The Contract

Chapter 176-The Services

I placed the phone over my ear as it rang for the third time but then it went dead. "Easton speaking" the called answered. "Adrian" I said and the place went silent.

"Pearl" he said, his voice now more relaxed, I let out a sigh, moving my hair from my face my hair from my face. "Yeah, it's me"

"How are you are you? How are you you doing?" His voice holding an edge of concern. "I'm... fine, I'm doing fine " I answered, twirling the butter knife on the table.

"I want to... apologize for everything going on right now, the media could be brutal and they have no right sharing information like this" he encouraged and I let out another sigh, glancing down.

"What does he think?" I had to ask because I was done fighting myself for answers. "I...I haven't seen Travis for days now" he said and I paused, looking up.

"Do you have any idea where he might be?" I inquired, leaning on the table once again. I heard him let out a sigh before saying, "Avalon Grove, it's another one of his estate, it's a pretty far drive. I'm guessing, he just wants to stay away for now" he answered and I nodded.

"That's all I needed to know"

"Pearl, I promise to sort this all out. It will blow over soon and there wouldn't be-"

"It isn't yours to sort out, Aiden. I got myself into this mess and I'll fix it myself" I interrupted him. I can't believe he was blaming himself when he had nothing to do with this.

"Then I should apologize on behalf of my friend, he has been doing a lot of things lately that don't...seem unusual and I can't really give a reason why he is doing all this because...I took don't know and he doesn't tell anymore "

"I think that's what he had in mind " I mentioned. "To leave us all clueless"

"I hope you're doing okay and you aren't letting all these things affect your day to day life"

They were naturally affecting my day to day life, I had no control. "It doesn't" I lied, my voice tight and I hoped he didn't notice. "Thank you, Adrian" I appreciated before ending the call.

I dropped the phone on the table and stated out at the garden through the glass doors. Thursday, the snow fell lightly today but it was still pretty cold.

I just got out of bed, it was barely 7 am, the more conflict that arose in my life, the more difficult it was to stay in bed. Even my dreams were torturous and my mind was plagued by it all.

I was becoming a shadow of myself, everyday felt the same and all I ever did was...cry. Something I couldn't even do at first, it's like something broke in me and I had no control, I wasn't the same person I was in the beginning.

And I...I wished dearly I never changed, I wish I was the same. That was better, that was easier.

But life always moved on and change was constant, change was constant and I had to deal with it. I had to suck it all up and conform to my last resort.

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Avalon Grove is a secluded estate nestled deep within a lush forest, where nature takes center stage. The estate is surrounded by towering ancient trees, their dense canopies creating a serene atmosphere of dappled sunlight and gentle shade. A winding cobblestone path leads you through vibrant gardens bursting with life-flowering shrubs, cascading vines, and beds of wildflowers that bloom year-round in a kaleidoscope of colors.

He did say he has always wanted a house like this, a house so far away and secluded.

I adjusted the green dress I wore before heading towards the house. It was a single-level house designed to blend seamlessly with its surroundings. Its wide, open-plan structure is made of natural stone and wood, with large floor-to-ceiling windows that invite the outdoors inside.