Chapter 148


    On her way back to Trident Group, Avery took her phone out to call Cayden because she could not wait


    any longer to get a solid answer to her questions from the man.


    “Sorry, the number you have dialed is unavable. Please try againter.”


    Why would he turn off his phone? Frowning, Avery tried to call again and again, but still, she could not


    reach Cayden.


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    The number she dialed was Cayden''s personal phone number, which only his family and close friends


    knew.


    Naturally, that meant the man was the only one with ess to the device with that number.


    Avery remembered Cayden telling her that he would always ensure his phone was on so that she could


    reach him anytime.


    After some thought, the woman suddenly realized why the device was not kept on as Cayden


    promised.


    Back when the two were still madly in love, Cayden moved close to Avery''s ear and kissed her with his


    sexy lips while whispering, “I''ll make sure that you''ll always be able to reach me.”


    However, that passion onlysted for two days.


    Like fireworks, the fiery love Cayden had for Avery vanished just as quickly as it appeared.


    The subway went from the remote areas to the more urban ones.


    Having managed to secure herself a seat, Avery hugged herptop and decided to look up Cayden''s


    business number.


    The woman knew Cayden would never answer the calls on his business phone himself.


    They would have to go through Xavier first. Only after Cayden agreed to take the call would his


    assistant transfer the caller.


    The number was busy when Avery tried to call the first time.


    However, she managed to reach Xavier on her second attempt.


    “Hello, this is Xavier speaking,” greeted the assistant like a machine.


    All those who had worked with Trident Group knew exactly who Xavier was. After all, every one of them


    had to talk to the man before they were allowed to speak with thepany''s CEO.


    “Hi, this is Avery Rumpley from the design department,” Avery spoke in a lowered voice because she


    did not want the other passengers to hear her.


    “Ms. Rumpley?” Xavier was surprised to hear from the woman but tried his best to sound normal.


    “What can I do for you?”


    “I need to talk to Mr. Moore.” Since she was speaking with Xavier, Avery dared not address Cayden by


    his first name.


    “Boss isn''t around right now. Have you tried calling his personal number?” inquired Xavier calmly.


    “I have. His phone was turned off,” exined Avery.


    Xavier was quite surprised to hear that Cayden had turned off his personal phone. Something about


    Boss doesn''t seem right today.


    “Well, Boss left the office in his own car half an hour ago. I don''t know where he went because I''m only


    in charge of his work schedule. It''d be inappropriate for an assistant like me to ask unnecessary


    questions.” In short, Xavier meant to tell Avery that he could not be of any help. I hope Ms. Rumpley


    doesn''t get upset with me. It''s not like I''ve nted a tracking device on Boss.


    “I see. Thank you, Mr. Dartsley,” responded Avery disappointedly.


    “No problem. Goodbye.” With that, Xavier ended the phone call.


    Meanwhile, on the subway, Avery diligently went through every contact she had on her phone to find


    thendline number for the Moore residence.


    The Moores'' housekeeper had called her using that number on more than one asion.


    Fortunately for Avery, she still managed to find the phone number.


    “Hi there. Is Cay... I mean, is Zach''s father home?” Avery quickly corrected herself because she did not


    want to reveal her identity. I hope she doesn''t recognize my voice because of the countless phone calls


    she had to take every day.


    However, the housekeeper did not respond the way Avery had hoped. “Is this Ms. Rumpley? Mr.


    Moore''s not home right now. He left this morning and hasn''te back yet.”


    “I see. Thank you,” responded Avery awkwardly before hanging up.


    After putting away her phone, Avery lowered her head and shut her eyes wearily, hoping the subway


    would go faster.


    The woman felt like a speck of dust floating aimlessly in a city packed with people. Without getting a


    solid answer from Cayden, she knew she would not be able to rest.


    Before going to the office, Avery went to Cayden''s condominium. Maybe he came here to rest.


    As soon as Avery stepped into the lobby, the attendant at the counter recognized her as the woman


    who went there with a certain wealthy residentst week.


    “I''m sorry, but I haven''t seen that person for many days now,” informed the attendant with a smile.


    “Thank you.” Avery nodded politely at the attendant before leaving in disappointment.


    Since the condominium was not far from Trident Group, Avery walked over to the office building.


    Xavier was getting ready to leave, so he had the parking valet drive his car to the entrance.


    “Mr. Dartsley,” greeted the valet before handing the car key to Xavier, who was about to get into the


    vehicle when he saw Avery.


    Xavier intended to leave after he nodded courteously at Avery, but she quickly stopped him from doing


    so.


    “Wait, Mr. Dartsley! There''s something I have to ask you about.”


    Unable to reach Cayden, the woman decided that Xavier was her only hope.


    “What is it?” Xavier asked Avery, who had an unfathomable expression.


    “Do you know Mrs. Hayward, the woman who came by the office this morning? I saw her take Mr.


    Moore''s children with her.” Avery tried not to be too straightforward for fear that the man would refuse


    to share what he knew.


    Xavier was stunned when he heard the question since he knew Lindsay was in charge of many of his


    boss'' personal matters. After all, she only retired early because she was trying to keep Cayden''s


    secret.


    Furrowing his eyebrows, Xavier was unsure how to respond to Avery. What am I supposed to tell her?


    It seems I''ll only make things worse if I talk. There''s no way out of this!


    Avery noticed how troubled Xavier was, so she could tell she was getting warmer. “Let me rephrase


    that. I only need a yes or no. Mrs. Hayward used to work for Mr. Moore, didn''t she?”


    In response to that, Xavier nodded. “I hope you can understand that I''m not at liberty to talk about Boss''


    private matters. But yes, Mrs. Hayward used to work for Boss. However, she retired five years ago.”


    Avery''s eyes widened when the man mentioned the keywords “five years ago” because she finally got


    the answer to her questions.


    The fact that Lindsay retired five years ago was enough to convince Avery that the Moores did


    deliberately try to hide the surrogacy.


    “Thank you, Mr. Dartsley.” Avery then headed into the office building.


    The woman could think of nothing else but Zachary''s and Rory''s adorable faces as she made her way


    to the elevator from the entrance. It turned out that they are my children!


    Standing in the elevator with her head lowered, Avery found it difficult to calm herself down or stop her


    tears from falling.


    Ten minutes ago, she was still trying desperately to reach Cayden. However, after Xavier''s enlightening


    words, Avery finally got the answer she needed.