The Stand In Wife's Revenge novel Chapter 22

Chapter 22

The water was glistening like liquid diamonds in the sunlight as I sat

outside by the pool. My thoughts going far off than I could control.

Then I heard footsteps coming softly.

For a moment everything inside of me froze when I turned to see Ava

approaching. She was really beautiful. The breeze blew across her

short wavy dress which clung to her lap so tightly that it was hard to

miss her silhouette.

Her baby bump appeared when the wind pulled at her hair. She was so

serene and vulnerable at the same time and she looked stunning.

“Hi.” she uttered in a steady yet gentle tone.

I jolted out of my thoughts.“Hi” I managed to say.

She smiled.“Can I sit?”

I gave a quick nod while maintaining my poise. “Yes, it is.”

She sat beside me and we both watched the water glistened in silence.

Then she broke the quiet.

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“This is a nice view.” She said in a quiet almost stunned voice.

I smiled but it wasn’t strong enough to cover my eyes. “Yes, my wife

also thought it was fantastic. She used to sit here every day and

watch the sunset over the water.”

Ava gave me a questioning look. “Your wife?”

“Yeah.” I replied in a slightly aloof tone. “She adored the scenery. It

was among her favorite features of this mansion.”

As Ava waited for me to continue she turned to face the water and

pressed her lips together. The weight of the silence weighed heavily

on me and I knew she was curious.

I could sense that she was watching me and waiting for me to talk. As

though looking for something that wasn’t there I let out a sigh and

turned my gaze from the pool to the horizon.

“She was stunning. Greater beauty than I could ever express, both on the inside and…“I could tell that Ava was waiting for me to continue

even though she nodded. In order to steady myself, I inhaled deeply. “You can feel as though she was a queen because of the elegance with which she carried herself. But she kept her face hidden from the

public. She was never seen by anyone but me because she always wore sunglasses.Even her own staff was unaware of her identity. She

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allowed me to run her business alongside her.”

Ava’s eyes were fixed on mine as she listened carefully but I could see

a glimmer of perplexity in her eyes. “She was an only child. An

orphan. That must be the reason she kept to herself and hid her

face.’I went on. Not even her closest friends had seen her without her

sunglasses.That was enough, how she was.”

Ava’s face was soft with sympathy as she moved a little but she was

intrigued by something else that was there. With a cautious tone she

pointed to the area between us and asked “What happened? How did

she end up like this?…In coma. What happened?”

My mood immediately changed at the mention of it. The truth

weighed heavily on me and I was momentarily unable to speak. Then

again I had to. I had to let someone know. I tried to concentrate by

clearing my throat.

I said softly “She was involved in a car accident. The night of the

company’s gala was when she had made the decision to finally show

her true self–without her sunglasses, I mean.She was thrilled to

have been invited to the gala. I saw it in her eyes. However she was

the target of a murder attempt that evening.”

Ava leaned forward slightly as her eyes grew wide. “Someone tried

killing her?”

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I grimly nodded. ” Yes. They were pursuing her while she was in her

car. Her car crossed the bridge after they pushed her off the road…

out to sea.”

With her eyes wide with surprise, Ava’s hand shot to her mouth. She

whispered “Oh my God!”

“My wife…she’s in a coma. Nobody was aware of her presence in the

vehicle or her true identity. Since she was the only one with business

management experience I vowed to keep her safe. I do however now

have adversaries who wish to destroy everything we have created and

to take away my fortune. I’m also not sure who they are.”

My hands at my sides clenched into fists. ” But I will find them. I’ll

make them pay when I do.”

Ava silently observed me but I could see the concern in her eyes. She

was perfectly justified in feeling afraid. She had a lot to process and I

knew I wasn’t making it any easier.

Her voice was hardly audible above a whisper as she asked “Am I

safe?”

I looked over at her, my eyes growing softer. “You are.” I uttered my

voice full of sincere assurance. “I will not allow anything to happen to

you. I was previously naive. I am now aware of the stakes. I will

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protect you and your baby from harm.”

I could still see the uneasiness in Ava’s eyes even though she nodded.

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