Turning Of the Tide by Diana Sander

At the Roberts family’s villa, Rose brought the child to the Roberts family as soon as he got off work. In

the living room, Harper sat on the sweeper and spun around in circles. He was having a lot of fun, and

he kept clapping and cheering.

Ava felt a bit embarrassed seeing this beautiful scene. To prevent any awkwardness, she had to spoil

the atmosphere a bit. With Frank’s observational skills, she couldn’t act for too long.

Ava was self-aware in this regard.

Ava hid her emotions well, acting as usual. She affectionately sat down on the sofa with Frank, wearing

a smiling face.

Glancing at the expressions of everyone in the living room, after a few seconds of mental preparation,

she slightly opened her lips, smiling sweetly. “Grace, I plan to return to Sapphire City tomorrow.”

Upon hearing this, the whole living room, except for the little one who was still excited, turned their

gaze to Ava, seeking to confirm the authenticity of the sudden announcement.

Without anyone speaking, Ava continued, “There’s also some homework I didn’t bring. I plan to go back

and catch up. I hope you understand.”

After saying this, she shrugged apologetically, looking a bit helpless.

The first to react was Grace, who arranged, “Frank can go to Sapphire City to fetch it. Bring it here for

you to work on.”

Grace also hoped that her daughter-in-law would stay a few more days. Ava’s personality was likable,

making it feel like having an extra-lovely daughter.

Frank subconsciously squeezed the hand of the young girl beside him. He was puzzled, wondering

why she suddenly decided without discussing it before they left.

All of them found her decision to be rather unconventional.

Ava was afraid that Frank would suspect. She turned around and coquettishly said, “Oh, I didn’t

intentionally keep it from you. I just didn’t want you to feel reluctant to let me go. I told my brother about

returning half a month earlier before I came. If you don’t believe me, you can call him.”

Actually, Ava did not tell her brother. This time, she went back because of the surprise. It was a last-

minute decision. She bet that Frank would not call her brother to confirm it.

As expected, Frank believed Ava’s words without a doubt. This was because his little girl did not lie and

was very obedient. He compromised and said, “Okay, I’ll send you back.”

Seeing Frank was a little down, Ava almost couldn’t hold it in anymore. He wanted to tell her about the

surprise in advance, so he closed his eyes and said, “No need. Pat and the bodyguards are following

me. If you go, I won’t be able to study. I’ll have to think about playing again.”

Ava’s words were reasonable and flawless. Even Frank could not bear to disturb her studies.

She pursed her lips and did not say anything else. Her eyes showed reluctance, and her grip on Ava

tightened.

Rose also saw his brother’s reluctance and said regretfully, “I was still thinking of shopping with you

tomorrow to buy some clothes for the changing seasons. Why did you go back? Do you want to stay for

a few more days?”

Following the sweeper around the sofa, Edward caught the evasive look in Ava’s eyes. After thinking

for a moment, he still could not find the reason for his sudden departure. Ava was at the base today, so

Natalie must know the reason.

However, this was not something he could inquire about, and it was not appropriate to alert them.

Harper continued to play, not needing anyone to watch over him. However, Edward was afraid the child

might fall, so he stayed close, following the robot vacuum as it circled around.

After playing for an extended period of time, he came close to fainting.

Ava still refused. “It’s fine. If I stay for a few more days, I won’t want to go back. I’ll come back on the

first of October.” By then, it would be almost three months. The surprise should be more stable.

Rose was not someone who would force others. She winked at her brother, indicating that he had

already helped. “Alright, it depends on the situation. If possible, we can go to Sapphire City, right,

hubby?”

Edward, who happened to turn around behind Rose, replied, “Yes.”

Since Ava said he was leaving, Frank pursed his lips and remained silent. No one knew what he was

thinking.

Seeing that her daughter-in-law had already made up her mind to get Sapphire City back, Grace did

not force her. “What do you want to bring back? Auntie will go buy it now.”

“No need. There are still two bags of snacks you bought for me. I’ll take them back to Sapphire City. I

won’t be gone forever; I’ll return next time.”

Grace nodded and glanced at her son. She urged, “Okay, Frank, accompany Ava to prepare her

luggage. It’s past 9, so rest early.”

Frank responded with a subtle and subdued acknowledgment.

Grace also felt a bit strange watching her son lead Ava upstairs. She squinted her eyes. William was

working overtime tonight, still laboring at this hour.

Rose looked at her brother’s back and sighed. “Oh, poor brother, the magpie bridge is about to

disappear again.”

Ava lowered her head in the room, not daring to look at Frank directly. She took a suitcase and started

organizing things. When the suitcase was opened, she didn’t know where to start.

Frank, with his hands in his pockets, looked at the girl squatting without moving for a long time. He

couldn’t understand why she made such a decision without discussing it before leaving. It shouldn’t

have happened like this; they usually discussed these things before parting ways.

Ava was naturally willing to do so. She continued to hold her cheek and squatted at the side to watch

Frank help her organize her things. Seeing that she was squatting, Frank was afraid that her feet would

go numb. He helped her up and pressed her on the bed. He instructed, “Sit properly.”

He removed the clothes from the wardrobe and placed them on the bed to help the little girl fold them

neatly before putting them in the suitcase individually. Frank did not say anything else since he said he

would sit adequately.

Ava was reluctant to part ways but was fueled by the desire to orchestrate a surprise. The anticipation

of this clandestine plan added an element of uncertainty. If the surprise failed to unfold as expected, the

disappointment might be a palpable shock. The delicate balance between hope and apprehension

colored Ava’s preparations as she grappled with the prospect of an outcome that could swing in either

direction.

Especially Grace and William, who were working hard. Since Ava came, Frank has been more relaxed

than before. He made time to leave work on time and accompany her in the evenings. She could guess

how much work had piled on Grace and the others.

The whole family would revolve around her if she told them now. She felt guilty. Grace and William

were already working hard enough.

Occasionally, when she went downstairs for supper, she could see the study light still on.

“Frank,” Ava called softly.

Frank looked up, meeting the girl’s bright smile. “What’s up?”

“No, I just wanted to call you, don’t be upset. I’ll graduate next year, and then I’ll be living in Athana

every day. Just think about it. Isn’t that something to be happy about?” Ava reassured, trying to comfort

him.

Frank had always been quick at work. In a few moments, he helped organize everything. Since one

suitcase couldn’t fit everything, he took another suitcase and helped pack snacks and skincare

products.

“Go take a shower.” Frank stood up, placed the organized suitcase in a corner, and walked to Ava,

affectionately rubbing her head. Then, he turned to help with the pajamas.

“Oh, okay.” Ava, holding pajamas, walked carefully. She felt a bit nervous. According to the past, if she

left tomorrow, there would definitely be a passionate night, though the metaphor might be a bit

exaggerated. It was roughly the idea.

Now that she had a child, she had to behave at night. She wondered what excuse was there to find.

Frank saw Ava frowning and thinking about something when she entered the bathroom.

On the flip side, Ava contemplated the various excuses she could conjure to avoid engaging in

profound conversations during the night. She mulled over the possibilities, seeking reasons to justify

her desire for a more superficial exchange, shielding her inner thoughts and emotions.

Ava was underestimating Frank. Although he didn’t call Joseph, he was too familiar with every move

she made. Taking out his phone and standing on the balcony, he lit a cigarette, and the crimson sparks

looked abrupt in the night.

Trevon’s dialed number, on the other side of the phone, was filled with the playful noise of three

children. The loudest were two daughters. Jasper shouted to make her sister sleep. After listening for a

while, Frank said, “I have something to ask your wife.”

Trevon guessed it was about Ava. He was not very interested and responded nonchalantly, “Go

ahead.”

Frank took a puff of the cigarette and exhaled a smoke ring, and the breeze dispersed the smoke.

“What did Ava tell your wife this afternoon?”

“What’s wrong with Ava?” Trevon asked with concern.

“She’s returning to Sapphire City tomorrow,” Frank said flatly. Trevon could still sense the frustration.

“Wait a moment.” The phone on the other end fell silent. Apparently, Trevon was asking his wife. Frank

waited impatiently, but he didn’t want to ask the girl directly. Seeing that Ava didn’t want to talk about it,

Frank tried to respect her, but he secretly wanted to know.

He was caught in a dilemma, torn between the fear that something might bring sorrow to the girl and

the strong desire to clandestinely investigate, ready to offer assistance if any trouble lurked beneath the

surface.

If he encountered any trouble, he could secretly help solve it. There was no need to think with a frown.

Natalie was covering his daughter with a blanket. She heard Frank’s words because Trevon was on

loudspeaker. This person had been a little crazy recently. Whenever he had a call, he wanted to share

it with Natalie and always put it on loudspeaker.

She did not expect that the solution that Ava mentioned would be to run away at the last minute to

Sapphire City directly. She figured out how to answer these questions.

Trevon held his phone, gesturing with his eyes for Natalie to return to attention. He casually turned off

the speaker and, in a lowered voice, asked, “What’s going on?”

After thinking for a while, she sighed heavily and lied. She also gave a hint and asked Trevon to inform

Frank.

After hearing this, Frank simply thanked him and hung up.

Natalie’s lie was the excuse that Ava gave at night. This made Frank put down his doubts again.

He carefully considered the timeframe and realized that tomorrow was likely the onset of Ava’s

menstrual cycle. He pondered whether the discomfort in her back might explain her recent lack of

demands or requests.

After a while, Ava came out of the bathroom. He used a towel to wipe his wet hair. Frank quickly threw

away the cigarette and strode into the room. “Is your back starting to ache?”

After saying that, she felt a little guilty and embarrassed.

Frank did not doubt him. “Yes, sit down. Rest early after drying your hair.”

After drying his hair, Frank went to the bathroom to take a shower, leaving Ava to wait alone under the

blanket. He subconsciously touched his stomach and felt the surprise in his heart. He smiled and

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She contemplated how Frank might respond to the news, unsure if he would express joy with a leap of

excitement or scold her for being naive. The uncertainty of his reaction lingered in her thoughts.

As she thought about it, the bathroom door was pushed open. When Frank came out, he had already

dried his hair. When he lifted the blanket and lay down, he saw Ava in a daze. He asked, “What are you

thinking about?”

Ava smiled playfully. She was in a good mood. “I’m thinking about what to do if I miss you. Will you

miss me?”

Frank couldn’t bear to let her go. He would definitely miss her.

“Yes, lie down. Isn’t your waist sore? Lie down, and I’ll rub it for you.”

After a moment of silence, she immediately refused. “No need. Carry me and help me touch it.”

Frank looked at Ava suspiciously. He wondered if it would be helpful to touch her sore waist without

rubbing. However, he agreed. “Okay.”

Ava knew that Frank would not touch her at night, so she found a comfortable spot to sleep. “Frank, I

love you very much.” She was growing up. She was about to become a mother, and Frank was about

to become a father.

Frank’s arm was a pillow for Ava, and one of his hands massaged her waist. Upon hearing her

statement, he paused momentarily and responded slowly, “I love you too.” I’ll marry you once you

graduate.

As Ava spoke, she fell asleep, and Frank woke up. He kept touching her waist with one hand. He really

thought that Ava’s waist was sore.

Even though he was asleep, he was still rubbing her. He did not dare to move his arm, afraid that he

would wake her up.