Chapter 387


    Over the years, Cecelia had encountered her fair share of deception and scheming. It was rare to see


    someone who wasn''t affected by the harsh environment like Avery, so Cecelia had a great impression


    of her.


    They were chatting with each other when Yulissa came over to them.


    Yulissa seemed excited as she shot Avery an unfathomable look.


    Pleased, she announced, “Cecelia, since your health condition doesn''t allow it, you should stay in the


    office from now on. Avery, I''m now part of the project team. I hope we can work well together.”


    As Cecelia had pulled out, the person who took over her position in the coboration project with Vivi


    Group was naturally Yulissa.


    Avery forced a smile. “I''m honored to work with you on the project, Ms. Yantz.”


    She was actually reluctant to work with Yulissa, who wouldn''t stop picking on her.


    However, she had no right to decide many things on her own.


    Yulissa snorted and ordered, “What is your progress regarding the application, approval, and budget


    report of the renovation project? You need to email me everything before getting off work today.”


    Avery frowned and replied, “Ms. Yantz, the renovation project''s application and initial budget report


    involve a lot of information. Besides the project''s background and initial design, we also have to include


    the equipment, cash flow budget, various materials, the renovation schedule, and the budget results


    among others. I can''tplete everything in just one day. I need at least a few days as we need to be


    very careful about the data we enter in the reports. If the reports are done unprofessionally, what if


    something happens in the middle of the renovation project? Ms. Yantz, can you bear the


    responsibility?”


    t a loss for words, Yulissa red at her and snapped, “Anyway, just prepare the reports as soon as


    possible! Otherwise, others might think you''re just a useless woman with pretty looks!”


    After Yulissa left, Cecelia wheeled her chair toward Avery and whispered, “Ery, you need to perform


    well. If this project is a sess, those who perform well will get a promotion. Don''t miss this chance.


    Yulissa is too arrogant when she''s just a department head. You need to defeat her! I''ve heard that the


    reward for the project is over one million! The first ce will get five hundred thousand, the second


    ce will get three hundred thousand, and the third ce will get two hundred thousand.”


    Avery nearly gasped out loud. “One million? The first ce will get five hundred thousand? That''s a


    lot!”


    “Shh, don''t tell anyone. I''m close to a colleague in the finance department. Previously when we were


    singing karaoke together, he got drunk and revealed it to me identally. Thepany hasn''t


    announced it officially yet, so you need to keep it a secret.”


    “Got it, Cecelia.” The reward was indeed tempting to Avery.


    It''ll be great if I get the reward!


    Cayden might be rich, but she rarely spent his money.


    As a modern woman, she had always been independent and advanced. She didn''t want to rely on


    Cayden like a trumpet vine.


    In fact, she wanted to be a cottonwood tree that could stand together with him so their roots and leaves


    would intertwine. That way, they could spend the rest of their lives relying on one another, weathering


    the storm together.


    With that thought in mind, Avery grew increasingly motivated and strong.


    After talking to Avery, Cecelia felt the urge to go to the restroom.


    Thus, she got to her feet and walked toward the restroom.


    When she was done, she came out and walked past the male''s restroom and bumped into someone


    identally.


    The man''s chest was wide and hard. Cecelia stumbled and instinctively protected her belly when she


    was about to fall.


    To her surprise, shended in a pair of strong arms.


    “I''m sorry. I didn''t run into you on purpose,” Cecelia said awkwardly. Raising her head, she then blurted


    out in astonishment, “Mr. Dartsley?”


    Xavier''s eyes were twinkling with a vague smile under his gold-rimmed sses. “Ms. Zuckerberg, why


    are you in such a hurry? Is a monster chasing you?”


    For some reason, Xavier found Cecelia familiar after bumping into her once again.


    I can''t tell what exactly is familiar. Oh, right. When I got drunk that night and had sex with a woman in a


    muddled state, I didn''t even get a clear look at her face. The next day, she left when I was still sleeping


    soundly.


    Xavier assumed the woman was a prostitute or a loose woman who sought a night of excitement.


    Nevertheless, before he left the hotel, he spotted blood stains on the ivory-white bed sheets.


    He had no idea that the woman was a virgin.


    Despite trying his best to find out who it was, he failed miserably.


    It was as if the woman had faded into thin air, and he couldn''t find any hints that led him to her.


    However, after bumping into Cecelia today, he realized that her body scent was simr to the woman


    he had sex with that night. He promptly fell into a daze when something dawned on him.


    “Mr. Dartsley, can you release me now?” Cecelia snapped.


    She despised being touched by men.


    Sensing her hostility, Xavier blinked and immediately released her.


    Cecelia pushed him aside with her shoulder as she stalked back to her office.


    Xavier''s lips twitched. Cecelia is pretty and feminine, but she likes to put on an intimidating and aloof


    stance. That isn''t likable at all.


    After work, Avery went to the kindergarten to pick Zachary and Rory up.


    She had just arrived at the gate when the little girl who was d in a white dress leaped into her arms


    excitedly.


    Her adorable voice was pleasant to the ears. “Mommy, I have good news to share today. Do you want


    to listen to it?”


    N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    Avery bent down to pinch Rory''s cheek. “Of course I do. What is it? Let''s share the happiness


    together.”


    A bright smile yed across Rory''s lips. “Mommy, I got into the finals of the children drawing contest!”


    Avery kissed her forehead dotingly. “Really? Good job, my darling! However, you need to stay humble


    instead of getting too proud.”


    “Mommy, I know. Zach did a better job than me. He participated in the drawing contest, Ustranasion


    speech contest, and piano contest. He won first ce in each contest! Our teacher asked Zach to


    participate in the finals representing our kindergarten. But, that annoying Seamus also got into the


    finals! Ah, how annoying!” she grumbled.


    Rory didn''t reveal that Seamus and Zachary were both tied for first ce in all the semi-final contests


    they participated in.


    Seamus loved tugging at her pigtails and making fun of her, so shebeled him as a naughty boy and


    thought her brother was the best.


    “There is no need to get upset. Rory, Seamus is a sensible and smart boy. You''re bothpeting


    against each other fairly, so don''t call him annoying, okay?” Avery educated her daughter patiently,


    ruffling the girl''s hair.


    The little girl drawled reluctantly, “Got it, Mommy...”


    Avery''s proud gaze thennded on Zachary.


    Zachary was carrying his schoolbag while standing straight like a soldier.


    His handsome face and upright posture appeared dazzling under the rays of the setting sun, garnering


    attention from the parents who came to pick up their children.


    He was pursing his lips in a proud manner, but Avery noticed that he was yearning for her praise.


    She kissed Zachary''s cheek andvished praises on him. “Zach, good job! I am proud of both of you.”


    “Thank you, Mommy. The winner gets a lot of money, so I''ll buy a present for both you and Daddy. You


    can keep the rest of the reward. That way, you won''t have to work so hard,” Zachary replied happily.


    Hearing his words, Avery felt her heart clench in pain.


    She knew Zachary had always been a thoughtful child. The boy knew that she and Cayden worked


    hard to give them afortable life, so he wanted to earn money to ease their burden albeit at his


    young age.


    Zach and Rory are still young. They deserve to have a happy and carefree childhood.


    “Darling, it doesn''t matter if you are not the winner as long as you have tried your best. I will work hard


    to get thepany''s reward, too. Let''s do our best together,” she replied.


    “Okay! I''ll do my best to defeat the naughty Seamus! Even if I can''t defeat him, Zach will defeat him!”


    Rory muttered under her breath as she balled up her fists.


    For the next few days, Avery devoted her time to the renovation project. The following days were


    fulfilling for her.


    Nina returned to her position after being discharged from the hospital. She lost a lot of weight, so her


    initially chubby cheeks were currently oval-shaped.


    Meanwhile, Cecelia started having morning sickness and would throw up frequently.


    Her colleagues in the design department gave her weird looks and started guessing who the child''s


    father was, but she wasn''t bothered about the gossip and continued living her life as she pleased.


    Zachary and Rory worked hard to prepare for their contests.


    Life went on in an organized manner. Avery and Cayden''s rtionship also improved as time passed.


    One day, however, something took ce in Trident Group that shocked the entire Ackleton. As a result,


    Avery''s peaceful life was disturbed.