One Day 62

Chapter Sixty–Two 

Ava’s POV 

“Sheila!” I screamed. “Sheila, it’s Aunt Ava! Baby, say something!” 

No response. 

+25 Points 

Then, rustling. It came from somewhere close. My heart leapt. Please let it be her. But instead, a tall shadow emerged from behind a thick tree trunk. I gasped in shock, stumbling backward and landing hard on the forest floor. 

The sun glared behind the figure hovering over me, casting them in silhouette. But I could tell it was a man from his tall and broad figure. 

Then…. 

“Ava?” 

I froze. That voice. That deep, familiar voice. 

Kyle? 

What the hell? 

Weeks had passed since the transplant, since I stood outside that hospital room and watched him hold Zareon again before the transplant. I’d allowed it, for just a few minutes. That was the deal. Then I had left, without looking back, without a goodbye. I did my part, and he was going to be fine. That was all that mattered. 

But now, here he was? 

“What the hell…” I scrambled to my feet, ignoring his outstretched hand. “What are you doing here?” 

He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, his eyes narrowed. 

“What are you doing here? And who’s Sheila?” 

It hit me then. Sheila. I was searching for her. 

“Sheila,” I repeated. “She’s Phoenix’s daughter. She’s missing.” 

Without another word, or even waiting for one, I turned and ran deeper into the woods, calling her name. 

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“Sheila!” 

“Sheila!” 

+25 Points 

There was no response. Leaves rustled as the trees swayed to the wind’s tune. The clouds thickened, and thunder rumbled softly in the distance. 

It’s going to rain soon. Sheila must be found before then. 

However, Kyle didn’t leave. Instead, he followed, calling her name too. I tried to ignore him, letting the search drown out his presence. But the deeper we went, the more hopeless it felt. No matter how loudly we yelled or how far we went, the woods offered no answer we wished 

to hear. 

“I don’t think she would’ve come this far,” Kyle said behind me, halting. 

He had a point. Sheila was seven. No child should have made it this deep unless she got completely lost. But in a place and with a weather like this, where every direction looks the same, anything was possible. Sheila could have run in here to throw a tantrum and might have gotten lost with all the paths looking the same. Nothing can be ruled out. And I had asked Phoenix before we departed to call me if they found her. 

I pulled out my phone. Still no call from Phoenix. No updates. That meant Sheila was still 

missing. 

“I’m not stopping. She could be anywhere; all I need to do is search.” I muttered. “You don’t need to follow me. Thanks for the concern.” 

Without meeting his gaze, I turned and walked past him. But seconds later, I heard his footsteps behind me again. 

Still, I didn’t look back. I ignored his brooding presence, the scent of saffron, amberwood, and cedar on his skin, focusing on the questions that brewed in my mind. 

Why is he even here? 

It’s been just three weeks since the transplant. Shouldn’t he still be recovering or something? Should he even be out here? 

But those questions weren’t mine to ask. I’d already given too much. I had caved to his family’s manipulation just to protect my conscience. What he did with his life now wasn’t my problem. 

My chest tightened, and I groaned under my breath, hastening my tracks and calling Sheila’s name louder, anything to silence my thoughts. 

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+25 Points 

As minutes passed, the wind began to pick up. The sky grew darker. Still no sight of Sheila or a call from Phoenix. My anxiety spiked, tangled with exhaustion. Sheila wasn’t here. That much was obvious, or we would have found her long ago. 

Where could she be then? 

“The network’s bad,” Kyle murmured beside me. I glanced down. One bar, meaning no service. My heart dropped. I hadn’t even noticed that until now. What if Phoenix had found her, and I’d tried reaching out to me, but I didn’t know because there was no network all along? I mentally groaned. And what if it’s the opposite? What if she hadn’t even tried to reach me because 

Sheila hadn’t been found? 

“We should go back,” he added. “It’s getting darker, and with the way the wind is picking up fast, it shows it would rain any moment from…. 

“Did I ask you to stay?” I snapped, my voice sharp. 

He looked taken aback, his lips parted in astonishment. 

“Why do you keep following me when you know your acts of service weren’t from your mind? Why pretend to care?” 

Silence. 

“If you’re doing this because you felt bad for your lies, then it’s not needed. You can leave 

now.” 

Before he could respond, my phone buzzed. 

I looked at it to see a message from Phoenix. 

The network’s bad. We’ve found Sheila. If you see this, get back please. She’s okay. 

Relief spread over me, dissolving all the anger. I closed my eyes, breathing out. 

“Has she been found?” Kyle asked quietly, as if scared I might snap again. 

With a nod, I said breathlessly. “Yes, Phoenix just texted.” 

“Thank God… Oh, shit….” 

The sky split open. And in a second, rain fell hard and fast, drenching us in seconds. Without waiting, we ran towards the direction of the villas, feet slapping hard against the wet earth, the lightning the only light in the dark woods. 

The thick trees sheltered us a little, but not enough. We were soaked in minutes. 

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+25 Points 

Just as we almost stepped out of the tree path, I stepped on a wet rock, and my foot slipped. I yelped, bracing for a fall, but strong hands caught me before I did. 

I landed against a hard chest, his arms around my waist. 

But something felt wrong. 

His hands trembled. His body burned with unnatural heat. 

“Kyle?” I twisted to face him, grabbing his hand. The light from the villas broke through the trees, casting a pale glow across his face, making my stomach freeze. 

His skin was pale, and his eyes were hooded, with his soaked hair clinging to his forehead. 

I brought my hand to his forehead, then to the exposed part of his neck, and gasped as it was scorching hot. 

“You’re burning up,” I whispered. “You have a fever.” 

“I’m fine,” he rasped, trying to push my hand away. 

“No, you’re not,” I snapped. “You’re shaking and burning. You need to get out of the rain now.” 

I turned back toward the villas up front. There is just one small and cozy cabin not too far ahead, half hidden by the trees, but I doubt the owner would be willing to share it for a few moments before the rain stops, nor does it look accommodating. 

“Where is your villa?” I asked. “We need to get you out of the rain before you freeze.” 

He didn’t react. I didn’t expect him to. 

“There,” he said, pointing to the same cabin. 

“That’s yours?” I blinked. “That one?” 

He nodded. “Yes, that one. You can stay until the rain stops.” 

And just like that, he walked ahead, his posture stiff, but his steps firm. 

I followed, more confused than ever. 

Not like the cabin was shabby, but it was small and nothing like what I would expect a billionaire like him to stay in. 

The cabin was small and rustic as expected, but it was surprisingly warm and clean. The moment we stepped inside, he tossed me a towel, then proceeded to peel off his drenched jacket. 

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Chapter Sixty–Two 

+25 Points 

I averted my eyes immediately, turning my gaze to the fireplace. But the rustling of clothes, his trousers zipping down, echoed loudly over the crackling fireplace and the hammering of my pulse. And as if that wasn’t enough taunts, images start forming in my head. 

“You should be resting,” I squeaked, trying to distract myself. “Not holed up in a secluded 

cabin in the middle of nowhere.” 

“I couldn’t stay in that hospital,” he replied quietly. “I was losing my mind. I needed air and some me time. There’s a hospital nearby I check into when I need to.” 

He moved behind me, then held out a white shirt with faint blue stripes. 

“You should change. You’ll get sick if you stay in that wet dress.” 

I stared at it. 

I used to wear his clothes all the time. More than I wore my own. But the thought of doing it again felt… wrong. And yet, strangely comforting. 

“It’s new.” He said. “I haven’t worn it if you need to know.” Then cleared his throat awkwardly when he saw I wasn’t going to say anything to that. “I’ll be back. I need to take my medicines. 

” 

He disappeared into another room while I changed. By the time he returned, I was seated by the fire. 

“Thank you,” he said softly. 

I half turned in my seat to stare at him. 

He stood behind me, hands in his pockets, his gaze on mine. 

“And I’m sorry.” He said again. 

“For what?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. 

“Thank you 

you for everything. For bringing Zareon and allowing him to do the transplant, even though I had lied to you. After everything… I couldn’t imagine you staying.” 

Silence. 

I noticed he took his father’s blame, making it seem like he was the mastermind, but that wasn’t 

my concern. Just thinking about that made the fire burn in my stomach again. 

I returned my gaze to the door. 

When will the damn rain stop? 

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+25 Points 

“And I’m sorry for everything.” He continued regardless. “For all the pain I’ve caused you. For not being the man I should’ve been. For breaking you in such a cruel way.” 

I didn’t respond. What’s the point? 

He inhaled deeply, his voice trembling. “I know it’s too late, Ava, but I need to tell you everything from where it all went wrong.” 

“I don’t wish to hear it. It’s already too late for that, Kyle. What’s the point now?” 

“I know, but just give me the chance to tell you all of it.” 

And so, he told me everything. 

About the night it all went wrong. About the result of it and his decisions that led to our separation. 

He said he didn’t remember the transition that night. And maybe he truly didn’t. I don’t know what to believe. But I listened. Because I also had a part in it. 

When Regina started throwing tantrums about pairing Kyle up with random women on blind dates, Kyle had been so angry that he went against his mother’s wishes and left most of the dates standing. Regina had felt humiliated and furious, but instead of directing that anger at her married son, she came for me instead. 

Then, I was too weak to fight or say anything, so I made Kyle obey his mom. I made him promise to stay with his dates, just to honor his mother, because I knew he was faithful to me. But I never thought that would lead him to do something like that. 

When he finished, an awkward silence fell over us. 

“It’s too late, Kyle,” I whispered, my back still turned to him. “You broke something in me that can’t be fixed. And now there’s nothing left.” 

“I know,” he murmured. “But I’d give anything to go back. I’d spend the rest of my life trying to 

undo it.” 

I scoffed. “That’s…” 

I turned, and my words died in my throat. He was inches from me. I hadn’t even noticed him 

move. 

The air shifted, and my eyes dropped to his lips before I could stop them. As if he knew what was going on in my mind, he licked his lips, and hell, did I feel my insides go hot with desire. 

He leaned in slowly, his hand cupping my face, and that was when I broke free from the 

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effect. 

I jerked away, scrambling backward. 

He froze, his hand suspended mid–air. 

A long moment passed. 

Then, softly, he said, “You should rest.” 

+25 Points>> 

And just like that, he disappeared into the other room, leaving me there, facing the glow of 

the fire, wondering what the hell had come over me.