up and started to read my novel again.

"Anyway, Ava," he called out. I hummed in response, not looking in his direction as he continued, "Mom is going crazy to meet you as her daughter-in-law. At least that's what she said when she texted me a few minutes ago. She also said Emma, Aunt Chloe, and Grandma are eagerly waiting for you, too. What magic have you done ever since you met them for the first time?"

I chuckled. "I don't know, but maybe no one can ever dislike me. I have that charisma." I flipped the hair over my shoulder to my back to show off. "But I am so excited to meet them too, especially Emma." Emma was his younger sister, who was in her sweet sixteen. Though she was a little introverted, we had a great bond. "Where is Liliana, though? And Grandpa?"

"Lily is somewhere due to her work. You know, she's swamped at the moment." I nodded my head in understanding since Liliana, who was Aunt Chloe's daughter, was a first-year lawyer. I have always heard Ace calling Chloe 'Aunt Chloe', so I ended up calling her 'Aunt Chloe' too. "And Grandpa... well..." he trailed off.

I looked at Ace and sighed when I read his expression. "He isn't taking this news well, is he?" I asked, to be sure. Grandpa adored me a lot, but he was strict, too. He definitely wanted a grand wedding for Ace. This unexpected wedding disappointed him.

"We have to show him we are overflowing with love because we can't let him suspect something went wrong and we had to get married to save your dad's reputation," he informed me.

"But you also married me to save me, right?" I asked innocently.

Immediately, he shifted his gaze to the laptop screen and hummed in response when he could feel my intense gaze over him. I suppressed my smile and continued reading quietly.

###

Soon we reached the Valentino mansion in Utah.

Ace had his driver pick us up from the airport. Once we reached the huge beige-colored mansion, we walked through the stairs to reach the entrance.

"Ready?" Ace asked me and extended his arm.

Sucking in a deep breath, I wrapped my arm around his and said confidently, "Yes."

As soon as we got inside, I heard Luna Valentino, Ace's mother, holler, "They are here!" She ran downstairs and pulled me into a tight hug. "Welcome home, honey."

"Mom, you were supposed to say that to me," Ace remarked.

"Well, now I have to take care of my other daughter, so you come last," Luna responded, making me laugh at Ace's reaction.

This was the only reason Ace never met me in his house that much because all attention would be on me. It was either he was jealous of me getting all the attention, or he only wanted my attention on him which he would barely get whenever we met in the Valentino mansion. Obviously, it was the first reason.

"Thank you, Luna," I said with a warm smile.

"Oh, honey, just call me 'Mom' now. I would really love it if you do so," she responded, her face brightening up with happiness.

I nodded my head.

That was when I spotted Aunt Chloe, Grandma, and Grandpa.

"Hello, sweetie," Aunt Chloe said and pulled me into a warm hug after Luna. "I am so happy for the two of you."

"Nice to see you, Aunt Chloe," was all I could respond.

Then Grandma hugged me too.

"How have you been, Grandma?"

"I was well, now even better. I always knew it would end with the two of you being together."

I had no doubt that I would be welcomed here, but this still filled my chest with warmth. But the hugs, though... I wasn't a fan of that in general.

I glanced at Ace, who was enjoying seeing me getting squeezed in between hugs of love. I glared at him, which made his smile wider than before. That annoying—ugh.

After the exchange of hugs, I went to Grandpa, who gave me a side hug with a curt smile. "Welcome to the Valentino family. You have always been one of us, but now, you are officially a Valentino."

"Thank you, Grandpa," I said with a genuine smile. I would have a hard time making him believe Ace and I married for love. He was too smart to not be able to differentiate between a marriage of love and marriage for saving the reputation.

"I have so much to talk with you, but I have to go to work now," Luna commented. She was the head chef and owner of the Valentino Stars' Restaurant, which was a famous five-star restaurant.

"And I will be dropping her on the way," Aunt Chloe told us. She was a fashion designer in Valentino Fashion.

"Did you guys just wait to leave for work to welcome me?" I asked in surprise. It was already way past afternoon, and they all should be at work.

"Of course, that goes without saying. There's no way we wouldn't be here to greet the new member of our house," Aunt Chloe chirped.

"Unless you would have preferred to come into an empty house," Luna added.

"Wouldn't be something I'm not used to," I murmured a little bitterly due to almost never having Dad around. I immediately regretted saying that aloud, but Luna was quick to respond to that.

"Then you will just have to get rid of that habit. Because you will most likely never be alone in this house. And if you are, any of us is just a call away."

I smiled genuinely. While I wasn't used to a big family, it was always nice to be around Ace's family.

"Anyways, you guys came from a long journey, so take some rest, okay? We will catch up later tonight," Luna said, and I nodded. She and Aunt Chloe then left the house together for work.

I scanned the living room, but when I didn't find a certain teenager, I inquired Grandma, "Where is Emma?"

"She just got back from school. She is in her room right now," she answered. "Why don't you go meet her while I make sure your belongings reach Ace and your bedroom? I'll have lunch ready for you guys in the dining hall."

"That will be wonderful. Thank you so much, Grandma."

"Ava, I will be in my study after freshening up. I have to check some files. So if you need anything, you can find me there." With that, Ace made his way towards the stairs, along with Grandma.

I was alone in the living room with Grandpa. As I was walking towards the other staircase that led to Emma's room, I heard Grandpa question me, "If you loved Ace from the beginning, why would you date Simon in the first place, let alone agree to marry him?"