Chapter 3

A sleek black sedan pulled up to a gas station on the side of the highway. The car was a top-of-the-line model, with leather seats and a powerful engine.

As the car came to a stop, the driver, a tall, dark-haired man, turned to the two passenger and said, "We need to make a stop here, Sir. I need to fill up the tank."

The passenger, an adult man and a young woman with auburn hair, sighed and opened the car door. "Okay," she said, "but I won’t be going any further."

“Ma’am…” the driver pouted his lips surprised. He could have taken her to her destination, but why stop here?

“No need to worry Butler Sam. I can find my way from here.” Avery smiled weak. Stephen who was siting at the other side of the chair didn’t even give her another look. “You can take Stephen to the office, I’ll find my way back home.”

Avery stepped down from the car and looked back at Stephen. "I'm sorry for all the trouble I've caused you and your family," she said. "I'll leave now and never bother you again."

But instead of a reply, Stephen turned to his butler and said, "Sam, be quick. Let's leave."

Avery felt a stab of pain in her heart. She had tried her best to make things right, but it seemed like nothing could fix the damage she had done. She turned away from the car and began to walk down the road, not knowing where she would go next.

As soon as the car was filled with gas, the butler got back in and closed the door. The car zoomed off, leaving Avery alone on the side of the road.

Avery pulled out her phone and called the only person she could think of. As the phone rang, she felt the tears welling up in her eyes. She couldn't hold them back any longer, and they started to fall down her cheeks.

After a few moments, the person on the other end of the line answered.

"Hello?" a familiar voice said.

^^^^^^^^^^^^

Avery stepped out of the cab, her luggage at her side. She looked up at the small mansion in front of her, its stone facade and tall windows bringing back memories of her childhood.

This was the place where she had been brought up by her late mother, who had passed away when she was only a child.

As she stood there, a rush of emotions washed over her. She felt a mixture of sadness, nostalgia, This place had traumatized her a lot and she had nowhere to return to but here.

She took a deep breath and walked up to the front door, preparing herself for what was to come.

Before Avery could even lift her hand to knock, the door swung open and a familiar figure appeared in the doorway.

it was her Aunt Helen, who had taken care of her after her mother's death. She was now an elderly woman, using a walking stick to help her stand upright.

"Avery?" she said, her voice full of surprise and joy. "Is that really you?"

Avery nodded, a smile spreading across her face. "Hi, Aunt Helen," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "It's so good to see you again."

"Where's Stephen?" her aunt asked, glancing around. "Is he not with you?"

Avery hesitated, then shook her head. "He couldn't come," she said, her voice a little shaky.

"Oh dear," her aunt said, concern evident in her tone. "Is everything alright?"

Avery ignored the question, and asked instead, "Can I come in, please?"

Aunt Helen's expression softened, and she nodded.

"Of course, dear," she said, moving aside to let her in. "Come in and get warm. You must be cold."

The inside of the mansion was just as Avery remembered it - old-fashioned and a little bit musty.

The furniture was covered in dust, and the walls were covered in cobwebs. It was like a time capsule, frozen in the past.

Aunt Helen took a deep breath, as if she could sense the sadness and tension in the air. "I'll get you some water," she said, heading towards the kitchen.

"I'll get it myself," Avery said, following her. "I don't want to trouble you."

In the kitchen, as Avery sipped the water, she looked around the kitchen, her thoughts racing. Could she stay here with her aunt?

She wasn't sure how long she would be able to stay, or where she would go after that. But she couldn't let her aunt know about the divorce. It would only worry her.

She decided to keep quiet about the whole thing, at least for now. Maybe if she stayed here long enough, she would figure out her next move.

The next morning, the sunlight streaming through the windows woke Avery up. As she opened her eyes, she saw her reflection in the mirror, and was surprised to find herself looking better than she had in a long time.

Her skin was clear and radiant, and her eyes were bright. She looked almost like a different person.

She couldn't understand why anyone would want to divorce her. She had always thought she was a good wife, and that she had made a good home for her husband. She just couldn't understand what had gone wrong.

As Avery stood there, wondering what was happening, she heard a blaring horn outside. She went to the window in a rush and saw a whole fleet of fancy cars parked outside. She couldn't believe her eyes.

"Aunt Helen," she called out, "what's going on?"

Her aunt came to the door, a look of concern on her face.

"I'm sorry, dear," she said. "Im getting very old now. I forgot to tell you, but your father is back in the city and he’s here to claim you as his daughter.”

Avery was shocked. Her father had never been very involved in her life,

"But why have I never heard of him before?" Avery asked, her voice full of confusion and hurt. "If he's my father, why did he never reach out to me?"

"It's a long story, and I'm not sure I can explain it all now," her aunt said, her voice gentle and sympathetic. "But he wants to make up for lost time. I think you should hear him out."

As Avery watched from the window, she saw one of the car doors open and a tall, elderly man stepped out.

He was wearing a smart suit, and several bodyguards followed him,