After finishing breakfast, Avery Jane curled back into bed. In the winter, she often felt like a cat terrified of the cold, with the warm bed being the only good haven.

But it seemed the bed wasn’t a place to linger, as her phone started ringing merrily, over and over, with a momentum that compelled her to answer.

Avery sighed softly, recognizing the number on the phone. It was Harper Johnson calling.

She’s definitely looking for her because something unpleasant has happened, Avery thought bitterly to herself. She never knew what to say to others given her awkward situation. After all, in just ten months, Evelyn Yates would marry Joshua Hughes. Although there was no official status now, the reality was undeniable.

After the phone rang countless times, Avery picked it up, her fair fingers sliding across the screen. As soon as she held it to her ear, she heard the voice that nearly shattered her eardrums: "Avery Jane, come to the living room immediately."

After several consecutive calls, Harper Johnson had lost all patience, speaking fiercely into the phone.

"Stepmother, what’s the matter?"

Avery knew that meeting them would inevitably lead to hurtful remarks and unreasonable demands. She truly did not want to see the mother-daughter pair.

"What, I can’t even summon you now? Both I and Joshua’s mother are here; come down right away." With these words, Harper hung up in a huff.

She believed Avery would come downstairs. They had lived under the same roof for several years, and she understood Avery’s character to some extent.

"Evelyn, how could you let this happen? You’re the mistress here; Madam Hughes recognizes you too. How could you let that kind of woman walk all over you?"

Harper spoke with intent, deliberately mentioning Madam Hughes’s recognition in front of the housekeeper to emphasize Evelyn Yates’s future status and position.

Grace Roe slightly furrowed her brows at this troublesome woman. However, today she was curious to meet the woman who had made her son’s behavior so abnormal.

When Avery entered the living room, Grace couldn’t help but inwardly praise her beauty.

The sense of calm serenity she exuded was hard to find in such a restless society. A simple clean shirt paired with a sweater, her hair tied in a ponytail made her appear as pure as a student. In contrast, Evelyn, draped in an expensive fur coat, seemed rather tawdry.

"Avery Jane, how can you be so heartless? Our Yates Family hasn’t been mean to you. How can you bully Evelyn this way?"

Holding Evelyn’s hand reassuringly, Harper questioned Avery.

"I really don’t understand what you’re talking about."

Avery’s expression was as calm as a windless lake. Harper’s words couldn’t stir the slightest ripple within her.

"Don’t understand human language? I knew you’re a Fox Spirit, not understanding human speech naturally. I’m telling you, you’d better behave, or you’ll suffer when Evelyn gives birth."

Harper decided that even if she couldn’t get rid of her today, she would at least team up with Madam Hughes to give her a good thrashing.

At least make sure she can’t have children.

"Madam Hughes, say a fair word. Evelyn is enduring great grievance for Joshua, and she’s pregnant now. It’s not good for her to keep crying like this."

Harper tossed the hot potato to Grace.

"Avery Jane, you know my son can never marry you. Following him means you’ll forever be in the shadows, you know that, right?"

Grace looked at Avery, speaking softly.

"I know, but I have never wanted to marry him, not from the start." Avery looked into Grace’s eyes, speaking each word clearly.

"You’re lying, you’re lying! If you don’t want to marry him, why did you follow him back? Why are you ruining our relationship?"

Evelyn suddenly raised her head, speaking loudly, her voice tinged with a nasal tone. She had cried a lot, resembling a virtuous wife oppressed by an evil mistress.

Was she really the evil third party?

Avery’s mind wandered whimsically, while humorously responding to the question: "Do you think everyone wants to marry him?"

Joshua Hughes is like a coveted dish, everyone scrambling for a taste. Ridiculous.

"Miss Jane, since you don’t like Joshua, why are you still with him?"

Grace found it unbelievable. Her son inherited all their best traits, even surpassing his father in intelligence, agility, and courage.

Given his current status, he should be the most desirable man for women to marry, yet Avery seemed rather affected.

Perhaps she said so because she couldn’t marry him.

"Because he has money."

That answer was genuine because he was wealthy enough to help her achieve Wenyard’s dream.

Though he’d used many terrible and despicable means during their association, he did spend a lot of money on Wenyard’s lab.

To him, perhaps that money was insignificant.

This girl spoke candidly, without any concealment.

But when would her excellent son need to buy a woman with money?

"If you want money, I can give it to you. Would you leave him? Joshua’s status is very sensitive. From birth, he’s bound to follow the Hughes Family’s rules in choosing a wife, so you have no future. Luckily, you’re not genuinely in love with him. I can give you enough money for you to be worry-free for life, how does that sound?"

Grace thought if money could resolve these issues, it would both shut Harper’s mouth and clear obstacles for Joshua Hughes. If the board members learned of these matters, it would likely cause quite a stir again.

"Can you assure me that my life won’t be disturbed whatsoever? Can you? If you can guarantee that now, I don’t need your money, and I’ll leave immediately."

Avery knew Joshua Hughes too well. He wouldn’t let her escape.

But this was his mother. If she made a promise, would it mean she could safely leave?