Avery's Game Of Revenge
Chapter 56: A Joke.

Chapter 56: A Joke.

Avery had only studied her for a few more seconds when she frowned. She had been worried about Valentina catching sight of her as soon as she got into the room, but with the number of people who now surrounded the latter, there was no way she would see her.

’’Why are they in such hurry to greet her? Are we supposed to do the same?" she asked.

"Not necessarily. Although we’d have to greet her when we’re done so as to foster good relationship and create connections," Jodi replied. Leaning closer to Ava, she lowered her voice and added, "Those guys around her at the moment most probably just want to suck up to her and get in her favor."

Avery relaxed, a puff of hair escaping through her lips. Now that she knew she was not required to greet Valentina now, she could prepare herself for later when she was to stand before her. Valentina’s facial expression just now was not normal; her fake smile and fisted hands showing how nervous she was.

Seeing that, Avery needed no one to tell her before knowing that her plan had worked. Now, she only needed to wait until they were done with this event to execute the second part of her plan.

Within minutes, the script reading event was kick-started and everyone, including Avery, repressed their other thoughts and dedicated their attention to it. Across the room from Avery, Valentina struggled with maintaining the smile on her face for hours until the event concluded.

"This was wonderful!" Leroy exclaimed, a grin on his face as he wrapped up the event.

Everyone rose to their feet, exchanging greetings and pleasantries with each other and introducing themselves. Avery, walking hand in hand with Jodi, had successfully gone through a few people and was now standing before Valentina who was busy writing an autograph for one of the other actors and had no idea of their presence yet.

Avery waited patiently until she was done writing, before nudging Jodi to greet her.

"Hellooow!" Jodi complied, a cheerful beam on her face as she waved. "I am Jodi Sinclair and this is my friend..." she gave the chance to Avery to introduce herself.

"Ava Donovan. It’s so nice to meet you, Senior Valentina."

Valentina stood there, jaws slacked in stupefaction and heart beating loudly in her chest. She was staring straight into Avery’s eyes, unable to let out a whimper, much less returning their greetings.

The heck was this scene unfolding before her eyes?! No, this had to be a joke. It was the effect of seeing that page from earlier, she tried to reassure herself. But even after shutting her eyes and reopening them numerous times, Avery’s face was before her.

She stood in that same state until Avery and Jodi, exchanging curious glances, bade her goodbye and walked away from her front, before snapping out of her listless state.

★

The McCallum family mansion was agog with activities, the maids and butlers hurrying from one wing of the mansion to the other and bustling from one corner to the other with such excitement that a visitor would find it hard to believe half of the family were massacred just five weeks ago.

Colorful balloons and streamers filled the air, matching the big smiles on the staff’s faces. The sound of laughter and lively chatter filled the rooms, mingling with the sweet scent of freshly baked cakes and the soft gleam of polished silverware. In the kitchen, a symphony of sizzles and aromas wafted from the ovens, where an army of chefs worked their culinary magic.

Meanwhile, in the ballroom, a team of decorators carefully arranged a kaleidoscope of flowers, their petals shimmering like jewels in the light. As the party time approached, the excitement grew, and the mansion felt alive with anticipation, ready for a night of fun and celebration. However, what none of them expected was that the girl whom this whole celebration was for, would arrive in the worst mood they had ever seen her in.

She was agitated.

Slamming the door of the car shut after herself, Valentina stormed through the large doors of the mansion, walking straight into the center of the activities. Devoted to carrying out their tasks, none of the workers greeted her as they were to busy carrying out their tasks to notice her. This only infuriated Valentina more, prompting her to let out a loud scream,

’’Aaaaaagghhh!’’

Time seemed to stop still as her scream echoed all through the mansion, alerting even those on the second floor.

’’Are you all blind?! Can’t you see me standing here?!’’ she yelled.

’’Young Mis-’’ the head butler, who had just emerged from the kitchen, tried to appease her when she cut him off.

’’Will you shut that mouth this instance?! Where’s my mom?’’ she questioned.

The sound of clacking heels coming down the stairs announced Kathy’s presence before her voice did, ’’Who made the birthday girl so angry tonight?’’

Kicking her shoes off, Valentina hurried towards her mother, meeting her at the foot of the stairs.

’’I saw Avery today. The bitch is alive!’’ she informed, her voice not in any way low.

Kathy’s face contorted into a frown. She raised her palm to press against her daughter’s forehead, believing that Valentina must have a fever. There was no way she would say this if she wasn’t sick.

’’What are you saying, Tina? Are you feeling pain anywhere?’’ she asked.

’’What does my pain have in relation to what I just said, Mom? Are you listening to me at all?!’’ Valentina yelled, her voice so loud that it had literally drawn everyone in the house to the center where she was. ’’I said Avery is alive, Mum. She’s not dead! She—"

"Shut your mouth, Valentina!" she heard her father’s voice echo from the second floor where he was leaning against the rail. "You don’t have to make it so obvious you miss your cousin sister in the presence of everyone."

"Your father is right, Tina. You might have grown up with Avery and miss her but still... Why don’t we talk upstairs?" Kathy asked, quick to support her husband when she noticed all the maids were now staring at them.