Keep Left
4

I continued taking courses and living my life in plain sight with Max, Van. Our neighbors left us to ourselves and didn’t bother us much. Before we knew it a year had come and gone. There were times when we thought we were compromised, but we always managed to get away. I hated to drag Max into this ordeal, but he refused to go home. He did call and check on his mom who told him she received the money he sent her monthly. He had taken a private duty security job that paid him well. He refused to let me pay my own bills, but I appreciated him taking on the responsibilities.

My birthday was approaching and I had nothing planned. We had dinner and a movie for max birthday. I made him a homemade birthday cake. I learned he loved my food. I would make up meals and he would eat them with joy each time. It made me feel good. We were great together. He didn’t pressure me into doing things I didn’t want to and supported my ideas. We weren’t intimate as I did not want him to get in trouble for our relationship.

He slept in a separate room from me to prove he would wait until I was proper age to pursue me. I told him it was not necessary, but he insisted. Some night we would fall asleep on the couch together. I would always wake and he would have put me in my bed and retired to his own sleeping quarters. We functioned well as a married couple. I did laundry and light cleaning daily. He helped with cleaning as well.

I was finishing up my fifth semester when he told me that he needed to go home and visit his mom. I told him it might be a trick to force him out of hiding. He noted my concerns and took precautions when going home. He phoned me when he got there and told me that it was in fact a trick. He was watching men hold him mom hostage and tell her what to say when he called, if he called. He waited on the opportunity to get his mom out of there and when he did he brought her to live with us. She was the only relative he cared for deeply.

“Hello Ms Wright.”

“Hello, Chloe. You know your father is looking for you and not caring who he hurts to get you back. He said the money you have in your account is needed to fund his accounts and if you aren’t returned soon, he will start terrorizing everyone at any cost. I believe he plans to hurt people”

“I’m sorry my father targeted you.”

“No worries. I figured Machen was protecting you from a greater evil. I can fend for myself. Am I suppose to stay inside?”

“You can go out every now and then, but we try not to be so routine. The patio is fenced in and no one can see over the fence so you’re free to stay out back as long as you like.”

“Thank you both for taking me in. I don’t mean to cause more trouble.”

“It’s no trouble mom. Chloe is now Ava Wright-“

“You married her?”

“No mom, that’s her fake ID name. She wanted to continue her studies and she can’t do that as the President’s daughter.”

“Oh, I suppose that’s true. I know my son loves you, but I’ve warned him that you’re too young right now. How old are you now? 17?”

“Yes ma’am. I turned 17 yesterday.”

“Happy belated birthday. I’m sorry I took him away from you on your day.”

“It’s okay, I didn’t have plans. Max had promised to take me to the beach once this all passed”

“Do you love Machen, Chloe?”

“Yes ma’am, I do. Regardless of age, my heart loves him.”

“I didn’t object. You’re a good girl. You’ve been dealt a bad deal on your father’s behalf. He’s an evil man. I can tell you love my Machen. My only hope is for him to find himself a good woman, so I worry less about him. He’s always going on and on about you”

“Mom!”

“I’m sure you two have been doing more than looking at each other here.”

“We haven’t done anything you’re implying here, mom.”

“Sure. I’m begging you to wait another year Machen. I can’t bare it if anything happens to you.

“Mom, my job is to protect you and Chloe. Stop worrying about me.”

“It my job as your mother. You do realize you’re my only child?”

“Mom-“

“No! If you love her like you say you do, you’ll wait until she turns 18. That way you both can breathe without holding your breath”

“Yes ma’am, Ms Wright.”

“You don’t have to be so formal Chloe, you can call me Lena or mom. Whichever is comfortable for you”

“Yes mom. You can have the extra bedroom, Max and I can share”

“You two sleep in the same bed?”

“Yes we have. We fall asleep on the couch all the time.”

“So you have-“

“Yes mom. A handful of times, but we are the only ones who know”

“I consented and technically I’m an emancipated minor, so my consent will keep him out of trouble.”

“You don’t have to explain this is your home”

“Our home that we now share with you. I’ll give you and Max some time. I’ll be on the patio.”

“Mom-“

“Machen, I’m not going to lecture you. She’s beautiful and smart. I know she loves you and you her. I’m only going to ask you to be safe, son.”

“We are mom. I’m sorry I’m disappointing you”

“You’re not. I’m so proud of you.”

We joined Chloe on the patio. Mom had made fresh squeezed lemonade. Paired with Chloe’s pound cake, it tasted amazing. I wrapped Chloe in my arms as she stared into the sky. I kissed her on the cheeks and she giggled. Mom watched us carry on and eventually she was giggling too. She was genuinely happy for us both.

That night after mom went to bed, I told Chloe she could have the bed and I would take the sofa couch. She pushed me onto the bed and climbed on top of me.

“It’s been three weeks!”

I wanted to stop her, but I was flustered as well. As soon as she sat down on me, my inner beast was awaken. Her moans filled the room. I walked her over the edge quickly, finding my own release shortly after. I laid us farther in the bed as her eyes flickered. Sleep found us both.

***

Another year came and went quickly. Chloe celebrated her 18th birthday yesterday. She had graduated two months before. I was beyond proud of her. She began working as a private contractor designing blueprints for major corporations expansions. She made a great salary and I was happy she found work so quickly.

I had made arrangements to propose to her on our getaway to Italy. Mom was going with us. I was putting away our luggage when she entered the room.

“Hey handsome what’s taking you so long up here? Your mom and I are waiting on you so we can go to the beach.”

“You brought more than enough for our week getaway. I don’t mind putting it all away for you.”

“So it’s my fault? I’ll have to make it up to you later.”

“I look forward to it”

We headed out to the beach once I got everything settled. Mom was feeling anxious about being out in the open, but I told her everything would be okay. Chloe was proper age now and she discovered that her father sold false funds to his business colleagues banking on Chloe allowing him to have access to her account. She withdrew all her funds from her account and deposited them into the account she created for Ava Wright. She told me she enjoyed being Ava Wright over Chloe Dunn.

She didn’t even answer to Chloe Dunn anymore, only Ava Wright. We spent all day on the beach, enjoying drinks and food. We had dinner at the Montage late in the evening. Just as we were about to order desserts, I slipped the hostess my ring for her to put in hers. She opened the dish and saw the ring.

“Max!”

“Ava Wright, will you officially become my wife?”

I was sweating nervously on one knee in front of her. She choked on tears as mom cupped her mouth waiting with anticipation for her to answer.

“Max, are you sure?”

“I’m positive, you’re the one for me.”

“Yes!”

My mom hugged us both as the entire restaurant erupted in cheers. I hadn’t expected to get the attention of so many people. I saw the nervousness she tried to hide when she noticed all the attention on us. I quickly asked everyone to stop taking photos. I collected our dessert to go but it was too late. A security team whisked in and collected Chloe, separating her from mom and I.

Mom and I were taken in a separate car. We were flown back to the States where we were presented to Phix.

“I trusted you to find my daughter, not go on the run with her. Lena, you were suppose to lead me to your son, but you too went into hiding.”

“President Dunn, Chloe didn’t want to be found. I respected her wishes. Where is she?”

“You mean Ava Wright don’t you? Did you marry my daughter Machen? That’s why you really went into hiding right?”

“No sir I did not. Not yet.”

“So you have plans to marry Chloe?”

“Yes. I-“

“Your job was to protect her. You were to find her and bring her to me. You’ll never work in security again when I’m done with you.”

“That’s fine sir. How is Chloe?”

“Tell me Machen, does Chloe know you have a daughter in Europe?”

“W-what are you talking about?”

“Ah, you didn’t know. I brought her here. You only have one choice, leave with your daughter and never contact my Chloe again.”

“Sir-“

“Phix, what you’re doing will only pay Chloe further away. She loves Machen.”

“Lena, my daughter has been brainwashed by your son. He thinks I don’t know about him sleeping with my daughter. I noticed in her health record she started taking birth control 2 years ago and some change. She would’ve only been 16. He was 22, legally she couldn’t consent until she was 18.”

“Phix, don’t do this!”

“She’s my daughter!”

“Yes, she is and you’re treating her just like you did her mother. That’s why she was leaving you. It’s why she gave everything to Chloe because she knew you were after her money. Chloe knows that”

“She doesn’t know anything! What I do know is your son got my Chloe pregnant and she tried to cover for him.”

“Chloe has never been pregnant!”

“Guess your relationship with my daughter isn’t too sturdy if you didn’t know.”

“She wouldn’t lie to me.”

**Mean while in another room..

I lay in the bed I woke up in. I was rendered unconscious once I was forced into the car by daddy’s men. I was taken somewhere unfamiliar to me, but I did note a doctor was present. He told whoever he was talking to I was pregnant but he had given me meds to terminate the pregnancy as I wasn’t that far along yet. I had taken my medicine on time, there was no way I was pregnant. We were cautious and used condoms as well.

He was lying. I kept a check on my health because I was worried I’d be the small percentage that would prove the method faulty. I was given something else through a syringe. I wasn’t able to make out faces but I felt the pinch and then I was out again.

I woke up some time later in my old bedroom at daddy’s mansion. Eva came in to wait on me.

“Hello Chloe, we are so glad you’ve been returned home safely. Machen did a great job and will be honored for his bravery and hard work at recovering you”

“Cut the bullshit! Where is my fiancé?”

“Fiancé?”

Just as I was about to elaborate, daddy entered the room. Miles was in tow.

“Chloe! I’m so glad you’re home!”

“Princess, what’s this talk of a fiancé? You must’ve hit your head. You’ve been under a lot of stress.”

“What did you do with my ring?”

“Princess you should rest. We can talk when you’re calm. I don’t want to further upset you.”

They all left me, but Miles doubled back. He had stolen my ring from daddy and brought it back to me.

“Here sis. Dad was going to return it to Machen. He made him leave sis. He didn’t want to. I have a letter for you but I didn’t want to risk having them get it before I got it to you.”

“Max left?”

“Dad forced him to sis. Don’t be mad at him. Miss Wright asked me to deliver his letter to you. He was really sad sis.”

“But Miles, he asked me to marry him and then he just leaves? This doesn’t make sense!”

“Rest and then come and see me for his letter. I bet he explains why he left.”

I thanked Miles for his company and rolled on my side crying. I eventually went to sleep. I grieved knowing Max had left me in my father’s care. I told myself his letter would explain.

When I woke again it was the middle of the night. I had slept through the day. I rolled over pulling my hands from under the pillow. I felt something under the pillow and when I looked it was an envelope. Inside the envelope was a letter. Miles must’ve brought it while I was sleeping. I saw he had addressed it to me and it was written in his handwriting.

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