Chapter 323
“This isn''t the real deal. I bought a knockoff.” Avery took a few steps back. She did not like to get too
close to strangers.
She also did not expect that her scarf was from a luxury brand.
Cayden gave me a scarf back then because he was concerned that I''d be cold. Due to its lightweight
and warm material, I epted it so that I would no longer have to fear the icy cold breeze with it
wrapped around my neck. I would never have epted it if I''d known how pricey it was.
Dn''s cousin pursed her lips with disdain and remarked with a slight pout, “I thought so too. After all,
look at all the cheap clothing you''re wearing. How could you have afforded the real thing? In the
fashion world, Hermes scarves are right at the top. Even a regr customer like me who has been in
luxury stores all year round can''t buy it, let alone a pauper like you.”
“Watch your words, Maria!” Dn''s expression turned cold, and his tone became extremely stern.
The short-haired girl immediately fell silent awkwardly but grumbled, “Hmph! You horrid cousin. I can''t
believe you dare to bully me. When I get home, I''ll definitely tell Uncle Toby and Aunt Talia.”
Dn ignored her and stared intently at Avery with a conflicted expression instead.
When Maria lifted Avery''s scarf earlier, he clearly saw a dark hickey on thetter''s neck.
His eyes reddened upon seeing the hickey, and he could barely control his emotions.
The mark, which he knew was left by Cayden, served as a constant reminder to him that Avery was
never his.
However, he could not let go nor give up his feelings for her, and the pain was unlike any other.
Avery frowned when she saw Dn''s despondent look. She intended to walk past him to the mall, but
he grabbed her hand.
“Can I say a few more words to you, Avery?”
“There''s nothing left to say between us, Dn. We''re no longer connected in any way, so there''s no
need for us to meet again in the future. Even if we do, we should treat each other as strangers.”
Avery continued rationally, “You also know that Cayden is quite possessive, and he has a bad temper. I
don''t wish to anger him again because of you.”
“Avery, has Cayden ever expressed a desire to wed you? Did he tell you when you''ll register your
marriage? A man''s spoken promises are as fleeting as the wind. They can never be taken seriously
until put into action. Don''t be fooled by him,” Dn advised.
“So what? Even if he lied to me, I''d still be happy about it.” Avery shot him a faint smile.
Despite wearing a down jacket, her exquisite body curves were perfectly outlined.
Dn lowered his head dejectedly.
This woman has truly gone mad. Even if Cayden lied to her, she would still be with him.
He knew very well that he currently had no say in any of her affairs, yet he still could not let it go.
Avery then asked, “Is there anything else, Mr. Musk? If not, I''ll be off, then.”
“Avery, I never thought of hurting you like that. I apologize for my previous predatory behavior. I''m
serious. Can you forgive me?”
He desired her so badly that he had resorted to some indecent means, but he had never once thought
of intentionally hurting her.
However, everything he did deeply hurt her. They even caused her to fear him and ultimately drove her
away from him.
“It''s all in the past. They don''t matter anymore.”
Avery still could not understand why Dn was so obsessed with her.
Despite not understanding his obsession, she felt that there was no need to dwell on it. After all, she
merely saw him as an insignificant disturbance in her life.
Even though it gave me a lot of trouble, it''ll all pass like a fleeting smile.
This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.
They stood in the parking lot, not knowing what to say as the atmosphere turned awkward.
Avery sighed. “I''m leaving now.”
For an unknown amount of time, Dn watched Avery''s slender figure disappear from his sight before
Maria suddenly moved in front of him in a huff.
She folded her arms across her chest and said sarcastically, “Dn, she has already left, and yet, your
gaze still holds so much reluctance. Your taste in women has truly gotten worse. I thought the women
you used to be with were all drop-dead gorgeous, but I''m unimpressed with this one. What''s the
matter? Decided to have a change of pace? The thing is, she''s simply too in. There are plenty of
such women overseas. They''re extremely vain—”
“Get lost!” He was already in a foul mood, and the short-haired girl was only worsening it.
He shook her off and got into the car.
Noticing that something was off, Maria pounded on the car door. “Dn, where are you going? Aunt
Talia said she wanted you to apany me as I shop for clothes in the mall. How can you abandon
me? Get out here!”
However, Dn simply ignored her, started the car, and left the parking lot alone.
Maria stomped her feet in fury, cursing her cousin thousands of times in her heart.
However, there was no way a shopaholic and vain person like her could leave without buying anything,
so she held back her anger and made a phone call.
“Ynda, it''s me. I''m back in the country. Come to the shopping mall and apany me. I''ll give you
two pieces of clothing. Get here quickly, woman...”
When Cecelia, who was bored ying around the Christmas tree with a group of children at the
entrance of the shopping mall, saw Averying over looking flushed from the cold, she dragged her
to a nearby coffee shop and ordered tworge cups of hot vanittes. She offered one to Avery and
kept the other for herself.
The fragranttte warmed both Avery''s hands and her heart. “Thank you, Cecelia,” she said gratefully.
“Avery, Dn didn''t give you a hard time, did he?” Cecelia asked.
In her eyes, Dn was a scoundrel.
Despite knowing that Avery is his cousin''s beloved woman, he still insisted oning between them
and even did so many horrible things to her. In any case, I don''t have any good impression of him.
“No. We''re just strangers now.”
Avery took a sip of coffee. “As expected, it''s suitable to have this kind of drink in this chilly weather. It''s
delicious. You''re so considerate, Cecelia. I would marry you if I were a man!”
Cecelia looked at the other woman''s childish demeanor and burst outughing.
The way she''s acting now ispletely different from the serious and talented designer in the office.
Cecelia led Avery into the shopping mall. “Let''s go and buy some clothes. You need to buy more. I''ve
noticed that you only have a few sets of outfits.”
“I just need an evening gown. I don''t want other clothes,” Avery said.
“I truly can''t stand you. We don''t still live in the hard times when people had to wear the same garments
for years on end and mend them when they were torn. Who among today''s women doesn''t enjoy
dressing up? Look at our department head. She wears a new outfit every day. You should learn from
her. Even though you are naturally beautiful, you still need to know how to dress well. Be careful. Mr.
Moore might fall in love with another woman one day,” Cecelia nagged to convince Avery.
Thetter raised her brows slightly. If Cayden was truly that kind of person, we would''ve parted ways
long ago and wouldn''t be together until now.
The two walked around the mall for a long time before finding a luxury brand boutique with aplete
range of evening gowns, which they quickly began to browse.
A beautiful blue tulle dress caught Avery''s eye.
She stroked the soft tulle and was about to remove the dress from the mannequin when another hand
simultaneously grabbed it.
Avery lifted her gaze to see the owner of the hand, not expecting to look straight at Nicole.
When Cecelia, who was bored ying around the Christmas tree with a group of children at the
entrance of the shopping mall, saw Averying over looking flushed from the cold, she dragged her
to a nearby coffee shop and ordered tworge cups of hot vanittes. She offered one to Avery and
kept the other for herself.