S31 103. Destroying from Within
“Ava, is your sister hyet?” Mrs. Connor asked when Ava fixed her
blanket.
Ava turned still. After one breath, she managed a smile. “I think you heard everything, Mom. You must know that
we're fighting again.”
“Even so, can’t you still pay attention to her? She’s your little sister. Ask her whether she’s hyet or not.”
The curve of Ava’s lips felt bitter. “She won't answer my call.”
“Then, just send her a message. Tell her that I'm worried about her.”
Ava had no other choice. Again, she had to give in. However, when she found that Eva’s number was inactive,
her annoyance turned into confusion. Eva never turned off her phone under any circumstances.
“How's it going, Ava?”
Ava put her phone in the pocket. “She’s already home. She knew you asked, so she immediately answered and
quickly hung up.”
Mrs. Connor nodded faintly. “Then | can sleep now.”
Seeing her mother close her eyes without saying anything else, Ava sighed. “What do | expect? Even until the
end of the world, Mom will never ask about me. Eva is the only one she cares about.” She swallowed bitterly.
With a gloomy expression, Ava left the room. However, when she saw Jeremy standing in front of the door, her
face immediately brightened.
“Jeremy? What are you doing here?”
Jeremy snorted slightly. “You only callMister when someone else is around?”
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Ava blinked. “Do you wantto keep calling you Mister?”
“No, I'm actually more comfortable if you just callby name.”
“Even in front of other people?” Ava’s eyebrows pressed against her
forehead.
Jeremy nodded slightly. “Yeah, aren't we friends?”
“Aren't you embarrassed if other people know you're friends with me?” Ava inquired, sounding doubtful.
Jeremy tilted his head. “Why should be ashamed?”
Ava spread her arms briefly. “Because it’s me, a rude and shameless
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtstiff nurse.”
Silence hung. Jeremy knew there were still words after her breath.
“Sorry for causing a scene at your house.”
“That's the reason | met you now.”
“To givea warning letter?”
Jeremy shook his head. His hands were shoved into his p have something to ask you.”
1.“
Ava'’s eyes darted around looking for clues. “You want to ask my past?”
“Are you okay?”
Ava was stunned. “I thought you're going to ask about my dark story or my relationship with my family.”
Suddenly, Jeremy stepped forward. Ava’s body stiffened. Jeremy stopped exactly one step in front of her.
“I don’t know the chronology of your dark past, but | think the past is
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While Ava held her breath, Jeremy whispered, “Are you okay? As rude as Frank was, he’s never said anything that
mean to me.”
“You think my sister is mean?”
“You still consider her your sister?” Jeremy raised an eyebrow.
Ava fell silent. Studying the look on her face, Jeremy nodded. “That means you're fine.”
“I told you, I'm used to it. Eva is a queen. There's no point in thinking about her attitude for too long.”
“That's good. The twins don’t have to worry anymore at this rate.”
Ava’s eyes widened unconsciously. “The twins? You ask me... because of them?”
Jeremy pursed his lips. “Yes,” he answered insincerely. For sTreason, Ava enjoyed hearing his floating tone.
“By the way, thanks.”
Ittwas Jeremy's turn to raise his eyebrows. “What for?”
“Thite cake, the singing, the moment. It was the first t| birthday after my father passed away. For a moment,
| f farnillywas complete again.”
Lifed a
Jezernyy raised the corner of his lips. “It was the twins’ idea. Thank thern.”
Ava smiled.” kdo it later.”
Since the cewasmomnext sentence, awkwardness bothered Jeremy again. Sighing he checked the time. “Well
then, have a good rest. | still have other thingst to take care of.”
Ava nodded. Wieen Jeremy invited her to walk towards the door, she
walked gracefully.
“Good night, Mr. Jeremy.” She deliberately teased to cover up her pounding heart.
Jeremy chuckled faintly. “Good night.”. When he turned around, Ava’s voice caught his ears.
“And once again, thank you for the dress. It really suits my taste.”
Warmth spread from Jeremy's heart to every cell in his body. Holding back a smile, he looked back. Ava had
already closed the door.
“Was what | said too much?” the girl mused as she leaned against the door. Feeling her cheeks heat up, she
shook her head swiftly.
“No. That's a normal thing to say. His concern is also normal. We're
friends.”
However, when her gaze fell on the box on the bed, her heart started pounding again. The air in her lungs felt
light.
“This dress,” Ava opened the box and stroked the soft fabric carefully, “is th
the most beautiful dress in the world.”
With a very beautiful smile, Ava kept her dress in the best position the wardrobe. Then, looking at it, she placed
a hand on her chest. Sh couldn't remember the last ther heart beat like that.
“Louis and Emily are right. This year will be better than last year.
Unfortunately, just as her hopes were growing, her phone vibrated. Seeing Eva’s non the screen, her
cheerfulness faded.
“Why did you turn off your phone earlier? You know Mom is very worried?” she asked matter-of-factly
Instead of being greeted by an answer, Ava was confused by the sound of sobbing. “Sister, help me. | don’t want
to die yet.”
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Ava'’s furrowed brows changed meaning. “What do you mean?”
Suddenly, laughter echoed from the speaker. “Hello, Ava Connor. Can't you guess what your sister means?”
Ava'’s heart jumped high. She had never heard that voice before, but a bad feeling had enveloped her mind.
“Who are you?” she asked in a low tone.
“Really? You don’t know who | am? Should | remind you of the reason Sophia was banished from the Moore
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmFamily? You betrayed her, didn’t you?”
Ava swallowed hard. “Patricia Moore.” She remembered that Emily
had told her about her fear of that woman.
The sound of laughter shook again. “I know you're not stupid. Your brain is smart. You know what your sister's
cry means, right?”
Ava gritted her teeth. She took a deep breath, but the pressure in her chest still didn’t go away.
“Let Eva go. She has nothing to do with me. You can ask her. We're not even a family.”
“Is that so? But she called you sister!”
Suddenly, Eva's roar grew louder. Ava could imagine Patricia pulling her hair or maybe twisting her arm.
“What do you want?”
“What do | want?” Patricia's tone was teasing. “Asking you to do business like my daughter did before. You
destroy my enemy or | destroy your sister.”
“Sister ...!” Eva sobbed louder. Ava’s cold sweat started to pour out.
“Why do you like using me? Can't you find someone else? Free her
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now.”
| can’t, Darling My enemy's fortress is too strong. The only way to destroy it is from within, and you are the key”
Ava'’s eyes started to redden. The sound of her breathing grew
rougher
“So how? You can’t possibly refuse, nigtes Eliminating your sister is easier than destroying your mother You don’t
want to lose two people you love, right?”
Ave tightened her eyes and locked down Her fists trembled with fear
and anger
now.”
“I can’t, Darling. My enemy's fortress is too strong. The only way to destroy it is from within, and you are the
key.”
Ava'’s eyes started to redden. The sound of her breathing grew rougher.
“So how? You can’t possibly refuse, right? Eliminating your sister is easier than destroying your mother. You don’t
want to lose two people you love, right?”
Ava tightened her eyes and looked down. Her fists trembled with fear and anger.
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