1 Avery

This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters and events in this book are the products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to real persons living or dead is coincidental and not intended by the author.

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Rhys looked at his wristwatch and sighed as he sat down in his seat. 6:45 PM. He just arrived at his sister - Crystal - and Calvin's wedding reception.

"Hey, are you okay?" Crystal asked as she sat down on the chair next to him.

"A bit tired since I just got off the plane a couple of hours ago, but I'm okay." He smiled at her.

Crystal looked around the reception hall smiling at the people who passed by and greeted her. "It would have been nice if Heather was here. I haven't seen her for years now." Her smile disappeared as she finished talking.

Rhys's smile was gone the moment his sister mentioned her name.

As if realizing her mistake, she looked at Rhys and apologized. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have..." She started biting her thumb nail.

"It's okay. Stop, you're going to ruin your nail." Rhys held her hand to stop her from murdering her perfectly manicured nail. His sister has a habit of biting her nails whenever she feels uneasy or is thinking about something.

She smiled sadly at him and stood up. "I'll go look for Calvin. They'll start serving dinner in a few, if you're too tired, you can leave after you eat."

She looked around the area once more and when she found Calvin, she started walking towards him.

'I should also say hello to the other guests as well before they start serving dinner.' With that in mind, he stood up and started walking towards the other tables.

After talking to some of the guests, on his way back to his table, a little girl bumped onto his leg. She looked around five years old. He looked around trying to see if anyone was looking for her.

The little girl grabbed his leg pants and looked at him with watery eyes. "Daddy?"

Rhys looked back at the little girl, "Did you come here with your Daddy?" He asked as he carried her.

She nodded. "Daddy, mommy and Aidan." She smiled and hugged his neck.

He supported the little girl's back to make sure she wouldn't fall and started walking around. "Aidan?"

"Brother."

"And your name is?"

"Avery." She gave him a toothy grin.

"Avery..." Rhys said absent mindedly, thinking about the time when he was still together with a certain someone. She said if they ever had a girl she'll also name her Avery.

The little girl suddenly started squirming in his arms, as if wanting to be let down. "Mommy!"

The moment he put her down, she started running towards the woman wearing a silver dress. He followed behind just in case the girl falls down but stopped as someone started talking to him.

"Mommy!" The little girl cried.

Her mother turned around when she heard Avery calling her. She kneeled and hugged her. "Oh my god! Avery! Where have you been? We've been looking everywhere for you!" Then she turned Avery around, making sure if she was hurt or not. When she saw that Avery did not seem hurt, she breathed a sigh of relief.

"Baby, it's a good thing you were able to see mommy."

Avery nodded. "Mister helped Avery." She then turned around and pointed at Rhys.

She stood up and held Avery's hand, "Let's thank him then."

"Mister!" Avery pulled her mother to where Rhys is.

"Avery, don't run." Avery's mom warned her.

Rhys just finished talking to the guest when he heard Avery's voice. He looked towards their direction and was stunned when he saw the woman Avery was pulling towards him.

The woman's silver dress has a slightly low V neckline so you can slightly see the curves of her chest, thin shoulder straps and is adorned with sequin embellishments so it looked like she was shining whenever she moves. The dress also fits her body just right and accentuates her curves.

A few men looked at her and thought that she was still very beautiful even if she already has a child. He noticed that there were even a few who looked lustfully at her and this ticked Rhys off.

When they reached Rhys, Avery bowed her head and thanked him, "Thank you, Mister."

"Thank you for your helping my child, sir." Avery's mom looked at him with a smile and she covered her chest with her right hand as she gave him a slight bow.

Why?

Why is she here?

Avery is her child?

Then a man came running towards her carrying another child about Avery's age.

"Honey." When he noticed Avery with her, like her, he breathed a sigh of relief. "You found her, thank God."

"Daddy!" Avery ran towards the guy, he carried her on his other arm and walked towards them.

Two children?

She carried the other child who was sleeping, "Honey, I was just thanking him for helping Avery find me."

Hearing Avery call him daddy, Rhys automatically looked at her hand and saw her wearing an engagement ring.

Engaged. They're not married yet.

But they already have two kids.

"Ah really? Then I should thank him as well." The guy looked at Rhys and smiled. "Thank you again for helping Avery."

"Then, we'll go to our seat first."

"Bye bye, Mister!" Avery waved goodbye.

Rhys just stood there and nodded when he said they'll leave first. 'I can't believe she's here. But why is she acting like she doesn't know me?'

Rhys watched as they walked towards their table. His eyes, full of longing, focused on the woman. Her partner's hand wrapped around her as he lowered his head and kissed her temple.