Avery's Game Of Revenge
Chapter 144: Apologizing.

Chapter 144: Apologizing.

"Apology accepted," she said tentatively. "Care to go straight to the point?"

"Yeah, of course. I’m sorry for taking up much of your time," Valentina’s apologetic voice came. "So the thing is, I got home yesterday and reflected on what I did. You were right to get angry, and I’m the stupid one for trying to project the hate I had for my cousins’ murderer onto a completely innocent lookalike. I really am sorry."

"Oh..." Was the only word that came out of Avery’s lips, followed by a snicker. Of everything she had expected Valentina to say, this was completely out of the question. Therefore, she decided to try irritating Valentina to see if this was a trap. Knowing the girl who used to be her cousin, she knew Valentina would spill out the truth within mere seconds. "So? You thought a mere apology would be enough to take away the pain inflicted by your actions? The hurt and depressing emotions that overcame me when I saw your comments?"

~

On the other side of the line, Valentina was still in her night wear, sitting across the kitchen table from a fully dressed, decked out in a tux, Brian.

He’d arrived at their house earlier today with a complete plan in mind that he refused to tell her about. He asked if she still believed Ava Donovan was Avery, and Valentina replied with a vindictive no and apologized for raising false alarm the previous day.

Brian had refused to tell her what his plan was but had told her he would need her help in executing it— the perfect plan he made just to put his own mind at rest that she really wasn’t Avery. Valentina had agreed. Then he told her the first step was to call Avery right now and apologize, so he could guage her reaction to it.

Since her father had asked her to apologize the previous day and she also intended to do that later when she met Avery on set, Valentina had to qualms with doing it in Brian’s presence so she placed the call and when Avery picked, put it on speaker and dropped it on the table between them.

"So? You thought a mere apology would be enough to take away the pain inflicted by your actions? The hurt and depressing emotions that overcame me when I saw your comments?" Avery’s voice came through the phone.

Valentina was momentarily annoyed by that response to her apology, but when she glanced up at Brian, he motioned for her to calm down and continue.

So she did, "I understand you, Ava. If someone did the same thing to me, I would also find it hard to forgive them. But I really do want to have a good relationship with you, no matter how the press or other people might take it." She paused, pretending to sniff, "It’s just... It’s hard befriending people in the industry after what happened to my cousin. If I didn’t want her legacy to live on through me, I wouldn’t be touching the entertainment industry with a ten foot pole with all the bullying and monstrosity that goes on there. You really don’t have to accept my apology but please, just know I’m sorry. And if there’s a particular way you want me to apologize, don’t hesitate to tell me. Through a public post? Lunch? Helping you land a new role? Just name it and I’ll try my best to do it."

A pregnant silence stretched through the line, and Valentina almost thought there was no one listening when a soft sigh came through.

"I would be lying if I say I don’t understand your pain, but it would be a bigger lie if I say being on the receiving part of yours and the public’s hatred doesn’t hurt me more. Anyways, your apology is accepted and I forgive you, but I can’t be the friend you need. You are on a higher level than I am, while I would still have to kneel and do immoral stuffs to land more roles. We can’t be seen associating with each other." A pause. "Especially not when you want to uphold your cousin sister’s image; I wouldn’t want to be the one to taint it."

"Really?!" Valentina feigned excitement, though her voice dripped with sarcasm. "You forgive me?! Omg, you’re such a sweet soul, Ava. Thanks for forgiving me, and I’m so sorry on behalf of the public who keep hating on you without knowing who you really are and what a kind, understanding soul you are." She cringed at her own words, faking another sniff before adding, "How about what I said? You don’t want me to leave a public apology post? Or get lunch with me? I could help you land a new role too. A supporting one, what do you say? Just to show how happy I am that you accepted my apology."

"There’s no need for an apology post unless you want to turn the public against yourself for seeing me as someone other than a villain. What more? They might think I threatened you into doing it and come at me with full force. I wouldn’t like that either," Avery’s said, her voice oozing nonchalance. "As for your lunch offer, like I said earlier, I don’t want to be caught with a martyr like you who wants to live for her cousin. Our characters don’t match and besides, I don’t want it. You don’t have to worry about helping me with a role either." She changed her tone to a suggestive one, "As I said, I have my ways of landing them. My beauty still paves way for me in some places, even if I need to have an incentive to offer them. You’re a woman, even though you’re not a struggling one, so I’ll take it that you understand what I’m trying to saying."

"Oh... I do," Valentina stifled a chuckle. "And rest assured, I’m not judging you. You are doing everything you can to survive and succeed, and that? It’s already a great quality on its own."