Chapter 140


    Chapter 140


    They decided to meet for dinner and made a reservation at a high–end hotel. Avery and her parents -


    Adam Mendeley and Lia Brooke–were the first to arrive, followed by Kirk and Caroline Ivan wasn’t


    feeling well, so he didn’t join them.


    The moment Caroline and Kirk entered the private room, the Mendeleys stood up from their sents and


    looked at Kirk with anxious eyes.


    Avery was the first to speak, and her words directed everyone’s attention to Caroline. “I’m sorry,


    Caroline.”


    Caroline tossed her a bright smile. “Don’t apologize to me yet. I don’t even know why you’re


    apologizing.”


    The expression on Adam’s and Lia’s faces changed slightly. They nced at each other, as though


    silently agreeing that Caroline wouldn’t be easy to deal with.


    Yet Avery had mentally prepared herself for this.


    She maintained a smile on her face and exined, “I was the one who invited you to the party. Even


    though the incident had nothing to do with me, you wouldn’t have been hurt if I didn’t ask you to go.”


    Caroline leveled her gaze at Avery as if she were judging thetter. A momentter, Caroline smiled


    and said, “Ms. Mendeley, you shouldn’t have said that. Since it had nothing to do with you, you needn’t


    apologize. If you apologize, people will think that you were the one behind it.”


    Avery paled at Caroline’s words. This was her first time seeing that Caroline had a sharp tongue.


    “But I was the one who invited you to go to the party. I should’ve stayed by your side the whole


    time.”


    “I’m not a child.” Carolineughed. “I’ve furthered my studies abroad, and I know that Easton’s


    social circle isn’t a big one. By tomorrow, everyone would probably know that you had asked me


    for forgiveness.”


    Then, she added, “Although Kirk’s office is based in Easton, I don’t want him to be affected by it if


    -people start to say that he married a fussy woman


    Avery wanted to retaliate, but the words were stuck in her throat. She sensed that Caroline must


    have realized something.


    Adam and Lia didn’t get the underlying meaning of Caroline’s words. They only thought she


    meant exactly what she said.


    To them, she seemed agreeable and reasonable, and they were immensely grateful for that.


    Caroline’s night. However, it was Avery’s tauit for being irresponsible at the partyst night Adam raised


    his ss in a toast. “How about this? Let’s all have a drink and let bygones he


    bygones.”


    “What do you think, Kirk?” Caroline anked as she nced at Kirk, who stared at her with eyes full


    of tenderness.


    He gave her full autonomy to decide on this “Just do what you want,” he told her.


    Caroline smiled “We’ll let this go then ”


    She took a sip from her ss of wine. The others followed auit.


    Still, something turbulent stirred in Avery’s eyes.


    Kirk had never looked at her with such a gentle gaze before!


    “Avery!” Mrs. Mendeley called out in warning as she nudged Avery’s elbow. Only then did Avery snap


    out of her daze to raise her ss of wine and diink it.


    After that, all of them took their seats. Adam initiated a conversation to get rid of the


    awkwardness in the air. Lia also spoke to Caroline from time to time. Eventually, the atmosphere


    became livelier and more rxed.


    Yet there was still a barely noticeable, ominous feeling in the air. Caroline sensed it when she looked at


    Avery, whose eyes showed more and more animosity as time passed.


    Caroline got up from her seat to excuse herself. “Mr. and Mrs. Mendeley, I’m going to the restroom.”


    Seeing this, Avery stood up too and said, “Caroline, I’ll go with you too.”


    “Okay.” Caroline smiled at her, and they walked out of the room together.


    Seeing them leave, Liaughed and said, “Friendship between girls is so simple. I believe that Caroline


    and Avery will be best friends after this.”


    Kirk merely smiled in response.


    Just as they reached the restroom door, Caroline raised her hand abruptly and pped Avery


    across the face.


    Avery didn’t have time to react. She tenderly held her cheek, which was stinging with pain from the


    p. “Caroline! Why did you hit me?”


    Caroline snickered. “Even if we put the party’s incident aside, you’re the person who kicked me


    out of that cest night!”


    “I was-”


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