[ Chicago Med ] Connor and Ava | Hurt by Secrets

Chapter 7

Ava emerged from the grand 5-star hotel, her eyes scanning the surroundings in search of Connor. The press conference had concluded hours ago, and she had been left alone on the stage, facing a barrage of questions from eager reporters. Connor had vanished before she had even stepped down, leaving her feeling abandoned and bewildered.

Unwilling to confront him or engage in conversation, Ava hailed a cab to return to the hotel. She arrived at the lobby and approached the receptionist, requesting a spare key card to access her room. As she stepped inside, her emotions overwhelmed her, and tears welled up in her eyes. With a heavy heart, she began packing her belongings, hastily emptying the wardrobe into her luggage. Without leaving a single note behind, Ava made a resolute decision to board a flight back to Chicago, leaving Connor to face the consequences of his actions.

Meanwhile, Connor stood in the empty room, his gaze darting around in search of Ava. Confusion and worry etched on his face as he noticed her absence, and he muttered to himself, 

"Where did she go? All her belongings are gone." Determined to find her, he immediately reached for his phone and dialed her number, only to be met with the cold emptiness of voicemail.

"Hey, where are you? I'm sorry about tonight. I messed up. Please, call me back," Connor pleaded, his voice laced with regret. "I love you, Ava. I always have."

Ava had landed at O'Hare Airport, her heart heavy with conflicted emotions. She listened to Connor's voicemail repeatedly, questioning the authenticity of his words. She wondered if his declarations of love were genuine or merely an attempt to win her back, to treat her like one of his previous casual encounters. In her time of need, her protective brother, Austin, arrived at the airport to drive her home.

Austin, concerned for his sister, asked, "You good?"

Ava requested in a tired voice, "Take me to my place."

Realizing his earlier protective instinct might not be what she needed, Austin apologized, "I'm sorry. I was just trying to look out for you."

Ava assured him, "Don't be. It's okay."

They embarked on the silent journey home, with Austin assisting Ava in carrying her luggage up to her apartment on the 14th floor. Once there, Austin encouraged her to open up about what had transpired.

"I can't," Ava replied softly, her voice tinged with vulnerability.

Austin, determined to provide solace, assured her, "It will make you feel better, I promise."

Resigned, Ava expressed her anguish, "It's just the same as the last time I loved someone. Go home, Austin. It's 4 in the morning."

Though disappointed, Austin respected her wishes and departed. Ava hoped that a restful sleep would bring some semblance of peace. However, a few hours later, she was startled awake by persistent knocking at her door.

"Who is it?" Ava called out, still groggy from sleep.

The knocking continued, and she reluctantly made her way to the door, her eyes half-closed. Opening it, she found Tom, a familiar face from the building.

"Morning. Sorry if I woke you. Seems like you've had a rough night," Tom greeted her sympathetically.

Ava brushed off his concern. "No worries. I'll be fine."

Tom then handed her a beautiful bouquet of flowers, and she looked at him questioningly.

"Flowers?" Ava inquired, her curiosity piqued.

Tom replied, "Oh, that's not from me. A guy approached me earlier and paid me handsomely just to deliver them to you. There's a note inside."

Ava's heart skipped a beat. "Was it Connor?"

Tom maintained a professional demeanor. "The payment included my silence. So, enjoy your flowers, Ms. Bekker."

"Thank you," Ava acknowledged, her voice tinged with a mix of gratitude and intrigue. Tom nodded and bid her farewell, leaving Ava to contemplate the unexpected gift. She placed the flowers on the kitchen island and noticed a white envelope nearby. With a sense of anticipation, she settled onto the couch and unfolded the letter, her eyes scanning the handwritten words.