The rebellious Ava

Beep-Beep-Beep…

The monotonous rhythmic sound of beeping filled the air, piercing through the haze in Ava's mind. She winced as she slowly regained her consciousness. She looked around and found herself lying on a hospital bed, white sheets tucked around her.

'I am still alive!' she mumbled to herself, astounded.

She clearly remembered dying. How could she still be alive? Who had saved her?

She sat up in a daze and checked her wrist. But her skin was smooth, unmarked as if she had been never injured. "Uh!" she gasped in surprise. "How could that be possible? Where has the mark gone?"

"You are awake." A female voice snapped her out of her reverie.

Ava whipped her head up and saw a nurse walking in.

"You know you are allergic to peanuts. Why were you eating so much peanut butter? Do you have a death wish?" the nurse chastised her.

"Peanut butter!" Ava murmured, shocked.

She had indeed tried to hurt herself by eating it in a fit of anger. But that was four years ago. Why was the nurse talking about it now? She hadn't eaten peanut butter in years, let alone recently.

'Did she hit her head somewhere?' she thought, suspiciously looking at her.

"You're lucky you were brought here in time," the nurse continued as she changed the empty IV bottle with a full one. "If not, you'd be lying in a coffin by now. Don't pull this stunt again."

Ava felt a chill on her nape as a wild thought surfaced. It was too absurd, too unreal to accept. Could it be possible that she had traveled back in time?

Her heart hammered in her throat. No, it couldn't be. It wasn't possible.

"What is today's date?" she asked instantly, anticipation and fear coursing through her.

"It's the thirteenth of October 2020."

Ava's heart seemed to stop breathing. She was reborn. Four years ago, she had eaten a lot of peanut butter on her first marriage anniversary.

She remembered waiting anxiously for Dylan, hoping he would return from the business trip in time for their anniversary. But he had not. He had simply ignored her calls and messages. In a fit of frustration and heartbreak, she had tried to hurt herself.

How foolish she was!

But now, with this second chance, she vowed to change everything. She wouldn't waste her life on Dylan. She would stay far away from him and his family.

"Papa is still alive!" she mused out loud.

"Hm? Did you say something?" The nurse was stunned. 

Without paying attention to her, Ava reached for her phone from the side table and dialed her father's number.

"Hello?" Thomas' thick voice filled her ears.

Ava couldn't hold back her tears. "Papa!" she said shakily. It had been so long since she had heard his voice.

"Ava? Why are you crying? Did Dylan bully you?"

Ava sobbed harder and couldn't say a word.

"Sweetheart, talk to me. You are scaring me now. Where are you? Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine, Papa," she finally managed, wiping away her tears with shaky hands. "I just… I missed you. That's all."

Thomas laughed, relieved. "If you missed me so much, come over and have dinner with me. It's been a long since you have last visited me."

Ava bit her lower lip, feeling guilty. She had been so consumed with taking care of Dylan's needs that she had completely ignored her father and had rarely visited him. But she wasn't going to make the same mistakes again. Not this time.

"Yes, I'll be there," she said firmly. She would protect her father and the family business.

Ending the call, she looked up at the nurse. "Help me get discharged."

"You really should stay another day," the nurse advised. "You need rest."

"I'm fine," Ava insisted. "Just help me leave." She was already determined.

Seeing the resolve in her eyes, the nurse relented and gave a small nod. "Alright, I'll speak to the doctor." She walked out.

Ava lay down, feeling drained. Just then, the door creaked open and two women stormed in. Her stomach twisted at the sight of Erica and Gianna. 

"You! What are you doing lying here?" Erica, Dylan's cousin snapped. "Get up and come home."

Erica grabbed Ava's arm, trying to yank her out of bed. Ava swatted her hand away and shoved her down.

Erica sprawled on the floor and glared at Ava with anger and disbelief.

"Erica! Are you alright?" Gianna rushed to help her up. Turning to Ava, she snapped, "Have you gone crazy? You pushed her!"

"You are courting death," Erica spat, her eyes blazing with fury. "How dare you push me." She moved with a stormy momentum and raised her hand to slap her.

With swift reflexes, Ava caught her wrist in mid-air and shoved her back with a force that made Erica stumble backward.

Erica and Gianna stood frozen, staring at Ava in disbelief. They had never witnessed Ava retaliate. She was no longer a submissive and fragile woman they used to bully. Something had changed in her.

Ava glared at them as she clambered down the bed. In her past life, she had endured their humiliations and torment in silence. But not anymore. This time, she would stand her ground.

"Don't dare mess with me," she hissed, her eyes full of warning. "If you don't leave now, I'll file a harassment complaint. Get out."

"You!" Erica snapped, her mouth twisting in rage. "You are going too far."

Gianna put a comforting hand on Erica's shoulder and signaled her to stay calm.

"Ava, don't be upset," she chimed in, her tone smooth like butter. "It's not Erica's fault. She was just mad when she heard you attempted suicide. You know Dylan is on an important business trip. If he hears about what you did, it will only distract him. Erica didn't want to trouble him, so she scolded you."

Ava rolled her eyes. It was always like this – Gianna pretending to be innocent. "Oh, don't worry. He won't be worried. Even if I die, he won't feel anything."

"Ava! How can you say that?" Gianna whined. "Are you calling Dylan heartless?"

Before Ava could respond, Erica's voice cut through the room. "You bitch! You're trying to slander Dylan. Just wait until he gets back. I'll tell him everything, and we'll see how you handle it then."

"I don't want to deal with him anymore," Ava shot back, her patience snapping. "I am going to divorce him."

"Are you serious?" Gianna exclaimed, eyes widening with disbelief.

Ava snorted derisively, her lips curling into a mocking smile. "You must be thrilled, right?" She moved in closer and patted her shoulder. "I wish you a happy life with the man I've decided to dump."

She pushed her away and walked out of the ward, leaving them gawking at her.

Gianna blinked, still in shock. "Did you see that? She is completely different… she is not meek at all."

The transformation was stark and didn't go unnoticed by them.

"It's just an act," Erica muttered through her gritted teeth. "Let Dylan come home. I'll see how long she can keep pretending to be rebellious."