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    Tan''s confession left Ava frozen. The touch of his lips lingered on her cheek, giving her the electrifying feeling that she wanted to feel when she was close to Luke.


    "I know I-"


    Ava pushed his hand hard, which shockedn.


    Ava''s frozen expression transformed into rage. She red atn and said,


    "Like me? As to how? Insulting me and attempting to force me into being with you against my will? For what? With the intention of ying with me like other girls and then breaking up with me like you did with Nova, is that what you want to do?"


    "I have already exined why I broke up with Nova. Just because of you."


    Ava scoffed at him. "Yes, of course. I caught your eye. So, once you have gotten over me, someone else will catch your eye. It is as simple as that."


    She cut him off and said,


    "It''s toote,n. I don''t like you at all. Look around and try to fix your eyes on someone else. Because it''s not like we are still mates and we are bound to be together."


    After saying that, she turned to open the door. Butn grabbed the knob and stopped her.


    She turned her head, and her heart nearly stopped. He was closer to her.


    "Just tell me why you are doing this. You were in tears the day I rejected you as my mate. You did not seem pleased with it. That means you wanted me, right?"


    Ava collected herself and responded,


    "As you said, I was crying that day, and you showed no mercy. Then why would I want to be with that boy? I would rather stay single than be with him."


    "I don''t want another fight between you and my brother because of me. So you better note to my house before solving your problems."


    She pushed him, opened the door, and got out of the car.


    She did not look back at him for once and made her way to her house.


    When she entered the house, she noticed her mother was at home. Her mother was talking to Ronald and Stephen with a smile on her face.


    Her mother noticed her and walked over to her. "How was your day, Ava?" she asked.


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    "Fine, mom," Ava replied.


    Her mother asked her if she had eaten yet. She said she was not hungry and wanted to get some rest.


    Her mother looked at her for some time, asking if she was okay. She replied that she was fine and only felt tired.


    "Where isn?" Ronald asked Ava when she was heading toward the staircase.


    She came to a halt in her steps and turned to face Ronald. Her gaze shifted to Stephen, who looked calm.


    She shifted her focus away from him and responded to Ronald.


    "I don''t know."


    "But he was in the car."


    "I think he does not want toe into our house anymore," she said before going upstairs, leaving both boys perplexed.


    Days passed as Ava tried to remain close to Luke. She had made up her mind about him. She would be his girlfriend and would strive to live a happy life.


    Both Abigail and Debra supported her, saying that she would never get a caring boy like Luke.


    Ava always made an effort to avoidn at the university. Surprisingly, he also did not try to show up in front of her. It appeared that he had finally epted that he and she could not be together.


    It waste in the evening.


    Ava and Stephen were sitting on the couch in the living room. They were watching


    a movie on their 85-inch TV. Ava looked scared because it was a horror film.


    When a horror scene appeared on the screen, Ava became scared, while Stephenughed louder.


    With a mouthful of popcorn, Ava turned to look at Stephen.


    "What''s so funny in the movie? It''s so scary! Why are youughing, Steph?"


    Stephen could not stopughing, and seeing her terrified expression made himugh even more.


    "I am leaving then. Bye."


    Ava put the bowl of popcorn on the small table in front of them and tried to stand


    up.


    Stephen took her hand and sat her down.


    "Lil Sis, why are you so angry? Isn''t it funny? How could a wolf transform into arge ck bird? Is this even a scene? That''s hrious!"


    He startedughing again. Ava took a nce at the screen. Was she a scared kid? If she thought like Stephen, he was right. That was not a terrifying scene.


    She shook her head. “No, no. I can''t think like you boys.." Stephen ruffled her hair and replied,


    "Your brother is a big boy. So you don''t have to be scared of anything, okay?"


    Ava smiled at him and nodded her head. In just a few days, she and Stephen had created a wonderful bond. If someone who did not know them saw them together, they would assume they were biological siblings.


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    The sound of the doorbell reached them. The maids dashed to open the main


    door.


    When they opened it, Stephen''s friends entered the house because it was their time to be together.


    Ava stood up and said to Stephen,


    "We will continue watching the movie tomorrow."


    "How about another movie? It is aedy rather than a horror film."


    Ava thought for a moment before giving him a ng


    "Sure."


    As Ava headed to go to her room, she cast a sidelong nce at Stephen''s friends.


    Except forn, everyone was there. Ian did not visit her house after she told him


    not to.


    She shifted her gaze away from them to concentrate on the steps.


    Cyrus'' voice rang out from behind her.


    "It''s been a while. Let''s put an end to this fight. What should we do to celebrate<pn''s birthday? We should organize a party for him tomorrow night. What are your thoughts, Steph?"