Discovering Me *Discontinued*

Chapter 4

Shaking herself viciously, Ava snapped out of her haze, hating herself for thinking of Ryan at a time like this, especially since Ava needed to prove to her parents she was over him.

"What's with the solemn face dear," Meredith asked, placing her hand on Ava's shoulder. Ava turned to her step-mom and smiled, shaking her head. The last thing she wanted was for Meredith to suspect that she was still thinking about Ryan.

"Just thinking about how I'm going to miss going to dinners and house parties with you and Dad," Ava paused as a bright smile appeared on her face, "On the bright side though, I am super excited to move and start my new life. It's a thrilling thought really."

"I'm glad you found something to hope for. I know what it feels like to be completely hopeless, which I know must come as a surprise to you. I used to be in a situation similar to yours, and I found hope through it all. There's no doubt in my mind you'll end up being perfectly fine sweetie," Ava's mom smiled, pulling Ava into a tight hug.

"Thank you, Mom," Ava said softly as she held her mother tightly, "I'll come to you if I ever need anything, I promise," Ava whispered, knowing that until she moved out, she wouldn't breathe a word of her heartbreak to Meredith.

"Come on ladies, let's go inside. Also, Ava, I just found out that David and his son Samuel are going to be here tonight," Johnathan said, walking up and squeezing his daughter's shoulder tightly. Ava visibly paled as she tried to control her breathing.

Sammie was a very close friend of Ryan's and he began to distance himself from Ava as the wedding started getting closer and closer. Now that she thought back to it, it wouldn't surprise Ava at all if he stopped talking to her because he knew that Ryan planned on not showing up to the wedding. The thought infuriated her, and Ava desperately hoped that he would leave her alone.

"If I need to beat his ass Ava, just let me know, please," Ava chuckled at her father's words, lifting her mood.

"I appreciate the offer Dad but that won't be necessary. I am a grown woman after all who's about to start living on her own, so it's about time I start learning how to handle things on my own. If I need your help though, I'll definitely let you know, okay," Ava smiled, giving her dad a tight hug before walking inside the house.

The second she walked in, Ava was greeted with the sight of roughly twenty or so people gathered in the living room and the dining room, almost every person holding a glass of champagne or wine. Everyone was also very nicely dressed, which made Ava feel underdressed, especially since the house was spotless and eloquently furnished.

Ava smiled as she spots the familiar face of her father's CFO, Ivan, who spotted her the second she walked into the room. Ivan quickly ended the conversation he was having with his wife before walking up to Ava and her family.

"Ava, my girl. How have you been," Ivan asked, kissing both of her cheeks as Ava did the same to him, a bright smile on her face the entire time. Ivan was an amazing man who genuinely cared for every person he has ever met.

"It's been rough Ivan but I'm healing. I'm actually going to be moving up to Maine in a few days if everything here goes well. Enough about me though, how have you been," Ava asked, hugging Ivan tightly before stepping back, letting her father and mother hug Ivan as well.

"I've been so amazing. My wife actually told me earlier today that she's pregnant, so I'm going to be a father in just a few months," Ivan replied, clearly ecstatic as he practically bounced in place. Ivan deserved every good thing that happened in his life, and Ava couldn't be happier.

"I'm so happy for you," Ava and her parents said in unison, all smiling at Ivan. Ava's smile brightened when she saw how happy Ivan was at the thought of having a child.