Chapter 174 - 174: Hoping for Avery’s Love

Upon hearing that Avery wants to leave, the women begin to complain and object.

"We haven't been out for a very long time," one woman says, "Mr. Clifford doesn't allow us to go out. If we need something, we can make a list, and someone will buy items for us."

"You can't leave here on your own," objects another, "You'll get lost immediately."

"Are there any other ways?" Avery asks, trying to hide her disappointment.

"The only way is to ask Mr. Clifford to allow you to go out with a team of his guards," Ruby says.

"You should help me," Avery says, "I need to go shopping if our plan is going to work."

The women nod and agree, but Ruby scowls suspiciously.

In the morning, the women wait at the dining room table to have breakfast with Andrew. Andrew emerges from his room wearing a dark blue robe and looking irresistibly disheveled. He's surprised to see all of the women sitting at the table.

"Why are you up so early?" he asks.

"Since Miss Peters just joined the house, we thought we should welcome her," Ruby explains.

"Yes, we want to make friends with her," says another, "It's really important to us that we all get along well."

"I just joined them," Avery says demurely, "Although they are so kind to me, I feel rather embarrassed."

She showed smiles as she hands him a bowl of oatmeal.

"Why do you feel embarrassed?" Andrew asks.

"I didn't know there would be so many women here, and I didn't bring anything to thank them for their hospitality," Avery explains, "I want to buy them some gifts to show my friendship and appreciation."

"You can have whatever you want," Andrew says, "Just make a list, and someone will get the items for you."

"I want to buy them myself," Avery says charmingly, "I want it to be a sort of good-faith effort."

Andrew stared at her with a puzzled look. She smiles sweetly and gazes into his eyes, but he can't shake the feeling that she's planning something else. She smiles as enchantingly as she can.

"Can't you understand why it's important to me?" Avery asks.

"Do you think you can escape like that?" Andrew asks.

"I won't," Avery answers immediately, "I said I would stay here and care for your heart, and I mean to keep my word. Your heart belonged to Charles Meyers, so it's precious to me."

Andrew smiles, pleased that Avery finally believes him about the heart. As he eats, he looks at the many beautiful women at the table. His heart hammers happily in his chest, and he realizes it beats only for Avery. He finds the presence of the other women annoying, and he wishes he could get rid of them.

"Are you going out, Miss Peters?" one of the women asks, "A bra happened to strike my fancy recently, but I feel embarrassed asking a bodyguard to bring it to me."

"Me too," says another, "A new line of skincare products also strikes my fancy."

"Write it down," Avery orders a bodyguard.

The man immediately opens a notebook and begins to jot down the women's requests.

"Look how excited they are," Avery says, winningly, "Can you promise me I can go out now?"

"Yes," Andrew says, smiling craftily, "But only if I can go out with you."

He gestures to the bodyguard, and the man reaches into his pocket and passes something to Andrew. Andrew opens his hand and reveals a pair of silver handcuffs. Avery frowns—there's only one way to use handcuffs. Andrew smiles at her expression and snaps one of the cuffs around her wrist. Then he snaps the other around his.   

"Aren't you happy?" he asks, "You get to go out, and we can spend some time together. Win-win."

Evan stares at the photos and feels his heartbreak all over again. In one photo, Avery peels an apple and feeds it to Andrew. In another, Andrew kisses her on the forehead. He knows he shouldn't look at the pictures, but he can't help wanting to know about her. Evan presses his hand into his chest as if to claw out his aching heart.

"She could be pretending to be happy, but it's almost impossible to force her to do something she doesn't want to do," Evan thinks sadly, "And God she looks so happy."

"Mr. Howel, Mrs. Howel's phone is turned on," Robert says excitedly.

He was hoping Evan would be happy to hear the news, but Evan's expression doesn't change in the slightest.

"Has Evan suddenly stopped caring?" Robert wonders, "Ever since Avery left, he checked his phone constantly in the hopes that Avery's location will appear. When he's not staring at pictures of Avery, he's staring at his phone."

"Sir, we have a lock on her location," Robert continues, "Should we send a team to get her?"

"No, that won't be necessary," Evan says emotionlessly.

"I can send people to get her, and I can even imprison her here, but she looks so happy with him," Evan thinks sadly, "I could move the whole world to get her back, but she still wouldn't love me. It's pointless."

A new picture appears on the tablet. Without even glancing at it, Evan throws the tablet to the floor. Cautiously, Robert approaches and glances at the tablet. He widens his eyes.

"Mr. Howel—" Robert interjects.

"Get out!" Evan roars.

Robert jumps and runs toward the door. Before the door is fully closed, Robert speaks.

"Mr. Howel, Mrs. Howel is nearby," he says.

Though he hates disobeying Evan's orders, he's more afraid of Evan's wrath later if he finds out that Robert didn't tell him. Evan raises his head, and there's a new glint in his eyes.

"Come back here," Evan orders.

Robert pushes the door open and approaches Evan.

"Where is she?" Evan demands.

"Based on the background in the most recent picture, they're in the shopping center."

"They?" Evan snarls.

"Um, yes," Robert stammers, "Mrs. Howel and Mr. Clifford."

Evan narrows his eyes and immediately leaps up from the bed. He's determined to see just how happy they look with his own eyes. Until he has a report telling him that Avery has lied, he's willing to nurse a little bit of hope.

"Send the hairstylist in here at once," Evan orders.

Robert nods and rushes to carry out Evan's order. He can't help but wonder at the sudden transformation in his boss. Evan rarely has his hair cut or styled, but he seems determined to look his best. He's like a warrior preparing his suit of armor.  

"Wait a minute!" Evan shouts, "Bring Leonie Summers!"

Robert quickly nods his head. He knows his boss wants to save face. If Mr. Howel arrived at the shopping center alone, it would be incredibly embarrassing for him. Before Robert can send a message summoning her, Leonie walks out of one of the drawing rooms.

Leonie happily smiles when Robert explains what Evan wants. She's not in the house by coincidence. She's the one who has been sending the photos to Evan from the hidden IP address.

As the bodyguards clear a path through the crowd, the shop assistants gather outside the stores to gawk. They've never seen so many bodyguards before. The entire shopping center looks like it's involved in some sort of military exercise. The assistants and the crowd feel nervous and scatter out of the path.

Some of the shoppers start to panic and scream. When they see Andrew and Avery, they calm down. Avery is clearly unhappy, and she tugs at the handcuffs and looks at the ground as she walks.

"Why have they handcuffed?" one shopper asks, "Are they filming some sort of police show?"

"How could they be filming? There's no camera!" replies another, "I think they're lovers. Have you ever heard that some lovers like to be handcuffed to each other? They want to be together all the time. I think it's romantic."

"The man is so handsome," gushes a shop assistant, "The woman is beautiful too, but why is she looking down?"

"She may be shy," answers another.

Avery feels both shy and embarrassed. She hates all of the whispering voices.

"Please ask your bodyguards to leave," she asks Andrew in a low voice, "We're just shopping. We don't need so much security."