The Traps of Black Swan

Aaron who was hovering over Aarvi was careful about her undisturbing sleep trying to reach her mobile but heard another ring of mobile that was piercing the silent dark night like thunder in the dark sky

Aaron felt alarmed for receiving calls together in the middle of the night, 'What could have happened?'

The next second all he could register was a strong push on his chest and Aarvi rolled away from his arm.

'Thump.'

Caught off guard, Aaron quickly steadied himself on the bed and turned to her in shock. She had slipped at the corner of the bed entangling her leg in the duvet and fallen down.

Aaron saw her sitting on the floor breathing heavily in the dimly lit room. He was above her to reach her mobile, he didn't mean to scare her in the faint light.

'Why didn't she realize it's me?' He had thought she could get peaceful sleep next to him and didn't expect his presence could also be another problem.

It took him a few seconds to realize she was also sniffling. He ignored the calls and turned on the bed lamps that partially brightened the room as he quickly got off from the bed to reach her.

Unsure if she was really afraid of him, he didn't dare touch her and squatted near her. He noticed her gaze shift from his ringing mobile to his face as she sniffled without letting her tear roll down.

Aarvi's hands raised to reach him but remembering she pushed him away, her hands dropped back. Neither she liked to worry him, nor hurt him but unknowingly all she does is troubling him.

Her fright was replaced with helplessness and unspeakable pain that expressed in the tears rolling down her cheeks.

Aaron hadn't moved his eyes from her. Even though the light wasn't enough to read her every emotion, he knew she was hesitant to reach him and silently started weeping.

Still uncertain, he moved closer and wrapped his arm around her before sleekly pulling her to his embrace. His stiffened body relaxed only when her arms tightly wrapped on his shoulder standing on her knees.

After knowing she wasn't scared of him but remembered something, he gently caressed her head wanting to coax her back to sleep. He wouldn't ask her about the dreams or past. He will give her as much time she wants and waits until she could voluntarily choose to speak about it.

Aarvi tried her best to have control but unawarely craved to leave his bedroom to her room and stay alone. She had that choice but she didn't want Aaron to blame himself for anything hence she chose to speak why she reacted so strongly.

Her voice had cracked in sniffles when she apologized, "I-I a-am s-sorry, I-I..."

Aaron gently pulled her away from his embrace, "Let me fetch water."

However, before he could move, Aarvi tugged his hand, her teeth chattered while saying, "H-hear me..."

She didn't know what he might think or how he might react after hearing her but she really wanted to speak and get over it.

Aaron hummed in acceptance as he scooped her from the floor and took her on the bed. Since she chose to sit, he didn't force her to lean on him or the headrest of the bed.

"I- I didn't mean to remember him..." Aarvi sniffled and hoped Aaron wouldn't mind or think otherwise hearing the name, "Leon Harmon."

Which man would be okay if his girlfriend says she remembered some other man next to him so she expected him to get irritated but Aaron didn't comment on it.

He silently pulled the duvet on her legs to keep her warm and ever so gently wiped her tears away and added at last, "You don't have to be sorry for these and... don't force yourself to speak about anything. I will never blame you."

She wasn't forcing herself but really wanted to tell him despite being a little afraid about Aaron's reaction. She chose to tell from the day nobody knew what happened to her.

"I- I didn't know about your mother and sister's accident. Shawn disappeared that time, Dax left on a business trip, Apple Pie took Aunt to the foreign hospital. I did not know how to face Grandfather hence I cooped up in my office with lots of work..."

---- Past ---

[After the canceled wedding of Ava Kelly and Vance Hays]

Keeping herself extremely busy in her office, Ava Kelly didn't care about eating or drinking. All she wanted to do was forget everything and stop feeling the pain.

She didn't want to be the teenager Ava Kelly, who cried silently, she wanted to grow up and be strong. But it kept haunting her why she has to bear so much? What is her mistake?

Is it a sin to expect a little affection from her parents by marrying the man they chose for her?

She asked nothing, she demanded nothing. Listened to them as they wished. How did she become a wanton? She didn't sell her body or had a sexual relationship with anybody then how did they entitle her slut, whore, and every other malicious word.

Her parents disowned her? She wanted to laugh at them but why was that laughter that had tears and piercing pain in her heart that's breaking her every second.

She broke out, not once or twice but multiple times a day but she sat back on her chair and worked.

She was broken into multiple pieces, which may be difficult to collect but she was determined to work hard and move out of the little world that her parents wanted her to be in.

It had been four days after the wedding when she finally answered Grace Wells's call.

"Ava, where the hell have you been? Why the hell were you not responding to my calls? I was so scared? Where are you? I want to see you right now." She demanded furiously.

Ava misjudged it as care and concern without knowing Grace and others were waiting to trample all over her and reap benefits from certain someone.

Without a suspicion, Ava was about to say ''In my office, Skylar'. Only a handful of people knew she opened the company but not Dax. Ava never got a chance to speak about it with Grace because of her whole attention on Ava's fiance and their wedding.

Anyhow, Grace continued without letting Ava speak, "Don't make me worried sick of you. Forget about your parents, you are coming to my place right now. Ava, I will be waiting for you. Come soon." Her lengthy fake worried voice ended and the call too hung up.

Ava had decided to move on from the past so she knew confining herself to work doesn't mean moving on but restricting herself so she wanted to step out after four whole days.

Without another thought, Aarvi left the office at five in the evening to stop Grace from worrying about her thinking Grace was calling her for three days because she is concerned about her well being.

After reaching Grace's small flat, Grace was shocked to see her dark circles, partially swollen eyes, unwashed hair tied in a bun. Probably Grace wanted to laugh at her after digesting her appearance but she had to act.

She hugged her at the door and said in a pained tone but smirking her lips, "I was so scared. Do you have any idea how worried I was? I searched for you everywhere."

Ava believed her words and patted her back, "I am sorry, I will answer your calls next time."

Grace took her inside and sent her to get fresh which Ava obliged until she saw her passing a party dress to wear. Exiting the bathroom wrapping the towel, she saw her ready in another party dress.

She was in no mood to celebrate anything and couldn't understand what Grace was doing. "Are you going out?" Ava asked standing behind the stunning girl. Grace Wells wasn't ugly and a little makeup does wonder on her skin.

Grace saw the reflection of Ava Kelly in the mirror in front of her. An absorbent towel was wrapped around Ava covering from her bosoms to slender thighs and a white towel wrapping her wet long hair.

Grace gritted her teeth looking at the flawless beauty without maintenance while she had to put the effort into everything. May it be looks or handsome guys or wealth or studies. 'Why should Ava get everything easily and I have to strive for everything?' She thought.

Then Grace's eyes fell on Ava's downcast face, the dark circles failed to cease the beautiful face from glowing and the swollen eyes were calmed from the redness. The hot shower had left the pink hue on her skin that was tempting.

On one end, she was jealous of Ava Kelly, not only for her enthralling appearance but for also capturing the heart of the one who is unreachable for Grace.

How could she not be jealous when Vance had moaned Ava's name instead of hers when f**king her on the bed?

Grace hadn't brought it up to Vance because she wanted to destroy Ava before redemption. She was afraid Vance might go back to Ava so she was going to handle the man later.

On other hand, Grace snickered in her mind remembering the plan and thought which old man was going to have a taste of this pure beauty.

'Ava Kelly, you will be fed to an old douchebag..�� She scoffed in her mind.