Avery's Game Of Revenge
Chapter 212: Gradually Climbing

Chapter 212: Gradually Climbing

Silence ensued in the room. Shikera, who was shocked, slowly regained her composure. How could she forget that this man had a trickish nature? A smile began to spread on her face, but as soon as she heard his next words, it froze.

’’I can consider handing over my personal shares too. But before I do that, you have to agree to my proposal,’’ Ethan said, a confident smile on his face.

Shikera had a feeling that this wasn’t going the way it should. If Ethan would keep his shares, then she would have nothing to worry about. After all, their fathers were the ones who had signed the contract within themselves. But now that he was also considering handing over his own shares, she would die of guilt if the deal went through.

Liam asked, ’’I shouldn’t be trying to negotiate this but since you did a partial good job in taking care of my daughter, I will hear you out. What’s your proposal?’’

Ethan sat up, his eyes moving to settle on Shikera’s face as he continued, ’’I love your daughter. And I need her alive with me.’’ He turned to his father, ’’This shit happened because neither of you two bothered to tell me the reason I should not touch her. I would have kept my hands to myself no matter what!’’

’’Hey,’’ Shikera tried to calm him down, but her efforts went naught as he didn’t even bother casting a glance in her direction. Sighing, she buried her head in her hands, massaging her temple slowly.

’’The condition,’’ Ethan stated, ’’...is that you persuade Shikera to undergo surgery. I got the doctors ready and there’s a high chance of success."

His eyes moved across the faces of everyone in the room, taking in the surprise expressed in their eyes. Shikera’s was the only face which held different emotions. Angry...maybe. But he couldn’t care less at this point. It was alright if she was angry; even if she refused to meet him again after the surgery, he would happily accept it as long as she was somewhere else in this world. Alive and well.

He continued in a lower but firm voice, ’’If you can make that happen, then not only will I hand over my shares. I will also keep my distance from her so you don’t think I’m trying to retrieve what I lost.’’

Stuck in the midst of choosing whether to stop his son from handing over his hard earned shares or encouraging him to let everything go out of love and guilt, Chris decided to face his friend instead.

’’Liam, my handing over the family’s shares to you marks the end of our contract. I believe I don’t need to stay here any longer. I still have to explain to my wife and family how I turned them from employers to employees,’’ he said, attempting to stand up and leave.

’’You should sit, Dad.’’ Ethan stopped him. "The deal I’m proposing is an entirely different one which although has nothing to do with you, I’d love your presence here."

Shikera watched him pick up a stack of printed papers which had been lying on the table since she came in, her eyes widening when he extended it to her.

’’What is this?’’ she asked him, hesitating to read the large printed words at the top of the page.

"I signed the divorce papers," Ethan replied. His words had the exact effect he had expected it to have on the group, and Shikera.

"I don’t understand," she whispered, leaning closer to him. "You kept the papers?"

He nodded in reply without meeting her gaze, not wanting to get influenced by her innocent looking brown eyes.

"This is only right, Shikera." Liam stood up. "I got the shares stated in the contract and you two got divorced. It’s time for all this to end. Will you need help in packing your things? That is if you need to pack anything."

"It’s alright, Daddy. You can leave on your own," Shikera responded. "Noah, make sure daddy gets home safe."

While she talked, her eyes didn’t move from Ethan’s face even though he only avoided hers.

"You should leave, Kera. We’re divorced and considering the situation, you can’t stay here any longer," he said in a firm voice.

"He’s right, Shikera," Noah chimed in. "I still can’t believe that your husband divorced you himself but since it already happened, staying any further will only be you overstaying your welcome in a stranger’s house."

Shikera didn’t bother responding. Instead, she leaned forward to whisper in Ethan’s ear, a smirk forming on her lips when she was done.

"Do you have to use that now?" he whipped his head around to look at her.

"Of course," Shikera replied smugly. "When would you rather I use it?" She looked up at Liam, "Don’t worry about me, Daddy. You are done with business here so go home and rest."

Receiving a nudge on his arm, Ethan backed up her words reluctantly, "She will stay here for a few days. Don’t worry about her."

"Thanks Honey," Shikera teased. She joined her father on his feet and entwining her arm with his, walked him out of the villa.

Chris and Noah followed, but not before the latter extended his hand to Ethan for an handshake.

"It was good while it lasted," he said. "And not to discourage you but if you really want my sister to undergo that surgery, it’s in your hands and not my dad’s. Shikera would listen to you."

Ethan disagreed, "She wouldn’t. I tried but she didn’t budge one bit."

"Maybe if you try one more time," Noah insisted. "Just know I am on my sister’s side all the time and if I didn’t think you make her happy, I wouldn’t have said this."

Outside, Shikera stopped by the car to hug Liam.

"You can’t persuade me, Dad," she declared in a solemn voice.

"I know I can’t. But if there’s anything I can do to ease—"

She cut him off, "To help me? There is a lot. If you could just declare the contract null and return the DeLoachs shares."

"It’s not as easy as you said, Shikera. I am a business man and even though I’m so grateful for Ethan’s help, the damage is more than I can repair."

Rolling her eyes, Shikera tried to make her tone as light as possible when she replied, "What damage, Dad? I know you have prepared yourself mentally for this to happen and besides, you get a grandchild out of it. What else could you ask for?"

"You, Kera." Noah was the one who replied, stepping in between his sister and father. "We want you with us but we also know how stubborn you are, so we’ll relent."

"Good that you do," Shikera sneered at him, before proceeding to ignore him. She smiled at her father, "Dad, Chris is also a business man just as you are. But he didn’t even attempt to persuade me into getting rid of my baby so his family can get your shares. I hope you remind yourself that he is your one and only friend in this tough business world."

"Quit trying to persuade me," Liam said, feigning displeasure. "He could have thought of me when his son was—"

"Daddy!" Shikera interrupted. "I will be saying this for the first and last time. If you have to blame anyone, blame me. Not Ethan or anyone else." She pulled the door open and stared at him until he got into the car. "Bye, Dad. See you soon!"

"Stay safe, Princess," Liam replied.

Flashing a grin at him, she kept up the false facade until she had completely turned around.

"Stay safe, Kera," Noah’s voice resounded behind her ears.

"I will call you later. Bye."

She waited and watched the car drive out of the garage, waving as they left. Chris’ car passed and she finally let out a deep breath, walking up the stairs to the patio where Ethan was waiting. Her expression changed drastically from exhausted to angry in the twinkling of an eye.

"Now what was that about, Honey?" she questioned.

"Nothing. I signed the divorce papers like you once asked me to," Ethan deadpanned.

"You refused at the time. Why did you sign it now?"

"Tell me why you are so adamant on keeping this baby even when the father is against it. If you can do that, maybe I’ll consider telling you why I signed those too," Ethan backfired.

"Because I want to do this."

"Even if your wanting to do this is hurting me?" he asked.

Shikera sighed, "Ethan, I can totally understand you but I need you to understand me too—"

He cut her off, "What good would it do if I understand you? You said you understand me yet you insist on keeping that baby. What makes you think my mind will change if I understand you?