The Return Of the Invincible Heiress
Chapter 120

Chapter 120: Chapter 120

Avery clasped her hands, her eyes sparkling. "Oh, you’re giving me a gift? That’s amazing!"

Jaden smiled and bent down, pulling a small potted plant from under the table. He placed it in front of her. "I grew this succulent myself. Do you like it?"

Avery’s face lit up. "It’s beautiful! And such a rare pink color. I love it! You must have put in a lot of work to grow this, right?"

This type of succulent was called the "king of succulents," known for its unique, delicate look and transparent top, making it highly ornamental and valuable. But more than its price, the real challenge was the time it took—about eight years to fully mature. The one Jaden had given her was not only fully grown but also a rare mutated color, showing just how much care he had put into it.

What made it even more thoughtful was the label on the rustic clay pot, explaining how to take care of it. It was such a sweet, personal touch.

Jaden chuckled. "I have a lot of succulents. I didn’t spend extra time on this one—it grew well because it’s strong."

Maria gently touched the plant. "This succulent has good taste. It grew this beautifully because it loves Jaden and wants his attention." She then added quickly, "And now that Jaden’s given it to Avery, I’m sure it’ll grow to love her too!"

Everyone smiled. Arthur, looking envious, said, "Avery, you know so much. You recognized the type just by looking at it. To me, all of Jaden’s succulents look the same."

Claire nodded in agreement. "Exactly! Avery’s so young, but she already seems like a real scientist."

Avery smiled. "I’ll give Jaden his gift another day."

Everyone in the family was going to get a gift. As for what to give Jaden, she’d have to think carefully—she wanted it to be something he’d absolutely love.

Jaden smiled and patted her head lightly, careful not to mess up her hair. "Having you here is the best gift."

Avery lowered her gaze, smiling as her cheeks turned pink. Jaden always knew the perfect thing to say.

After chatting a bit more, Jaden glanced at the clock. "It’s almost eleven. We’ve all got things to do tomorrow. Let’s get some sleep."

No one had a free day ahead, so they quickly turned off the TV and headed to bed.

After her bath, Avery had planned to read for a bit, but Daniel was bombarding her with messages asking for an update on her story, sending her crying and sad emojis, and even joking that he was dying. His desperation was both funny and a little sad. She couldn’t help but laugh, and since she was young and didn’t mind staying up late, she sat down at her computer and got to work.

She managed to write over 4,000 words. The story picked up with Lockwood secretly sending someone to collect DNA samples from suspects. One of the suspects noticed and caused a huge scene, which ended up trending online. The killer, seeing the news, suspected that Lockwood’s team was onto him and plotted to kill Lockwood, not knowing it was all a setup. In reality, Lockwood hadn’t found any DNA but spread the rumor to lure the killer out. The plan worked, and the killer confessed, revealing two accomplices.

By the time Avery finished and posted the new Chapter, it was nearly 2 a.m. She quickly went to bed. When she woke up, it was already past 10 in the morning. By the time it was almost 11 a.m., Avery had just finished breakfast when her phone buzzed. It was Jaden.

"Avery, are you at home right now? My van broke down this morning. I called the repair shop, and they’re sending a tow truck to pick it up and take it in. I’m out running errands and won’t be home for the rest of the day. The shop’s truck is already at the entrance to the neighborhood. If you’re not around, I can have the security guard show them the way."

Avery replied quickly, "I’m home. I’ll let them in." Then she asked, "Where are you, Jaden? Are you with Arthur and the others?"

"Arthur and Mom are at the restaurant," Jaden said. "I’m downtown. I probably won’t make it back until late."

Avery paused for a second, then said, "I don’t have any plans today, and I just got a new car. I was thinking of taking it for a spin. Why don’t you send me your location? I can drive over and hang out with you."

This felt like the perfect chance for the siblings to spend some time together, so Jaden didn’t hesitate. He sent her his location right away. Once the tow truck from the repair shop had taken the van, Avery jumped into her car and headed downtown.

In less than twenty minutes, she pulled up in front of a small bank tucked behind a huge shopping mall. The bank wasn’t very well-known, but it specialized in personal business loans with fairly loose requirements. It was popular with students and low-income entrepreneurs looking to get their startups off the ground.

’Is Jaden here to apply for a loan?’ Avery wondered. She waited for a little while, and as noon approached, Jaden still hadn’t come out. Avery rolled down the window and gave him a call. "Hey, Jaden, I’m outside the bank in the new SUV."

Jaden chuckled. "I’ll be out in two minutes. Just sit tight."

Soon enough, Avery spotted him stepping out of the bank. She waved, getting ready to call out. But before she could, a woman climbed out of a BMW just a few meters away, her voice way too excited as she shouted, "Jaden?"

Avery glanced over, raising an eyebrow. ’Who’s this woman?’ she thought.

The woman was striking, with elegant features, flawless makeup, and healthy skin. She was curvy, with long, wavy auburn hair falling perfectly down her back. Her off-the-shoulder, figure-hugging red dress with floral patterns showed off her hourglass figure. Most of the men passing by couldn’t help but steal a glance. But Jaden was not included.

Jaden shot her a confused look, then quickly turned his attention back and kept walking, not breaking his stride.

"Jaden, it’s you! I thought I was imagining things," the woman called, now practically running toward him in her high heels. "Wait! It’s me!"

Watching her hurry over, Avery couldn’t help but feel a little nervous that she might trip in those heels. But the woman was surprisingly steady, and despite the precarious situation, she made it to Jaden without a stumble.

Jaden finally stopped, his expression polite but distant as he asked, "Sorry, do I know you?"

The woman froze, her face falling as her body went rigid. A few seconds later, she managed to choke out, "Jaden, it’s me, Linda. You don’t recognize me?"

Linda? Avery frowned slightly, searching her memory. ’Have I ever heard of a Linda before? Is she related to the Carter family?’ she thought. The name didn’t ring a bell.

Jaden barely looked surprised, his tone casual and indifferent as he said, "Oh, it’s you. Is there something you need?"

Linda hadn’t expected such a flat response. All the joy she’d felt revealing who she was, thinking he’d be happy to see her, evaporated instantly. She reached out instinctively, trying to grab Jaden’s hand. "It’s been three years. I’ve missed you so much."

Jaden, with his hands behind his back, replied coolly, "I haven’t missed you. And I’d rather you didn’t think about me anymore. Just treat me like a stranger."

His words hit Linda like a slap in the face. Her hand froze awkwardly in midair, not knowing where to go, while her wide, mascara-heavy eyes filled with tears.

"Jaden, are you still mad at me?" she asked, her voice trembling.