Chapter 5 Five Years Later

• When Avery stepped into the busy city that was Ackleton again, it was five years later.
• She had left her birthplace for nearly two thousand days. It wasn't exactly short, but it didn't feel long to her either.
• Once, she was crushed by the cruel hands of fate, unable to fight back.
• Currently, all she wanted was to shape her own future with her hard work.
• “Ery, over here!” Nina rolled the car window down at the side of the road, allowing the morning sunlight to illuminate the interior. Then she waved at Avery, who was walking out of a residential area.
• Five years had passed. Both of them were no longer the young and inexperienced women they once were.
• When Avery and Zayne returned to the country yesterday, Nina picked them up at the airport.
• That night, Zayne brought Avery back to the Richter residence for dinner.
• His parents were really happy with Avery being their future daughter-in-law.
• Zayne was supposed to attend an interview at a company in the morning with Avery. However, he couldn't go with her due to an emergency.
• Avery hopped into Nina's car and fastened her seatbelt on the passenger seat.
• “Did you know what my mom said after you and my brother left last night?” Nina asked.
• “What did they say?” Avery was worried Zayne's parents didn't like her.
• “My mom said, 'Look at how fair Ery's skin is! She's so gentle and elegant, unlike you! You should take a look at yourself in the mirror and see why there's such a big difference between the both of you! You're just an unemployed person who swears and behaves unladylike!”‘ Nina spoke as she couldn't help but touch her friend's tender cheeks. “Tsk, tsk. Foreign air sure is nourishing.”
• “Not at all. You never left your home. You don't know how hard it is living overseas.” Avery slapped her friend's hand away. “Drive properly.”
• Both of them continued chatting.
• When they arrived at Trident Group, there were twenty minutes left until nine o'clock.
• “My brother better not be late! The boss is an inhumane tyrant!” Nina grumbled as she sent a message on WhatsApp to her brother, urging him to come soon.
• Avery became anxious when she heard that.
• Upon turning on her phone, she searched for any information about the boss of Trident Group, hoping she would find information that would help her out in the interview.
• There were many search results, although many of them were rumors and gossip.
• Although, she did learn that the CEO of the Moore family business, Trident Group, was a man called Cayden Moore. He was twenty-nine years old that year. As for whether he was single, no one in the media industry had any news about his private life.
• The last name Moore was a little special to Avery.
• However, the special place that name held in her heart had long been buried under the passage of time, as she was no longer the girl who once had a thing for romance.
• The news also mentioned something big that happened in the family five years ago. It was about the battle between two heirs trying to inherit the family business.
• Kendrick, who had always been seen as the heir to inherit the family and its business, was taken out in one night.
• Cayden, a member of the Moore family who came out of nowhere, was suddenly recognized by Jeffrey. He then took over the CEO position and successfully resurrected the family's dying business.
• A member of the Moore family who came out of nowhere... It seems like this news is dissing Cayden by indirectly saying that he's a bastard who was taken in by the Moore family. Avery was deep in her thoughts as she stared at the phone.
• When Zayne stepped into the intimidatingly tall building of Trident Group, fear rose in his heart.
• He arrived at the company as soon as he could. When he saw such a gigantic company, he couldn't help but worry, especially when he had researched the company's history before. I really don't want to embarrass myself in front of Avery. I must pass this interview!
• Inside an office in the building, there were five high-ranking officials of the company participating in the interview. One of them was the most powerful man in and the boss of Trident Group, Cayden.
• After another graduate completed their interview, one of the interviewers turned to Cayden to determine what his boss was thinking by observing the latter's expression.
• When the interviewer did so, he noticed his boss was paying attention to the surveillance monitor. What is he looking at? When did he start staring?
• “Next,” another interviewer said.
• The surveillance camera outside of the room was monitoring the various men and women waiting for their interviews. With that camera, the interviewers could accurately determine the status of the interviewees in private by observing their behavior.
• Cayden was staring at one girl—no—woman with a complicated look.
• Twenty-three-year-old Avery had long shed her youthful, inexperienced self and developed extremely well. Whether in terms of her body or the way she acted, she was exuding a uniquely lady-like aura.
• Cayden suddenly felt as though he was dragged back to five years ago. He recalled how she moaned under him every night back then.
• “My brother will be here soon.” Nina gently nudged Avery in the corridor outside.
• Avery returned to her senses and stopped staring at the phone. I wonder if it's because it happened a long time ago or because my memories are getting faulty that I feel Cayden looks kind of... familiar. He looks quite a lot like a senior who played basketball in high school. They even share the same family name, Moore.
• It was then that Zayne arrived at Avery's side. He lovingly caressed Avery's head and apologized, “Sorry, I'm late.”
• “It's fine. It's not our turn yet,” Avery replied understandingly.
• Nina pouted. “You two are making me, a single woman, very jealous! Can't you two stop the lovey-dovey act for now? I'm going to die if I have to watch you two act like that any longer!”
• “Does that mean you'll be dying again and again after I marry Ery?”
• “Do it quickly!” Nina stared at her brother excitedly. “Mom and Dad were very satisfied with Ery yesterday! Once your jobs become stable, hurry up and get married!”
• Zayne nodded and couldn't help but turn to look at Avery.
• The latter appeared to be a little conflicted.
• The reason she could live a happy life and step out of her awful past was because of Zayne's constant care and comfort.
• Before Zayne confessed to her, she could feel what he thought of her. Because of her low self-esteem that stemmed from her tragic past, she began to distance herself from Zayne, either intentionally or unintentionally. She would go so far as to distance herself from any man.
• And yet, Zayne never stopped chasing after her love and caring for her, even in her darkest days and even when he found out about the past that she was ashamed of.
• To her surprise, he didn't loathe her for it, and he certainly didn't think “giving birth to a baby for an unfamiliar man” was her fault.
• It made her feel very lucky.
• “Next, Zayne Richter!”
• “I'll be going ahead now.” Zayne gripped her hand tightly before letting go.
• “Go.” Avery nodded.
• When he entered the room, he instantly felt a cold glare aiming at him. Upon tracing the source of that glare, he saw the legendary young boss of Trident Group.
• Cayden had seen everything Zayne was doing outside.
• The entire interview process was professional, formal, and serious.
• Zayne was pretty exceptional, so he was able to deal with all the interviewers' questions efficiently.
• Cayden's line of sight once again turned to the surveillance monitor.
• He could see Avery staring at the door, slightly biting her lip, and crossing her fingers as though she was anxious about someone's interview result.