Alec was stuck in traffic after returning from a lunch meeting. He spotted Winter outside a coffee shop with a girl and this one guy, he was getting a bit to comfortable and cozy towards Winter despite her looking uncomfortable and trying to create distance between them.
" Aron."
Aron followed his gaze and without Alec ordering him he simply got out of the car and crossed to the other street approaching them.
" Ms Bloom."
Winter turned and saw Aron standing behind her with his usual calm serious face. Seeing him she instantly knew Alec was near by.
" Mr Aron, what are you doing here?."
" Are you done with your classes?."
" Yes, my friends and I were just grabbing a quick bite."
" Hm. " He turned to two of her friends and said. " Apologies but I'm gonna have to steal her from you today."
" Oh no problem... even I wouldn't mind if it were you to steal me away handsome."
" Hey control yourself can't you see he's married." The guy pokes the girl.
" Shall we Ms Bloom?."
" Of course. I will see you guys tomorrow."
" Bye Winter."
They waved as Winter followed Aron behind. They returned to the car with Aron in the driver's seat driving off.
" Friends of yours?." Alec asked.
" Yes."
" Cute."
He said folding his sleeves. " Are you returning to Z.N?."
" Why, do you want me home?."
He glanced at her. Winter shook her head cutely biting her lip.
" I was just asking that's all."
" Hm."
Alec stared through the window. " Have you eaten anything?."
" Not yet." She responded.
" Aron."
" Yes Sir."
Aron made a turn to a nearby restaurant and stopped stopped in front of a drive through window.
" Good afternoon Sir, may I take your order?."
Winter told him what she wanted to have and he placed an order, within a few minutes her meal was ready and Aron gladly paid handing over the meal and driving off. Winter ate happily satisfied with the taste.
" Is it good?." Alec asked leaning on his knuckles as he stared at her.
" It's very good...want to taste?."
Winter stretches a spoon filled to his mouth. Alec stared at the spoon then her... Some how all this looked familiar, like deja Vu... At some point his Darling wife sat exactly where she's sitting eating a burger she was joyfully enjoying. She raised the burger to his mouth for him to taste but ended up licking the sauce that was stuck on the corner of her mouth.
" Alec."
He snapped out of his thoughts as she called out to him.
" I'm not hungry so eat up."
He told her. Winter took back her hand disappointed.
****
Emma heard the door creak open. " Is my little boy home?."
Emma smiled leaving the kitchen and as she walked into the living room she came to a halt.
" Who are you?."
" Hi, I'm Avaline Anderson."
" Anderson?."
" I'm a close relative of yours."
" I don't know any close relatives, how did you get in here?."
" I have a key, Trixie gave it to me."
" Why would -
" Like I said we're relatives and Trixie is a close friend, I met her through you."
" I'll call her just... Wait here. Don't move okay."
" I won't."
Ava smiled at her. Emma awkwardly smiled back walking to the other room.
' where are you?'
' working what's wrong?."
' there's a white haired woman in my apartment saying she's my relative. I don't have relatives my grandparents would have told me.'
' but they didn't. And yes Ava is a relative you two were super close. Hang out and get to know her she's fun. I'll be back home soon bye love you.'
' Trixie. Trix....shit.'
The call ended. " Is everything okay?."
" Everything's fine. I'll be right there."
Emma yelled breathing in. " It's okay Emma. She's family...I think."
Emma returned to the living room with two glasses of wine.
" Thank you."
Ava took a glass with a sip. " It's tasty."
" Indeed. It's quite expensive." Emma replied. " So what do you do for work?."
" I'm actually working for Anderson Group, have been for a while now."
" Ah...I see you're married."
" Yes. Zain Woods."
" That name sounds quite familiar.... Wait. Zain Woods as in... Thee Zain Woods."
" Yes, that Zain Woods.... but trust me your husband is way higher."
Ava chuckled and bit her tongue realizing what she just spouted out unknowingly.
" Y-you know who my husband is?."
" Well I...I don't -
" It's fine, Trixie must have told you how bad my condition might get if I force myself to remember. But tell me something Ava. Is he a good person?."
Ava held Emma's hand with a gentle squeeze and said.
" He's a great man."
Emma just closed her eyes for a brief moment and opened them again. It felt weird that she felt close to Ava despite seeing her for the first time. I guess they're indeed close relatives. She smiled not knowing they're actually sisters, sharing the same blood.
" Do you have kids?."
" A daughter and son. She'll be graduating college next week, you should come she'll be very happy to see her Aunt alive. She really loved you."
" Sonya."
" Y-you... how did you -
" Ahh!"
Emma screamed holding her head in agonizing pain.
" Emma. Emma are you okay?."
" H-help... Me."
A sharp noise rang in her ears, her head throbbing and room spinning. It was unbearable and she just wanted it to stop.
" Julian...call... Julian."
" Julian? Who's -
Ava was confused and panicking cause Emma was in so much pain and she has no idea who this Julian guy is. To her relief someone walked through the door and quickly came to Emma's aid.
" What happened?."
" I don't know she just started to have these agonizing throbbing headache and I don't know -
" Emma look at me. It's okay I'm here... I'm not going anywhere okay."
" Should we take her to the hospital?."
" No. I'll handle it."
" She's in f*cking pain she needs a doctor."
" I said I'll handle it."
" F*ck this. I'm taking my sister to a hospital."
" I'm a doctor okay. I'll handle it just look after the boy for me."
Julian gathered Emma in his arms to the bedroom and shutting the door. Ava stared at the little boy standing in a corner. He was practically the same age as her son Andrea.
" Hey there sweetie."
Alex walked up to Ava with his innocent grey eyes staring at her.
" Mommy will be fine okay. I'll take good care of you."
She carries him in her arms as she stares at the locked door. The noises had stopped but she was still damn worried for Emma.
A couple of minutes went by and Julian finally came out of the room.
" How is she?." Ava walked up to him.
" She's asleep."
" What happened to her?."
" Probably a trigger of her brain."
" She mentioned my daughter's name earlier and I didn't speak of her name. That's when she suddenly screamed."
Ava explained. Julian nodded walking to the couch and sat down.
" So you're Emma's sister?."
" Indeed I am. But she thinks I'm only a relative."
" Does he know that she's alive?."
Julian spoke in a lower tone, as though somewhere in his heart wishing Emma's existence should remain between them alone and no one else. Ava takes in a sharp breath and said.
" If you're referring to Alec then...he doesn't know, not yet at least. But as Emma's husband he will eventually have to know she's still alive. She's a wife and a mother of two... you probably know that she has a daughter, she has a family that needs her and needs to go back to."
" Would I be acting selfish if I want her and Alex to stay in my life, even if it's a little longer?."
" Yes... Cause she already has a beautiful life waiting for her behind these walls."
Julian chuckled rubbing his chin. Ava furrowed her brows wondering what's so funny?
" Did I say something amusing?."
" Of course not. But what will happen to Alec's current wife?."
" That shouldn't be your concern."
" Just curious. I don't want Emma's feelings crushed."
" Like I said, that shouldn't be your concern But. If you do end up being an obstacle in Emma's life I will have to step in."
" Is that a threat coming from you?."
" Of course not...how can I threaten a man who saved my little sister's life? It's a warning. Now if you excuse me I will take my leave now. Do take care of her for me."
Ava got her hand bag and left. Julian smirked leaning back comfortably.