Chapter163


    Avelinepaused,realizingshehadalmostforgottenaboutthehouse.Sheshookherhead.“I’m notsellingitfornow.”


    Russellnodded,hiseyesfixedonherasifhehadmoretosay.


    Avelinesaid,“I’llgonow.Goodbye.”


    “Alright,”Russellreplied,turningtowalkbacktoward thegroupofmen.


    Avelineexhaledadeepbreathandheadedintheoppositedirection.Heronlyhopenowwasthetestresults.Untiltheycameout,shecouldn’tclearhername.Allshecoulddowas


    wait.


    Afterwalkingforafewminutes,sheheardthesoundof acarenginebehindher.Rememberingwhathadhappenedearlier,shemovedtothesidetoavoidanyidents.


    “Beep!”


    Thecarsloweddownnexttoherandhonked.AvelurnedinsurprisetoseeRussell’shandsome,delicatefacepeeringoutfromthecar.Hehadonehandrestingonthewindow,smilingslightly.“Getin.I’llgiveyouaride.”


    Avelinewastaken aback.Shehadthoughtheleft,butitturnedouthehadgogethiscar.


    “Mr.Skyler,that’sreallynotnecessary.Ilivenearby.Icanwalk,”Avelinepolitelydeclined.


    Russellinsisted,“I’mheadinghometoo.It’sontheway.Besides,there’snoneedtobesopolitewithmeunlessyoudon’tconsidermeafriend.”


    HiswordsleftAvelinenoroomtorefuse.Hehadsaved herlifeearlier,afterall.Itwouldberudetoturnhimdownnow.


    Avelinesmiledathim.“Thankyou,then.”


    Sheopenedthepassengerdoorandgotin.RussellstartedthecaranddrovetowardMapleGarden,hismovementscasundrxed.Hisexquisitefaceboreafaint,mischievous.smile.


    “IheardLucaswaspoisoned,”Russellsaid.


    Avelinewassurprised,“Howdidyouknow?”


    Russellreplied,“CloudreCityissmall,andthesocialcirclesareevensmaller.Unlesssomethingisdeliberatelyhidden,it’seasytofindoutaboutit.”


    Hencedather.“Isthatwhyyou’reupset?”


    Avelinenoddedlightly.


    Russellsaid,“Actually,I’mquitecurious.HowdidyouandLucasenduptogether?Idon’tmeananythingbyit,butbothofyoefromsuchdifferentbackgroundsthatyourlivesshouldn’thaveintersected.”


    Avelinepaused,thengaveabittersmile.“Maybeitwasfate.”


    Russellraisedaneyebrow.


    Avelinecontinued,“Butit’sallinthepastnow.Peopleneedtolookforward.”


    Russellnodded.“You’reright.”


    Theysoonarrivedat MapleGarden.


    Avelineunbuckledherseatbelt.Thankyou.”Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.


    Russellrestedonehandonthesteeringwheel,afaintsmile.onhislips.“Ifyoudon’tmind,I’dpreferifyoudidn’ttreatmesoformally.YoucancallmeRusslikeeveryoneelse.”


    Avelinehesitated.“That…doesn’tseemright.”


    Russellraisedaneyebrow.“ButwhenyoucallmeMr.Skyler,itmakesmefeellikeI’mseventyoreightyyearsold.”


    Aveline’slipstwitched,andshefinallygavein.“Alright,Russ.


    Russell’sfacerxedintoasmile.“Good.Ifyouneedanything,justletmeknow.CallingmeRusswon’tbefornothing.”


    AwarmfeelingfilledAveline’sheart.“Alright,Russ.Goodbye.


    “Goodbye.”


    Avelurnedandwentupstairs.


    Russellwatchedheruntilshedisappeared,thenrolledupthewindowanddialedanumber.“Investigatewhat’sgoingonwiththeTudorfamily.”


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