Chapter 3: The rebirth
Ava arrived at her father's house and found him in the study, her heart pounding as she laid eyes on him. The sight of her father, alive and well, sitting at his desk with a file in hand, overwhelmed her with emotions. She couldn't stop her tears from falling.
Hearing the creak of the door, Thomas glanced up. He was pleasantly surprised to see his daughter.
"Ava! Is that really you?" The delight was evident in his tone.
"Papa!" Ava choked, rushing across the room and throwing herself into his arms like she had when she was a child.
Thomas's heart sank as he heard her sob. "Why are you crying, Ava? Did anyone say something to you? Did Dylan make you sad?"
The mention of Dylan made her mood even more bitter. Ava instantly stopped sobbing. She didn't want to think about that man, let alone talk about him.
"I just missed you a lot." She wiped away her tears with the back of her hand, trying to steady herself. "I haven't been the daughter you deserved all these years. I neglected you. I didn't take care of you like I should have. But I want to rectify my mistakes."
Her voice regained steadiness as she met his gaze. "You've always wanted me to support you in the business. Well, I'm ready now. I'll join the company and work alongside you."
In her past life, she had foolishly handed over her shares of Williams Holdings to Dylan, trusting him blindly. But not this time. This time, she would fight to protect her father, their company, and their legacy. Dylan wouldn't get a second chance to ruin everything.
Thomas blinked, clearly moved by her words, but he could see the change in Ava that had been missing in the past year. It was as if she had resumed the confidence she used to have before marrying Dylan.
He smiled, appreciating the change in her. "That's awesome. I'm proud of you. But before you make any decisions, you'll need to talk with Dylan."