" Please, I'm very confused right now. All I want is just to sleep the night away.", Avery pleaded. She has been on an emotional roller coaster since she got here.
" If money is the only concern of your parents, I can offer them the same thing. I don't want that bastard's paws on you Sweetheart!", Terrence gritted his teeth. He could have came back earlier had it not been for his acquisition in the South. That lead time enabled Xander to gain her father's concurrence.
"I don't know what to do. Why should I trust you? How are you not different from him?
Avery sobbed. Somehow, this man brings out her soft side. All she wanted to do is curl up to his protection.
As if reading her mind, Terrence gently pulled her in his arms. He was hugging her like there's no tomorrow.
"I promised you my love and protection a long time ago. That will not change Amelia. Meet me tomorrow at the waterfalls. Let's plan what to do then."
He lifted her head and kissed her hair. He wanted to taste those cherry lips again but he doesn't want to take advantage of her unstable emotions. Terrence sighed deeply and led her back to the hallway.
"Tomorrow sweetheart, at 9 o'clock when you ride your horse for morning exercise. That way, they will not think that you are meeting anyone or planning something."
They both returned to the party to avoid suspicion. Avery barely made it through the night. When everything was over, she dragged her tired body to the room and laid on the bed while loooking at the ceiling.
This Amelia's life is pitiful. She seems to be a docile girl that's why Avery have been acting meekly here.
Why was she here? Is she reliving a different life? What is the reason why this is happening? She only heard the name Amelia once from her Grandma Lily's mouth. Thinking about it, she sat up abruptly.
Wait! Grandma Lily? Is she Amelia's bestfriend? The one that she met earlier? Unbelievable!
A knock woke her from her thoughts, followed by Mrs. Tang's entry.
" How are you dear? I know you must have been shocked a lot."
Avery did not respond fearing that she will answer wrongly as she doesn't have Amelia's memories.
"You must be very angry with us but this is the only way to save us from the streets. Xander is a rich man. You will lack for nothing."
"Nothing?", Avery wasn't able to hold back. " You are robbing me of my freedom and hapiness Mother. How is that nothing?"
Tears started to roll down her cheeks at her bleak future.
"That's better than having nothing to eat, being thrown in the streets and facing the shame that our once proud family is reduced to nothing!", her mother screeched.
"You are selling me out to a monster to save yourselves! Someone who can kill me. He already threatened and abused me at the party!" Avery quipped back. "Pimping me out, what kind of a mother are you?!
Her mother's face turned very ugly. She was thrown into the bed and only when she felt the sting on her cheek did she realized that she was slapped with so much force, she fell down. Feeling a throbbing ache behind her head, Avery slowly fell into oblivion.