Chapter 0176 How does he expect me to believe him? For nine years he along with everyone else has told me that I am nothing. That ! meant nothing to him. So how does he expect to fl*p things around out of nowhere and expect that I would believe him?
I had so many questions, but no answer. All those questions were doing my head in, so I push them aside instead. Whatever was going on in Rowanâs head wasnât my damn business. Him and I were done. It wasnât my place to try and figure him out. 1 Without meaning too, exhaustion takes over and I fall asleep.
When I wake up, itâs to find my parents in the room with me. They looked as exhausted as I felt. Each of them was holding one of my hands and at that moment Iâve never felt more loved.
This is what I had craved from Rowan and the Sharps. The fact that I finally had it, brought so many emotions to the surface.
I must have made a sound, because they both look up.
âAvaâ mom calls, her voice catching. âHow are you feeling?â
My eyes fill. I blink to try and push them back, but it does nothing.
âI love you guys so much. Thank you for being everything Iâve always imaginedâ My voice was so full of emotions that it was hard to speak.
âAww darling. You canât imagine how Iâve been dying to hear you say thatâ mom says, her tears reflecting in the light.
âWe love you too baby girl. More than you could ever imagineâ dad adds.
I let the tears fall as I bask in their warm embrace. Surrounded by their love.
We separate as the door opens and a nurse walks in.
âAre you ready for discharge, Ava?â she asks smiling kindly at me.
was so happy when they told me that my baby was doing fine. That the drugs I inhaled hadnât affected the baby in any way.
âYes. Iâm dying to see and hold my sonâ I tell her smiling back at her.
Rowan told me that he was with his parents. I planned to pick him up on the way home. I donât plan to be second away from him because I knew today would have gone differently If i it had âOkay. Come to the reception once youâre done hereâ she instructs just before she leaves.
Mom had brought a change of clothes. She helps me change in the small bathroom while dad waits for 1. us. After I finish, we leave the room.
Mom and dad insist on taking care of the bills. They wanted me off my feet.
As I waited, I notice the Sharpâs, Gabe and Rowan. Taking in a deep breathe, as if I could breathe in the courage to face them I walk towards them. I take my time, not sure what I was doing, but sure I wanted to know how Emma was doing.
They all turn to me when I walk up to them. It felt like back in highschool. The scared nerdy kid approaching the popular table.
âI just wanted to ask how Emma isâ I announce, shifting from one foot to another.
At first no one says anything, but then Kate stands up and pulls me into her arms. I freeze. It was so weird because sheâs never hugged me before, so it felt strange.
My hands lay straight by my side. I donât want to hug her back. Didnât want to give her the wrong idea.
âSheâs okay. She just came out of surgeryâ Travis is the one that answers.
I just nod my head. What was there to say any way?
Kate releases me when she realizes that I am not hugging her back. She just looks at me with tears in her eyes.
Holding out her hand, she goes to place it on my cheek, but I step back. Avoiding her touch.
âIâm glad youâre okay, Ava. So thankful that both my daughters are safeâ her voice catches as she speaks.
I want to tell her that Iâm not her daughter. That she lost the right to call me that, but I donât get the chance.
âDarling?â her soft voice calls from behind. âItâs time to go home, my loveâ
I see Kate flinch, but I donât have it in me to care.
My gaze sweeps over all of them before finally landing on Rowan, I quickly avert my gaze from his.
âIâm glad sheâs okay. I didnât get to thank her, but tell her Iâm grateful for what she did.â I donât have anything else to add, so I turn around and walk to my parents.
Dad pulls me into his arms, and mom links her hand with mine. I feel eyes on me awe I walk away, my mind in turmoil, but I refuse to turn around. I didnât want to see the emotions in Rowanâs eyes. The ones that were burning for the brief second I looked at him. The very ones I refuse to acknowledge because I knew that I was probably mistaken.
There is just no way I saw something akin to love in his eyes as he stared at me, because Rowan only loves one woman and her name is Emma.