Chapter 3 Chapter Three

• When Ava regained her breath, she nestled into Dante's chest, overwhelmed by sensations for this man. Memories of her past flooded her mind, like a year ago when her life changed after her mother's death.
• "Hello, Angela," she lazily answered, lying in her bed about to fall asleep when she heard her mobile phone.
• "Daughter, forgive me for being so weak. If something happens to me, take care of your sister. You are strong, and you will find happiness with someone who truly shows you love."
• "Mom! What are you saying? Where are you? Tell me right now, and I'll come for you," she said, her voice trembling, as if she were crying.
• "As always, believing in your father's love. I'm a masochist! I've put up with his lies, abuse. He comes back and convinces me, like a fool, I fall for it again. I'm not justifying it, but your father was the only man in my life, and the one I loved until death."
• "Mom! Why are you saying this now? Did you see Dad with his mistress again?" she said with the phone to her ear as she tried to dress.
• "Yes, daughter, I followed him to an apartment, and when I knocked on the door, there they were, both half-naked. I'm tired of believing all his lies."
• "Mom! Where are you?" she asked again, alarmed.
• "I'm in my car, driving. Your father is behind me in his car. I'm tired of hearing so many lies, daughter! Forgive me."
• It was the last thing Ava heard before a loud noise, the phone fell from her ear, and tears streamed from her eyes.
• "No! No! Not Angela. What madness did you do?" she whispered desperately. She didn't know what to do, grabbed her car keys, and started driving through the streets of Los Angeles.
• On the interstate highway, Ava saw an accident on the opposite stretch from where she was driving. From a distance, she saw her dad's car parked on the side of the road, a shiver ran down her body. She quickly searched for an exit and turned around. When she was close, she parked and saw her mom's car destroyed at the front. She ran as fast as she could; one of the firefighters stopped her.
• "Miss, you can't pass, this is a restricted area."
• "It's my mom! Let me see her, please, it's my mommy! I want to see her," she cried as tears rolled down her face.
• "The lady is in critical condition; she's being taken to the central hospital at the moment," replied the young man, feeling sorry for the girl he held in his arms.
• Ava broke free from his muscles to continue running to her car. As she took steps, she heard.
• "Ava! Daughter!"
• "Don't call me daughter, you killed my mother. Are you happy now? Now you won't have my mom as a hindrance in your life. Why, Dad? After disappearing for so many years, why did you have to come back to disturb my mom's peace?"
• "Daughter! I didn't kill your mother; it was an accident. She crashed into one of the highway railings. Don't blame me, and the relationship I had with your mother was between us. You respect me; I'm your father whether you like it or not!" Sergio said indignantly at his daughter's arrogance.
• "What a father I've had, one who made a woman suffer for so many years, disappeared, and then returned to her life regretful. For what? To deceive her again with the same slut as always."
• "Things aren't like that, Ava. What woman are you talking about?"
• "You can't fool me, Dad. My Angela called me before the accident and told me she found you with your mistress, and you were chasing her. You know what! I'm not going to waste any more time with you," she turned her back and got into her car, speeding to the hospital. Upon arrival, she asked.
• "Where is Mrs. Angela Johnson, who was admitted due to a car accident a few minutes ago?"
• "Miss, please remain calm. Your mom arrived in very bad condition, and unfortunately, her heart couldn't handle it; she passed away before being taken to the operating room."
• Ava fell to her knees on the cold floor of the emergency room, screaming with a heart compressed with pain.
• "Angela, don't leave us, please. Your daughters loved you, needed you. Why, Mom? Why did you have to go out of the house to look for a man who never loved you?" She placed her hands on her chest, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Now you've left us alone."
• The doctor, seeing the scene, approached and bent down to lift Ava. A nurse came to them.
• "Leticia, give the young lady a sedative and stay with her until she feels better."
• The nurse injected her, led her to a room, and stayed with her until she calmed down.
• Ava remained silent, her heart filled with disappointment and resentment. Resentment towards her mother, who chose to die before them, something she would never forgive her.
• "Now how do I tell Olivia?" were the words she managed to pronounce.
• "Miss, you have to be strong. I'm sorry for your loss," the nurse said compassionately.
• Ava looked at her with sadness and lifted herself from the bed, adjusted her clothes, wiped her tears, and went out to prepare her mother's funeral.
• Two days later was the funeral. There were few people accompanying them at the cemetery. Ava didn't understand. Why didn't her grandfather, despite her daughter's death, show up to say his last goodbye?
• Olivia was shattered just like Ava; the two were very close to their mother. Ava pretended to be strong so as not to collapse in front of her.
• Olivia's cries were heartbreaking, and Ava could only hug her to keep her from falling.
• Her anger was great when she saw her dad appear with his new family; she glared at them, thankful that they didn't approach them and kept their distance.
• At the funeral was the family lawyer, who informed her that he would call her for the reading of the will dictated by the Johnson family.
• Before leaving with tears in her eyes, she approached her mother's grave to bid farewell.
• "Here I am, Angela. I hope you find the peace you were looking for. I still remember the words you always told me, 'don't be weak like your mother, and you have to be strong in life, daughter,'" she glanced at her father, who didn't take his eyes off her. "I promise to be strong! Because I know what's coming is not going to be good," she threw a rose to the ground and left with her sister.