Chapter 22


    Chapter 22


    When I was finished, I carried the bowls over to Andrew and Dalia''s seats. Dalia was supported by


    Andrew''s leg.


    I handed Dalia and Andrews bowls, and when Andrew reached for his bowl, his hand lightly touched


    mine. The shock of Andrew''s touch nearly caused me to drop the bowl. I could feel his gaze on me,


    but I didn''t dare to look at him. I set the bowl down and sat down to eat my breakfast.


    I had suddenly lost my appetite and refrigerated my bowl forter.


    I sat down and watched Dalia devour her breakfast. I took her bowl and washed it after she was


    finished.


    "All right, Princess, let''s get ready so we can see your Mom." I said


    I took her hand in mine and led her to her room. I removed her nightgown and changed her into


    shorts and a green t-shirt. I put on some tennis shoes and pulled her hair up into two pigtails.


    "Come on, let''s go downstairs, I''m sure your brother is waiting for us." I said


    She looked at me and nodded, clearly excited to see her mother. I took her hand in mine and led


    her down the stairs. When I looked down, I noticed Andrew waiting for us at the bottom of the stairs.


    He appeared tired, with bags under his eyes and unkempt hair. Even though he appeared


    exhausted, he was stunning.


    When he turned to face us, I quickly averted my gaze. I had never been afraid to look him in the


    eyes before, but I was terrified this time. I was afraid to look into his eyes, afraid of what I would


    discover.


    Dalia let go of my hand and dashed over to Andrew. He picked her up and walked out of the door. I


    followed him, and we began walking towards his car. He opened the passenger door and ced


    Dalia in her car seat.


    I stood there, unsure of what to do.


    He looked at me after he finished with Dalia. "Kitten,e on in." He stated. He sounded defeated


    and helpless. For a split second, I hoped it wasn''t because of me, I wanted to believe what he said


    yesterday , but I needed to keep my wall up.


    I was afraid of getting hurt if I let guards down for Andrew. I wasn''t prepared for that kind of agony.


    I sat in the backseat next to Dalia because I didn''t want to sit next to Andrew. He got into the car


    and started it. "Are you all buckled up, Dalia?" He inquired. "Of course, let''s go." She eximed with


    glee.


    I watched as he drove through the streets of New York towards the hospital, all the tall buildings


    passing us by. We arrived at the hospital, Andrew parked in the lot, and we all got out of the car.


    Dalia dashed into the hospital, Andrew and I followed behind.


    "Can I see my mommy, please?" Dalia rushed up to the receptionist. She inquired. "No, hun," the


    receptionist said, clearly irritated. "I am Andrew Jayson, and I havee to see my mother,"


    Andrew said as we approached Dalia. When she saw him, she changed her entire attitude. "Of


    course, Mr. Jayson, I will personally guide you." She stated.


    "No, just give me the room number." Knowing the effect he had on her, he said.


    Her face fell and she tried to seduce him again or something; I don''t know how she looked so stupid


    trying to catch his attention when he clearly wasn''t interested.


    "U-uh, Mr. Jayson, I can show you personally." She stated.


    "For God''s sake,dy, just tell me the room number; I''m not in the mood." Andrew stated.


    "Of course, it''s room number 14." She expressed her disappointment.


    "Fine." Andrew responded angrily.


    I was already aware of the location of the room, but I remained behind Dalia and Andrew. When we


    arrived at Veronica''s room, Dalia dashed inside. Dalia jumped up and down, excited to see her


    mother, and Andrew walked in calmly, relieved to see his mother was still alive.


    I stood outside the room, aware that it was a family asion and that the only reason I was there


    was in case Dalia needed to leave.


    I quickly peered inside the room for Emily, but she was nowhere to be found; I assumed she had


    taken a bus to the house and was already cleaning.


    I stood in the corridor, trying to distract myself. I despised hospitals because, aside from yesterday,


    the only time I had been in one was with Sylvester.


    Sylvester only took me to the hospital once, despite the fact that I needed to go every time he


    touched me.


    When I was there 5 years ago, I made an unsessful attempt to flee.


    I was desperate to leave, so I devised a strategy. Sylvester always had a gun on him, usually


    around his waist. I was determined to get it and then shoot him to get away.


    All of the club''s guests and dancers left one day, leaving only me and Sylvester; I was the only girl


    he kept in the basement. It was the ideal day to flee, so I tried to entice Sylvester into sleeping with


    me so that I could grab the gun and shoot him.


    I seeded in seducing him and obtaining the gun, but when he realized what I had done, he


    grabbed the gun from my grasp before I could pull the trigger. He pushed me to the ground and


    kicked me so hard that I almost passed out.


    When he finally came to a halt, he noticed that I was barely breathing and took me to the hospital.


    He pretended to be my husband and that I had been in a car ident. The doctors all asked if he


    was the one who did this to me, and I told them he wasn''t because he would have shot me if I did.


    I had three broken ribs and a punctured lung, ording to the doctors. They operated on me and


    told me I needed to rest for two months.


    Sylvester drove me home and gave me two days before I had to return to work.


    I tried to forget what he had done to me by observing the people in the hospital; nurses were


    rushing in and out of patients'' rooms, and doctors were working hard to save lives. It appeared


    chaotic and disorganized to others, but it was calming to me. I felt safe because I knew no one


    would notice me because everyone was in their own little bubble.


    "May I speak with you?" a voice said behind me.


    I could sense his presence, smell him, and hear his breath.


    "What could you possibly want to discuss?" I said


    "Don''t worry, kitten; I''ll do the taking; all you have to do is listen." He stated firmly.


    When I turned to face him, his eyes were already locked on mine, and I was unsure what to expect


    next. I sensed conflict in him.


    "I know Andrew, the one who demands anything and expects everyone toply." I responded.


    "Why must you make everything so damn difficult?" He said while raising his voice.


    "Me? For Christ''s sake, Andrew, I make everything difficult. You are the one who judges and insults


    people whenever you feel like it, and then when they prove you wrong, you get drunk and pretend


    to admit your feelings because you feel guilty." I screamed.


    "For God''s sake, Ava, I just need you to fucking listen to me. You''re going to listen to me one way or


    another, the difficult or easy way." He grumbled.


    "Really? You''re so fucking annoying now that you''re making threats." I rolled my eyes as I walked


    away from him.


    Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    He swung my wrist around and pinned me to the wall. "It''s a difficult way to go." He stated.


    My heartbeat quickened because he was so close to me, his body on mine and his face only a few


    inches away.


    "Now, as I previously stated, I meant everything I said yesterday. I am furious with you because you


    make me feel emotions I have never felt before. I know I messed up and judged you too quickly, but


    I truly apologize. I am afraid of what you do to me; when we kissed, I felt what I had never felt


    before with any other girl. I tried and tried to avoid you, but I can''t, so I''ve decided not to resist any


    longer." He said looking me in the eyes.


    I looked into his eyes, looking for anything that indicated he was lying, but all I saw was the truth.


    "I don''t know what you want me to say, Andrew." I responded


    "Tell me you''re going to give me another chance." He stated


    "What changed Andrew, why do you no longer despise me?" I inquired.


    "When you told me I was wrong about you, it was the first time I''d ever been wrong about anyone." I


    thought I knew you inside and out, but you continue to prove me wrong." Andrew responded.


    "Andr-"