Chapter 50

Chapter Fifty

Ava

I 'm sitting on my bed, looking around the empty bedroom. If you were to walk in right now, you would never imagine someone was staying in this bedroom. The last of the boxes were taken a few hours ago. I couldn't believe it when Viktor came to me a few days ago.

"I told you I don't want to talk with you." I turn to enter my bedroom.

"You don't have to talk. All you have to do is listen." His voice is stern yet gentle. I stop and look at him.

"What bullshit are you going to feed me now?"

He takes a deep breath to control the anger he's trying to hide.

"If you're serious about not wanting to live here, I have a penthouse in the city you can move into."

"What's the catch?" I cross my arms.

"No catch. You can come and go as you please as long as security is with you."

"I thought you said there wasn't a catch."

"The security detail is for safety. I'm willing to give you the freedom to leave the mansion, but you must give me this for my peace of mind."

"I don't like it," I snap. I'm being irrational, of course, Viktor's decision makes sense. I know he's just trying to keep Niko and me safe.

"It's not about you, Ava. This is about our son. After me, he's the most important chess piece on the board. He's my heir." He closes the gap between us. I want to scream, tell him to fuck off, but I'm frozen in place. "Please," he says, his eyes wide, intense, pleading.

"Fine." I don't get to say another word. He pushes me against the wall and kisses me. Reminding me that he had the final word once again, and it pisses me off.

"Ms. O'Brien," Mary calls from the bedroom door.

"Hi, Mary."

"Everything is ready. I've packed a lunch so you won't have to worry at the penthouse. Are you sure you don't want me to come along and help you settle?"

I smile. "No. I'll be fine, but thank you."

I leave my bedroom feeling nostalgic, almost sad. I guess it's a feeling of loss. This house has always been home in one way or another. There are so many memories here, but the bitter ones have overpowered the good ones. I walk to Aisling's bedroom door. This is the moment I've been dreading all day. I don't know if I can do this. I don't know if I can leave her behind, abandon her as my mother abandoned me. This is fucking hard.

I exhale and open Aisling's bedroom door. She's sleeping peacefully in her crib, my perfect little girl. Life sure has dealt her a shitty hand. I softly caress her head. I don't know if I can be without her. Before I know it, I'm crying, and it feels like I can't breathe.

"I love you, sweetheart," I say between sobs. I almost run out of her bedroom. I close her door and fall to my knees.

"Ava, what's wrong?" I hear Viktor cry as he runs to me. He kneels in front of me.

"Oh, Viktor," I say as the fresh tears come.

"Talk to me. What's wrong? Is it Aisling?" He asks, looking at her door.

"I can't do this." I throw myself at him. His arms tighten around me.

"What can't you do?"

"I can't leave her," I cry harder.

"Oh, baby girl," he says soothingly as he stands, picks me up and carries me to his bedroom. Inside he sits me on his bed. "Talk to me." He kneels before me.

"I… I don't know how to explain it. Leaving her is like a piece of me will be missing."

"What do you want?" We stare, neither saying a word.

"I want things to be simple. I want you to not have slept with Fiona. I want Aisling to be my daughter and not Fiona's." I finally confess.

"I'm sorry. I know I've made a mess of things." He takes my hands in his. "You don't have to leave Aisling. In fact, I insist she goes with you. She's your daughter."

"Fiona could come at any moment and take her from me." There it is. This is a fear I won't admit to myself.

"Fiona will never get near Aisling ever again. You're her mother." The way he says it has me believing it. "You focus on our children." I throw myself at him.

"You have no idea what your words mean. I know it's been hard for you to let me leave the mansion. But I really believe it's for the best. This place is filled with so much sorrow." I lean in and kiss him. "I love you, Viktor. That will never change."

"I love you, too." It's all he says before he pushes me onto the bed and claims me, showing me the depth of his love for me.

I'm sitting on the couch in the living room, exhausted. The penthouse, I swear, feels bigger than the mansion. It's a two-floor penthouse with four bedrooms and four and a half bathrooms. I don't envy the person who has to clean this place. At least I know it won't be me. Two of the bedrooms have been assigned to the kids, one is the master, and the other is a guest room. My babies will stay on the second floor, and I'm staying in the guest room on the first. It's beautiful. All the walls in the common areas are made of glass, and I have a perfect view of the city.

Aisling and Niko will be together in his bedroom today since hers needs to be set up properly. The kitchen is made for a chef, which I love, but my favorite part is the master bath. It has a soaking tub that oversees the city. This place is amazing.

"Ms. O'Brien, do you have a minute?" Marco asks.

"Of course. What's up?"

"I want to go over some details if you don't mind."

"Let me guess, instructions left by Viktor," I roll my eyes. He laughs. "Go ahead."

"We are set up in the apartment next door. Mr. Manarch owns the entire floor."

"Of course he does." I shake my head.

"We don't want to be in your way. I'll be there with a team. All I ask is for you to let me know if you're leaving the penthouse."

"You know Marco, I'm too tired to argue with you," I laugh, and he joins in.

"If you need anything, I'm on speed dial three." He hands me a cell.

"What happened to one and two? Actually, don't answer that. I'm sure I know." He smiles.

"You have a good evening, Ms. O'Brien."

"Thank you, Marco. You too."

I look at the time, and it's almost seven p.m. I'm hungry, but I have no energy to eat. I didn't move a single box but settling two babies in our new home got the better of me. I walk over to the kitchen to see what I can make. I stare into the fridge.

"What are you doing?" I hear Viktor ask.

I close the fridge door. "Honestly, I'm hungry but too tired to make anything." He comes over and pulls me to him.

"The chef should be here any minute to make dinner. Why don't I run you a bath so you can relax?"

"That sounds delicious but no funny business. Niko will wake in an hour for a feed."

"I'll try. Can't make any promises." He picks me up and starts walking to the stairs. Why did I think living here would be any different?