Chapter 110 Reunion

VALERIE

The next day, Xavier took me to his study. And she was there.

I walked in and at the sight of her, it was like all the air was knocked from my lungs.

Staring at Ava felt like a dream.

It was her. I knew it was her. And she seemed to recognize me as well. If I had been holding anything at the moment, I would have dropped it. But instead I just froze there, staring at her. Wondering if I’d ever actually woken that morning, or if I was still steadily dreaming.

And when I realized this was no dream at all, my heart quickened in my chest.

“V-Valerie,” Ava mumbled, her eyes wide, her mouth parted.

We did nothing but stand there, facing one another for a long while.

Then tears hit my eyes. I stumbled to her, my legs numb beneath me, and wrapped her in my arms. We nearly went to the floor together, my knees buckling under me and Ava too weak to hold my weight.

I hugged her tightly—too tightly, because Ava let out a groan.

I released, feeling the high-risen skin on her back.