Arson
“You’re kidding me, right?” I ask her, hoping that she was just joking.
She shakes her head sadly before handing over her phone.
AVA SHARP’S HOUSE BURNS DOWN HOURS AFTER SHE REVEALS HER IDENTITY AS HOPE
FOUNDATION’S FOUNDER.
I read and re–read the title of the news, hoping that this was one big joke. I’m proven wrong when I
scroll down and see the video of a burning house.
As much as I didn’t want to believe it, there was no way to deny that it was indeed my house
burning.
With my heart in my throat, I place Mary’s phone down and stand up quickly. My movements are
jerky as I rushed out of the room.
“Ava, wait” She calls me but her words fall on deaf ears.
Faces blur as I move at a speed that would put vampires to shame. Nothing registers in my mind
as I get outside.
Getting into my car, I peel out of the parking lot just as Mary burst through the door. She waves.
her hand. Trying to make me stop. I ignore her and keep driving.
My head was in turmoil. Anger and panic wage war inside me.
Did I forget to turn off my stove and that’s what caused the fire? I had no answer because I couldn’t
remember if I had turned it off or not.
My phone rings with an incoming call from Rowan. I ignore it. I wasn’t in the right frame of mind
to deal with him.
I get more calls from Ethan, Letty and even Travis and mother. Just like with Rowan’s call, I ignore theirs too. I just wanted to get to my house and see how much damaged they caused.
“Fucking bitch, watch where you’re going” a man screams and gives me the middle finger.
In my rush to get home, I almost ran him over.
“Sorry” I shout out the window, but he doesn’t listen. He instead continues to curse me and I
+15 BONUS
Twenty minutes later, I’m pulling into my neighborhood.
I drive slowly as there are civilians, cops, police cars and a fire truck. I bring my car to a stop and walk a short distance to where my house was burning.
I watch in horror, unable to believe that it was true. Firefighters were trying to extinguish the fire, but even I knew that by the time they’re done there won’t be anything left.
I feel my heart break as I watch the fire consume my house. It may not be grand but it was mine
and Noah’s home for the past few months. I loved it and I had so many good memories there. 1
Tears threaten to fall. Why was this happenifng to me? Haven’t I been through enough?
deep voice brings me back from
me. He looked at me
here?” I ask as I wipe
thing was that no other house had caught fire. I don’t know what I would have done if others suffered
your phone, I
a hug so badly, but I knew I
before turning and walking away. There wasn’t anything I could
out of a home so I needed to get that shit
my car, I think I’ve lost Rowan, only to be surprised when he opens the passenger door and
are you
is no fucking way am I allowing you to be on your own he puts his seatbelt on
“Get out I snap.
+15 BONUS
He ignores.
of my
me with a cold look. “It’s either you start driving or we sit for however
choice”
him, but he doesn’t budge. We have a stare down for a couple of
your car?” I ask as I
he must have driven here or had
who takes cabs.
back home….I’ll call him when I need him” he mutters just
then
longer have that” I
to
I ask
some reason I felt that it wasn’t going to be okay.
out my phone I call my real–estate agent. He picks up
Ava. I saw what happened to your house” he
you have something for me,
homeless”
in a hotel for whatever period of time. I don’t know what I will do if he tells me he
it’s perfect for you. I’m sure you’ll love it”
good please send me the address now, I want to check it out. If I like
before I
you’re entitled to. You could have just picked one and I would have given it you” Rowan says startling
+15 BONUS
quiet and I had been so focused on getting a
with me
can buy myself a damn new house and that is exactly what I will do. I don’t
your help” I
mutters something under his breath, but it’s too low for
The atmosphere in the car
The last time I checked, your father cut you off from his will” he
he was doing. As much as he was probably curious, he also wanted to distract me from my thoughts. To distract me
a divorce or you would. Personally I thought it would be you. I knew it was only a matter time before Emma came
left, but I didn’t care. It was after
continue providing Noah a life he was used to and I couldn’t do that on my teacher’s salary, so about four years into our
the probability of that company succeeding was small. They were sure that I
was a big company and very successful in its field. I was
I took a part–time business course, just to know the ins and outs of managing a business. From there, I started investing in startup
+15 BONUS
not made a bad investment. After the
a member
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