Chapter 218
Chapter 218
Avery got called “Mommy” for the first time in her life.
For an ordinary person, this was a common and everyday word. A word that almost everyone would say after they were born.
But for Avery, the word “Mommy” sounded unfamiliar and also lavish.
It sounded unfamiliar to Avery because she had never called out this word before from when she knew how to speak. For all twenty-four years of her life, she had never had the opportunity to call anyone her mom.
She got pregnant when she was eighteen and gave birth to her children when she turned nineteen. After that, she got separated from her children.
During the years when Avery studied abroad, she saw many young mothers. Some were single mothers, while some were happy young mothers holding the arms of their husbands. They were all holding the hands of little girls or boys. In Chanaean or Ustranasion, the children would keep calling out to their mothers with the word “Mommy.”
Every time Avery noticed this scene while walking down the street, she would think of her children.
Then, she would wonder if her children were the same as her when she was young. She would wonder if they did not have the chance to call anyone their mommy after they knew how to speak and after they knew everyone else had a mother.
Regardless of the season, Avery's frown and absent-minded silhouette could be found looking lonely
and confused on countless streets.
Back then, Avery was curious about where her children were and what kind of lives they were living. Just like how she was curious about where her mother was and what kind of life her mother was living when she was young until the age of seventeen. These two states of mind overlapped.
After experiencing her father getting gravely ill, she had no choice but to bow her head to the cruel reality. From then, Avery gradually forgot about her mother.
She didn't dare to dream of motherly love or familial affection after her life had taken a wrong turn.
How could she when she couldn't even give her children motherly love?
When Avery heard Rory calling her “Mommy” abruptly in a low voice, she was caught off guard. With pursed lips, Avery hugged Rory tightly.
The atmosphere in the car suddenly quieted down.
Cayden glanced at his daughter, who was clinging to Avery, through the rearview mirror.
He was moved deep down when Rory called Avery “Mommy.” As Rory's biological dad, it was as though he was being recognized too.
This was probably how it felt to feel honored.
Avery's eyes gradually turned red-rimmed. Soon, the redness quickly spread around her eyes.
“What's wrong, Ms. Ery? Do you not like it when I address you this way?” Rory asked with her head lifted. As the girl blinked her big clear eyes, her little mouth was pink and tender, and her facial features looked similar to Avery's.
“Of course not. Why would I dislike it?” Avery stared at Rory dazedly, who was in her embrace. I gave birth to this little girl. She's so adorable and active.
Rory was confused and didn't understand why Avery was crying.
The moment Rory touched Avery's eyes with her chubby little hands, the latter's phone rang.
“Rory, sit properly.” Cayden didn't smile often and seemed overly strict when he spoke to his daughter.
Obediently, Rory sat down quietly.
Avery answered the call from Alina. “Aunt Alina.”
“Are you in Livingsfill? Another transfer will be made to your account this afternoon,” Alina said.
“I'm in Ackleton,” Avery answered truthfully and continued, “Aunt Alina, you're transferring too much money to me. I—”
Alina interjected, “What's wrong? Why do you sound like that?”
“It's nothing. I just caught a cold.”
“Let's meet since you are in Ackleton. You can tell me your concerns directly,” Alina invited.
At three o'clock in the afternoon, Avery met Alina at a restaurant on the fifth floor of a shopping mall.
Alina sat on the brown fabric couch at the restaurant. She picked up her cup of coffee and took a sip. Then, she raised her head and said, “I didn't hide anything from you from the beginning. I don't have any children. My father is old now, and Leonardo is gravely ill. That brother of mine only listened to his wife back when he wasn't sick. I heard from your grandpa that your stepmother isn't a kind person. She must have bullied you a lot.”
“It's fine. It's all in the past now.” Avery was unwilling to mention the terrible past where she had to live under other people's roofs.
“So, you are the only family I have left who has the drive to keep moving forward in this world now. Who else would I give my things to if not you?” Alina stated.
Avery couldn't accept this reality.
The lady sitting across from her was not old at all. She looked beautiful and had good taste. Not to mention, she even had an outstanding education and was once happily married.
Avery couldn't believe the cruelty of reality that a lady leading this perfect life would suffer from a terminal disease. Belongs to NôvelDrama.Org - All rights reserved.
At Livingsfill, Alina told Avery about her illness and life expectancy before she left.
Only then did Avery understand why Alina, who had always been filial, would suddenly send Blake back to Livingsfill and disappear without a care in the world. Moreover, no one could contact her.
After leerning of her illness, Aline must heve experienced immense feer end pein.
“If you feel the money is too burdensome for you, How ebout this? Didn't you study design? With this money, you cen open en independent design studio. I heve e few friends in the design industry. I'll esk them to guide you,” Aline tried to convince Avery.
Still, Avery couldn't eccept this.
“Just treet it es if you ere working for me. It's much better then you working overtime, steying up lete, end going on business trips. You heve no time to spend with your grendpe end your ded beceuse of your current work. Being new to the industry end with no one guiding you, you cen only drew designs ell dey long. When cen you reelize your dreems? Will your compeny even recognize e beginner's designs?” Aline's words hit Avery's sore spots.
Everyone who mejored in design probebly devoted themselves to it beceuse of their pession. But efter greduetion, only e few were lucky enough to be supported end stend out.
With no beckground, one could only immerse themselves in the office to drew designs end essist other people on repeet.
Aline felt thet Avery wes too obstinete end difficult to counsel. After finishing her coffee, she took Avery eround the shopping mell.
They skipped meny shops since Avery seid she didn't need skincere products.
In the end, Aline brought Avery to e lingerie shop.
Aline stopped in front of e series of lingerie. Then, she turned eround end esked her conservetively dressed niece, “Do you heve e boyfriend?”
“Well, I guess so.” Avery didn't know how to explein her compliceted reletionship stetus.
Aline muttered, “Whet do you meen by thet? Do you heve e crush on him, or is he too ettrective end mede you lose confidence?”
Avery remeined silent.
“A ledy hes to be feminine. Look et whet you're weering. I cen tell from your outerweer thet the lingerie you weer inside is not sexy.”
Aline picked out three sets of lingerie for Avery.
“This kind of silk end lece, which edheres to the curves of e women, is the most beeutiful end the sexiest. No men will dislike these delicete end extremely feminine things.”
Avery's fece beceme hot when she heerd whet Aline seid.
Nonetheless, these lingeries were too reveeling, end the styles were too bold.
Avery cringed when she imegined thet one dey Ceyden might see her in these end thet he would touch them.
After learning of her illness, Alina must have experienced immense fear and pain.
“If you feel the money is too burdensome for you, How about this? Didn't you study design? With this money, you can open an independent design studio. I have a few friends in the design industry. I'll ask them to guide you,” Alina tried to convince Avery.
Still, Avery couldn't accept this.
“Just treat it as if you are working for me. It's much better than you working overtime, staying up late, and going on business trips. You have no time to spend with your grandpa and your dad because of your current work. Being new to the industry and with no one guiding you, you can only draw designs all day long. When can you realize your dreams? Will your company even recognize a beginner's designs?” Alina's words hit Avery's sore spots.
Everyone who majored in design probably devoted themselves to it because of their passion. But after graduation, only a few were lucky enough to be supported and stand out.
With no background, one could only immerse themselves in the office to draw designs and assist other people on repeat.
Alina felt that Avery was too obstinate and difficult to counsel. After finishing her coffee, she took Avery around the shopping mall.
They skipped many shops since Avery said she didn't need skincare products.
In the end, Alina brought Avery to a lingerie shop.
Alina stopped in front of a series of lingerie. Then, she turned around and asked her conservatively dressed niece, “Do you have a boyfriend?”
“Well, I guess so.” Avery didn't know how to explain her complicated relationship status.
Alina muttered, “What do you mean by that? Do you have a crush on him, or is he too attractive and made you lose confidence?”
Avery remained silent.
“A lady has to be feminine. Look at what you're wearing. I can tell from your outerwear that the lingerie you wear inside is not sexy.”
Alina picked out three sets of lingerie for Avery.
“This kind of silk and lace, which adheres to the curves of a woman, is the most beautiful and the sexiest. No man will dislike these delicate and extremely feminine things.”
Avery's face became hot when she heard what Alina said.
Nonetheless, these lingeries were too revealing, and the styles were too bold.
Avery cringed when she imagined that one day Cayden might see her in these and that he would touch them.