Avery's Game Of Revenge
Chapter 206: Messages

Chapter 206: Messages

[Mummy, I can’t stay here again. I want to come stay with you!] — Esther.

Shikera rose up to a sitting position, confusion and worry etched on her face.

’What’s wrong, baby?’ she texted back.

[I don’t want to live with Miss Elizabeth.] — Esther.

[I thought Cyprian said Elizabeth is not living with you yet. And your father is back too. Did he ask Miss Elizabeth to come?] — Shikera.

Instead of a reply by text, Shikera felt her phone ring in her hand instead. She picked it immediately, lowering her voice into a whisper before speaking.

"Where are you, Esther? And where’s daddy?" she asked in one go. She was not about to risk getting caught by Ethan.

"I am in my bathroom, and daddy is in the kitchen. I checked before calling and I’m even whispering now. Did I do it right, mummy?"

Shikera smiled, "Of course, Esther. You are so smart. Now answer me, did daddy ask Miss Elizabeth to come over?"

"No, he asked them to go back to Grandpa’s house and then told me I will be staying there too," Esther complained.

"Why? Don’t you want to stay with Grandma?"

"Grandma can’t play with me because she is sick. I’ll be stuck with daddy, Uncle Enoch, and the rest of them. And they are all busy, no one will be able to play with me."

"Grandma is sick? What’s wrong with her?" Shikera asked.

"I don’t know, mummy. Can I come?"

Shikera sighed. "No you can’t, Esther. There’s no way you’ll be able to get here without the help of anyone over there. Your dad is back too so he will find out immediately. I’m so sorry—"

"Esther? What are you doing in there?"

Hearing Ethan’s voice suddenly from the other other side, Shikera was so shocked that she forgot to hang up.

"I’m in the bathroom, Dad—"

Beep! Thankfully, Shikera sighed in relief, Esther was smart enough to think of hanging up when her mother didn’t.

"I don’t think I can stay here for much longer," she muttered under her breath.

Shikera looked up as the door opened, a nervous smile settling on her face.

"Did you book the room?" she asked.

"Yeah, I booked for a week. We can change hotels when it expires," Mignon replied.

"A week?" Shikera exclaimed, startling Alan who was just walking into their room.

"What’s wrong?" he asked, simultaneously with Mignon, "Is there a problem with that?"

"It’s just that...we told Grandma Cooper we will only be here for a day or two, right? It will be alright for you to stay, Mignon, but not me. I have to return," Shikera explained.

"But you told me your doctor won’t release your file and wants to treat you herself. How do you expect to cope?" Mignon inquired.

"I told her I have to inform Grandma Cooper of the situation of things first so she gave me some medications that would sustain me for a week, until I return here. I’ll get a place to stay by then," Shikera replied. Rising to her feet, she pulled up her luggage and dragged it to the door.

"Mig, Esther called just now and told me she will be following her dad to The Mega estate, and she’ll be bored. Everyone is going there so..." Shikera paused, taking in a deep breath before continuing, "Forget that. What I wanted to say was Raine, I mean your mom, is sick. And for all the members of the family to assemble there at this time, I think it’s kind of serious. I don’t think you should hesitate if Ethan asks you to go back home."

"If you join them, is there a chance that you’ll come back?" Alan asked carefully. He had been filled in on all that was happening, that afternoon, and since then he always felt like the odd ball in the room whenever the two ladies were present. He also felt Mignon’s imaginary hand which he had been practicing how to hold, slip out of his hands. She was way, way, way beyond his league now.

"Of course, there won’t be much reasons to stay there since I haven’t gotten my memories back yet. And besides, I’ve watched TV dramas a lot on Alan’s phone and know about the struggles and messy situations that are associated with families as powerful as the Mega’s. I don’t want to get embroiled in such."

Shikera could not help but laugh at the serious expression on Mignon’s face while she talked.

"What exactly is that drama you are talking about?" she asked, in between chuckles.

Mignon didn’t mind Shikera’s laughter but replied with as much seriousness as she could, "You know, cousins strife; siblings competing and the rest."

"Well, cousins strife is impossible within the Mega families as we don’t have cousins. Only the successor gets to register his family as a Mega while the rest occupy next level positions in the country. As for the siblings competition, even though I’m not sure any of the Mega youngsters would fight for inheritance, I can say for sure that your family isn’t like that." Shikera turned to Alan and added, "And Alan, were you planning to stay your whole life on the island? You are an aspiring engineer or should I say inventor and I think you’ll get more opportunities if you stay in the city and with Mignon. You guys are friends, right?"

The room fell silent, as if Mignon and Alan were taking time to process Shikera’s words. When they didn’t reply for over a minute, Shikera sighed.

"I’ll go to my room then. You don’t have to tell me before leaving, and make sure not to look back at my door while leaving," she instructed.

"I’m sure Mignon won’t forget that," Alan finally spoke, "And Kera, keep me updated on your schedule so I can know when you’re returning to the island. I’ll go sightsee tomorrow but you can give me a call anytime you want."

With that, there was a tacit understanding in the room that Alan would not be leaving with Mignon, but with Shikera.

Shikera shrugged, "If that’s what you have decided, I can’t argue with you. If you decide to change your mind though, I’m just a call away."

★★★

"You are joking!" Enoch exclaimed, shock evident in his eyes. If it was not Ethan who had spoken what he just heard, he would have counted it as an expensive joke by the speaker.

"Do I look like I am?" Ethan raised his brows, expressionlessly. His eyes moved to Ruthlyn, who looked like she was just remembering how to speak.

"It might just be a lookalike...Sir," she muttered, clearly too shocked to speak. She was also struggling between believing and not believing what she just heard from Ethan.

"Check the CCTV footage of the hospital yourself. Krystal Alexander’s office is a blind spot since her patients are VVIP, so you should know I’m talking about Leonard Alexander’s," Ethan stated disinterestedly, adding, "What do you think, Raymond?"

"I...I am not sure what to think," Raymond muttered. And that was the truth. He had no idea what to think or say concerning this. How could Ethan see his long lost only sister and still be calm?

"I hope your bags are packed," Ethan asked suddenly, raising his head to glance at the others.

A collective nod replied him, and he continued, "You should load the car. We will visit her hotel on our way back to the estate."

"Really? You found out her hotel already?" Enoch asked.

"I was bored," was Ethan’s simple reply. Leaning back on his seat, he continued with instructing them.

"Ruthlyn, you should get yourself ready to speak with her if she refuses to see the rest of us. Enoch, I need the hotel lobby cleared before we get there and also, check to see if Natasha and her daughter arrived at the DeLoach’s mansion. And you Ray, Miss Leigh would have been spotted with us more than once for a while now, you should invite her over for her safety."

"Why?" Raymond asked.

"I just said the reason now, Ray. Plus Esther has been requesting to see her for the past three hours, I guess they bonded after her mum left," Ethan stated. He waved his hand for Ruthlyn and Enoch to leave the study while letting Raymond stay.

"What’s wrong with you two?" he asked.

"None—" Raymond held himself back from replying snarkily.

"None of my business? Alright then. Since my daughter seems to be interested in her, what do you suggest I do? She also looks like she will be a great mother so..." Ethan trailed off, a teasing hint in his voice.

"Ethan!"

"Raymond. What?"

"Don’t attempt it, whatever you are thinking."

"And what is it that I am thinking? Why should I not attempt it?"

Raymond sighed exasperatedly. He had been dreaming earlier when he decided to argue with Ethan.

"Okay, I’m sorry. You weren’t thinking of anything so there’s nothing for you to accept," he surrendered.

Ethan gave a small nod, "There you are. You can leave my study now."