After a few hours of being to herself and cursing her fate, Ava was determined to punish Agnes and Matt for what they did to her and her unborn baby. She gently got out of bed but staggered a little. Her legs haven't moved for a month after she fell into a coma.

Luckily, she didn't injure her spine from that fall or break any major bones. The old maid saw her trying to move but rushed forward to stop her.

"No ma'am, tell me if you need anything and I'll get it for you.."

"I want to leave." Her eyes were red and swollen. She shrugged off the maid's hold on her and took a step forward only to stop after the door opened.

The intimidating dark and tall figure strode into the room. His grey eyes pinned on her little and slender frame, he moved his head a little gesturing for the maid to leave.

After she did, he settled his gaze back on Ava.

"Who are you? I need to leave this minute.."

"I'm Ryan, Ryan Manchester. And also your savior" He proudly declared.

Ava's lips parted. His last name was very familiar, if she wasn't mistaken, then he is Matt's uncle. The same one who she heard was the black sheep of the Manchester's family.

"And you can't leave, You're dead and you've even been buried.." He continued.

Ava was left confused at his words, she pinched herself just to confirm if she was truly dead or the man before her had hit his head somewhere before now.

"W-hat do you mean by that? I need to go see Matt!" She snapped at him, she stubbornly tried to walk past him only for him to get a hold of her arm.

"Everyone including your husband thinks you're dead and your burial was held a month ago. So what do you think is going to happen if you go back to your husband when you're meant to be dead?"

Ava was even more confused about everything, she finally relaxed and allowed Ryan guide her back to the bed. He made her seat and he took the next empty spot beside her.

"Who pushed you off that terrace? I know someone tried to kill you and not suicide like the Cops claimed it to be.." His voice low and tender. He pinned his gaze on her. "You're the only one who can get them punished.."

Ava's gaze dropped to her clasped hands, the last thing she wanted was to be around the direct family member of the man who had tried to kill her.

"W-hy do you want to know that? How am I sure that you're not going to try to kill me too?"

Ryan chuckled. "I wouldn't have sat beside your bed everyday, or hope for you to wake up if I wanted to kill you." he paused. "So, Ava. Tell me everything I need to know.."

Ava lifted her head up to face him, she could see the sincerity and honesty lurking behind those grey orbs.

"M-att and Agnes pushed me.."

She spent the next twenty minutes giving every details to him. She noticed that he was constantly staring at his phone whenever she spoke. "Are you recording our conversation?" She inquired, a string of doubt settling in her mind.

"You don't have to worry about that. Leave this all to me.."

Ava stood to her feet when he did the same, she reached her hand to his arm to stop him from leaving. "What are you going to do to them? This is my fight, I think it's right if I'm the one to carry out my revenge on them.."

There was a sudden stretch on Ryan's lips. He tilted his head to the side.

"You want revenge on my nephew and I have every resources to give you your desired revenge but it comes with a price.."

Ava gulped down, there was nothing more pricey than the child that she already lost in this battle. "Name it.." She dared.

Ryan's brows shot up, he leaned down a bit to stare at her more closely. She looked innocent yet fetish and a bit conniving. "How old are you?" he asked, although he already knew how old she was.

"It's rude to ask a lady for her age.." She snapped. "By the way, I'm 24.."

"You'll be 25 in the next two months.." Ryan pointed out. "Let's get married. You want revenge and I want a wife to escape my arranged marriage.."

Ava stared at his outstretched palm, this means that she was given only seconds to think about a decision. She doesn't have anything attached to her maiden name. She was only where she is today because she got married to a rich man, now a wealthy man was asking her to be his wife.

"You can think about my offer for the rest of today, I'll respect whatever answer you give-

"I accept your terms. Let's get married.." Ava cut in sharply.

****

Few days later..

The double doors to the large living room was pushed open by two maids. They bowed their head accordingly to acknowledge the presence of their master and his woman.

Ryan's father had proposed a lunch meeting to discuss family related matters. Ryan knew quite well that his father only called for this meeting to discuss about his arranged marriage.

"Young master, come this way. Your father and the rest have been waiting for your arrival.." The old butler ushered with a smile but as soon as he saw the lady standing next to Ryan, his face turned white instantly.

Ava noticed his reaction. "Come," She heard Ryan say before he took her by her hand. Although he had already informed her about her fake death, the butler's reaction was so hard to ignore.

They both followed behind the butler who was shaking in fright like he had seen a ghost even though he's literally seeing on right now.

"Ah, son. I thought you won't be able to make it here today."

The older man chirped. His almost grey hair was neatly kept, his eyes held the same hue as his son Ryan, he looked like the older version of his son. He opened his arm for his son and surprisingly, Ryan walked in to honor his father.

He received a gentle pat on his back and stepped back. And that was the moment Eric noticed the lady who came with his son. He was left speechless.

"I believe I haven't introduced you to Mia yet. This is Mia Manchester, my new wife.."

Ava smiled sweetly at her father-in-law. She brought her hand forward for a handshake but he didn't budge, he was still in so much shock from the look on his face.

"It's nice to meet you father-in-law, Ryan has said so much about you.."

Meanwhile..

In one of the rooms in the Manchester's ancestral home, Matt pulled away from Agnes, he pulled up his pants and buckled his belt.

Still panting slightly, his gaze settled on her body which was barely cladded.

"You are gonna be the end of me, you know that right?" He grinned as he picked up his suit jacket from the bed.

"Oh fuck, yeah!" Agnes murmured sitting up on the bed, she reached for her black gown on the bed and began putting it on. "Zip me up.." She stood before Matt and the latter fondled with her zipper until he got it right. "I wonder what your uncle looks like, do you think he'll like me well enough for you?"

Matt scoffed. "You mean Uncle Ryan? The chances of him coming over is very slim. It's almost like stealing the eiffel tower"

There was a rasp knock on the door before it was pushed open. It was Mrs Chase, Matt's mother and also Ryan's older sister.

"What are you two doing? Your uncle has arrived and I heard he came with a woman. Come on, let's go pretend to be happy downstairs.."

Matt and Agnes exchanged glances. The Eiffel tower can be stolen after all.

****

Eric finally snapped out of his daze, he shakily brought his finger to point at Ava whose smile hasn't faded yet. "H-how is it possible? S-he's dead!" He finally found the voice to speak.

"Uncle Ryan," Matt called out. A deep fake smile stretched on his lips. "It's been a while, I had no idea that you would be able to make it here today.."

Ryan didn't budge or respond to his nephew's greetings. He waited until Matt walked to stand before him. "I see you haven't progressed since the last time I saw you. I also heard about the death of your wife, it seems she couldn't keep up with your behavior so she committed suicide.." Ryan paused. "That's pretty nasty" he continued.

Matt's face fell immediately, he should have known any better. His uncle had never stopped back from saying spiteful comments about him.

"But uncle-

"Have you paid greetings to your aunt yet? Or should I spank your ass in front of everyone?"

Matt was confused at first, he knew his uncle was still single, the lunch was even set up to talk about his marriage. Just before he could retort, his eyes fell on the feminine hand outstretched to him.

"Hi, I'm Mia. Your uncle's new wife. It's a pleasure to finally meet you..Kiddo" Ava said softly with a bright smile on her lips.

Matt, Agnes and Anna were left in a state of shock for more than a minute until the two ladies screamed their lungs out.

"G-host!"

"What is going on, honey?" Ava lifted her head to Ryan with a soft and innocent look on her face. "Why do they all think that I'm a dead person? Is there something that you're not telling me?"

Ryan shook his head gently. "Don't stress yourself with minor things like this. Come, let's get your belly filled."

The four souls in the living room watched the two leave for the dining room, it was only at that moment they finally snapped out of their shock.

"M-att, I'm not the only one that saw Ava right?" Agnes stuttered, her face was all sweaty and her eyes wide open in fright.

"No, it can't be. We buried Ava a month ago, she must be rotting under the ground by now. That lady has amber eyes but Ava's eyes are brown." Anna tried to give herself some hope. "But why would Ryan get himself a wife that looks like his nephew's late wife?!" Anna snapped.

"To haunt us.." Agnes whispered, she immediately cleared her throat on seeing the old man present there. "I mean, there's a possible explanation to this, I'm sure of that." She corrected herself but deep down, her anxiety was growing.

For Ryan to appear with a woman who looks like the late Ava, it means that he knows something. Something only her, Matt and Anna should know about.

The dining room was oddly quiet, all eyes were on Ava who was eating away on her meal. It was obvious from the way they looked at her that they were having certain doubts about reality. She does look like the late Ava but not the same eyes and hair.

Her eyes and hair could be altered too but they all watched her coffin lowered into her grave a month ago. So it wasn't possible, Eric seemed to have gotten out of his shock completely. He had no reason to fear anymore since he didn't kill Ava, only those who did couldn't shake off the lurking fear no matter how they tried.

"The least you could have done is to invite us to your wedding. I know we fight over minor things but I'm still your father and being a part of your wedding is my fatherly right.."

"No" Ryan denied, although he was talking to his father, his eyes lingered on Ava who was eating. He brushed her hair behind her ear carefully. "It's my wedding and only I can choose who to honor my invite or not. Clearly, you weren't part of the people I wanted there.." He completed his sentence with a deep breath.

"Then where did you find her? You actually brought a lady who looks exactly like my late wife and took her as your wife! Why?" he asked. "To mock me? And i'm sure the bitch already knows this before she chose to marry you!" Matt snapped throwing his gaze to Ava.

Before Anna could stop her son from speaking back to his uncle, the deed was already done. She held his hand under the table and gave it a tight squeeze. The table was now silent and Ava raised her head slightly to Ryan.

His eyes darkened. "Get up," he said calmly only to see Matt hesitate. "I said, get your fucking ass up!" He roared. The table shook along with the sound of his voice, not only Matt was shaken at that moment, every one of them was.

Matt looked briefly over to his mother for help as he moved his chair backwards. He stood up and swallowed when he met his uncle's gaze. He watched his uncle stand too and gently pulled his wife up.

"Come over here.." He ordered.

Anna panicked at once, she stood on her feet shaking her head slowly. "He is my son, Ryan. Don't do anything that you might regret later on.."

"And she is also my wife" Ryan said. Once Matt pulled in closer, his face fell to the other side after receiving a slap from his uncle. "And he must learn how to respect his elders. Most especially his aunt..!" he fired.

"Ryan!" Anna snapped.

"Now kneel and tender an apology to your aunt. And after you're done, kiss her feet." Ryan ordered.

"That's insane, Ryan." Anna murmured, she turned to Eric immediately. "Father, say something to him. He can't treat my son as he pleases!"

Eric remained quiet.

"I'm sure it was a mistake. Please spare him this once.." Agnes pleaded.

It seemed like Ryan was waiting for her to speak before he pounced. He snapped his head to her quickly. "Join him!"

Ava watched with Interest, she had a little smile on her lips as she saw Agnes face go pale. The latter left her seat and stood next to Matt.

"Don't make me whip you both.." Ryan warned.

As soon as they heard his words, they both fell on their knees with their forehead kissing the floor.

"I deeply regret my words, Mia and I hope-

"Aunt!" Ryan corrected before Matt could tender his apology.

"I'm sorry Aunt for the way I spoke to you. Please forgive me.." He moved closer to her right foot and was about to kiss it only for Ava to move it away.

"Not this one," She stretched out her left foot. "This one.."

Although enraged, he had no other choice than to fulfill his aunt's orders otherwise he'd get into a tight space with his uncle. Agnes followed suit and kissed Ava on her left foot.

"You may rise." Ava said.

"If this happens again, you'll do more than just kissing her feet. Now both of you, go prepare the master's bedroom for my wife. She's tired and would like to rest.."

Matt gave a firm nod to his uncle before leaving the dining room with Agnes.

"What is the meaning of this, Ryan? My son is not a servant and you-

"Trust me sis, you might be older but I'll certainly punish you if you don't keep your mouth shut! You've raised a fool rather than a son, the fool can't even zip up properly." Ryan paused for a second. "He's fucking another woman just a month after his wife's demise. Shameless!"

"And you're fucking someone who looks like your nephew's wife! You're the shameless one here, Ryan!"

Ryan looked briefly over to Ava standing next to him. "Honey, go up to the room. I'll join you shortly.."

Ava gave a nod before walking away. As soon as she was gone a distance, she could hear the sound of glass breaking. Almost as if someone had flipped the dining table over.

****

"It can't be her, Matt. We killed her and the doctor even confirmed her death! We saw her lifeless body on that theatre table and we saw her buried and covered up with dirt!" Agnes argued.

Matt pinched the space between his brows, he has no idea of what to think. She looked like Ava, but he has always known her to be a soft and naive lady before her death. That lady out there wasn't behaving like the woman he knew.

"My uncle already met Ava once or twice, so he knows about her. But why did he suddenly get married? And also to a woman who looks like Ava? Something's fishy.."

"I hate her already! He made us bow and kiss her feet. And I'm very sure that he'll be against us getting married too"

The door was swung open which startled them, they began to pretend like they were arranging the bed thinking that it was Ryan coming in but to their surprise, it was Ava.

"Hmm..nice room." Ava said softly as she looked around. "I thought that you would be done by now. Make it snappy, my feet are getting tired, it must be the bacteria from your mouths that's making it weak.." She mocked.

Ava walked calmly to the bed and took a seat, she raised her head up to find the two staring at her.

"Do we look like servants to you?!" Matt snapped.

"Oh, I thought you were servants. Wasn't that the reason my husband asked you both to make my bed for me?"

Matt closed the gap between them, he made an attempt to speak but Ava stood to her feet immediately.

"Your mum is getting her ass wacked downstairs don't make me call my husband on you too. I bet you this time that you'd definitely do more than just kissing my feet..I'll make sure you eat my shit instead" Ava threatened.

"You-

His words ran back down his throat when he saw the door open and his uncle stepping in.

"What is going on here?"

Ava snapped her head to the door with a sad look on her face. She touched her neck and shook her head slowly which had Ryan freezing the room with his cold glare.

Ryan closed the gap between them and scooped Ava into his arms. His eyes fell on the two who were stricken with fear and confusion in their eyes.

"What did they do to you? Tell me!" He snapped. A million and one thoughts running through his mind on what to do to them if they really did say or do something to Ava.

Ava lifted her head, her eyes red and teary. "No Ryan, I don't want you to get in trouble for hurting them."

Ryan's jaw clenched, the more her eyes watered, the worse his anger rose. He brought his finger under her chin and raised her head up to stare into her eyes.

"Mia, tell me.." He urged through clenched teeth.

Ava sniffed bringing her finger under her eyelids to wipe her fake tears.

"Uh..He said that I'm a bitch who is set out to destroy you and he won't mind slitting my throat if he gets the chance. And She supported his words before trying to choke me to death.. luckily you arrived just on time or i'd have been dead by now"

Agnes and Matt's jaw dropped in shock. They exchanged brief glances before snapping their heads to Ryan who was now glaring lasers at them.

"W-hat?" Matt stuttered. "No uncle, that's not true! This bitch is a liar!"

Ryan stepped away from Ava and approached the two. "The only way you'd ever learn to have respect for your aunt is only if you're punished greatly.."

Matt wasn't done processing his uncle's words before he dropped to the ground after a hit at the back of his head.

"Matt!" Agnes screamed out in shock as she reached down to Matt laying flat on his belly on the floor. When he didn't budge, she slowly raised her head up.

She caught the smirk on Ava's lips which had her boiling in anger. Her jaw tightened.

"Ryan," Ava called softly, she held his arm and pushed him away from Matt and Agnes slightly. "This is what I was scared of. I was scared that you'd lost your temper this way and now look.." she pointed to Matt on the floor. "You killed him.."

"He is not dead, unfortunately." Ryan gritted. He pulled out his phone from his pocket and raised it to his ear.

A few minutes later, some men burst in through the door and at Ryan's gesture, they grabbed Agnes and Matt.

"W-here are you taking me to? I'm sorry, I shouldn't have spoken that way to Aunt.."

Agnes pleas fell on deaf ears, she was dragged out of the room like a bag of nothing. Silence returned to the room once more.

"Are they going to be okay?" Ava inquired.

"Not exactly.." He smirked. "You've had a long day, have a rest. I have some work to do.."

"What? You're leaving?" Ava asked, her eyes clouded in worry.

Ryan heaved a deep breath, he pulled off his suit jacket and loosened his tie. "If you want me to stay behind, just give the word.."

"I want you to stay.." She replied almost immediately.

The truth was that she was scared of staying alone with these people who wanted her dead. Whatever she was doing to them right now, they deserved a hundred folds of it.

"As you wish.."

****

As promised, Ryan stayed behind for Ava's sake. He watched her closely as she took a nap on the bed. His eyes trailed her luscious hair sprawled on the pillow to her face which was relaxed.

He picked his glass of whiskey and brought it to his lips. A sip in, he was able to digest his long look at her.

It still felt surreal to him, the woman whom he had stalked and loved for years was right before him, napping under his sheets.

His phone rang on the table before, afraid that he was going to disrupt her sleep, he answered the call right away and excused himself to the balcony.

"I thought we both agreed not to contact each other anymore, what do you want now?" he took a glance back to the room. "I'm busy right now.."

Yes! Busy staring at his woman's sleeping face.

A low hiss left his lips, he was forced to disconnect the call. By the time he returned back to the room, he was surprised to see Ava up, she was curled up with both knees to her chest.

Her face was sweaty and her breathing was uneven. She looked scared, almost like she had a bad dream.

Ryan understood what was wrong with her at once, he tossed his phone to the couch and rushed to the bed.

"Ava.. are you alright?"

He scooped her into his arms and made her place her head on his shoulder. Her hands went around him instantly and her sobs gradually died down.

"I don't wanna die. They are going to push me down from the terrace.. I'm scared"

Ryan's grip on her tightened, he pulled her closer to himself and planted a kiss on her forehead.

"Shh..I'm right here with you, no one is going to harm you.." He cooed, he stroked her back tenderly until she relaxed in his arms. "Just take a deep breath.."

Ryan lost count of how many hours he spent with her cuddled up in his arms. He wasn't comfortable with his posture but he didn't want to disturb her sleep so he endured the pain in his lower back and neck for her sake.

After Ava woke up from her coma, she wakes up at odd hours screaming. Her nightmares were as a result of her fall. That scene where Matt released his grip on her and left her to fall always gets to her.

The doctor handling her case said it was nothing to worry about, with time she'll recover from the trauma.

But that doesn't seem like it, it pains him to know that the people who tried to kill her were walking around freely like nothing happened. While she's the one suffering from the fall.

"I'm going to make them suffer for what they did to you. And when I'm done with them, I'll make them choose a worse fate than death itself.." he whispered to himself.

He slowly reached for the pillow behind her and gently, he guided her back to the bed. He sighed in relief as he massaged his nape that hurt from sitting in a wrong posture for too long.

Ryan pulled the sheets over her and left for the bathroom.

Not too long after he left, the door opened again and a figure crept in. Anna's eyes scanned the room, she noticed Ryan wasn't in sight. Her eyes fell on Ava's sleeping figure on the bed.

She wanted to confirm her suspicion, the real Ava should have a scar on her belly as a result of the stab wound which took the life of her unborn baby.

If this lady doesn't have the scar, then she'd believe that this was Mia and not Ava.

She tiptoed to the bed and surprisingly, she heard the door to the bathroom open. Turning on her heels, she came face to face with her brother.