Saved By Mr CEO

“Ava, get over here now!”

Earlier that evening, Ava Faine received a call from her stepmother, and instantly, she knew that she was about to have another dramatic episode of her life.

“What do you mean you can’t marry him?” Sheila Fowler, her stepmother frowned.

Repeatedly questioned, Ava bowed her head, nervously scribbling her fingers on the worn leather chair opposite her stepmother.

Her legs wobbled against each other forcing her to shift her chair slowly away from her and a mouthful of saliva traveled heavily down her throat.

"Can't you speak!"

“I—I do not like him,” she stuttered, her words breaking fearfully and feeling powerless as ever.

“And you think I care?”

Sheila's hand reached for the bottle of wine on the table, taking a deep gulp straight from it. She winced slightly from the burns as the liquid went down her throat..

"Why do I have to get married to him? He is but a scrawny old man who looked like he'd die anytime. Besides, Beverly should get married before me, she's older.." She complained even when she knew it would only bring her more trouble.

"You dare question me?"

"No I…"

"Shut up!"

"Let's chase her away mom, she's good for nothing."

Beverly chirped in like an annoying bird, but Ava rolled her eyes at her, effectively silencing her. Despite being two years younger, Ava possessed a more formidable physique than Beverly. Anyone seeing them at first glance would assume Ava to be the elder.

"You!" Beverly was pissed off but Sheila cut in.

"Let me handle this Bev" she tugged her shirt.

"Listen to me carefully, you insolent bitch. You either get married to him or pay me 3 million dollars. Other than that, you can kiss this house and your father's savings goodbye."

Five years ago, during Christmas, Ava accompanied her father on a visit to his friend in another city. On their way back, a thunderstorm rattled the plane, causing panic to erupt. The events unfolded rapidly, and when Ava regained consciousness, she found herself in the hospital. It was later revealed that the plane had crashed. When discovered, her father's lifeless body shielded her, absorbing the impact of the wreckage that pierced every part of his body. While suffering from only minor bruises, she survived, but her father did not.

Since then, her life became a living hell. She transformed into a slave in her own house, enduring cruel treatment from her stepmother, who had initially pretended to be kind while her father was alive. However, after his death, her true nature emerged, turning into a devil's incarnate, with her daughter Beverly equally contributing to the torment..

Ava endured the hardship and cruel treatment only because of money her father had saved up for her, a fund she could access only when she turned twenty-one. With just a year to go, all her sacrifices were on the verge of going down the drain, thanks to this ridiculous marriage that loomed ahead.

"You sold me, all because of money?" she asked, her voice trembling with a mixture of disbelief and betrayal.

"What do you expect me to do to settle the debt your father left for me to pay? You are lucky he offered to pay such a high amount for a cheap girl like you even after clearing your father's debt. If he had offered less, I'd still agree," Sheila snorted with disdain.

Ava couldn't believe what she was hearing; the words felt like knives stabbing her tender chest. It was true that Sheila was as evil as they come, but once upon a time, she was a sweet soul, and Ava had loved her like her own mother. However, staring into those cold, dark eyeballs, there seemed to be no iota of pity or love left. All that remained was hatred.

"What have I done so wrong to deserve this from you?" Ava cried.

Sheila rolled her eyes at her and spat.

"For starters, you should have died alongside your father in that crash. That way, I would have inherited everything he had and probably paid off the debt," she paused, her tone dripping with venom. "But no! I was cuffed with the responsibility of caring for a child that was never mine. You are nothing but a pain in the ass."

"But I pay for half of the things in this house and I never bothered you for anything!"

"That's your problem, young lady. You will marry him. Do not question me!" She yelled.

"I won't and that's it!" She ran out, balls of tears streaming down her eyeball.

That was a week ago.

Ava didn't expect the marriage to happen so soon. Powerless against her feisty stepmother, the preparations were rushed, and she didn't get a chance to talk to or give the old man a piece of her mind.

Clad in a glistening, decorated white wedding gown, Ava held the flowers in her hands. Horror dawned on her, and her hand trembled as she saw her stepmother and bratty stepsister seated at the decorated table not too far from the altar.

Beverly's mouth was stuffed with snacks from the table, even though the ceremony had not yet started. Her shameless indulgence only fueled Ava's growing hatred.

Ava glared at her, the intensity of the hate in her heart only grew stronger but she knew she wouldn't be able to do anything in her current state.

The red carpet stretched from the entrance to the altar, each step making Ava's heart beat faster. The reality of the moment was vastly different from what she had imagined.

Taking a deep breath to quell her nervousness, she walked towards the altar with utmost determination. However, as her gaze met the middle-aged man standing in front of her, irritation immediately welled up within her.

It was none other than Gale Edinburgh, the chairman of the company she works at as an intern. He was her father's friend when he was alive and he chose to marry his friend's daughter forcefully because of the money he owed. Ugly and unattractive in every way especially with his gray hair that always looks unkempt no matter how much he spent on it. In Ava's eyes, he certainly looked more like a poor person than he looked rich.

"Smile princess, you'll destroy the makeup. I paid a lot for that." Gale whispered, his lips curled up.

Stretching his hands to meet her, Ava ignored the gesture and moved closer to the altar, positioning herself a little farther away from him.

The priest stepped forward, and coughed to capture everyone's attention.

"It is with utmost delight that we have gathered here to witness and celebrate the union of…."

Everything faded into silence, leaving Ava sucked up in her thoughts. She imagined how her boyfriend, Trent must feel. They were both young but undeniably in love. Two days ago, she was at his place to break the news to him. Both helpless, they cried in each other's arms until Sheila came and forcefully took her.

Ava thought she was well hidden because her stepmother has never met Trent. How she was able to locate her still puzzled her.

Lost in her thought, suddenly a tap from Gale Edinburgh jolted her out of her reverie.

"Will you answer the man?!"

"Huh!"

"Do you, Ava Faine, take Gale Edinburgh as your lovely wedded husband? To cherish…"

"NO!" Ava's yell echoed throughout the building and there was ohhhs from the people expressing shocks.

"What?"

"I won't marry you!"