Chapter 76

Ava’s POV

Ethan jingled the keys to the beautiful white car in front of my face.

“Want to take it for a test drive?” He smirked and I had to bite my lip to keep myself from smiling back at him.

This was officially too much, he couldn’t keep spending this much money on me. The car was probably the same price as a house, but Ethan didn’t even bat an eye as he went to buy it for me. He was too much.

“I can’t accept this,” I hung my head low and tried to walk away. I wasn’t good enough to Ethan to deserve everything that he gave me. I’d never be able to return the favor in a million years.

“I told you, if you accept this then I will stop buying you gifts - that is, until you ask me for things.” He added the last part with a cheeky smile and I had to roll my eyes and bite back a grin at his antics.

“Fine,” I shook my head and relented. “I will accept this then.”

Ethan clapped his hands together once, beaming down at me, “Let’s take it for a test drive, then!”

I excitedly got into the driver’s seat and Ethan followed suit in the passenger. Luckily, Dora used to have me act as her chauffeur once I got old enough to drive legally. I learned quickly and actually wasn’t a bad driver.

At least, I didn’t think I was.

I took Ethan through the neighborhood and around the downtown area of the city to get a feel for the car. I loved how fast it was, how much turbo it had, and the smooth feeling of the steering. It practically drove itself.

Ethan and I returned home, and I thanked him a million times for the car. He shrugged my praise off, saying I deserved it and that I was better than I would ever truly understand.

I didn’t have the heart to tell him that I really wasn’t all that great, but I kissed his cheek and went back up to my room to go to bed.

The next morning, I was up bright and early to start running errands around the house. I always felt a little inconvenient before when I had to ask for the chauffeur to take me all over the town. It felt rude. I didn’t want to force him to take me to and fro.

I didn’t need him anymore, though. I thought, giddily, about all the places I would go with no restrictions or guilt eating away at me.

I went to the grocery store first. It wasn’t exciting, but I didn’t have to wait on anyone or ask permission. Then, I drove to any little shop that seemed interesting on the map.

I followed that routine for about a week, but it got old really quick. I needed to find more things to do so that I could actually appreciate the gift that Ethan got me.

After that first week of having the car, I started working back at the pastry shop on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. Only three days a week, but it gave me the freedom to also run to the store and make deliveries for any orders.

Those three days a week started returning this sense of normalcy back to my life. Staying home all the time, fully depending on Ethan or his employees for everything, was a huge part of why I felt so guilty taking gifts or even asking for anything.

I lost almost my entire sense of independence and it ate away at me day after day.

Somehow, Ethan knew that I needed this car. He knew I needed to be able to count on myself again, just as I did as I grew up.

Thursdays and Fridays for me were spent in a similar manner for a separate entity.

I started volunteering at the children’s home again. Though, I knew Ethan was insecure (whether he wanted to admit it or not) about my relationship with Baron.

I didn’t go back to working with the kids directly anymore. I understood Ethan’s feelings and it was a simple thing for me to do to make sure he was comfortable. I did, however, start running errands for Mrs. Hudson.

It gave me a chance to drive around in my new car, listen to music, and feel helpful once again. I actually really liked just going to the pharmacy for children’s medicine, or the post office for the orphanage.

Especially after learning about my mother’s past in an orphanage, I was more determined to help the kids as much as I possibly could.

“Mrs. Hudson!” I called out as I entered the building. I had been running errands for about three weeks. I’d had the car for a month and I was more than comfortable driving around and had even fallen into a bit of a routine with it.

“Ava!” She beamed from the front desk, “I’ve got a couple requests from the children today!”

I smiled at her as she held out a small list scrawled on notebook paper. Each item was obviously written by a child, and I pressed the paper tightly against my chest.

“Little babies,” I cooed and giggled. “Anything you want this evening, Mrs. Hudson?”

She tapped her finger on her chin, thought about it for a moment, but ultimately declined anything.

“No,” She shook her head. “I do appreciate you doing this for us, though, Ava. You’ve given me more time to actually care for the children rather than spend my days trying to scrounge up supplies and food with our lack of staff.”

I nodded at her praise, “You’ve created a home here that the children love. A lot of other institutions aren’t as caring as you.”

Mrs. Hudson waved me out the door with a smile, “You flatter me too much, run along now.”

I giggled at her words, got into my car, and checked the first thing on the list. Cherry, a little girl, wanted some strawberry ice cream from the store. A few other items on the list were just grocery-related treats.

I decided to head to the grocery store first, and check what was wanted by the other children and what their items were later.

There was no rush for me, not when it was my car and my time that I was wasting away by running so many errands.

I drove along, still giddy over my latest gift from Ethan and newfound sense of freedom.

Ethan even stayed true to his word; he hadn’t bought me a single other present after the car. He dialed down the flowers and the extravagant dinners, and I actually really appreciated it.

I was worried he wouldn’t cease with the presents. Since he did, though, I knew he actually valued my requests.

It made my stomach warm with affection.

I was at a redlight, waiting for it to turn green, when I got a call from Olivia asking me if I was going to the store. She was requesting I pick up microwave popcorn for her and Mars’ movie night. I agreed as the light turned green.

A car whizzed in front of me, completely blowing their redlight.

I jumped, but luckily I hadn’t started moving yet. If I had I surely would’ve been hit.

I let out a nervous laugh, relief flooding my body as I pressed the gas to go forward. Once I made it to the middle of the intersection, I saw bright white lights in my peripheral vision coming from the left side.

I turned my head to look, only to see a giant SUV barreling towards me at excessive speed. They didn’t look like they were going to be stopping.

I barely had time to gasp as I was jerked to the side and I heard the grotesque sound of crunching metal.

I was hit.