Chapter 32
After that, James took Avery to the mall, where she pushed his wheek hair as they strolled around, chatting along the way.
Suddenly, she noticed a crowd gathered up ahead, and she couldn’t help but wonder what was going on.
Seeing her curious expression, James explained, “They’re holding an event here today. The participants have to complete a drawing based on a specific theme, and the winner gets a globally limited–edition houry watch.”
At this point, James‘ face lit up with envy “The word is that there are only three of those watches in the world. One’s already been reserved by Mr. Haven in Juville, and the second one is supposedly with the Smith family. This one here should be the last”
He then turned to Avery, looking at her with pleading eyes. “Ave, please, do me a favor.”
She immediately refused “I can’t draw, so I can’t win it for you.”
James gave her a pitiful look. “How do you know you won’t win if you don’t try?”
With him acting so much like a spoiled child, she felt a wave of goosebumps.
Ten minutes later, she was worn down by his persistence and gave in, pushing him toward the crowd.
He grinned. “I knew you were the best to me!”
She smiled and said, “Just so you know, I might not win.”
“Winning doesn’t matter. As long as you try, I’ll be happy.”
She nodded and continued pushing him toward the group. As they arrived, the crowd parted automatically when they saw James, allowing them to reach the front with ease.
At that moment, a woman dropped her pen in frustration. She turned around and, upon seeing someone in a wheelchair, immediately snapped, “Are you leidding me? You’re in a wheelchair and still trying to join the competition! You must be out of your mind for money. Aren’t you embarrassed?”
The people around them fell silent, the air suddenly thick with tension.
One of the woman’s friends reached out to pull her back, but the woman angry jerked her hand away “Don’t touch me! If you ruin my dress, do you think you can afford to pay
Her friend, too intimidated to argue, stayed silent.
The woman buffed and stormed off, lifting the hem of her skirt in disgust. “What bad luck, running into someone like that.”
“Miss, you might want to be more careful with your words,” Avery said, her voice laced with anger
The woman paused and laughed mockingly “I’m already in a bad mood today, and now you two are bothering me.”
With that, she shot Avery a harsh glare. When her eyes met Avery’s, there was a brief flash of surprise, but it quickly turned into open disdain.
“Oh, it’s Ms. Sinclair. I didn’t expect to run into you here.”
“I didn’t expect to run into you, either,” Avery replied coolly.
The woman was none other than Melissa Smith, the only daughter of the Smith family’s third branch.
The Smith family’s third branch had struggled to have a chad. Mason’s wife, Celine Watson, had sudlered years of infertility, and after finally becoming pregnant, she miscarried multiple times. After years of waiting, they were finally blessed with a daughter–Melissa.
Mason and Celine treasured Melissa deeply, practically worshiping her as their family’s long–awaited miracle.
