Chapter 74Her slender fingers brushed gently against the petals, a soft gasp escaping her lips at the unexpected chill that seemed to emanate from the flower. But as she grasped the stem, intent on plucking it from the soil, a shadow fell across her path which shocked her instantly.“What do you think you're doing?!” The man's voice growled.The deep magnetic voice startled her, almost making her stumble over nothing. Her grip on the orchid tightened and unknowingly the thorn on it pricked on the palm with the orchid flower in her hand.“L…LLL….” She sucked in cold air. “What are you doing here, Mr Lucien?” She stuttered beneath her words as she tried to recover her composure she hid the flower behind her back.Even though she was caught by the man, she wasn't ashamed of her act, rather she was so happy that she was able to touch the rare blue orchid flower.“Brother!”Stephanie screamed as she ran towards her brother with a joyful expression on her face. She was so excited because sh
Chapter 1 April 24, 2021.Night View in New York. The breeze was perfect to make Avery's heart skip a bit. She stood on the terrace of the bridge while enjoying the night view. That was exactly what she needed at that moment. Even though she was jet-lagged for 21 hours, she just couldn't help but to stop by the bridge as it helped to reduce the weight of her troubles. Avery took her phone and almost immediately her eyes got glued to her wallpaper, it was the happiest moment of her life. "Jake, thanks for loving me for who I am." She thought with a slight smile, even though her marriage wasn't going the way she had hoped it would go, she couldn't hope for more as she was absolutely nothing without Jake.Throughout the two years of her marriage, her husband had been the only person who believed she could be a painter. Even her family never had a tiny hope for her. Avery's gaze met with a moon that seemed to be slightly different from the moon she had been seeing, it was shining bright
Chapter 2“You…who are you people and what do you want from me?” Avery retreated a few steps away as she looked at the giant men in front of her, clad in a black suit with their faces half-covered. There were about six of them pointing guns at her, which made her heart race differently.She lowered her head and couldn't stop her trembling fingers."Why is everything turning upside down for her? She had just witnessed her husband's affair with her adopted sister Isabella, and now she was outnumbered by those strange giant men!”Avery glanced at almost everywhere, but everywhere was silent and dark, so only the streetlights were flashing on them.“Don't worry, there's no escape route for you, we'll get it done without a tinkle of an eye!” said one of those men.A gust of wind swept by swaying her ponytail, her straight swag with bangs lying above her eyelashes slightly shifted, revealing her starry eyes through the glass on her face.“I'm sorry if I have offended you, but could you all
Chapter 3The darkness surrounding her seemed to never end as she walked.Everything seemed so surreal to her, she tried to speak, but it seemed her tongue got tied up that she couldn't even move her mouth, and anytime she tried to force herself she ended up feeling unspeakable pains.It felt like it had been a long time since she had been in that kind of strange situation or was it not?Almost immediately, the ray of light glittering shone brightly on her face, making her awake to the strange place she was in.She followed the direction of the light until it intensified. Her throat was aching so much that she had pain in breathing.“Jake, are you there?”“Jake, where are you?”“I can't find you. Where are you?”Her voice wasn't heard, even though she was speaking out.“N. No, I have to leave this place…”She wanted to escape from where she felt to be alone, which was more terrifying than she could ever imagine.After what seemed like forever, she stood in front of a glaring light tha
Chapter 4“Excuse me, I would like to use the restroom shortly,” Avery said, and instantly left the room without waiting for anyone to respond.When Avery noticed the woman was still looking angry, she had to exclude herself to go to the restroom.“Follow her,” Mrs Smith said to the servant who was in front of her. The woman couldn't help but look frustrated by the mere act Avery had just displayed to her.Mrs Smith had known her to be reckless with her words, but she never expected her to say such big words even though the marriage was for a business purpose, “What a rude brat that thinks she is worthy of my son!” Mrs Smith murmured to her.***Immediately Avery got inside the restroom, she couldn't help but to rest against the door to calm her nerves as she was a little shocked by the so-called mother-in-law's reactions when she said those words to her.She helplessly glanced in the direction of the door. Why did she have to run without understanding the whole situation, why was the
Chapter 5Avery pursed her lips and remained silent, her eyes were filled with complex emotions as she stared at herself through the mirror as her personal maid was fixing her face for her night consumption.Just a night and her whole life turned around, as Avery stared into the mirror she couldn't help but think about what she had seen inside her matrimonial bedroom that very night.Flashbacks“Jake, are you sure you'll forever love me?” Avery heard immediately. She pushed the door to the bedroom open.The handbags she was holding fell out of her hands, as she wasn't expecting the lady whose lips were locked against Jake's mouth, she wasn't expecting to be on that bed.“Isabella, W…what are you doing?” Avery stuttered as she suddenly lost her breath and she had to use the door handle to keep herself from falling.She looked at Jake, who seemed to want to get out of bed, but Isabella's words stopped him from taking his steps towards Avery.“ The moment you walk towards my sister, I'll
Chapter 6“How are we supposed to spend the night together, dear husband?” She mumbled bending over to her unconscious husband to get a clear view of his face.“Pale but handsome!” Avery thought, staring at the man's relaxed features. She could see his dark hair tousled around the pillow.Avery was lost staring at the man that she didn't realize when she knelt on her knees and rested her head over the man's chest.“He's breathing steadily but strangely he looks paler!” Avery thought as she found it a little bit strange. Given the state of the so-called husband on the bed with a paler face, he wasn't supposed to have a steady breath rather but a faint breath given his face.“Are you done staring?” A cold muscular voice uttered right from the king-sized bed.Avery instantly fell on her butt wondering where she had heard that strange voice when it was only she and her so-called husband who was inside the room.“Oh my goodness!” Avery yelled out loudly with a big surprised expression on
Chapter 7Avery watched the guards roll out Lucien who was lying on the patient bed looking paler than before. She couldn't help but shake her head in disgust while knowing he was perfectly fine.“Ma'am, have you taken permission from Mrs Smith?” Butler Lee asked.“Do your things! I got it under control!” Avery said, even when she got nothing under control.“1…2 …3…4…!”She was about to call the fifth number while watching the guard who was about to push the patient bed inside the car when a loud bearing voice was heard which made everyone stop what they were doing at that moment except Avery.“I have been expecting you, mother! Why did you come so late? Had it been you've hesitated a little bit you would have missed us!” Avery said while watching the dramatic steps of Mrs Smith.“If I could remember vividly, You were running your wide mouth like a tap of water! Why not keep that attitude on, huh?” Mrs Smith asked, stylishly looking around for what her maid told her.“But here you are
Chapter 74Her slender fingers brushed gently against the petals, a soft gasp escaping her lips at the unexpected chill that seemed to emanate from the flower. But as she grasped the stem, intent on plucking it from the soil, a shadow fell across her path which shocked her instantly.“What do you think you're doing?!” The man's voice growled.The deep magnetic voice startled her, almost making her stumble over nothing. Her grip on the orchid tightened and unknowingly the thorn on it pricked on the palm with the orchid flower in her hand.“L…LLL….” She sucked in cold air. “What are you doing here, Mr Lucien?” She stuttered beneath her words as she tried to recover her composure she hid the flower behind her back.Even though she was caught by the man, she wasn't ashamed of her act, rather she was so happy that she was able to touch the rare blue orchid flower.“Brother!”Stephanie screamed as she ran towards her brother with a joyful expression on her face. She was so excited because sh
Chapter 73Avery stepped inside the reserved greenhouse and she had her mouth widely opened for a second period. She was instantly greeted by a burst of warmth and a riot of vibrant color. The sun's rays filtered through the glass-paned roof, casting a golden glow on the lush that surrounded her.She has seen places like this inside movies, and seeing it now life and directly seemed to leave her in shock. She never thought the greenhouse could be this great. What was she expecting? It's the richest family in the whole of New York, so it shouldn't be a surprise to her at all!Despite how rich the Smith family was she has never once heard or even come across news about them in her previous life. She signifies how lonely and how she has lived a lonely life.Not too long later, furious Stephanie ran inside breathing heavily as if she were in a race competition “How dare you enter my brother's reserved greenhouse? Do you know he can sue you for barging inside despite seeing the big banner
Chapter 72Despite seeing the sweat dripping off the guard's face, the old man still believed his grandson was somewhere inside the mansion. He doesn't believe Lucien would leave just like that with his wife.The old man sat back on the chair, his expression one of resigned patience, as he waited for his grandson with his gaze fixed thoroughly on the entrance door of the dining room.Everywhere was silent, nobody could think of anything or say anything upon seeing the scary look on the old man's face. Everyone knew how hard he took his grandson and wouldn't hesitate to do anything for him, especially Lucien.The old man's expression suddenly turned sour just like that within a twinkle of an eye. The man's gaze was thoroughly fixed on the clock which was ticked by and everywhere went silent and calm. A sense of unease began to creep over him that the old man couldn't help but be shifted on his seat, his gnarled hands fidgeting endlessly in his lap.All those acts of the old man were b
Chapter 71“Are you okay? You've been silent since you got back,” Jake whispered into Isabella's ears and of course, she still kept a straight expression while munching on her food.Isabella tightened her grip beneath the table while trying to keep a straight expression without anyone knowing she was annoyed or anything happening to her at that moment.Her features looked calm as she took the glass of wine in front of sipped from the wine. Every moment speaks of elegance as she performs a poise of grace despite the anger running through her veins.She was about to go crazy but she was still able to keep composure without bothering to spare the useless man beside her. Of course, the man was nothing but useless to her, not after what happened to her that made her understand she had a very useless person in her life.Beneath the surface, a dull ache was growing In the pit of her legs and stomach, a slow-burning pain that threatened to overwhelm her nobody knew what she was going through
Chapter 70 “Master, do you want to follow them?” Butler Lee asked as the man stood behind his master whose attention was on the two women in the front.The man stood still in the hallway, his wife following his wife's retreating figure as she was being accompanied by his younger sister, he was aware of the fact that they weren't on good terms yet she still asked her for a tour.Lucien couldn't understand the way the lady thought at times, thinking about it he couldn't help but wonder why she would suddenly request a tour From someone that isn't on good terms with her.He knew her to be intelligent, resourceful, and could easily handle herself in any situation but still, he couldn't help but be worried. Lucien was aware of how his sister could be at times which was why he couldn't help but be a little bit worried about the two ladies.“Master, Master…. Master….!” Lucien was lost in thought that he didn't hear when Butler Lee spoke to him until he was gently tapped by the man before he
Chapter 69Avery's gaze blazed with a Venomous expression on her face, the lady was pulling on her tail and it was high time she put her in her place. She looked towards Isabella who was silently concentrating on her food. She believed she was able to put a person like Isabella in her place. Putting Stephanie in her place wouldn't be that hard.Avery's voice was the epitome of feigned politeness as she turned to look at Stephanie, a saccharine smile pasted on her face like a mask. “Dear sister, I was wondering if you might be kind enough to give me a tour of the residence,” She said, her tone was so cool and conversational that one wouldn't be able to suspect a single thing.“I am quite curious about where my husband grew up,” Avery calmly spoke to provoke the lady who wouldn't hesitate to react.Stephanie's brow arched, her expression a perfect mirror of Eileen's words “Of course, sister, why not? I have always been by my brother's side. I can even brief you on every little thing you
Chapter 68 Mrs Smith was the only one who could see the interaction between his son and the so-called wife. The woman wasn't expecting to see such an interaction that she couldn't help but wonder if there was something she was missing or she had missed. The woman was aware of his son's temperament but seeing them bicker together, she couldn't help but stare at Eileen with different thoughts in her head. Mrs Smith was aware that his son's marriage was based on business purposes and was sure Lucien was aware of the same thing. The woman couldn't help but feel strange as their interaction seemed more familiar to her. The woman was about to speak up but Grandpa Smith was so fast that he interrupted her unknowingly “Son, when are you giving me a grandchild?” Grandpa Smith asked, resulting in a big choke on Avery's end. The question stuck through Avery like a blow of the gut, catching her off guard. Of course, she wasn't expecting the old man to blurt like that, but considering the old
Chapter 67He's nowhere to be F. O . U. N .D,” She said emphasizing on the word found, before making her way to the entrance door but not without stepping on her as if it was unintentional, whereas it was intentional.At moment she couldn't help but to feel proud of herself with a grin playing at the corner of her mouth, she instantly pulled the door unknowingly that the Butler Lee was leaning on the door trying to hear her conversation, the moment she pushed the door opened Butler Lee stumbled, his balance tipping precariously on the edge backwards, almost at the end of going down . But then, a brave Avery didn't hesitate to stepped into the fray, extending her arm in a heroic gesture of support. She wrapped her hand around man's old waist, the warmth of her touch seeping through his clothes as she steadied his flailing form.Their eyes met, a glint of admiration and respect shining in hers as the man regained his footing, gratitude swelling in his heart for her timely .Almost imm
Chapter 66Doesn't that makes us family?” She mumbled teasingly that one won't have to think twice seeing the sarcasm in her words.“If that's the definition of your own family then I'm sorry you need to start from creche to know the meaning!”“You!” Isabella sputtered in fury.“Oh yes, me! What's wrong with me!” Avery demanded finally seeing the expression she has long seeing on her.You decided to show your real expression today, “oh please, go easy on me because I don't know the next thing you would do to me!” She pleaded making her feel she has the upper hand.Of course Isabella has always been trying so hard to keep a smiley expression on when ever she speak to Eileen while using the word role model as a cover up to be able to convince her that she's a good friend but her face suddenly twisted in anger. That after a few words from Eileen, her true feelings exploded out of her, bursting her bubbles as she clenched her fists and her whole body shook with anger.“If you have anythi