Ava tried maintaining a calm breath as Damon parked the car at the Holmes's manor. As they get out of the car, Ava realized that it has been a pretty much long time since she last saw this towering structure and nothing seems to have changed.
At the entrance of the door, a familiar face is waiting for the both of them and Damon walked forward to embrace the woman.
Nothing has changed since the last time Ava laid eyes on Priscilla and although they weren't in good terms, she knew it is because of Ethan.
"What is Ethan's wife doing with you?" Priscilla asked as soon as they broke away from the hug.
"Mom lets go inside, there is a lot to discuss."
"No, I need an answer Damon. I can't believe you chose this woman over everyone else. You have been absent from this anniversary for the past two years and it is disappointing to see that she is the reason."
Ava did not like her choice of words, but there is little she could say about it. She remained silent and allow Damon do the talking.
"Fine, Ethan cheated on her and she had nowhere to stay. I helped her secure a place in New York city."
Priscilla's eyes travelled down to the baby in Ava's hand and her eyes widened in disbelief.
"Did you…?
"No mom! This is Ethan's child and I am pretty sure he is not aware that he even has a child." Damon explained.
Priscilla took a moment to look at Ava, who has been nervous all through their discussion.
"Very well then, welcome home." She said, her smile returning to her face.
Damon helped Ava into the living room, where other members of the Holmes sat discussing amongst themselves.
She is glad that no one raised any questions.
"Damon."
They all look up to the stairs. Lord Christopher walked down majestically and Damon goes to meet his father, embracing him in a warm hug.
"What is wrong with you? You chose to separate yourself from this family for the past two years. That is wrong." He commented.
Lord Christopher turned his attention to Ava and a hint of recognition showed up on his face. He pointed to her direction.
"Remind me where I have seen this face again?" He asked, snapping his finger and trying to recall.
"Ethan's supposed wife called Ava." Priscilla replied.
"Ava! What is she doing here? And where is Ethan?" He asked.
"Well father, Ava is with me now and not with Ethan." There is a couple of whispers and murmuring from the rest of the Holmess.
"You took Ethan's wife?" Lord Christopher asked, staring at his son in disbelief.
"I did not take Ethan's wife father, the whole situation is quite complicated and I believe mother will explain it better to you."
There is a brief silence with Lord Christopher and afterwards he shrugged. He placed his hands on Damon shoulders.
"Regardless, I am happy you are back. Come everyone, lunch is ready." Lord Christopher announced to the rest of the family members.
As Ava walked with Damon to the dinning table, she begins to worry about what a certain man is going to say and more question is why he hasn't arrived yet.
*
When Ethan stepped into the living room, the smell of turkey filled up his nose and even though he hates to admit it, he missed Priscilla's cooking.
He handed his car keys to the chauffeur and walked towards the dinning room, where he expects his family members to be.
"Sorry I am late, I got stuck up in a traf….." He could not complete his word, his leg froze out of the shock of seeing Ava seated beside Damon.
"Great to see you are back son!" Lord Christopher said excitedly.
"What is going on here?" Ethan asked, pulling off his suit. "Can someone explain to me how my wife is seated in the midst of Damon?" He added.
"That is because she came with me." Damon revealed with a smile on his face.
Ava begins to panic, seeing the slow anger raising up in the eyes of Ethan.
"She came with you? I don't understand this nonsense you are talking about. Why will my own wife be with you Damon?"
"Ethan,"
"No father! I don't want to sit down, I demand an explanation. Ava, what are you doing with him?"
A baby cried besides Ava and she turned her attention to the child, trying to stop him from crying any further.
Ethan's eyes widened as Ava is tending to the child and trying to feed it with breast milk.
"You have a child!" He asked.
"That is why I asked you to calm down. You are getting all worked up over nothing." Lord Christopher revealed.
Ethan looked at his father and then at Ava, who tried as much as she could not to look into his eyes. He sat down beside one of his cousin.
There is a tensed silence in the dinning table after Ethan is handed a plate of turkey. He had completely lost his appetite to continue eating his meal.
Ava on the other hand could not eat her meal. She could feel Ethan's eyes boring holes into her forehead. She handed her baby over to Damon.
"I need to use to the rest room" She said and stood up from the dinning table.
Ava made her way to the guest restroom and closed the door behind her. She stared at the mirror wondering about her decision. She hated how even after all this years, she could not get a hold of herself around Ethan.
After a minute of trying to take a deep breath, she washed her face and head out the door. Ava paused in her track as she bumped into Ethan.
"What is going on Ava? I need explanations."
"Explanations? I owe you no explanation for my actions Ethan." She replied and tried walking away, but he drew her arms back.
"Why are you with Damon and whose child is that?"
"First of all, my decision to stay with Damon is because you could not stay faithful to our marriage. I left you because despite everything I gave and that includes my body, you lied to me and went out with your model girlfriend."
She tried breaking free from his arm.
"Let me go!" She demanded.
"No Ava, I cannot believe you will do this to us. I made this contract marriage and you broke it."
"I am happy I did because I enjoyed a peace of mind in the past two years. As for the baby, you have no business knowing his father."
She managed to break free from his hand and return back to the dinning table, where everyone is rounding up their meals.
As Ava sat down, she noticed Damon's eyes were on her.
"Are you alright?"
"Yes I am fine." She reassured with a smile.
Few minutes later, Ethan returned back to the dinning table and drop a document on the table, taking everyone off guard.
"It seems this family has always failed to understand the importance of agreement." He begins to speak. "Few years ago, Ava and I signed a contract that prove the validity of our marriage and I demand that my wife be given back to me."
"You forced the contract on me and I am not going to sit why you act like you were all righteous during the few days we spent!"