Chapter 5 Her lost brothers

"Aaron!" she managed, her voice barely more than a whisper.

The man stopped in front of her. Her breath hitched. Something about his eyes. That face. Those features. No... it can't be.

Then, the man's stern expression cracked. His eyes softened-just slightly. His voice came low, steady, but full of emotion.

"Ava... it's really you."

The plastic bag slipped from her hands.

Her eyes widened. "No... No, it can't be..." she whispered, her voice trembling. She blinked rapidly, trying to see clearly in the streetlights. She stepped closer. Then closer again.

And then it hit her- those eyes. She had only seen them in fading memories and childhood dreams.

"Aaron?" Her voice broke.

The man nodded, his composure slipping into something gentler.

Ava let out a sob and rushed into his arms. "Aaron!" she cried, clinging to him as if she were afraid he might vanish. Her shoulders shook as years of sorrow, loneliness, and longing poured out of her all at once.

"I thought you were gone forever," she whispered against his chest.

Aaron held her tightly. "I promised I'd come back for you," he murmured. "I never stopped looking."

Aaron and her other brothers had been missing for so long. She never believed that she would see Aaron again. He was here again and with so many bodyguards.

She had a lot to say but didn't want to say anything further and just said, "Take me home!"

As Ava walked towards the car, Logan called out. "Ava, stop right there."

Logan watched the convoy for a while and then quickened his steps. Arabella clink to his arm. "Logan you saw that right, Ava had been cheating on you and you can see it."

Logan ignored her completely. His gaze was fixed on them. Ava never responded to him and slipped into the car.

Arabella gritted her teeth in anger seeing her get into the car and the way Logan was staring at them as if he was so jealous, ignoring her. "Logan, Ava had found a new target. How else could she have a rich guy pick her up right after her divorce."

"Can you just shut up!" Logan roared.

Arabella flinched at Logan outburst, but still remained silent.

In the car, Ava watched them with a bitter smile on her lips.

"Ava, you just wait," Bella murmured.

Half an hour later, the car stopped in front of a luxurious building. Ava stepped out alongside Aaron with the bodyguards around them.

"Welcome home!" Aaron said happily.

The grand reception left Ava stunned. She really thought that this was all a dream. She then slapped herself so hard but then realized that it was true. She had really gotten here. Then she saw Emma, her best friend. She was shocked. She had planned this with them.

Just then, Emma ran and hugged her, "Ava, you are finally here. Alex told me everything that happened and I am very angry that you never bothered to tell me."

Ava was short of words, she didn't say a word and then tears began flowing from her eyes.

Just then, a handsome man walked towards her, who exuded a kingly aura that surpassed Logan's.

Edward Parker looked at the petite frail girl in front of him who seemed malnourished, "I can't believe that this Ava. You have been through a lot."

Ava was loss of words, after a moment, she said awkwardly, "Hello,"

Hearing her hesitant greetings, made Edward feel so worse. "What do you want me to do for you?"

"Do for me?" she asked, sounding confused.

"Yes!" he said, sounding confused.

Ava lowered her eyes. "Can you take me home?"

Edward said, "What home? She means the old house she used to live in. If it wasn't because we lost you. You wouldn't have gone through all this hardship. We are your home."

At this point, It seemed Ava was still trying to gather herself together. The next thing she yelled, "You are now my home, where have you been? Ava's voice suddenly trembled. "Where were you when I needed you the most? Where were you?"

Edward's brows furrowed in confusion, but Ava didn't give him a chance to respond.

"Where were you when Sterlings insulted me? When his family treated me like trash?" Her voice broke. "Where were you when I cried myself to sleep in an orphanage, wondering if my brothers even remembered me? When I was begging for someone to come take me away? When I was mistreated by my adopted parents. Now you come here and say things."

Tears streamed down her face. Her fists clenched. Her voice rose even more, shaking.

"You say you're my home. Which home? The one I never had? The one that left me to suffer alone?"

Her sobs erupted, harsh and uncontrollable. She hit Edward's chest with her fists, again and again, as if trying to make him feel the pain she'd buried for years.

"I waited for you! I waited for all of you! I looked for you in every stranger's face! And now you just show up-after everything-and say I'm home?"

Edward caught her trembling hands, eyes glistening. "Ava... I'm so sorry. I'm so, so sorry," he said, his voice cracking. "We never meant to abandon you. I should've found you sooner. I know I should've... I failed you."

"I've been through hell," Ava whispered hoarsely. "And you weren't there."

"I know," Edward murmured, pulling her into his arms. "I know. You didn't deserve any of it. I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

Ava collapsed into him, her tears soaking his shirt. Around them, Aaron's jaw clenched. Emma turned away, wiping her own tears. Even the guards looked shaken, their heads bowed.

Suddenly, one of the older men in the group stepped forward gently, placing a steadying hand on Ava's back. "It's alright now. You're safe. You're not alone anymore."

Everyone stood still, the weight of years of pain and reunion settling into silence broken only by Ava's soft, broken sobs.

Emma cleared her throat after a while. "Ava I am sorry I didn't tell you they were coming. Enough of all these cries, it is time to celebrate."