Getting off the plane, Alex drew in a slow breath. The cool English air filled his lungs.
Home.
The country that held some of his happiest memories... and his greatest regrets."Here goes nothing," he muttered.
A black Aston Martin waited by the curb.
"Welcome back, Sir Alex. Where to?" the driver asked.
"Roses."
The drive was painfully quiet.
Alex rested his head against the seat, his eyes fixed on the passing scenery. Three and a half months.
Three and a half months since he'd last seen Avery.
Would she even want to see him?
Two hours later, the car rolled into Roses, an exclusive community where the wealthy escaped the public eye.
The Aston Martin stopped in front of a light-grey duplex.
Alex stared at the front door for several seconds before stepping out.
Across the estate, Avery lounged on the sofa with a cup of bubble tea, laughing at the comedy playing on television.
Ding-dong.
Her smile faded.
She frowned at the door.
Who could be visiting?
The bell rang again.
"Coming," she called.
She pushed herself off the sofa. Pregnancy had made even simple movements slower than before. Tugging her oversized hoodie over her bump, she shuffled toward the entrance.
Her fingers wrapped around the doorknob.
She pulled the door open.
Time stopped.
Her breath caught.
Standing on the other side...
...was Alex.
She froze when she saw the person at the door.
"Hello.." Alex said.
Avery sucked in her breath. Was she dreaming?
Alex.
At her front door.
Her breathing hitched. How did he find her?
She thought Greyson had everything uncovered.
She slammed the door, trying to escape; however, a hiss filled the air.
Her hand tightened around the doorknob. One hand clunched her chest as she looked through the narrow opening. Avery looked up from the crack of the door.
Her eyes fell on his face before the hand blocking the door.
"Are you c-crazy?"
Alex smiled at her.
"At least the door didn't close."
Avery swallowed the lump in her throat and pulled him inside. She sat him down in the living room and said,
"Wait here while I go for the first aid kit."
Alex nodded at her, which made her raise a brow.
He wasn't going to argue. She stared at him for a while and headed to the kitchen where the first aid kit was.
Alex followed her movement, and his brows furrowed together.
Avery came back to him and took his palm.
"Why are you in an oversized hoodie?"
Avery paused with the cotton she was holding.
She lowered her head and murmured.
"I have my reason."
Avery bit her lower lip as attend to his wound.
Alex's eyes travelled across her body. Something was off.
Her cheeks.
They looked fuller; his eyes traced a little further and froze.
A bump.
There's a bump. How come there's a bump?
It doesn't look like a bump from just eating.
Wait.
Could it be?
"Are you pregnant?"
Avery flinched.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
Alex gritted his teeth. He raised her chin to look at her.
"Avery, don't lie to me. Are you pregnant?"