Chapter 4 A Leaked Secret

She got up from bed to get a glass of water. Just then her eyes landed on some files on Jay's desk. She took a step closer. Her eyes widened. She could hear the sound of her heartbeat under the dim lamp stand. The bedroom door creaked open and standing in the doorway was none other than Jay Henryson!

The moment his stare landed on the file Avery was holding, he jumped to take it from her and without a word, locked it in his vault and went to bed.

Avery was too stunned to speak. Her mind all blank!

She finally found her legs and dragged herself to bed.

The sleep that seemed to have forsaken her a while ago, came back to her without warning.

Avery got to the office without Jay. She didn't see him when she got up from bed. She asked the security and was informed he had gone out for a walk. She was surprised because it was a Wednesday morning and Jay of all people wouldn't go for a walk on a Wednesday morning. But she shrugged the idea away and went in to prepare for work.

She got to the office but didn't see any sign of him anywhere. Was his absence probably because of what she saw yesterday on those files? Her fears heightened as she realized the consequences of her actions. No! She must find Jay at any cost.

As she ran out of the pavement, she couldn't escape the gossip of her colleagues.

"There goes our Princess Cinderella! Hahaha!" Everyone burst into spontaneous laughter.

"I'm very sure she seduced our CEO" Another added

"Of course you are right, if not how come a commoner like her was able to pull the Almighty Jay Henryson??" Another quickly snapped back.

Avery stood and listened with tears in her eyes. Is that how lowly her colleagues thought of her? She won't let this get to her. She needs to find Jay.

Avery called home and was told Jay had still not returned. If only he hadn't left his phone on the bed, finding him would have been much easier for her.

How is she going to face the Henrysons should something happen to their only son?

Avery ran along the streets and pavements of the city. Running in and out of bars, restaurants, gyms, and most of the places Jay might have gone to but there was no sign of him anywhere.

She trolled with fatigue on the street, unconscious of her surroundings. As she was about to bend a curve to the mansion, a thought struck her mind!

Could Jay be at the seaside? He mentioned the sea is his only companion whenever he feels sad and alone.

Could he be there this time around?

Avery rushed to the seaside and a familiar figure, sat in the sand staring straight into the waters.

Avery for the first time, felt pity for Jay Henryson.

She walked cautiously from behind and wrapped her arms around him.

"Did you have to leave me all alone?" She asked with a cracked voice.

Jay could sense the pain in her voice.

"Why are you here Avery? How did you find me?"

"You can't run from your wife Jay" She replied.

He raised his brows in shock. Did Avery admit to being his wife?

After what she saw last night on those documents, she should have terminated their marriage contract by now. What is she doing here? He thought to himself

"Avery, aren't you afraid I might hurt you right now and right here, perhaps throw your body into the sea?"

Avery felt a cold wind sweeping beneath her feet. She felt a throb in her throat but she managed to find her voice

"Jay, I don't know what you went through in the past that got you traumatised. You only get hunted by the nightmares from the past which tends to make you so aggressive at times. Your mental health might be slippery but that doesn't make you a mad man. You hear me?" She burst out in tears.

Jay drew her closer in a warm, long embrace. All this while, everyone fears to get closer to him because of his mental health. They thought of him as a serial killer. But Avery.........

"It's alright Avery, stop crying. I hate to see your tears. I was determined to keep this secret away from you because I thought you were going to turn your back on me" He replied sadly with his eyes meeting Avery's.

For once, She saw the loneliness, hurt, pain, and depression in his eyes.

Avery's heart ached in between her chest as she remembered how much she used to hate this man standing right in front of her because of his cold and hostile nature. But now she got to realize behind that cold hostile figure, Was a broken and shattered man seeking love and acceptance.

"Jay, can we go home now?" She asked and he nodded softly. Together, they walked back home, hand in hand.

For the first time, Jay seems to be at ease. An unexpected guest greeted them at home. Jay froze in his tracks!