The Return Of the Invincible Heiress
Chapter 125

Chapter 125: Chapter 125

After a moment of silence, Avery softened her voice. "Jaden, these are just my guesses. I have no evidence to support them, so I can’t make any conclusions. Even if Zilvia left intentionally, she might have been deceived. Maybe she met someone online or elsewhere, and they made certain promises that convinced her to willingly go along with their plans."

"You’re right," Jaden said, covering his eyes with his hand, a bitter smile on his face. "No matter how smart she is, she’s still just a kid. It’s very likely she was fooled." He paused slightly and then added, "Avery, promise me one thing." He lowered his hand from his eyes and looked at her. "If one day you’re sure your analysis is correct, please make sure to tell me. But don’t tell anyone else in the family."

Avery wanted to comfort him but didn’t know how. She could only whisper, "Okay."

Jaden took his hand off his face. "Avery, I’d like to have a drink. Is that okay? I promise I won’t get drunk, and I definitely won’t act like a fool."

"Drink as much as you want," Avery replied gently. "I have a hangover remedy that works instantly, so I’m not worried."

Jaden ordered a bottle of wine with an alcohol content of over twenty degrees and sipped it slowly. Avery remained silent, slowly nibbling on snacks as she watched Jaden drink. It took Jaden over an hour to finish the bottle, and he was a bit tipsy. He didn’t need anyone to take care of him, but he looked somewhat dazed, and his steps were unsteady.

Avery didn’t give Jaden the hangover remedy. When a person suffered and felt trapped to the extreme, they needed to do something to vent their frustration. Otherwise, the consequences could be worse than getting drunk.

After paying the bill, she helped Jaden downstairs and then into the car. Linda witnessed this scene. She was filled with bitterness. She gritted her teeth, driving behind Avery, watching the two of them enter Mid-Level Mountain Garden again, feeling her heart shatter once more.

Linda desperately wanted to enter the community to see what exactly Jaden’s relationship with Avery was, but she didn’t know anyone who lived there. The security was strict, and her attempts to charm or bribe the guards failed miserably. After wandering around for a while, she decided to flirt with a male resident to gain entry. However, just then, her family called, urging her to come home immediately. With no choice, Linda had to leave, planning to find them the next day.

That afternoon, Avery stayed in, holding her tablet to read documents while keeping an eye on Jaden, who was sleeping on the sofa. The conversation that morning must have been a huge shock for Jaden. Avery noticed a tear trickle down the corner of his eye, making her heart ache. She reflected on whether it was right to share her terrifying speculations with Jaden without any solid evidence. Nevertheless, Zilvia’s case had to be investigated thoroughly.

After some thought, Avery called her mom and asked her to send Catherine’s photo, preparing to search for Catherine’s information online. She felt that since Catherine was so close to Zilvia and spent every day with her, it was unlikely she was unaware of Zilvia’s disappearance.

Just as she started browsing, she was inundated with hashtags:

[Alexander engaged to Anabel Powell, the Moran family of Rosemont City officially joins the Powell family].

[Neil dines with his friend at Monolith Hotel, revealing Alexander’s engagement].

[Alexander’s fiancée Anabel has an impressive background and matches Alexander in status and talent].

[Anabel’s stunning photos make netizens envious].

Avery was shocked as she clicked on one of the articles and immediately saw a photo of Anabel in a swimsuit. It was beautifully taken, rivaling that of professional swimsuit models. Anabel had stunning features and a bright, confident smile that radiated elegance and pride fitting for her status. She wore a yellow and blue high-waisted swimsuit that highlighted her amazing figure, which even made Avery feel a little envious.

Scrolling down, Avery found there were many more photos of her. One showed Anabel in a red evening gown at a gala, dancing gracefully with a prince. Another featured her in a graduation suit, taken at a prestigious school, celebrating her achievement. There were shots of Anabel in a business suit at an international high-profile conference, shaking hands and posing with foreign dignitaries. And yet another captured her in the front row of a top fashion show, dressed in the latest style. Anabel had attended the country’s leading film festival, posing with A-list actors and trending stars. In one confident moment, Anabel was seen giving a speech at the international union conference. Each photo was carefully selected, showcasing Anabel’s talents, beauty, wealth, influence, status, connections, and resources.

Aside from the photos, the text didn’t give much insight into Anabel’s background or experiences. It mostly repeated that she was part of the Powell family, came from a respected lineage, held high-ranking positions in major state-owned companies, and served as an honorary vice president for several social organizations. As for the Powell family, Avery knew without needing to research that it was one of the top political families in Oscelton, living in a well-guarded villa on the second ring, with high-ranking officials frequently visiting.

With such a family background, Anabel was indeed deemed a match for Alexander by common standards. Avery pouted, her cheeks puffing up in frustration. "After all this, there isn’t a single photo of her with Alexander. Alexander didn’t say a word. It was just those two old men chatting away, acting like arranged parents from the feudal era. It’s so annoying."

Just as she was about to search for information about the Powell family in detail, Avery received a text from Alexander:

Alexander: [Miss Carter, my grandfather just told the reporters that I’m engaged to a woman I barely know. I only found out about this myself and am thinking about how to handle it appropriately.]

Avery thought for a moment and replied with a smiley emoji: [Is that true? That sounds so unfortunate for you.]

Alexander: [The elders from the Moran family probably talked about arranging a betrothal when I was a child, and I clearly expressed my strong opposition to such actions, refusing to comply. Ms. Moran, you probably aren’t as unlucky as I am and have been engaged without knowing it during your childhood, right?]

Avery: [No. Just two months ago, my grandma, who is getting old and not well, mistook a scoundrel for a good person and insisted on my engagement with him. But I rejected it.]

Alexander: [Well done! I knew you were smart. You can tell right away that this news is false.]

Avery: [Only when you admit it yourself does it count, right? The background of your arranged marriage partner is impressive.]

Alexander: [It is indeed impressive, but my background isn’t poor. I’m not worried.]

Avery: [I support all just causes.]

Alexander:[Thank you, Miss Carter. Your support gives me tremendous courage and confidence. I’ll handle this matter now and contact you when the time is right. In any case, no matter what anyone else says, only what I tell you is true.]

Avery:[Okay.]

After ending the conversation, Alexander put away his smile, his expression turning cold. Louis said, "The Murray family called me again, asking me to plead on their behalf. What’s your response?"

The Murray family had been calling every day recently. He asked Alexander, and Alexander’s response was simply to leave them alone for a few days and let them stew. Well, the Murray family indeed seemed to be on the verge of desperation.