Chapter 45 - Choking Constraint (1/2)
Lin Ancestral House
Earlier that day, Ava woke up to her phone ringing by the bedside table. She frisked the table with her eyes closed, and angrily shot her eyes open once she got her phone in her hand to see who dared wake her up so early in the morning.
”Ava,” Ava said in her throaty morning voice as soon as she picked the call up. She scrunched her brows as she listened to Fiona chirp in the other end of the line.
”Darling! I'm free today. Do you still need help with your sister-in-law's birthday dinner preparations?”
Hearing Fiona's offer, Ava rolled on the bed towards Ollie's side and hugged the pillow that he placed in his stead. She combed her hair to the tip with her long and delicate fingers before going back to the scalp to gently tug her hair, massaging her head in the process.
”Yes, I do need help. Can you give me an hour? I'm not really a morning person and I just woke up. I'll give you a call back, Fiona,” Ava excused before she ended the call. She needed to think about Fiona's offer first and get Ollie's feedback too.
It's not that she didn't like getting no help but she knew Fiona wanted something in return for her 'help'.
Just in time, Ollie stepped out of the ensuite, freshly showered and changed into his business suit pushing Ava to kneel on the bed, spreading her arms on a wingspan for Ollie's hug.
”You're up early,” Ollie noticed. He gave the side of Ava's small head a kiss and pulled away from their embrace. Ava started to fix his tie for him like a diligent wife as she recounted Fiona's call.
”Yes, it's kind of weird actually. Fiona called and asked tjf I still needed help organizing Livi's birthday dinner. Just so you know… I badly needed help, sweetie. Auntie Martha had to be away for an emergency so she left the rest of unfinished preparations on my plate and it's not like I can say no to her request,” Ava complained.
It was a last-minute call from Auntie Martha that Ava was left with no choice but to accept the challenge since she's the closest female relative to the celebrant.
”Accept her help but don't give her an invitation. Give her a token or something. Don't give Fiona a false hope in the guise of an invitation because you know it too. Maxen was never serious about her,” Ollie said, grabbing the suit jacket on the tufted ottoman at the foot of the bed and slinging it into his arms.
Husband and wife knew the reason behind Fiona extending her hand for help and they knew too that Ava can't reject it because she badly needed an extra hand too especially now that there's a bad blood between Selena and Olivia.
Ava tilted her head to the side and smiled, captivating Ollie's heart for the nth time since they've met. ”Okay, I'll do as you say.”
Hearing his wife's words, Ollie gave Ava a kiss on the lips before refreshing his wife's memory saying, ”Maxen found his 'O Sui', remember? Nobody takes the Sui name unless he's serious and he sure damn is.”
”Ok. I understand. You don't have to spell it out for me.” Ava hugged her husband and rubbed her head on his c.h.e.s.t, inhaling his favorite shower gel scent. She pulled away and playfully slapped his b.u.t.t, urging him to leave for work.
Ollie was already by the threshold when he stopped in his tracks and his eyes showed nothing but pity towards Ava.
”Why are you looking at me like that?” Ava asked timidly, tightening her robe around her waist. Ollie walked back to her and hugged her tightly that he almost lifted her off the bed.
”I wish people knew the real you, sweetie.”