Chapter 685 Avery, Do You Love Me? 1
Henry gave a low, cold chuckle. " Then you'd better put in some real effort. Anyway, your mother and I will be busy—taking Maggie to school, shopping, amusement parks."
Avery said nothing.
Henry turned away, heading upstairs with Amelia to look at the rooms. The south-facing bedroom was as bright and spacious as promised—over a thousand square feet.
Amelia was already mentally arranging the furniture, while Henry added his own suggestions. Maggie, unusually, seemed comfortable with them both.
Once the two elders had finished making plans, Avery finally spoke in an even voice, "Maggie will stay here for two months. After that, she'll go back to Isadora."
Henry frowned. "What, you're not bringing her home?"
"I have my own plans," Avery replied.
"Plans? You're already in your thirties. If it weren't for that accident years ago, you'd still be 'planning' your way into Jacob's mistakes."
The mention of Jacob made Avery's expression tighten.
Henry studied him with open disappointment, then seemed to remember something. "Taylor's back tomorrow. It's just a small family gathering, but you'll have to introduce Maggie to the relatives. When they ask who her mother is, you'd better know exactly what to say. Invite Isadora for lunch tomorrow. After that, whatever you young people do is your business."
Avery's eyes darkened. Henry read his silence as agreement.
With a shake of his head, he scooped Maggie into his arms and headed downstairs for dessert. The chef—borrowed from Amelia's Michelin-starred restaurant—did not disappoint.
Morning sunlight poured into the dining room.
Henry and Amelia sat with Maggie at the bright breakfast table while the chef brought out delicate pastries and rich hot chocolate. The famously aloof Henry smiled as he unwrapped a pastry for Maggie.
"Thank you, Grandpa," Maggie said sweetly.
Henry and Amelia exchanged a glance, warmth filling the room.
Amelia brushed a hand over Maggie's hair. "We'll go out later, pick up some clothes and toys. Whatever you like, I'll buy it."
Maggie's smile faltered. "What about Mommy?"
"We're with you so your daddy can be with her," Amelia said gently.
Maggie thought about it and nodded.
Henry looked up at Avery with a smirk. "Go handle your problems. We've got Maggie. And make it quick—we want to enjoy our granddaughter without people whispering about your mess."
Avery's face stayed impassive. Maggie stood on tiptoe to wrap her arms around his waist.
"I'll be good," she murmured, her voice soft enough to melt stone.
The ice in Avery's expression cracked. He lifted her, kissed her cheek.
"I'll be home this afternoon," he said, his tone uncharacteristically gentle.
Maggie cupped his face and kissed him back.
Henry snorted. "If you put half that devotion into chasing a woman, you'd have married her years ago instead of hiding a child."
Amelia stayed silent. Avery didn't answer. He had Maggie now—and Isadora would be his too. It was only a matter of time.
By nine-thirty, Avery was at the office.
After the morning meeting, he worked through a stack of paperwork. Near noon, he picked up his phone, turned it over in his hand, and called Isadora.
She answered quickly, but neither spoke at first.
After a pause, Avery said, "I'll pick you up tomorrow for lunch at the house."
Before she could respond, he added, "Just family."
Isadora wanted to ask in what capacity she was being invited. She wanted to ask if Autumn would be there. But after too many disappointments, she bit back the words.
Avery took her silence as agreement. The call ended without warmth. Last night they had been tangled in each other's arms, gazing as if nothing else existed. Now, they were strangers.
Isadora had barely set her phone down when her secretary, Anne, walked in, looking tense. "Ms. Penrose, Zenith Global Enterprises still wants to acquire us. I've heard they may use aggressive tactics."
Isadora leaned back in her chair. "Get in touch with Tobias, their CEO. Tell him I'd like to have dinner tonight at seven."
Anne nodded and left.
Alone, Isadora rubbed her temples. Her company's push into renewable energy had earned key international patents.
For Zenith Global Enterprises, building a new division from scratch would be costly and slow. Acquisition was faster. Big fish ate small fish.
She had no intention of being swallowed.
Night fell, city lights flaring to life.
Avery left the office at six, heading for the Montague Mansion. On the way, Amelia called, asking him to pick up a specific brand of formula for Maggie. He agreed without hesitation, even pleased at the errand.
By six-thirty, he was pulling into a downtown shopping center. He bought a case of formula and a cow-shaped baby bottle that made him smile.
He'd never cared for a child before, but with Maggie, the instincts came naturally. He'd even had a small bed placed in his room so he could keep her close at night.
In the parking lot, he was loading the trunk when someone stumbled into him, arms wrapping around his waist.
Her words were slurred, her breath heavy with alcohol, "Tell them it wasn't you who left me. It was me who left you."
Avery froze. Autumn.
She was shivering in a thin black camisole under a sheer top, her coat nowhere in sight. She clung to him, crying and laughing, asking why he didn't want her.
He couldn't just walk away. Shrugging off his own coat, he draped it over her shoulders. "I'll take you home."
Autumn clung tighter, her lips brushing his jaw.
He hadn't expected it—and neither had Isadora, who had just stepped out of her car across the street.
She was on her way to meet Tobias for dinner when she saw them: Autumn wrapped in Avery's coat, tilting her face up toward him, his expression soft and indulgent in a way Isadora had never seen. With her, he was always impatient, faintly dismissive.
So this was who he could care for.
She didn't approach. She turned away, disappearing into the neon-lit evening, her back straight, her shadow long and alone. She told herself—again—that she should never have hoped.
Avery finally got Autumn into the car. As he adjusted the GPS for her address, she tugged open his shirt collar, revealing faint nail marks at the back of his neck.
"Did you sleep with Isadora last night?" she blurted.
He yanked the collar closed. "Keep this up and I'll throw you out—coat and all."
Autumn slumped back, mumbling, "What about now? Your girlfriend won't be mad I'm wearing your coat? If Isadora saw, she'd probably ban you from her bed."
He ignored her chatter and drove.
Half an hour later, he handed her off to her father, who immediately scolded her.
As Avery took back his coat, he heard her drunken parting shot: "Avery's going to be single forever."
Back in his car, her words lingered. He hesitated, then called Isadora to confirm tomorrow's lunch.
It rang several times before she picked up.
Her voice was cold, "What do you want?"
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