Chapter 709 Isadora, Enjoy Your Blind Date?
Avery froze for a long moment.
He couldn't wrap his head around it. Why would Isadora go on a blind date? Wasn't she the one who had feelings for him? Why would she start seeing someone else before things between them were even clear?
He was about to ask when Lila sighed. "She said she wants to start a new life. She doesn't want to be sad anymore, doesn't want to cling to just one choice. She said she wants to follow your example."
Avery's jaw tightened. He rubbed the bridge of his nose, defending himself. "Mrs. Penrose, don't believe her nonsense. I haven't been fooling around."
Lila had always liked Avery, but what mother doesn't take her daughter's side?
Inside the black Rolls-Royce Phantom, Maggie was sitting in the back, stacking colorful blocks. The little girl was content in her own world, not even looking up when the car door shut.
In her soft, milky voice she said, "Daddy's mad again."
Avery turned in his seat, watching her. "Has Mommy been spending more time with any men lately?"
Maggie thought for a moment. "Last week Mr. Robinson came back from overseas and took Mommy out to dinner. She wore a pretty dress and perfume."
Avery's expression darkened. Tobias again. Persistent as a shadow. At least the man was already remarried, so he couldn't stir up much trouble. What really bothered Avery was the thought of Isadora meeting new, single men.
Maggie went back to her blocks. "Anyway, Daddy has Aunt Autumn."
Avery's face hardened at the name.
For weeks, Autumn had been relentless, trailing after him with the same line: that instead of finding another man, she might as well be with him. She didn't care about Maggie, only about marrying into the Montague family.
He'd stopped taking her calls.
So Autumn started showing up at the Montague estate every few days. Henry and Amelia, being old acquaintances, were too polite to throw her out. They hinted, but she ignored them. Eventually, they gave up and left it for Avery to handle.
His method was simple—freeze her out.
By sunset, the black van rolled back toward the Montague Mansion. From a distance, Avery spotted Autumn's white sports car. Maggie saw it too and frowned. "Daddy, your girlfriend is here again."
Avery eased the car to a stop, then corrected her. "Autumn is not my girlfriend."
"Then why does she come to our house?"
"Because her family is poor and they can't afford to eat," he said with a straight face.
Even as sharp as she was, Maggie bought it. In her mind, Avery was just being kind, letting Autumn have a meal.
The moment they stepped inside, Maggie blurted out to Autumn, "If you can't afford food, you can always come here to eat. Daddy said so."
Autumn had dressed up for the visit, but the child's innocent words left her frozen in place. And the truth was, she did often come here for dinner. No amount of makeup could cover that fact. She stood awkwardly, unsure whether to sit or leave.
Avery followed with Maggie's little cartoon suitcase in hand, looking perfectly unbothered despite being thrown under the bus.
Henry actually found Autumn annoying too, but he still pretended to scold Avery, "Avery, that was out of line. We'll have a word with you later."
Autumn swallowed her pride and stayed for dinner, though she could barely taste a thing. By eight o'clock, she was ready to leave—until Avery surprised her.
"I'll walk you out," he said.
She blinked. "Avery?"
He was already heading toward the door. His tall, lean frame cut a striking figure in the entryway, and Autumn felt her chest tighten.
Amelia, ever perceptive, spoke up, "Go talk. Autumn, you're not getting any younger. We can't let Avery keep stringing you along. It's hard enough to explain to your parents."
Autumn had pretended not to notice for months, but she couldn't deny it now—the Montague family wanted Isadora, not her.
No matter her advantages, she could never be Maggie's mother.
She forced a polite smile, said goodbye to Henry and Amelia, and waved to Maggie. The little girl generously handed her a packet of cookies.
"Thank you," Autumn murmured.
Maggie just focused on her food. Her mommy had told her eating well would make her grow tall and strong—so she could protect her mommy.
Autumn stepped outside. The lawn was lush and green, dotted with fireflies. The towering trees loomed against the night sky. In the pale moonlight, Avery stood smoking, sharp and dangerous as a blade.
She had imagined countless moments with him. Now she understood—it had always been one-sided. Avery was tired of her, and so was the Montague family. They were just too polite to say it outright.
She had her pride. And now that she knew, she would face it.
When she approached, Avery crushed his cigarette underfoot. His voice was calm but direct. "I know this might hurt, but I'd rather be honest. I've never had feelings for you. When I broke things off, it wasn't just because of Maggie. I've always been in love with Isadora. Otherwise, with my circumstances, I'd have been married with kids long ago."
Her face paled in the moonlight. "So I was just... convenient for you?"
He didn't deny it.
After a long silence, he added, "I'm sorry. I crossed boundaries I shouldn't have. I hurt Isadora by getting too close to you. From now on, we should keep our distance."
Autumn covered her face and began to cry.
The apology wasn't for her—it was for Isadora.
When her sobs grew too sharp, Avery called the driver to take her home.
He stood in the still night, watching the white car disappear. If he'd kept his distance from Autumn back then, he and Isadora would already be married. No one else would have had a chance.
The longing was unbearable. He pulled out his phone and called her. Because of Maggie, Isadora never refused to answer—but she never responded to his flirtations either.
When she picked up, his voice was low. "Blind date over? Was it fun?"
She didn't deny it. "It was fine. How's Maggie?"
Under the moonlight, her voice in his ear felt almost like she was right beside him. He hadn't been with a woman in so long that desire crept in, and he teased, "She scared my girlfriend away. You should make it up to me—maybe for a night."
Isadora knew exactly what he meant. Even without reconciliation, he still wanted to sleep with her.
She gave a soft, mocking laugh. "Keep dreaming."
She hung up. When he called again, she didn't answer.
It had been a joke at first, but now the ache was real. He wanted her—wanted to touch her, to have her, even just once.
He smoked another cigarette outside before heading back in.
Amelia had taken Maggie upstairs to draw. Henry was on the couch with a magazine. Without looking up, he asked, "Did you make Autumn cry?"
Avery sank into the chair opposite him, pulling out his cigarettes.
Henry glanced over. "Heartbroken and now you're smoking in the house? Take it outside. None of us need your secondhand smoke. No wonder Isadora's done with you. If I were her, I'd be too."
Avery tossed the pack in the trash. "When did you switch teams, Dad?"
Henry snorted. "Keep talking. That's not gonna bring her back."
Avery stood, grabbed his keys, and headed for the door.
"Where you going?" Henry called.
"To find Isadora."
Henry chuckled under his breath. "Now that's more like it."
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