Ava squinted at the police who were currently talking to Marylis and Phil. So far, they hadn’t found the source of the explosion or the fire. They were just here to ask more questions.
"The house is big enough." Matthew shoved his hands into his pockets. He was standing next to Ava. "You can always ask them to stay here."
"No. No one lives in Gabriella’s house anyway."
"If you are worried— "
"I have a bad feeling about this," Ava said. "The police couldn’t find out anything about the explosion. How is that even possible? It feels like..." Like someone wanted them to stay with Ava. " They can’t stay here." Her decision was final. She can’t let them stay and show that she cared. Taking them there should be enough.
"Your brother... might want to stay," Matthew said.
"He can’t." Ava squinted. The fact that someone has been pretending to be her brother was still a mystery until now. It would be best to stay away while she’s trying to investigate things. Moreover, Marylis was a suspicious character. She had always been kind to Ava in the past.
But everything changed after Gabriella’s death.
Everything changed after Ava left for a year.
Now, Marylis was even siding with Broody. That alone was a breach of Ava’s trust.
Plus the fact that they couldn’t find anything about Marylis’s past before she came to Alaska has been bothering Ava.
Again, she couldn’t just trust anyone.
"Hey... can I talk to you?" It was Marylis. She approached them after the police told her that they wanted to talk to Phil in private.
"Sure..." Ava shrugged. Hearing this, Matthew left them.
"I know it’s too much but... I was hoping that you would let us stay in the mansion."
"No. I can’t."
"What?"
Clearly, Ava’s direct answer surprised her.
"You can’t stay."
"Look someone just tried to kill us."
"I know." Ava nodded.
"And this place is guarded and... that man... the one you are with should be able to tell his people to at least find out everything about the explosion. We are not planning to stay forever, as long as we find out what happened and who did it then we are leaving."
"No," Ava said. Keeping her enemies close could be a very good thing. But that would be the wrong choice here. In the first place, she wasn’t even sure if Marylis was indeed an enemy or just a naive character. The woman was confusing.
But then again... most women were confusing.
Humans, witches, and shifters are complicated creatures.
"But Phil thought..."
"I will be paying for security," Ava said. "Five people. I can provide five security personnel for everyone."
Marylis gave her a look of disbelief. It was as if she already expected Ava to let them stay here without even asking questions.
"You really can’t let us stay?"
"No."
"Why? Mr. Graydon would surely— Look Ava I just want my family to be safe. I know I sound presumptuous but I am only thinking about my family’s safety. Mr. Graydon could— "
"He is going to provide you five more people." Ava cut her off. "You already said it Marylis, you don’t know if — "
"What if something happens to us? Can your conscience really take it?"
Ava blinked at her question. She never expected Marylis to be this forceful. However, she had her own reasons. She needed to stay away from them. She had too many secrets, too many things that she was hiding from Phil. She couldn’t drag them into her problems.
"You can stay for tonight. Then you go to Gabriella’s house. There will be enchantments and security personnel. I am certain that you will be safer there."
"What’s that supposed to mean?"
"Mr. Graydon and I have enemies too."
Marylis pursed her lips. Tears were already pooling in her eyes. Without saying anything, she walked toward Phil and grabbed her son. Then she marched towards the mansion.
Phil only stared at his wife before looking at Ava. After a few minutes, the police finally left and Phil finally approached Ava.
"Did she want to stay here?" Phil asked. "Please don’t blame here. She’s been very stressed lately. The baby and the house. I suspect she’s having postpartum but she refused to have herself checked."
"I know."
"I know about Broody," Phil was standing next to her. Just like Ava, he too was looking at the vast snowy area in front of the mansion. From here, they could see the police car that was about to leave the large gate of this place. "Marylis was wrong. She shouldn’t have involved herself in things that don’t concern her."
"But?"
"But... she’s been having a difficult time lately."
"I am not going to say anything. Since I have not experienced it myself. I don’t know about pregnancy or... giving birth or postpartum depression. However, I know that giving birth to someone isn’t an excuse to act entitled and impatient." Again, Ava had no knowledge about things like this. She might be wrong. Maybe Marylis couldn’t stop the changes. Maybe this is just her hormones talking.
And maybe everything would be better soon.
Ava didn’t want to pry. But based on the things that she saw lately, Phil had been doing everything inside the house. From changing the baby’s diaper to doing the laundry and cooking their meals. He was even working from home to provide for his family.
Again, Ava had never been pregnant. So she had no idea how it all worked. She chose to bury this in her subconscious. She knew that these things won’t change her previous decision.
"So, you are not letting us stay?" Phil asked. She could feel his blue eyes on her. It was curious and scrutinizing.
"Mr. Graydon and I have enemies too Phil. I hope you understand that." She turned towards her own brother. She thought she saw a smirk on his lips but it quickly vanished without giving her the time for a second look.
She frowned.
Was she hallucinating?
"But this place ... is the safest V." Phil suddenly said. "You are not really just kicking me out of here after everything, right?"
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