The Reunion After Seven Years

Avery was wary of Baron's presence with what she was about to say to Nicole. The Fang heir noticed it and decided that he should probably leave. "Nicole, it looks like you two have something very important, and quite sensitive, to talk about. I'll go ahead, I just remembered that I still have a few phone calls to make."

Baron rose from his seat and was about to leave, but Nicole stopped him.

"Take a seat, Baron."

She turned to look at Avery and reassured her that Baron could be trusted.

"Avery, Baron is a good friend of mine. He could help us. He's helped me so much since we were in Manhattan. Don't worry, there is no need to hide anything from him."

She knew that Baron was always reasonable and she trusted him as her friend. She just had to reassure Avery of that confidence. With a sigh, Avery nodded in response, looked directly at Nicole and began,

"Alright, so after the Ning Group fell apart, I thought that Aunt Sandra didn't have a job. Since Bonnie was still really young, I figured I should try to help by sending some financial aid. But when I went to see her, I accidentally saw that your stepmother was talking to a man and they seemed really close, suspiciously close.

I followed her in secret. I saw them enter a hotel, and it took long before they came out. After that day, I sent someone to follow her around for some time. I was worried that the reporters would bother her at first, but I accidentally took a picture of her and that man together in the picture.

I did a background check on the man and found out that he was the CEO of the He Group—Daniel He."

Nicole looked at Avery who was a little embarrassed as she explained. Although Nicole was surprised at what she had heard, her face remained stoic.

"My father passed away, and Aunt Sandra and Bonnie had to survive somehow. My stepmother needed to find a person she could rely on."

Nicole knew she couldn't really blame her stepmother for doing what she did. It was the most reasonable course of action. But she was rather uncomfortable with the fact that so soon after her father's death, her stepmother found a way out for herself.

However, she had been acquainted with the fickle and cold side of human nature seven years ago.

it wasn't just then. I looked into their check-in records, and found that they had already been in touch before the Ning Group's bankruptcy. I was really curious

she just buried all her emotions deep down and refused to show her pain, but later I found that it seemed not to be the case. I started to wonder whether your father's accident had anything to do with your stepmother.

was in the gutter already, and adding

told her. She was bothered, to say at the very least. Avery didn't want to burden Nicole with this. After all, she knew how hard it

don't think about it too much. I'll keep investigating for you. Perhaps

face as she listened to

have to take responsibility for it. In fact, not long before my father's

just want to know why the Ning Group would

she couldn't help but clench her fists,

too, for

on Nicole's face, Baron

of consolation would have no value and only the truth could

have you two

Avery, suppressing the worries in her

felt her heart getting punctured over and over again. She had hoped that what happened to her father didn't involve her stepmother. After all, Bonnie was her sister, and she

silly, I'm always here

friend, Avery lifted her hand to touch Nicole's hair and tossed it to the back of her ear. She caught sight of the red marks on her neck, smirked at Nicole, and then she looked at

across her, "Tell me the truth. Are you

in Manhattan, it was always Baron who accompanied Nicole, but Nicole

on earth are you talking

in front of her and

Mr. Fang. Are you really going to keep it from me? Don't tell me that hickey on your neck was

this was her best friend. Besides, they were all adults, so