Chapter 3 Has He Changed

Averie had just returned to her apartment building when the evening darkness enveloped the city. She was about to step into the elevator, her suitcase in tow, when she suddenly found herself face-to-face with Nolan. He stood there, a bouquet of lollipop flowers in hand, his face beaming.

"Hey Averie, congrats on the divorce! Here's to a happier future," Nolan said, his voice filled with genuine joy.

"You know, you've got a real gift for makeup, Averie. It's been under wraps since you were with that loser. Now, you've got a shot at making it big. I'm sure you're going to be famous worldwide," he added, barely containing his excitement.

He couldn't hide his happiness about Averie's divorce. He had been waiting for Averie to divorce that bastard!

"Thanks, Nolan," Averie replied, her smile breaking through for the first time in days.

But she quickly became anxious, glancing around before hurriedly pulling Nolan into the elevator. They went up to her apartment.

"Hey, why are you here? Aren't you worried about the paparazzi catching you?" she asked, peering out and carefully drawing the curtains.

Nolan shrugged off her concern as he plopped down on the sofa. "Oh, well. I've got a new acting gig. I was hoping you'd do my makeup for some promo shots. I'll pay you the usual rate. What do you say?"

He seemed to have a sudden realization and added, "I'll pay you upfront. You must be struggling with your mom's medical bills and the cost of her caregiver, right?"

She had almost forgotten about it until Nolan mentioned it!

She had been in the hospital due to the miscarriage and hadn't checked her mom's recent emails.

"Does the Briggs family really refuse to help with any medical costs?" Nolan was puzzled.

Averie gave a half-hearted smile.

She was a Briggs by name, but not the biological child of her father's current wife, Rosalie Briggs.

She had an older half-brother and half-sister raised by the Briggs family, while she was born in Haeidith.

Her mom was merely a servant for the Briggs family.

When her mother got pregnant with her, Rosalie wanted nothing to do with her. Her mother had to escape to Haeidith to find refuge and start anew.

The Fowler Group was in chaos a few years ago, and Brayden returned to Nolens with no real power or influence. Rosalie feared her own daughter, Corinna Briggs, would suffer if she married Brayden, so she sent her back to marry Brayden as a stand-in for Corinna.

Brayden didn't care. He just needed a tie with the Briggs family, and it didn't matter who he married.

But once he realized Corinna had saved him in the past, Brayden started to see her differently, and they grew close.

The Briggs family agreed that if Averie behaved, her mom could return to the Briggs family.

That was her mother's deepest desire.

Averie remembered Brayden as the man who had once saved her, and that was partly why she had agreed to this arranged marriage.

Averie opened her suitcase, planning to use her laptop to check up on her mother's recent condition.

But as soon as she opened it, she was shocked.

"What's the matter?" Nolan asked, leaning his head to see.

"It's nothing. I just forgot my laptop. I'll go get it tomorrow," she replied, hoping she wouldn't run into Brayden.

The next day came quickly.

She left early for Brayden's house since she had to be at the studio by the afternoon to assist Nolan with his makeup. The money from the makeup job would cover her mother's medical bills for the month.

In the past, to be a good wife for Brayden, she only worked occasionally.

After the divorce, she could pursue her career as a full-time makeup artist.

She took a taxi, but halfway through the ride, her phone rang.

It was Jeffrey Briggs, her eldest brother from the Briggs family.

"Hello, Jeffrey," she answered, her face clouding over at the sight of the Briggs family name on the caller ID, but she felt she had no choice but to answer.

As Jeffrey spoke, the wind outside the taxi seemed to carry away his words, changing her expression.

His voice was stern. "Have you signed the divorce papers yet? If you delay, there won't be a place for your mom in the Briggs family."

Midway, the taxi turned around, heading toward the Briggs family mansion instead.

"Jeffrey, I..." Averie's words were cut short as she entered the Briggs family mansion. The next thing she knew, she was struck and sent sprawling to the floor.

Her hair fell over her face, hiding her icy expression.

No one in the Briggs family would dare to think of her as weak if they saw her expression.

The person who struck her was the Briggs family's housekeeper, closely allied with her stepmother, Rosalie.

Rosalie, middle-aged and dressed extravagantly, looked down at Averie with disdain. "Such a bitch! I feel disgusted to even look at you. The Fowler Group is thriving now. Why haven't you divorced as you promised? Are you planning to use the Fowler Group and Brayden to save yourself and your mother?"

Rosalie's anger didn't subside. She grabbed Averie by the hair, yanking her up.

Meanwhile, in the living room, Jeffrey and their father observed coldly. Jeffrey didn't seem to recognize Averie as his sister.

"Averie, do you honestly think Brayden cares about you? You're fooling yourself," Rosalie sneered.

"Listen to Rosalie, Averie," their father interjected. "Get the divorce done quickly. We'll take care of your mother after that."

Jeffrey fueled the conflict, asserting, "Averie, you better listen. Remember, if we hadn't taken you in, you'd still be stuck in Haeidith's most chaotic district!"

"You got to live like a rich girl because of us, and we even promised to bring your mother over. Is this how you repay us?" Angered, Rosalie showed her teeth and growled, "Listen up! Unless Corinna marries Brayden, your mother won't be joining the Briggs family!"

Rosalie had thought the stabilization of the Fowler Group would lead Brayden to marry Corinna quickly. But to her astonishment, Brayden didn't bring it up.

He didn't even talk about divorcing Averie.

"That bitch! Just like her mother!" Rosalie was itching to scratch Averie's face.

Averie looked up, her voice cold with warning. "You can insult me, but leave my mother out of it."

"What? You gonna hit me? What's that look in your eyes?"

The intensity in Averie's gaze sent a shiver through Rosalie. She realized she was actually scared of the stare from a so-called lowlife's daughter.

The housekeeper by her side lifted her arm in a threatening gesture.

"What's happening here?" Brayden asked, his casual tone immediately quieting the noisy living room.

The members of the Briggs family exchanged surprised glances, while the housekeeper quickly lowered her arm, which she had raised a moment ago.

As Brayden walked past her, he shot her a chilling look that made her shiver.

From the moment Brayden entered the Briggs' residence, his presence alone seemed to instill a sense of fear in everyone, even when he remained silent.

Averie slowly lifted her head.

"Get up," Brayden instructed, looking down at Averie who was on the floor.

This caused a stir among the Briggs family members, who quickly masked their shock with flattering smiles.

"Brayden, what brings you here so unexpectedly?" Rosalie asked.

"I've come to take Averie with me," Brayden replied, his face showing no emotion and indicating a reluctance to converse further.

The sunlight poured in behind him, casting his figure in a soft glow. He lowered his gaze and extended his hand toward Averie.

As she gazed at him, Averie's mind flashed back to the Brayden of the past.

In her memory, Brayden was a resolute young man with piercing eyes.

He too had once reached out to her in the light, offering her reassurance with his words. "In Haeidith, to survive, you can't afford to be too kind. But it's okay if you are. Because you have me by your side."

Averie shook her head, clearing away the rush of memories that flooded her mind.

She sidestepped Brayden's extended hand, got up, and brushed off her clothes.

"Well, Brayden, about our joint project in the new district next month..." Rosalie said with a sly smile, her face creased with wrinkles.

"Right. Will the funds be transferred on time?" Jeffrey gave an awkward smile in response.

Brayden glanced at his outstretched hand, and his brow furrowed slightly.

"Don't forget, she's Mrs. Fowler." Brayden surveyed the crowd, his gaze icy and inscrutable.

He ignored the Briggs family's remarks, took Averie's hand, and walked away.

His hand was warm, yet Averie quickly pulled away, keeping a courteous distance between them.