CHAPTER 57

AVA'S POV.

The echoes of the workers who stood watching in bewilderment echoed behind me, but I also ignored it as I carried on with creating a dramatic scene.

I got to Mark’s office, my breath coming out in ragged gasps, and I burst through the door without bothering to knock.

I found him seated calmly on his chair, his eyes focused squarely on his laptop screen before him, completely unaware of the unfolding saga.

He looked up with surprise washed over his face as he saw me in the rough state I was in, panting hard and sweating profusely.

“Ava,” He called out softly with so much concern as he swiftly got on his feet and started walking towards me, “what is the matter?”

“Aren't you so good at pretending?” I rolled my eyes at him, “Read this!” I barked, slamming the letter I was holding against his chest with so much force that made him stagger back a little.

Mark held tightly to the document against his chest, his squinted eyes scrutinizing me for a moment before he went on with reading the content of the letter.

I could see the confusion growing in him as his eyes danced from one end of the paper to the other, and his face flushing pale as he absorbed the content.

“What is this?” He asked when he finally raised his head back to me.

“What is this?” I echoed.

“Are you being serious right now? I should be asking you that.” I blurted out.

He allowed his eyes to fall back to the letter in between his eyes instantly and stared at it for a while longer again before darting his eyes back to me.

“Ava, I don't know what is going on here, and I have nothing to do with this, absolutely nothing,” He said with a gentle but firm voice.

“I didn't file for custody of the children, why would I do such a thing without telling you about it?”

“This right here,” I said, snatching the letter back from Mark, “Was delivered to my house last night, and…”

“Wait, is that why you didn't want to see me? You would have at least come out to tell me about what had just happened, and to make matters worse you ignored my calls.”

“To hell with the date night or whatever Mark,” I screamed.

“I am talking about you going behind me to stab me in the back, and you are being concerned about some stupid date night that I canceled.”

“Stab you in the back? Ava you have to calm down and allow us to talk this out, I don't have any idea about this, maybe someone is setting me up.” Mark strained.

“Liar!” I shouted. “How can I even believe you, Mark? You’ve hurt me so many times, how can I bring myself to trust you now?”

“Ava, I know, I know all I have done, but you have to listen to me,” Mark replied, frustration evident in his eyes.

“I don't know who did this, but it was certainly not me. You know me better than this, I would not try to take away the source of your light from your life” he continued.

“Yes, I once knew you Mark, but then what did you do? Turned against me because of some bullshit lies and allowed me to get banished because you couldn't stand your ground,” My voice reduced to a whisper.

“That was the very day I realized that I didn't know you.”

“Now you have to believe me Ava, I have nothing to do with this, this is someone trying so hard to set me up.” He took a step towards me, but I stepped back,

“This is someone trying to make you hate me once more, and you are going to let them have what they want if you don't believe me.”

“How do I know that?” I asked, my voice heightened again, barely able to contain my anger.

“Why should I do such a thing? Have you thought about things from that angle?” He questioned back.

“You have been trying so hard to be part of our lives, and you are probably tired of waiting for me to come to a decision,” I replied.

“The elders and the pack have most likely pressured you into taking such a measure, I wouldn't be surprised if that is the case.”

“No, that's completely not true, the elders don't even know about the children Ava, not even Elder Sinclair, talk more of the entire pack, no one knows about the kids,” Mark stated.

“I deliberately kept it away from them to protect you and the children.”

“Can you hear yourself speak?” I yelled, “You claim that you didn't tell anyone about the kids, and then you are also claiming that someone is setting you up, I can't believe you, your words aren't even adding up, it proves that you are lying.”

“No, no Ava don't say that, I am honestly as confused and hurt as you are right now, but we can't make any sense out of this situation if you don't calm down and give us some time to analyze it all,” Mark responded.

“Besides, I care about the kids so much Ava, and I have been doing everything within my power to prove that to you, so why would I go on to do something like this to ruin everything I have been trying to build?”

I shook my head tiredly, tears now streaming profusely down my face.

“Feels like you have vowed to hurt me endlessly Mark, every time I start to trust you, you do something to break my heart all over again. I'm tired of it, I’m tired of you.”

“Ava, please I am begging you, just trust me this once, I didn't do anything like this, I love Kendall and Kenny, and I wouldn't just take them away from you, not after what you have been through, I would never hurt you this much.” Mark pleaded.

“Stop!” I screamed, my voice cracking.

“Just stop, I don't want to hear any more of your lies, you've caused me enough pain already, and I think you should stop already.”

“Ava,” he called quietly, reaching out to me, but I stepped back again, my heart was already hardened, I didn't want anything to do with him again, or so I thought.

“Stay away from my children and me,” I said with a note of finality, my tone cold.

“I don't want to see you anywhere around me ever again.”

I turned and stormed out of the office, more tears that were forming in my eyes blurring my vision.

Beta Ash, who had been standing outside the door, tried holding me back, but I pushed past him.