Avery's Game Of Revenge
Chapter 162: Date Cancelled.

Chapter 162: Date Cancelled.

She face palmed herself in embarrassment, cursing beneath her breath. How the hell could she have forgotten that?

"Alice, I’m so—" she was interrupted by the sound of her phone going off with a message notification.

Avery glanced at her phone, the screen lighting up with a message from Archie. Her heart sank as she read it:

"Angel,

So sorry.

There’s an emergency I need to attend to abroad, and there’s a high chance I won’t make it back for our date tonight.

Will make it up to you. Promise,

Arch♡

Disappointment surged through Avery, sharp and unrelenting. She bit her lip, trying to push the feeling down, and looked up at Alice, who was still sitting across from her, an expectant look in her eyes.

"Yes," she said, forcing a smile. "I’ll be able to go."

Her phone buzzed again, but she didn’t check it. Guessing it was probably Archie replying to her, so she made a mental note to check it later.

Alice clapped her hands, her face lighting up with excitement. "Perfect! You should head home and get ready. Come on, I’ll walk you to the lobby."

Avery started to protest. "I really don’t need..."

"I want to," Alice interrupted, her tone leaving no room for argument.

The latter sighed and turned to Lucy and Francis, who had been quietly observing the exchange.

Lucy smiled warmly. "We’ll send the contract to your email once it’s processed, Mrs Donovan. And don’t worry, we’ve already input your name for the reality show. It’s going to be amazing."

Francis nodded in agreement. "We’re looking forward to working with you, Ava."

"Thank you," Avery replied, shaking their hands. "I’m excited too."

She was barely done talking when Alice linked their arms together, pulling her gently toward the door. "Let’s go, latest superstar."

The two women walked through the office, their presence drawing curious glances from everyone they passed. Avery kept her head high, ignoring the whispers and stares. She was used to it by now.

Soon, they stepped out of the elevator into the lobby. The attention only intensified as they made their way toward the entrance. Alice leaned in slightly, her voice low. "Don’t mind them. They’re just probably just surprised to see us both walking together."

Avery nodded, but her steps faltered as they approached the door. A small crowd had gathered near the entrance, their voices rising in a chaotic buzz.

Alice frowned. "Let’s not go that way. It might be some diehard fans who managed to sneak in. We’ll take the side exit."

Avery hesitated, her gaze flickering toward the commotion. She took another step, then froze.

A voice cut through the noise, clear and desperate.

"I didn’t do it!"

Avery’s breath caught in her throat. She knew that voice. It was Stephanie... her best friend. The realization hit her like a punch to the gut.

Before Alice could stop her, Avery felt herself drawn to the direction of the commotion, her legs quickening with each step she took.

"You want to meet the star?" Alice asked.

"That doesn’t look like a meeting between diehard fans and stars," Avery said flatly. Soon, she had gotten to the place where the crowd was gathered and began pushing her way through to get to the front.

"Excuse us... Excuse us," Alice called out as she followed, and within seconds, the crowd had parted for them to get to the middle where the source of the commotion was.

Avery’s eyes widened as she took in the scene before her.

Stephanie stood frozen in place, the right side of her face marked with fresh slap prints. In front of her, Valentina was sobbing uncontrollably, her cries echoing through the room.

"I really didn’t do it," the former murmured, a trace of sadness in her tone.

Avery’s gaze flickered between them, already knowing who was at fault—even though she had barely heard anything. Even if she had walked in to find Valentina with the slap marks instead, she knew she still wouldn’t have believed Stephanie had done anything wrong.

"You didn’t?" Valentina’s shrill voice snapped Avery out of her thoughts. "Are you trying to say I’m just overreacting, then?"

She looked up just in time to see Valentina raise a hand for another slap.

Her chest tightened, a familiar ache creeping into her mind—the same feeling she had experienced abroad during her treatment. The same one that had resurfaced when she watched Elena Black on the news, broadcasting how eerily similar Avery McCallum was to Ava Donovan.

That day, she had nearly shattered Archie’s glasses in frustration. He had suggested therapy and then left her alone for two weeks, promising he had found her an agency. That day had set her on the path that led her here, to this moment.

But she knew if she let this feeling consume her, if she allowed it to cloud her judgment, she might cause more damage than she could ever repair. So she swallowed hard, biting down on the inside of her cheek until the sharp sting cut through her haze. The cold, metallic taste of blood spread across her tongue.

Better. The pain cleared her head—if only for a moment.

When she blinked, Valentina had Stephanie’s hair gripped tightly in her fists.

Stephanie, who should have been fighting back, was gripping her dress instead, her knuckles turning white.

Avery hissed under her breath.

"What the fuck are you doing, Steph?" she muttered. "Just return the slap. You aren’t that soft, and you’ve never been scared of her..."

She stopped short, the words dying on her tongue.

Because she, too, had never been scared of Valentina.

And yet here she was today.

Maybe Stephanie knew what Valentina was truly capable of and that was the reason she was holding back right now.

Avery shook her head, pushing the thought away. It didn’t matter. Whether as Avery McCallum or as Ava Donovan, she wouldn’t just stand by and let her best friend be bullied by Valentina.

Her eyes darkened with rage as she took a step forward—only to be yanked back by Alice.

"You can’t draw attention to yourself by getting involved," the latter whispered. "It doesn’t fit your image. Go outside. I’ll handle it."

Avery frowned. Her urge to interfere must have been obvious if Alice was offering to step in.

"You’re sure you want to get between them instead?" she asked, searching Alice’s face.

"I don’t do anything I don’t want to do," Alice replied smoothly.

Avery hesitated for only a second before nodding, her eyes glinting with appreciation. She watched as Alice strode forward, stepping right into Valentina’s path and catching her hand mid-air before she could deliver another slap.

That was her cue to leave.

If she stayed, she knew she’d end up getting involved, no matter what. So, forcing herself to turn away, she pushed through the crowd and headed for the exit.

Outside, she hovered her finger over her phone screen, ready to call an Uber. But she hesitated.

Would it hurt to wait a few minutes? To see if Stephanie would come out? Maybe even watch from a distance, just to make sure she was okay? If she was lucky, she might even get a chance to ask what happened with Valentina.

Before she could talk herself out of it, she exited the ride app and pulled up her messages instead.

Avery: Heading home to get ready. Call me later?

Alice’s reply came almost immediately.

Alice: Kay! We’re gonna have fun.

A small smile tugged at the corner of Avery’s lips despite herself. But the amusement didn’t erase the nagging feeling in her gut.

That was fast. Too fast. Had Alice really settled things already?

She didn’t have time to dwell on it.

The door behind her slammed shut, and a familiar voice filled the air.

"Fucking Valentina. She’s still as stupid as ever."

Avery’s breath caught.

Stephanie.

She spun around abruptly, lifting a hand in an awkward wave.

"Hi?" she greeted, voice tentative.

Stephanie came to an abrupt halt, her gaze locking onto Avery’s in an unblinking stare.

For several long seconds, they stood there, locked in a silent challenge, each waiting for the other to back down first.

Then, finally, Stephanie spoke, her voice laced with uncertainty.

"Is that you... Avery?"

Avery let out a nervous laugh.

"No," she said, forcing a light tone. "But... as everyone in the country knows, I look a lot like her, so I’m not surprised you think I am." She forced a smile, hoping desperately, that her words sounded convincing enough.

"I don’t believe you though," Stephanie shattered her hope.

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