Chapter 4
After transferring the money to her bank account, Avery left the company and went to a large shopping mall nearby.
In truth, 50 thousand was a big number to Avery, but to Marcus, it might not even be worth 50 cents.
Avery mustered up her courage and walked into a luxury store. “I want to look at that bag.”
The saleswoman sized Avery up. “That bag is 49,800 dollars.”
Avery smiled. What a coincidence. That was exactly the amount she had.
“I’ll take it. Please wrap it up for me.” Avery spoke calmly and sat down to wait, her legs hurting.
The saleswoman’s attitude immediately changed as she smiled and went to get the bag for Avery.
A bag worth over 40 thousand was nothing in this luxury store. But to Avery, it was akin to her dignity.
The moment she received the bag, Avery felt its weight.
Her confidence didn’t seem to come from owning a luxury bag, as she had thought it would. On the contrary, she now felt even more inferior.
Before leaving the counter, Avery saw a bag displayed in a separate showcase. “May I know how much that bag is?”
Avery remembered that bag. Marcus had given the same one to Madison. When Madison held it, she looked elegant and confident.
“That bag is a limited edition. It’s a display item in our store. To purchase it, you either need over 30 million in accumulated membership points, or buy about 10 million worth of other products along with it,” the saleswoman replied with a smile.
Avery stood frozen in place. 30 million was an enormous number.
But Marcus could throw away such a sum just to please Madison.
That money was more than enough to save all the children’s lives in an orphanage.
Human life could be both expensive and worthless. Avery was born to be in the second category.
The gap between her and Madison wasn’t just in the value of a bag. It was in their family background, upbringing, and every little detail of how they grew up.
Marcus would never brush Madison off with just a few tens of thousands because he knew Madison was worth way more than that.
Avery was like a toad, while Madison was a swan. They were incomparable.
It was utterly ridiculous that Avery once confidently believed she could hold a tiny place in Marcus’ heart.
Back at her apartment, Avery put the bag up for sale on a second-hand site. It was brand new, so she would only lose a bit of money. But it could be sold quickly.
Once the money came through, Avery would transfer it to the orphanage director’s bank account.
The kids had no warm clothes for the winter, and 40 thousand was enough to get them through.
After a hot shower, Avery stood naked beside the clothes rack. She was trying to pick out an outfit for her meeting at Bullmar Manor tomorrow.
The door opened, and Marcus walked in. He hadn’t contacted Avery and came over without notice.
Avery was a little shocked and instinctively wrapped herself in a towel. “Mr. Lowell.”
“You resigned?” Marcus frowned slightly, carrying some fruit he bought at the entrance of the apartment building.
He never came empty-handed, but what he brought was never expensive—small cakes, some fruit, a simple bouquet.
Avery nodded. “Yeah.”
Marcus rented the apartment, so it was normal for him to come and go as he pleased.
“You don’t need to worry about Madison. I’m here.” Marcus pinched Avery’s face as he looked at her.
Then, sitting on the edge of the bed, he pulled her over.
“Does it still hurt?” he asked in an unusually gentle tone.
Avery lowered her eyes and shook her head.
“I talked to HR. Just pretend you never submitted the resignation. I’ve given you a few days off. You can go back whenever you want.”
Marcus was giving Avery special treatment.
But to Avery, this felt like charity.
In fact, Marcus had been giving her charity all along. Ever since he learned that his sister was leading people to bully her in disgusting ways, he had been helping her from a superior position.
Avery took a deep breath and gathered the courage to ask. “You’re getting married, right?”
Marcus fell silent.
Avery held back the tears forming in her eyes and smiled. “I won’t go back to the company, and I’ll also move out of here soon. Marcus, let’s end this. I wish you and Ms. Harper a lifetime of happiness.”
She had her principles and bottom line. At the very least, she wouldn’t be the other woman.
Marcus frowned, clearly displeased. “Are you picking a fight with me?”
Avery smiled tiredly. “No.”
Marcus pulled Avery into his arms as if to comfort her. “Just stay here. We’ll talk about it again when the wedding really happens.”
He spoke as though those words weren’t hurtful at all. Perhaps he never saw Avery as a person from the very start.
“That day of the car accident, Madison was scared and felt guilty for not checking up on you,” Marcus uttered, holding Avery’s tiny waist habitually.
He had always been extremely satisfied with Avery’s figure. After all, he was the one who had shaped her body.
At 19, Avery was underdeveloped due to malnutrition. Marcus had taken her in and made sure she had three meals a day, no longer having to drink plain water and simple food to sustain herself.
“Madison’s preparing a family dinner for tomorrow night. She invited a few friends. I’m planning to propose to her at home. You should come early and help with the preparations.”
Marcus pulled the towel from Avery and continued exploring her bare skin. He brushed his nose against her neck, breathing softly and intimately.
Avery found him extremely cruel.
He and his sister were exactly the same kind of people.
He had been with Madison in Mavrelle for so many days, yet he still wasn’t satisfied?
“I’m not going,” Avery refused and pushed Marcus away. She then picked up the towel from the floor, feeling a wave of nausea in her stomach.
“I’m going to meet Mr. Langston tomorrow night,” she thought.
“She’ll get the wrong idea if you don’t go.” Marcus was a little annoyed now. This was the first time Avery had pushed him away.
“She just got divorced, so she’s more sensitive. I don’t want her to suspect that something’s going on between us.”
