The Return Of the Invincible Heiress
Chapter 205

Chapter 205: Chapter 205

On the afternoon before Christmas, at 4 PM, the gates to the Carter family villa opened. Avery led a group of people inside, all well-dressed and confident, their ages ranging widely. Smiling, she introduced them, "Everyone, these are some of the top executives from my company. You already know Harry, Rufus, and Ryan, so no need for introductions."

The Carter family, except for the elderly, lined up in two rows to greet the guests. Avery introduced them one by one, "This is Penny, Nickel, Dime, Quarter, Gold, Silver, and Copper."

The family exchanged puzzled glances. What’s with these names? They sound... strange. Do all scientists have weird, quirky names like these? Of course, they kept those thoughts to themselves and clapped enthusiastically. "Welcome! So glad to have you here!"

Only Brandon’s eyes betrayed his surprise. He wondered, Penny—a short-haired woman in her thirties... Could she be the famously elusive chairwoman of V Group? A name like that, especially in a country with over a billion people, has to be unique.

And that teenage boy, dressed in a sharp black suit with glasses and an air of maturity far beyond his years—Nickel. Could he be the renowned CEO of V Group?

The V Group’s top executives were notoriously secretive. The company wasn’t public, and they rarely did any publicity, so few people ever got to see them. Harry, who was more open, was an exception. Typically, only those deeply involved with V Group or closely following the business world would know about figures like Penny and Nickel.

Brandon, being ambitious and knowledgeable about different industries, recognized them immediately. His shock was hard to conceal. But what stunned him even more was how respectful these high-level executives were toward Avery. It didn’t seem like they were dealing with a coworker—the way they acted suggested they were interacting with someone higher up, someone they truly respected.

What exactly is Avery’s relationship with V Group? Rumor had it that V Group was controlled by a single majority shareholder and that the chairwoman and CEO were personally selected by this hidden figure.

As these thoughts raced through his mind, Brandon’s heart surged with a mix of emotions, but outwardly, he remained calm, greeting the guests along with the rest of the family.

After thanking the Carter family, Penny and her team changed into house slippers, shed their coats, and stepped into the cozy living room, where they greeted the elders with warm smiles.

The three elderly family members were delighted. "Welcome, welcome!" they said, faces glowing with joy. "Thank you for looking after Avery. Here, you’re family—so eat, drink, and make yourselves at home."

To ensure the guests felt comfortable, the Carter family had set up two tables in the living room—one for their family and one for the guests. As soon as Penny and her group arrived, the family began bringing out the dishes they’d prepared, quickly filling both tables with platters of food, soups, and desserts.

Alaric, ever the curious one, couldn’t help but be fascinated by Penny and her colleagues. He nudged Avery with a grin. "Avery, can I sit with your lab people?"

Avery smiled back. "Of course."

Alaric gleefully took a seat next to Nickel, the youngest guest at the table, who looked about fifteen or sixteen. Alaric couldn’t resist asking, "So, can I ask why you guys have such fun names?"

The Carter family members held their breath for a second, sharing a moment of silent tension. They’d all been wondering the same thing, but no one had dared to ask. Leave it to Alaric, the youngest, to dive right in without hesitation.

Nickel, however, didn’t seem bothered at all. He answered in a calm, matter-of-fact tone, "We grew up poor. So poor that every penny was a big deal." He gave a slight smile before continuing, "So when we made it, we gave ourselves these names to remind us of where we come from."

Alaric blinked, taken aback. "Wow, you must’ve had it tough." With a kind pat on Nickel’s shoulder, he added, "Well, you’re doing great now, so eat up! You deserve it after going through all that."

The Carter family let out a collective sigh of relief. The guests weren’t offended at all—if anything, hearing their story made them seem more down-to-earth. It was hard to believe that these polished, successful people had once struggled like that. The gap between the family and them seemed to shrink a little more.

By the time everyone was full, they had bonded over stories and food, and any tension that might have existed had dissolved.

Wesley, Claire, and two of the older family members set themselves up in one corner to watch a comedy show while playing poker. Avery’s grandmother cozied up with Josie, watching the game unfold with a smile.

Meanwhile, upstairs in a smaller living room, a group had gathered to play Werewolf, snacking on plates of crawfish, fruit, and desserts, and sipping tea as they laughed and playfully accused one another.

Avery was in the thick of it, but her mind kept wandering. Where is Alexander? Is our only exchange on Christmas going to be a simple ’Happy Christmas’ text?

The clock struck midnight, and the city outside erupted in fireworks.

Although there were restrictions on setting them off in certain areas, the vibrant explosions lit up the sky, their sound echoing across the entire city. "Time to set off the fireworks!" Arthur, Alaric, and Maria grabbed baskets filled with fireworks and excitedly dashed outside the villa.

Josie and the elderly family members had already gone to bed. The others, still wide awake, followed them to watch the show. As the fireworks burst overhead, their faces lit up with joy.

Even Wesley and Rufus, who were usually more serious, joined in, laughing with the younger ones as they lit fireworks and snapped photos.

Avery, standing off to the side with her phone clutched in her hand, watched the fireworks but couldn’t shake her thoughts of Alexander. Why hasn’t he called yet? she wondered, glancing at her phone. Doesn’t he miss me? She waited and waited. The fireworks continued until about 12:30 AM, but Alexander still hadn’t reached out.