If that military man had trusted her words, how would she be living? Happy? Surrounded by fake people? Tolerating everyone? Trusting the fake care and concern? Bearing the curses and loathsome gazes? Trying to save herself from the foxes that were in sheepskin? Waiting for a cruel death? Depending on somebody? Living as a weakling?
She might be still suffering from what happened however in every way, her current life is the best out of all. She learned to stand alone, she could identify the fake and real emotions or persons. She doesn't care about loathsome gazes and doesn't have to bear anybody. Weak? She could trample the business world and cause chaos at her fingertips. Importantly she has one who could put the world behind him to be with her.
She doesn't blame the man in front of her for not believing her, why should he believe a complete stranger and her words? She doesn't have any grudge against him but she could feel him regretting his actions when he wasn't at fault.
She had a ray of curiosity thinking how he knew she was missing from that day and how he remembered her so clearly but that curiosity didn't win against her placidness and her brain, "I think you got the wrong person." 'I am no more Ava Kelly.' She thought and continued, "I don't know what you are talking about."
She cued the manager who was fidgety at the counter when the military man sat down. The manager quickly took the bill and went to her. Aarvi fluidly and gracefully scanned the QR code and paid through her mobile without caring for the military man in front of her watching her in confusion.
Once the bill generated from the payment, he took the receipt and saw the name, 'Aarvi Evans'. "You..." He paused and cued the manager to leave, also blocked her from leaving, "You are Ava Kelly."
Aarvi paused, her fingers swiftly moved on the mobile screen before turning it to him. That man brows knitted tighter as soon as he got to know she was a Country S's citizen. She could have argued with him and left leaving him with a bitter feeling but his remorseful eyes stopped her from doing it.
Aarvi spoke looking at his sour face, "Are you repenting? I can be ears if you want somebody to listen." That way she hoped he would leave off the past.
Firstly, he bowed his head, "I am sorry for troubling you. You look like a girl who I had met three years back. She... She is no more."
Aarvi faintly hummed realizing he kept track of her, Ava Kelly's information. Both sat down and the military man forgot to introduce himself and briefed. "I was on the duty at the entrance of the military base when Ava Kelly asked for help. I thought she was just making scenes acting frightened and helpless. I had forced her away with the other two comrades. I didn't know we were her last hope but she had to leave from the restricted area..."
He felt his heart clench remembering Ava Kelly running away barefooted to keep herself safe when the military base was right there, "... Then our guarding shift changed to other comrades, a few blurry men had reached there asking for her, later day I got to know she is missing from a common connection and I realized she was saying the truth after checking the security cameras but she was nowhere to find."
His face morphed to scowl while saying, "I personally went to meet Ava Kelly's father but he had pushed me off saying she ran away with somebody and didn't listen to me properly."
Thanks to Vance's manipulating, Ava Kelly is a 'slut'. Somewhat Aarvi was surprised by the man in front of her knowing he wasn't hating Ava Kelly but her father.
He took a breath and continued, "I was powerless to do anything at that time. After about eleven months, she was found dead brutally injured. The thoughts I could have saved her didn't leave me for a long time. I saw you entering the mall and hoped..." He didn't continue and sighed. It had stayed within himself for so long that it bugged him thinking if he couldn't keep one safe, how was he going to work for the nation.
Aarvi removed her sunglasses with a faint smile. 'I think my habit still hasn't left me.' She thought it for still having the urge to calm him and free him from the past. 'Bad habits die hard.'
She internally sighed and looked at the man in the eyes who was stunned. Her face could fool but her black orbs leave a strong impression.
"You- you totally look like her." The difference was that the girl looked innocent, helpless and the one in front of him was confident and gave off a strong oppressing vibe.
Aarvi didn't turn down his words and spoke, "Each person has to follow their own destiny and that was probably what was written for her. You should leave the bygones, you have repented for too long. She won't hold you responsible for her ill fate."
He breathed out slightly louder, nodding his head, he really hoped the girl in front of him as Ava Kelly, safe and sound. "Thank you for hearing me out."
Aarvi nodded and stood up wearing her glasses back on. The soft-hearted man in the military really surprised her. The price of having a soft heart is high, she had paid for it and he paid for it thinking over the past repeatedly. She doesn't have the courage to be soft-hearted anymore but hoped for him to be stronger.
"If history repeats, do care to listen once." That might save somebody's life. Then she left without turning back. She doesn't want this news to reach other's ear but didn't care even if it reaches.
That man hummed in response to her and watched her walk away with heads up, back straight as though nothing in the world happening around her could bother her or could fascinate her to get her attention.
A tiny fragment of her past between a total stranger... ended!? Time will speak of it.
--- At Rivas Main hospital ---
Aarvi entered Aaron's office floor carrying the snacks and coffee for three. After seeing Milo Wen working alone in the adjacent office room, she placed a set of snacks and coffee in front of him as she heard him greet.
"Ms. Evans... Ah, thank you, please don't trouble yourself, you can tell me to arrange these things."
Milo appreciated her kindness. Although they had met numerous times for two years, Aarvi was detached from the world speaking a word or two maximum. Her changes were apparent but the respect she gives him is unchanged.
Aarvi nodded in response and raised her head to see him standing, "Please continue working."
She was turning to leave, Milo spoke again which was instructed by Aaron, "Ms. Evans, Vance Hays is in VIP room number 503 and Sean Harmon is still in the hospital in VIP room number 509."
A glint of surprise flashed in her eyes accurately knowing Aaron must have asked him to deliver the news. She turned around and asked, "Something more?"
Milo Wen quickly reported, "Vance Hays parents and his fiance are in his room and Sean Harmon is accompanied by three girls currently." Then he swiftly pulled a card out from the drawer, "Master Card."
Aarvi took the Master keycard that unlocks all the rooms in the VIP section and smirked. She knew Sean and Leon were searching for her and it was time to lightly fire him and leave him besides. It was also time to shock the Hays parents.
Before all that, she needs to visit Aaron, "Aaron?"
Milo was excited to inform this, "President Rivas is on the fourth floor on rounds... Doctor Fisher is with President." Then he thought, 'Could I please just toss Doctor Fisher out of the picture?'
"Thank you, Secretary Wen. Happy snack time." Aarvi said, glancing at the system which had live footage of all the floors.
'I swear I will not watch.' Milo thought by understanding her cue but he was already prepared to turn on the secret cameras of the VIP rooms which he had asked to install to spy on them, now he wanted to see what she does.
'Before that, we should see Ms. Evans with the President. Should I peep? or Shouldn't I?' He was in a dilemma when Aarvi exited the office to go to the fourth floor.
---
Aarvi saw three intern doctors following Aaron and Naomi walking beside him, 'Why am I not jealous of seeing them together?' She thought and caught up with them and poked Aaron's waist from behind.
Aaron brows furrowed thinking why an intern nudged him instead of speaking. He turned behind from the right side to see the dreaded face of the intern who stuttered shooking his palm, "I... I didn't..." then he pointed front where Aarvi stood going from Aaron's left.
Naomi's face was dark as pit looking at Aarvi casually playing in the hospital. She prepared herself to teach her how to behave in the hospital and how to treat Aaron in the hospital.
'How dare she treat Aaron as just nobody? He has an image to maintain.' Naomi thought.
But her thoughts were cut off by Aaron's gentle deep voice, "You are back..." as his fingers moved the strands of hair away from Aarvi's face and a soft kiss landed on her forehead.
The three interns' eyes widened witnessing the unknown, unbelievable, and tender side of President Rivas aka aloof Doctor. They looked at the girl in front of Aaron then at Naomi realizing they were good to fake lady boss and Naomi just showed off taking advantage of their mere acquaintance.
Naomi: "..."
'Could she now ask Aaron to behave?'
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