Finding Avery Billionaire Love Story Trilogy Book 1

I woke up to an empty bed, the sheets still rumpled from a night of passionate lovemaking. Ethan was nowhere to be found, but I didn't think much of it. Maybe he had gone for a jog or something. I smiled to myself, feeling a flutter in my chest. Last night had been...wow. I got out of bed, wrapping the sheet around me, and started searching for my clothes. I put them on and went down the hall. That's when I heard them, Ethan's friends, laughing and joking in the living room. I paused, my heart sinking as I listened to their conversation.

"Dude, you're such a player," one of them said, chuckling. "You've got a different girl every week. First, it was that redhead, then the blonde, and now this innocent small-town girl? " Ethan's laughter was low and husky, sending a shiver down my spine. "It's easy to get these ladies hooked," he said. "Just tell them the right things, and they're putty in your hands." I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. The air was knocked out of me, and I couldn't breathe. I stumbled backward, my eyes welling up with tears. I didn't remember much after that. I just knew I had to get out of there, to escape the humiliation and the pain. I ran out of the house, not caring that I wasn't properly dressed. I didn't go home. I went to the lake, my favorite place in the world. I'd always found solace in its silence and beauty, and today was no exception. I sat on the dock, my feet dangling in the water, and let the tears flow. I thought back to everything that had happened. How Ethan had strolled into the diner, flashin' that sexy' smile, and I'd fallen for it foolishly. He'd been coming to the diner for over a week, and I'd felt a connection with him, something that went beyond just a customer-server relationship. He'd asked me out, and I'd refused, but he'd kept coming back, and I'd started to think maybe, just maybe, he was different. Grams had warned me, told me that rich city boys like Ethan would only bring trouble. She'd said he was playing me, that he didn't care about me. But I'd choose to listen to Emma, my best friend, who advised me to follow my heart. I was also blinded by his charm, as well as the way he made me feel. I'd been so stupid. As I sat there, reminiscing about everything that had happened, I recalled how he had come to the diner for a week straight, trying to get my attention. At first, I had ignored him because of what Grams had said. That he would toy with my heart and leave me heartbroken. I know Grandma is always right, so I always listen to whatever she says. I thought I didn't need any trouble in my life, but he kept coming back. Little by little, I started catching feelings for him. When he invited me to the bonfire night, Emma convinced me to accept. We lied to Grams; I was going to Emma's house for a sleepover. The first time I lied to my grandma and I ended up getting my heart shattered I made a decision. I was done with Ethan Harrison. I was done with his games, his lies, his empty promises. I was going to forget about him, move on with my life, and never look back. I stood up, wiping away my tears, and started to make my way back to the diner. But as I approached the house, I noticed something was off. The diner was closed, and there was no familiar smell of coffee and pancakes in the air. A sense of unease washed over me as I rushed to open the door, and everywhere was quiet. Then, I hurriedly opened Grams' room. Something was wrong. She was always up early, making breakfast for the morning crowd. I burst through the door, and my heart sank. Grams was lying in her bed, her eyes closed,I rushed to her side, shaking her, calling out her name, but she didn't respond. Her skin was cold and rigid. "No, no, no, no, no..." I felt for a pulse, but there was none. I screamed, my voice echoing through the empty house, as I dialed the emergency line with shaking hands. Please, God, let her be okay.

I stood alone, my heart shattered into a million pieces, as the ambulance screeched to a halt and the paramedics rushed my grandmother to the hospital. It was too late, she was already gone, leaving me alone in this world, heartbroken, clutching at my fragile, broken heart. The world went dark as I collapsed to the floor, my screams muffled as doctors and nurses rushed to comfort me. Their words of condolence were lost in the haze of my grief. I was alone, truly alone, and the weight of that realization threatened to suffocate me.

Just as I thought I couldn't cry anymore, Emma burst into the hospital, her eyes red-rimmed from tears. She flung her arms around me, and we clung to each other, our sobs mingling as we wept for the woman who had been more than a grandmother to me - she had been my rock, my guardian, my everything. The doctor approached us gently, his expression somber. "Miss Avery, I need to speak with you," he said softly, his voice a gentle breeze on a summer day. I nodded, my eyes dry, my heart numb. Emma held my hand, a steady presence as the doctor led us to a quiet room. "Avery, your grandmother had been suffering from pancreatic cancer," he said, his words like a punch to the gut. "She refused treatment, saying she didn't want to burden you with her care." My world spun, my mind spinning with the revelation. Pancreatic cancer? Why hadn't Grams told me? Why had she suffered in silence? My Grandma had always been very secretive, I thought back to my own life, to the fact that I'd never known my father. Grams had never mentioned him, and I'd never asked, too afraid to stir up painful memories. But I'd always known that my mom had died giving birth to me, and that Grams had raised me as her own. Grams why, I said, crying my eyes out. My Grandma was my everything in this world I can't believe she is gone. The doctor handed me a letter, his eyes filled with compassion. "She gave this to me, Avery. She wanted you to have it." My hands trembled as I opened the letter, my eyes scanning the words, written in Grams's familiar handwriting. My dearest Avery, Don't blame yourself for anything that's happened. This was my choice, and I'm happy with it. I wanted to live my life to the fullest, and I have, thanks to you. I know I've been hard on you, but it's only because I want you to be strong, to be brave, to live the life you deserve. Don't let anyone or anything hold you back, Avery. You're capable of so much more than you think. I have another letter for you, hidden in my room. Read it after my funeral, and remember, I'll always be with you, watching over you. With all my love, Grams My heart ached as I read the words, my tears falling like rain. I felt a mix of emotions - guilt, anger, sadness - but most of all, I felt love, a love so pure and unconditional that it took my breath away. The funeral was a blur, a haze of black suits and tear-stained faces. I felt like I was floating above the scene, watching myself go through the motions. But when they lowered Grams' coffin into the ground, something inside me broke, and I crumbled, my heart shattering into a million pieces. As we walked away from the grave, it dawned on me that my Grandma is gone forever I won't be able to see her again, Emma turned to me, her eyes red-rimmed. "Avery, I'm here for you, always. We'll get through this together. I nodded, a small smile on my lips. I knew I wasn't alone, not really. I had Emma, and I had Grams' memory, guiding and inspiring me to be strong and brave. But as I looked at Emma, a question lingered in my mind, a question that would change everything: What lay ahead for me, now that I was truly on my own? My only family is gone, and I don't have any plans to fall back on for the future.

I woke up to the beautiful sight of Avery lying next to me. She looked peaceful, like an angel. Her chest was rising and falling with every breath, and her lips were slightly parted. I stared at her face for a while, feeling a strange flutter in my chest. It was a feeling I had never felt before, and it made me happy and scared at the same time. I didn't want to disturb her, so I slowly slipped out of bed. The floor was cool beneath my feet as I walked across the room. I was wearing only my boxers, and the morning air was a bit chilly. I shivered slightly as I made my way to the sitting room.

As I entered the sitting room, Liam and Jason stopped arguing and looked at me with mischievous grins on their faces. They were sitting on the couch, surrounded by empty beer bottles and pizza boxes. The room was a mess, but I didn't care. I was used to their messes. "Speak of the devil," Liam said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "The playboy has finally graced us with his presence." I rolled my eyes, shaking my head in amusement. "What's going on here?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me. Jason, ever the instigator, chimed in, "We're just discussing the finer points of your love life, Ethan. Or should I say, lack thereof." I chuckled, playing along with their antics. "Ah, you mean the endless stream of ladies dying for my attention? The constant broken hearts and shattered dreams trying to own this fine specimen?" Liam snorted, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "You make it sound like you're a curse, Ethan." I shrugged, trying to sound nonchalant. "All you have to do is tell them what they want to hear, and they're putty in your hands." But as I said the words, I felt a pang of guilt, a nagging sense that I was being dishonest, not just with them, but with myself. Because the truth was, since I'd met Avery, I hadn't been interested in anyone else. She had awakened something in me, something real and raw and beautiful. My friends continued to tease me, their words a gentle hum in the background as my mind wandered back to Avery. I decided to check on her, make sure she was okay, and see if she wanted to grab some breakfast. As I walked back to the bedroom, I was surprised to find she wasn't there. I looked around, thinking maybe she'd gone to the bathroom, but she was nowhere to be found. A faint sense of unease crept up my spine, like a whisper in the dead of night. I didn't have time to dwell on it, though. My phone started ringing, and it was my little sister, Emily. I sighed, wondering what she wanted. Hope she doesn't want to convince me to let her join us on the vacation, I thought. Her words won't change my mind. I picked up the call, ready to tell her what's on my mind, but then I realized she was crying. "Em, why are you crying?" I asked, my tone softening and my senses on high alert. The next thing she said shocked me, made my heart skip a beat. "Mom's been involved in an accident, Ethan. She's in the hospital." My world came to a standstill. Mom? In an accident? I rushed out of the house, dialing the phone to arrange for a flight. I had to get to New York, to my mom's side. As I waited for the car to arrive, my mind was racing, a jumble of worst-case scenarios and what-ifs. What had happened to Mom? Was she okay? Would she... The questions swirled in my head, a mix of fear and uncertainty, as I stood there, frozen in shock, waiting for the world to come crashing down around me. I felt like I was in a nightmare, and I couldn't wake up. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, but I was trapped in a dark, cold world of fear and uncertainty. The car arrived, and I jumped in, my heart racing with anxiety. I couldn't wait to get to the airport, to get to my mom's side. As the car sped through the streets, I felt like I was on the edge of a cliff, staring into the abyss. What was waiting for me at the other end? Would my mom be okay? The car pulled up to the airport, and I jumped out, my heart racing with anticipation. I had to get to my mom's side, no matter what.