Chapter 102: Dylan’s twin sister, Lilianna.
When Ava finally woke up, it was well past noon. She had been so restless the night before that she had turned to sleeping pills, desperate for an escape from her swirling thoughts. But now, the harsh sunlight flooding through the window made her realize how late it was.
"Damn it," she muttered, squinting against the brightness as she tossed the blanket aside. "What time is it?" Sitting up sluggishly, she reached for her phone, only to have it buzz loudly in her hand, startling her.
She almost dropped the phone but managed to catch it just in time, and her eyes widened as she saw the caller ID.
"Lilianna!" she murmured, feeling a warmth stir within her.
It was Dylan’s twin sister, the only person in the entire Brooks family who had treated her with genuine warmth. All thoughts of bitterness vanished momentarily as she quickly answered.
"Hello?" Her voice was thick with sleep, but a genuine smile softened her features.
"Still in bed at this hour?" Lilianna asked, sounding surprised. "Did Dylan keep you up all night? Or did he do something to annoy you again?"
Ava’s smile faded at the mention of Dylan. She hadn’t yet told Lilianna about their separation; in fact, she wasn’t sure if Lilianna knew anything about what had happened between them. She braced herself, deciding it might be time to be honest.
"What a wonderful surprise, Lilianna," she said, doing her best to keep her tone light. "It’s been way too long since we’ve spoken."