Chapter 200


    Avery and Alina went upstairs to continue their chat while Cayden epted an international call to


    discuss the partnership.


    As he was talking on the phone, Cayden noticed the awkward interaction between Avery and Aline.


    However, he couldn''t hear anything they said because he was far away.


    Soon, Cayden hung up the call only to see Avery and Alina disappearing into the yard together.


    Xavier walked over then. Without daring to conceal the truth, he reported, “She said she is Ms. Avery''s


    aunt.”


    With that, Cayden retracted his gaze from where the duo disappeared before instructing Xavier, “Look


    into her aunt''s background.”


    Xavier nodded in response.


    Cayden''s stern eyesnded on an ordinary-looking, opened aluminum alloy window on the second


    floor. Even though there were no emotions on his face, his possessiveness began to emerge internally.


    On the other hand, in the bedroom on the second floor, Avery was feeling awkward being around Alina


    while, at the same time, her heart was racing because the room was filled with Cayden''s scent. It was


    as if she had done something bad, and she didn''t want anyone to find out about it.


    Alina scanned the room before asking curiously, “The man who went downstairs with you was your...”


    Avery panicked the moment Alina asked her question. She interrupted thetter''s sentence and


    exined, “He is my boss.”


    As Avery was young and inexperienced, she couldn''t stayposed and rxed in front of certain


    issues. To Alina, Avery was a nk te and she was innocent. At the very least, she didn''t have what


    it took to hide her secrets.


    As Alina''s thoughtnded on that, another idea came into her mind. Hmm... Maybe our rtionship is


    naturally close because we are rted by blood. That''s why Avery didn''t try to hide anything from me. I


    like the way Avery is around me.


    Alina sat down and she told Avery to take her seat too.


    Avery sat down cautiously, using her finger to caress the bedsheet beneath her. She was afraid that the


    bedsheet was creased and that the signs of her being intimate with Cayden were left behind. After


    quite some time, she finally remembered that she had already changed the bedsheet. The bedsheet


    that she and Alina were sitting on now was fresh and clean.


    The cooling wind of the early fall blew in through the opened window, bringing freshness to the air in


    the confined room.


    ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    Alina jumped straight to the question that she cared about the most. “Are you staying with your grandpa


    and your dad now?”


    Avery nodded. Truth be told, she held a slight grudge toward Alina.


    “My dad is still in Ackleton. I brought Grandpa to stay with us. I couldn''t bear to see him having


    sleepless nights and a poor appetite, living alone in the old house in the small town. Every


    granddaughter would feel the same when they see their grandpa bending their body to start a fire for a


    meal,” said Avery.


    “I''m sorry. It''s all my fault,” Alina apologized, admitting her mistake. She looked at Avery before


    continuing, “I had just divorced my husband during that period. I wasn''t feeling great. I had a serious


    case of depression, and I tried to end my life multiple times but did not seed. In a fury, I sent your


    grandpa home without thinking about how he would live out the rest of his life. I''m sorry.”


    Avery looked at Alina. Even though she wanted toin further, the moment Alina said she had


    severe depression after her divorce, Avery paused. I know a little about depression from watching the


    news. I know how much torture depression could inflict on a person.


    Just like that, the beguilement Avery felt vanished.


    Alina spoke slowly. “I''m all sincere toe and see you.” Then, she took off the watch on her wrist.


    Avery had no idea what Alina was trying to do. But then, she was shocked when she spotted the


    multiple scars on Alina''s wrist. The scars were horrifying as one intertwined with another, many


    repeating the same pattern.


    Good god!


    Alina mocked, “All these were left behind when I hurt myself multiple times. Your grandpa witnessed all


    the bloody scenes and the rescue. Now that I''ve recovered from my depression, I wondered why I


    wanted to hurt myself so much during that time. Not only does it look awful on my wrist, but the process


    of ending my life will also be slow and painful too.”


    Avery lifted her head as she listened to Alina tell her story in a calm voice and with a gentle smile.


    Terrified, Avery''s body went cold in an instant. She wondered inwardly. How painful is it to suffer from


    depression? How much it tortures someone? I didn''t even suffer from depression when Dad was


    diagnosed with liver cancer all those years ago. What exactly has Aunt Alina been through?


    Alina put the watch back onto her wrist. Her fingers caressed the band as she said without lifting her


    head. “I''m here to entrust something to you. I don''t have any young rtive other than you in the


    Rumpley family.”


    Avery asked instinctively, “What is it?”


    After all, Alina was her elder. If what she wanted to entrust to Avery wasn''t evil, Avery could agree to


    anything.


    Alina continued, “I have some money for your grandpa. I''m sure you are aware that your grandpa is


    old. We don''t know when illness will strike him. Your financial status is unstable. But wait, before you


    misread my words, I''m not looking down at you.” She was afraid that Avery, who she had only seen


    after Avery turned into an adult, would overthink the situation after listening to her words.


    Avery nodded. She knew that Alina wasn''t malicious with her words.


    With that, Alina added, “It''s quite a big amount of money. I''m going to transfer it to your ount. Since


    you live in Ackleton with your grandpa, it is easier to take care of him. Plus, you no longer have to


    worry about money.”


    “You are not staying in Ackleton?” Avery asked in confusion.


    Alina pondered for a moment before deciding to tell Avery the whole story. She knew if she didn''t do so,


    her niece wouldn''t be convinced by her.


    Avery stood at the entrance of the yard after sending Alina off. She stared at the disappearing white


    sports car as her mind wandered around. Aunt Alina said she wouldn''t leave and would stay in


    Ackleton. But, she has her reasons and she wouldn''t visit Grandpa.


    Unable toe up with advice and a solution for the desperate Alina, Avery could only feel sorry for


    her aunt so she expressed her empathy andforted thetter.


    Avery realized that the yard was empty after her conversation with Alina.


    The mission for their work trip today was to head to a river in a small town to survey the topography of


    the area. With aptop in hand, Avery wanted to call a bike taxi to send her to the river, for she was


    familiar with the ce. However, when she turned the corner of the yard, Avery saw a car parked on


    the road.


    Xavier rolled down the window on the driver''s seat while Avery quickly ran over apologetically. Oh,


    dear! He must have been waiting for me here. Why did I dy the team''s work again?”


    After getting into the car, Rory immediately stuck to Avery''s side like gum before she started humming


    a song.


    Zachary, who was reading a book on the side, suddenly lifted his head and looked at Rory. “Ms. Ery will


    think you''re annoying if you keep pestering her.”