The driver reported truthfully, and before he could say a second word, the call was disconnected with a beep.

Avery Jane went shopping?

No, that’s not like her. Joshua Hughes’s eyes narrowed dangerously.

"The noodles here are delicious. The owner makes them by hand, and they’re cheap. I used to eat here often when I was in school."

The food was served very quickly at the small restaurant. Because it was cheap, there were only a few thin slices of beef, a small handful of thin, golden egg shreds on top, and two bright green bok choy. It looked very appetizing.

There were also a few small dishes, like tofu and pickled vegetables.

Beckett Wright skillfully pulled out a napkin from the table to wipe the greasy table surface, then broke apart a pair of disposable chopsticks and handed them to her.

It seemed he really wasn’t just saying that he came here often; Avery Jane smiled and took the chopsticks from him.

At the Hughes Family, the food there was always exquisite and luxurious. Avery Jane often suspected that Nanny Collins was like a magician, appearing and disappearing out of thin air.

She would always prepare the most perfect food at the most opportune moments for them.

Anyway, Avery never felt Joshua Hughes was as magical as the outside world portrayed; it was more like their old servant was the magical one.

But no matter how good the food was, you had to be in a good mood to enjoy it. Like now, looking at those innocent, young faces at school, under the clear sunny sky, with a clean and gentle man she didn’t dislike, and the long-lost smile of the owner, everything made her feel very comfortable.

So, the noodles tasted especially good.

In her little purse, the phone rang cheerfully along with her mood.

Avery Jane put down the chopsticks. Could it be Angela? Was there something at work?

She had been a transparent person at the company for so long, why were they looking for her now?

Taking out her phone, the unique and domineering combination of numbers on the display made her inexplicably tense. She instinctively looked around, only seeing children in uniform and not that man in black, cold, stern, and cruel.

She quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

"Avery Jane, where are you?"

The voice on the phone, uniquely deep and magnetic, seemed to be asking, probing, and Avery could sense a hint of displeasure and danger in it.

"I’m eating out."

Avery Jane answered cautiously, always feeling like her every move was being monitored by him. How did he know she had just gone out?

What if he knew she was going to the hospital?

Her face instantly turned pale.

"Avery Jane, what’s wrong?"

Beckett also put down his chopsticks, looking at her with concern. She was fine just a moment ago, why did her face suddenly change?

Joshua Hughes stood by the large floor-to-ceiling glass in his office. From here, he could take in the beautiful view of the entire city, and Avery Jane was hiding in a small corner of this scene, with a man by her side.

Joshua’s eyes slowly became gloomy and bloodthirsty; who is he?

"Are you alone?"

Avery listened to his seemingly calm voice, but she knew that behind calmness lay enormous danger. She didn’t want to risk lying to him; she had witnessed this man’s power, and deceiving him was clearly not a good idea, especially since she always felt he knew something.

"No, I ran into Mr. Wright at the mall. He invited me to shoot another round of advertisements. We talked for a while and then went to eat together."

Avery forced herself to calm down.

Joshua Hughes shouldn’t be suspicious now, right? The most important thing now was not for him to find out she was having a meal with another man, since it was broad daylight and they couldn’t possibly do anything at such a bustling small diner.

She definitely couldn’t let him know she secretly went to the hospital.

Joshua coldly snorted. At least she was honest. If she dared to lie, he would have torn her and that man to shreds and fed them to the dogs.

"Where are you eating?" He controlled the burning rage in his chest and asked patiently.

"A small diner you wouldn’t know."

How could he possibly know a place like this?

Avery felt relieved. Her nerves were taut, as if that man would jump out of the phone and take her away.

But now he didn’t seem as angry as she had imagined.

"Take a photo and send it to me, right now." 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

Then he hung up. If this damn woman dared to be even a minute late, he’d make her pay. Perhaps not even Joshua himself realized he seemed to be catching someone in the act.

Before long, a message appeared on the phone. He opened it to find a room full of students, a simple table with two bowls of noodles and a few small dishes. In the picture, there was also a pair of male hands, wearing a beige shirt and a simple mechanistic watch. That should be Beckett. He really should chop off those hands: designing jewelry while using the guise of a designer to deceive young girls. How despicable.

The phone rang again, haunting as ever. It was still him. She had obediently said she was eating and sent the photo. What more did he want?

Avery felt on the verge of breakdown. Could he be calling her back immediately?

"What about you? Why aren’t you in the photo? After eating, don’t stay with him. Also, come to my office later, and let’s have dinner tonight."

Joshua said with a sullen face and a bad temper, although she didn’t lie to him, he was still very unsatisfied.

"Got it."

Avery replied, took a selfie, and sent it over.

This man who behaves irrationally all day long, she was about to be driven insane by him.

"Avery, what’s wrong?"

Beckett asked cautiously, noticing the shift from clear skies to overcast expressions. Avery’s mood didn’t seem great, and the bright, clear eyes slowly dimmed like a sky losing its stars. Was something on her mind?

"Nothing, eat up, the noodles won’t taste good if they soak too long."

Avery said with a bitter twist of her lips, picking up the chopsticks again. The food that once tasted exceptionally delicious now seemed tasteless.

If she were willing to speak up, even if he didn’t ask, she would softly tell. If she didn’t want to be known, she wouldn’t say it, and asking much would just add to their awkwardness.

After all, in Avery’s heart, he wasn’t yet someone she could confide in. Still, he really was willing to be a quiet listener, hoping to slowly become Avery’s friend, but Avery always appeared gentle and polite, maintaining a certain distance.

Beckett smiled faintly, sorrow in his eyes beginning to spread like fog...