Chapter 4 They Were Made For Each Other

"Where are you going?" Brayden asked after they entered his car.

"To your house... I left my laptop there," Averie replied.

She remained silent, seated next to Brayden.

The Briggs family's stance was clear today.

Her original plan was to follow Brayden's advice. She would stay in Nolens for another three months, make some money doing makeup jobs, and with the divorce settlement, eventually bring her mom back from Haeidith.

Now, she figured she needed to speed up the divorce and rethink her plans.

She couldn't grasp why Brayden had come to her aid. Seeing her in a daze, Brayden thought she was still shaken by what happened earlier.

"Why'd you show up at the Briggs family home today?"

Brayden coughed lightly and answered with a cold tone, "Just happened to be in the area."

"I see."

It didn't seem likely he'd come just to help her. Averie let out a soft sigh.

"Your family's treatment of you..."

"Can we speed up our divorce?"

They both spoke at once, and Averie's words caused Brayden's face to cloud over.

"Why are you in such a hurry?" His hair fell stylishly, partly hiding his current expression.

They had settled on three months and three million. Averie felt guilty, as if she had broken a promise.

After pondering for a moment, Averie said, "I didn't keep my word. You don't need to pay the entire three million. But could we hurry, even if it's for just a month or a day..."

Her mother's health was deteriorating rapidly.

Averie had come to Nolens and agreed to be a stand-in bride with the hope that the Briggs family would help her mother and cover the medical expenses.

"You despise me that much?" Brayden gave her a glance, his voice tinged with mockery. "Remember, it was you who ousted your sister and took her place as my wife."

Did the Briggs family really paint the situation this way to him? That she had taken away the role meant for Corinna, Brayden's intended wife?

Averie, stung by his sarcastic remarks, realized her naivety.

"I apologize. I won't bother you like before." Her gaze was firm and unemotional.

Brayden's breath grew heavier.

"You said it yourself. No regrets." He pressed the accelerator forcefully, and the car sped along the road.

Soon, they reached Brayden's house.

As soon as Averie stepped out of the car, she noticed the butler and the servants busily organizing luggage.

Glancing at Brayden, she couldn't help but ask, "Going on another business trip?"

In the early days of their marriage, Brayden often traveled for work, mainly because he had no affection for her.

Back then, Averie was as occupied as these servants, getting everything ready for his trips.

Now, she was relieved from that task, which was a huge relief.

As she thought about this, suddenly someone burst through the door, threw themselves into Brayden's arms, and exclaimed, "Brayden, you're home!"

Then, in a playful tone, she added, "I'm so exhausted from unpacking."

Brayden, standing tall and unwavering, moved to gently push the person away, allowing Averie to see it was Corinna, her sister.

Corinna always looked stunning and vibrant, shining like a princess.

Even though Averie was Brayden's wife, standing with them made her feel like an outsider.

But she wasn't bothered by it anymore.

"Why are you here?" Brayden asked, his voice emotionless.

Corinna clung to Brayden's waist. Noticing Averie, the butler intervened, separating Brayden and Corinna. Brayden's expression finally softened a bit.

"Now you're leading the Fowler Group. Why keep me hidden?" Corinna playfully stuck out her tongue.

She glanced around, her eyes finally resting on Averie. "Hey Averie, you're back too? After your miscarriage, you should be taking it easy. It's not good to be up and about so soon."

She then grabbed Brayden's arm with a smile, turning to Averie. "You wouldn't mind if I start moving in now, would you?"

"Well, that's not really my call to make," Averie replied, smiling warmly.

It was a well-known fact in Nolens that Brayden had long harbored feelings for someone.

And Corinna, she was Brayden's hidden tenderness, a secret he'd kept close for years.

Rumor had it that Corinna once saved Brayden's life when they were younger.

Their facade of a loving marriage was just a shield to protect Corinna, Brayden's true love.

In her own thoughts, Averie saw herself as an intruder, having stolen three years of their life together.

"We're bound to get married at some point, aren't we? Let's go inside and talk it over," Corinna suggested, still clinging to Brayden's arm, greeting Averie with a gracious smile as if she owned the place.

Brayden watched Averie in silence, his face unreadable.

Averie, however, just followed them quietly, her face devoid of emotion.

Brayden discreetly freed his arm from Corinna's grip, but it didn't seem to lighten his mood.

"I've looked at each room and intend to pick one I like," Corinna declared, chatting non-stop as she headed upstairs.

Averie stayed silent. She just wanted to grab her laptop and get out of there.

As they reached the second floor, Corinna suddenly blurted out, "Brayden, you know that pink laptop in your room..."

Averie tensed up, sensing trouble.

And sure enough, Corinna went on, "I kind of broke it while I was unpacking stuff, but it's no big deal, right?"

Averie's heart raced.

That laptop was a special gift from her mom when she became an adult. She had always taken great care of it.

"That's Averie's laptop," Brayden said, sounding pretty uninterested.

Corinna's mouth dropped open in shock. "Oh no, Averie, I'm so sorry. It was an accident."

Averie couldn't tell if Corinna's surprise was genuine or not.

"Corinna, even the calmest person gets fed up sometimes, don't they?" Averie said, her voice firm.

Corinna gazed at her, questioning the audacity of this bitch to challenge her!

But then it hit Corinna that she had snatched away Brayden's attention; that she was only pretending to be the person who had saved Brayden. With this thought, she gave Averie a nervous look.

"Never mind. I'll just get it fixed." Averie had had enough and didn't want any more drama.

She turned and walked into Brayden's bedroom, leaving Corinna and Brayden behind in the hallway.

One was scheming and the other was arrogant. They were made for each other.

Averie entered the bedroom and noticed the messy luggage scattered on the floor. Among them, she spotted a badly damaged laptop.

Gently, she picked up the laptop, preparing to stand. However, she stumbled over a piece of luggage lying at her feet.

Holding the laptop close, she fell next to the desk, making sure to protect it.

Averie's first thought was to check the laptop, not minding her own fall.

Then, something caught her eye.

From where she lay, Averie saw a small stone plaque hidden in the narrow space between the desk and the wall.

It was so well concealed that under normal circumstances, it would go unnoticed.

Curiously, Averie reached for the plaque. It turned out to be a small memorial tablet. The inscription read, "To Brayden's Son."

Brayden's son... The only child she had ever conceived had been lost in a miscarriage. There was no one else.

Could it be that Brayden, unable to bury the child in the Fowler family cemetery, had placed this memorial tablet in his home?

But Brayden, a man who had been a titan in the business world for nearly ten years, never put stock in spirits or gods.

Perhaps, after the miscarriage, Brayden wasn't as unfeeling as he appeared?

Yet, what did it matter? Eventually, they were meant to part ways.

Averie gently placed the small memorial tablet back and stepped out of the bedroom, holding the laptop.

"I'll get someone to fix this for you." Brayden, watching her come out of the bedroom, seemed to straighten up a bit.

"No, don't bother. I'm leaving now." Averie, giving a polite nod, was about to leave. But Brayden caught her wrist just as she was nearing the stairs.

"Join me for a party next Monday," he said.

Before Averie could decline, Brayden added quickly, "We're still a married couple to the outside world, right?"

Corinna, who was there too, tried to hide her irritation with a calm smile. "Averie, are you free next week?"

Averie noticed the anger and threat in Corinna's eyes.

But when she looked at the broken laptop in her arms, her planned refusal softened.

Touching Brayden's hand on her wrist, Averie smiled and agreed, "Sure."

She was, after all, Brayden's wife, wasn't she?

Seeing Corinna's expression turn sour, Averie couldn't help but feel a bit of satisfaction.