Avery's Game Of Revenge
Chapter 66: Death Anniversary.

Chapter 66: Death Anniversary.

That day was his brother’s death anniversary...

Hours after Jodi left the penthouse, her departure prompted by a call from one of her other friends, Avery was still thinking about the discussion they had before she left.

That day was his brother’s death anniversary...

The night she went to his room was when she knew his mother was dead, but he’d never told her anything about his brother’s death and neither had she saw any news about them. Not like she had ever asked but then...what could have killed them? Were they involved in a car accident? Sickness? Drowned? Medical conditions or allergic reactions?

Those were the most natural examples she could think of. It couldn’t have been murder or suicide because if it were, the news about it would have made waves on the internet, just like her own family’s had.

Avery’s frown deepened the more she thought of it yet she could not keep her mind off those words, for fear that she would sink into more depressing thoughts which centered around herself. She had replaced his wife for a few weeks yet she knew little to nothing about his personal life or family, even basic knowledge others knew. What kind of replacement was she?!

Her phone buzzed with a new text and she absentmindedly lowered her eyes to the screen to see who the sender was. Her brows furrowed when she saw the name and message displayed, a low mumur escaping her lips, "Why is he here?"

She rose from the chair and walked to the door, pulling it open only after she checked through the security screen and confirmed who was standing on the other side.

Orion.

"Hey Ava! Been a while," he greeted as soon as the door opened, a bright smile on his face. He stepped into the patio and she locked the door behind him.

"Yeah," Avery replied blankly, the lack of enthusiasm in her voice shocking even herself. Yet, she didn’t bother greeting him with more interest than she already had since she had no idea why he was here.

Archie hadn’t told her he would be here and neither was he close to her like Jodi was, for him to visit her unannounced.

"Cold," Orion commented, but the smile on his face widened. "Can I come in?"

"You are already in," Avery pointed out, yet she didn’t move from the patio or invite him to the living room.

"I am?"

Turning away from her, Orion walked straight to the living room with quickened steps. Since he already crossed boundaries by coming unannounced, he might as well go all the way before she could stop him.

"Where are the guys?" he asked, his eyes roving around the area for the dogs.

"Asleep," Avery deadpanned.

"This early? That’s strange. Did you eat dinner?"

"It’s 8pm, Mr Smith. And I ate dinner with Jodi few hours ago."

"Oh..." Orion trialed off. He went to stand by the floor to ceiling window, quietly waiting for Avery to join him there. He didn’t have to wait for long since she was already trailing after him.

She didn’t join him in admiring the view but instead, distracted him from enjoying it.

"Why are you here?"

"Is that a defense mechanism I sense there?" Orion whipped his head around to face her. "You keep changing personalities each time we meet."

"We’ve met only three times."

"Four, actually," he corrected. "Though you might only remember three, so I’ll only talk about those. Archie introduced you a few weeks ago and you projected this timid aura, if there’s anything like that. Then we met at your school and you projected this mischievous best friend aura and now? You have these walls up like I’m a stranger."

"What’s the fourth time?" Avery asked.

"I don’t think you would remember," Orion said, instead of answering her question.

"Are you trying to say you met me once a long time ago?" Avery held her breath, waiting for his answer which would determine a lot of things. If he met her long ago, that could only mean there was a chance he knew her as Avery McCAllum.

"Not that long ago," Orion said, "Just 2 years ago."

★★★

Neil’s footsteps echoed through the stillness of The Mega Manor Cemetery as he made his way down the winding path. As he approached the center of the large expanse of land, his arrival was announced by the sound of dry leaves crushing beneath his boots before his call did.

"Sir," he called out.

Cloaked in darkness, the lone figure sitting in front of the tombstone in the center of the cemetery made the slightest movement ever, turning his face in the direction where Neil was standing.

"Did anyone die?" he asked, his tone bearing a hint of humor.

"No, Sir. Just wanted to inform you Miss Ava is alright," Neil informed.

"She called?"

"Jo called."

"Lake and Thorne?"

"They are alright too," Neil replied.

A mirthless chuckle escaped Archie’s lips as he returned his eyes to the tombstone before him.

"Really? I’d have bet otherwise considering the relationship all three had when she just arrived. Anyways, did you book our rooms at the hotel?"

"Not yet, Sir. I thought we would be returning..." he trailed off, clamping his mouth shut when he felt the cold glare piercing though his skin.

"Cool then. We won’t need an hotel for tonight. Instead of that, we would be paying my distant cousin a visit," he announced, rising to his feet.

"Your distant cousin?" Neil echoed. Not once in all the years he had served as assistant to Archie, had the latter mentioned anything about a distant family member, not to talk of a cousin.

And now he was?

Raking his hand through his hair in frustration, Neil could only pray this visit didn’t mean his boss was planning to cause trouble somewhere. He didn’t have the ability to clean up after him in another man’s territory.

"Yeah, my distant cousin. Ethan DeLoach."