Chapter47


    “Youcantakeadayoffanebacktoworktomorrow.”


    Ha!


    Avelineletoutabitteugh,hereyesdevoidofanyemotion.


    Lastnight,shehadgatheredallhercouragetosaythosethings.Shewantedaresponse,anexnationfromhim.


    Evenaperfunctoryanswerwouldhavesufficed.


    Buthisattentiondidn’tseemtobeonherwords.Whendidhestopcaringabouther?


    Itmadeherfeelthataskinghimthatquestiostnightwasincrediblyfoolish.


    Aself–inflictedhumiliation.


    Avelinposedherselfpletedthedischargeprocedures,andwenthome.There,shesawthefilefolderonthecab.Openingit,shefoundthepropertydeed,acheck,andakeyinside.


    MapleGarden.


    AprimelocationinCloudre City,withtop–tiergreenery,25floors,and500squaremeters.


    Wow,itwasevergerthanexpected.


    Didhethinkthiswouldmakehergrateful?


    Aveline’seyesremainedemotionlessasshetookoutthecheck.Theamountofsixmilliondorswasclearlyprintedonit,alongwithLucas‘strongsignatureatthebottom.


    Avelineheldthecheck,lostinthoughtforalongtime.


    Shehadgrownup inanorphanage,butitcloseddownwhenshewas


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    inhighschool.Sheworkedpart–timejobswhilestudying,rightupuntilshegraduatedfromcollege.


    HerbiggestdreamhadalwaysbeentobuyherownhouseinCloudreCityandbewealthy.


    Ifherpastselfhadknown thatdivorcecouldeasilybringherthese.things, shewouldhavebeenoverjoyed.


    Butnow,allshefeltwaspain,aheartachethatspreadthroughher.entirebody,makinghersoultremble.


    Thesethingsbelongedtohernow,butLucasdidn’t.


    Avelookadeepbreath,cedthecheckandthepropertydeed.together,andputthembackintothefilefolder.Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    Shehadbeawealthywoman.


    Shenolongerneededtowork.


    Shecouldhaveacuteguyononearmandayounghottieontheother.


    Shecould…


    Couldshereally?


    Sheslowlysatonthesofa.Thetwo–bedroomapartmentwassmall,andevenalittleextrastuffwouldmakeitfeelcrowded.Whenhe


    camealong,shemaderoomforhisthings.


    Shehadn’tnoticedbefore,butnow,withouthisthings,theapartmentfeltsoulless.


    Everywhereshelookedwasempty.


    Sadnesstookrootinherheart,growingdeeperwitheverypangofpain.


    Howpathetic.


    Howcouldshestilllongfor suchalousyman?


    Avelinegotupandwenttothebathroom,washedherface,andthencalledSelena.


    “Ave,whathappenestnight?Wasthatjerkwithyou?”Selenaaskedassoonassheanswered.


    Avelineresponded,“Yes,hewas.I’mfreetoday.Comeover,andI’llcookforyou.”


    Selenareplied,“Alright,I’llbethere.Waitforme.”


    Afterhanging up,Avelinewentouttobuygroceries.SheboughtallofSelena’sfavoritefoods.Asshecrossedthestreet,shecaughtaglimpseofafamiliarcaroutofthecornerofhereye.Whensheturnedtolook,thecarwasalreadygone.


    “Watchtheroadwhilecrossing,miss.”


    Someoneremindedher,andshequicklylookedback,hurryingacrossthecrosswalk.


    “Thankyou.”


    Shethankedthepasserbyandthencarriedhergroceriesbackhome.


    Atthecorner.


    Asilver–grayMaybachstopped,itswindshieldadornedwithdappledpatternsfromtheshadowsoftrees.Inside,Lucassat,


    frustrationevidentashetuggedathistiewhilegrippingthesteeringwheelwithonehand.


    Why couldn’thebringhimselftoapproachher?