CHAPTER 25-26

“You brat, you’ve never focused on anything, and you’ve never been interested in the company. That’s fine, I didn’t force you. Ever since you’ve gotten married, you’ve been emotional all the time. I know that you don’t feel good inside, but you cannot mess around like this!”

“Dad, please trust me. These two companies have a rather significant chance of bringing in profits within the next few years.”

Henry was just about to say more but paused in surprise.

This daughter of his has always been extremely stubborn. Ever since her mother passed away and he remarried, she was even more impolite to him as a father. It was rare that they would not end up fighting each time he called.

However, earlier she had said, “Dad, please trust me.”

Such a sincere and polite attitude was very different from the way Ava would usually speak…

Henry was stunned for a moment, and his tone remained unkind. “Come back to the Clifford home now and clear things up. I’ll send the chauffeur over to pick you up!”

“There’s no need to pick me up. I’ll drive myself over.” Ava’s cold had already healed. Originally, she had planned to visit Xia Tian after getting changed. She slowly said, “Alyne was involved in a car accident a few weeks back. Her leg is fractured. I’ll drop by the hospital to visit her first.”

“Fine. Watch out for your safety when driving and don’t be so absent minded.” Although Henry’s tone sounded just as cold as before, it warmed up slightly.

Ava smiled. “I’ll be back before six. Dad, don’t forget to have Auntie Mia save some food for me.”

“…”

Henry was utterly unused to facing such a gentle daughter. After half a day, he still could not make any sound and directly hung up the phone.

——

It was past six in the evening when Ava drove back to the Clifford home.

The car drove into the Clifford family’s old residence’s front yard. Stella was on the balcony of the second floor playing with her phone. When she saw Ava, she immediately placed her phone down, glancing at her in surprise.

“Big sister? Why are you back?”

Ava seemed as though she did not notice her. After parking her car, she directly strolled in.

Auntie Mia had already come out to welcome her. “Eldest Miss, you’re finally back. It’s been months since I last saw you!”

“Auntie Mia, did you miss me?” Ava smiled as she reached out to hold Auntie Mia’s elbow.

“Of course I missed you, how could I not have? Mr. Clifford said that you would be coming back for dinner tonight, so I specially made your favourite braised ribs and steamed lotus root!” Auntie Mia happily patted her hand. “Since you’re back, do you want to stay at home for a few days?”

Ava had yet to reply when she saw her stepmother, Jessica, approaching the moment she stepped through the door.

Seeing that she had really returned home, Jessica appeared to smile bright as she squeezed in—pushing Auntie Mia to the side—and tugged Ava’s hands as she said, “Ava dear, if you still did not come back, your father would have rushed to the Sylvester family demanding for you.”

Ava glanced at her while coldly and calmly pulling her hand back. She turned back to ask Auntie Mia, who had been pushed to the side, “Where’s my father?”

Auntie Mia rushed to reply, “Mr. Clifford hasn’t been feeling too well in the past few days. Earlier he said that he would return to his room to have some medicine before coming down.”

Medicine?

Ava’s expression did not change, but she quickened her footsteps towards the staircase.

“Ai, Ava, don’t argue with your father the moment you are back. Ai, you child, why are you walking so quickly…” Jessica nagged from downstairs seeming very proper, all the while turning back to glare harshly at Auntie Mia.

Auntie Mia retreated without saying anything more.

Ava had quickly arrived outside Henry’s room door. Just as she was about to knock, she heard the sound of a glass of water being placed on the table and pushed the door open with force.

A loud “peng” came from the door—

Henry held onto two white pills as he turned to stare at Ava who had suddenly barged in. He immediately frowned unhappily. “How old are you? Do you know how to behave? Even when opening the door, you have to make so much noise!”

“Dad!” Ava walked over, stopping him from placing the pills in his mouth. “What medicine is this?”

Ava snatched away the pills in his hands and picked up the small medicine bottle on the table, scanning at it.

All the words on it were in English. It mainly wrote that it contained supplements suitable for the middle-aged to strengthen their body.

“This is the medicine that your Auntie Jessica specially brought back from abroad when she went overseas a while ago. It’s a whole set of body supplements. There are pills and tablets,” Henry simply replied, looking at her unhappily. “Didn’t you say you would be back before six? It’s almost 6.30p.m! Such a poor sense of time!”

“It was the rush hour earlier; there was a traffic jam,” Ava explained while she continued holding the pill bottle tightly.

In her previous life, she felt that her father had died very strangely.

Back then, because she was on poor terms with her family, she could not remain by his side in his last moments. She had only managed to catch one last look at him before he had passed away at the hospital and did not even have the opportunity to understand the cause of his death from the doctor. However, on his death certificate, it was written that the cause of death was respiratory failure and a sudden heart attack.

In her impression, her father’s health had always been excellent. He was only fifty years old when had he passed away. How could his health have worsened so dramatically in the span of a few years?

Even if the Clifford family had gone bankrupt, leading to a series of misfortunes, the stress should not have impacted him to the point where his heart had stopped within a night, causing his death.

Back then, she was not at home and was therefore unclear of the situation. Earlier when she heard Auntie Mia said that he was taking his medicine in the room, Ava was suddenly reminded of this.

Her father was not ill, why would he have to take medicine all of a sudden?

Jessica had said that these were supplements, was it true?

Ava did not forget that Jessica’s family had several members who studied medicine and learned to produce it. This was definitely not simple.

“Why are you still holding onto my medicine? Quickly put it down!” Henry stood up, scowling at Ava, “Also, the issue about those two companies, you better explain it well today!”

Ava raised her eyes, changing the topic and speaking seriously, “Dad, can I have this medicine for a few days? I’ll let people from the state’s Food and Drug Administration check what’s inside.”

Henry frowned and angrily spat, “Nonsense! What are you checking for! I have already been married to your Auntie Jessica for several tens of years. And you suspect even the medicine she buys? No wonder even though you both call her Auntie Jessica, Stella and she are like a pair of mother and daughter while you treat her like an enemy, never showing her a good side!”

The room door was suddenly pushed open again. Stella gently opened the door, poking her head in and asking with an obedient looking face, “I just passed by and heard noises from the room. Dad, Big Sister, you just returned, and the two of you are fighting again?”

“This doesn’t concern you, leave!” Henry glared toward the door.

Stella made an “Oh” sound and then gently closed the door again.

Although she was yelled at by her father, Stella was not affected at all and was instead happy about the disaster as she left.

Ava had only just returned for a while, and she had already argued with their Father. There would surely be a good show to watch tonight!

Auntie Mia and the Clifford family helpers had already prepared dinner.

When Henry came downstairs, Jessica and Stella saw that he seemed cold and stern. His expression was dreadful.

He did not even glance at Ava who was following behind him.

Seeing this scene, Stella took the opportunity to speak up, “Father, don’t be mad at my sister anymore. She rarely returns home. It’s likely that she fought with Brother Antonio again. Why don’t we just let her stay here tonight instead of returning back to the Bellevue Hill? Anyway, even if she returns, Brother Antonio may not be there…”

“What did you fight about again?” Henry glared at Ava who was behind him. “It’s already been half a year, when will you stop your thoughts of wanting a divorce?”

Ava eyed Stella.

Very good, she had just shown up, and she was already attacked.

Even though Stella had known that the issue about the divorce has always been the cause of all their fights, she still directly brought the topic up.

Jessica stood by the table without speaking, but her eyes moved towards Ava. She knew that Ava would always make a big fuss about Antonio so she stayed silent, calmly waiting to watch the show.

“Dad, I wanted to take the opportunity to apologize properly.” Ava reached out and wrapped her hand around Henry’s elbow just as he was about to walk toward the dining table. “I was too stubborn in the past and didn’t realize that you had planned all of the best things for me. I kept bickering with you. I was wrong.”

Henry was surprised, immediately eyeing her in suspicion.

She didn’t start a fight?

Ava actually knew how to apologize?

Stella and Jessica tried their best to cover up the shock in their eyes.

How could this be?

“In the past, I was too stubborn. After marrying Antonio, because my heart was dissatisfied, I kept making trouble. But in the end, the human heart is made of flesh. After spending a long time with someone, you can’t help but notice their goodness. Right now, I don’t wish for a divorce, and I’ve decided to live well with Antonio from now onward. I definitely won’t let you worry for me anymore.”

As Ava spoke, she sat down with Henry, at the same time turning to look at Stella. “Actually, I had already shared my thoughts with Stella several days ago, isn’t that right, Stella?”

The focus suddenly turned toward her. Stella froze for a moment.

Ava did say these words before…

Stella had thought that she had only said those words about giving up the divorce because her brain was not working momentarily. She had never even thought of informing her father what had happened.

Suddenly pushed into the spotlight by Ava, Stella could not lie even if she wanted to and could only smile. “That day I left in a rush and almost forgot about this. Big Sister did say that to me. She said that she has thought things through and no longer wishes for a divorce.”

Ava smiled at her, making it seem like there was a deep sibling love between the two of them as they shared a smile of mutual understanding.

However, this smile caused Stella to feel like her whole body was surrounded in cold water.

“Dad, you should believe me now, right? I really want to be happy with Antonio.” Ava held onto Henry’s elbow. Her voice was light and soft, sounding like a little girl whining for attention.

Ever since she grew up, Ava has never acted this way with him. The soft part of Henry’s heart was immediately touched and his anger reduced by a lot. “All right, it’s good that you know Antonio is good. After marriage, one needs time to be comfortable. Now that you’ve thought things through, it’s not too late. If the two of you have any conflicts, tell us. Don’t always act so temperamental, and don’t always be so immature, understood?”

“I got it, Dad.” Ava leaned her head on his shoulder. “I apologize for all the bad things I previously said and did to you when I was being temperamental, so don’t be mad at me anymore, all right?”

“Hmph, it’s no use even if you apologize now. I can let the rest go, but on the issue of the two companies, don’t think that I will let you off so easily.”

“I will explain that to you later.”

Henry clearly still did not trust her much on this, waving his hand. “All right, let’s eat first. Ever since you got married, you’ve rarely been back. It’s good that you have finally been enlightened. Initially, I never placed any hopes on you coming back with Antonio. But since the two of you have grown close, bring him back with you the next time. Don’t always move about alone, or people will start to speak about your marriage again.”

“That’s right. Ava, since you’ve decided to live well with Antonio, why didn’t you come back together? Are you just making up words to please your father?” Henry had just finished his words and Jessica immediately cut in. Her face was bright with a smile, but her eyes were cold.

Henry glared at Jessica. “None of your business! In the morning I was the one who called her to come back immediately. It was a sudden plan. Antonio isn’t an idle person who always has free time, how could he suddenly make time to come back.”

“But I feel that Big Sister and Brother Antonio’s relationship cannot be so simple. A few days ago, they were still fighting so fiercely,” Stella quietly muttered. “Previously, they were clearly fighting to the point of no return. Yet, you are suddenly saying that you don’t want to divorce anymore. Big Sister, could it be that you have some other thoughts that you are purposely hiding from us?”

Stella’s face was completely innocent as she spoke, seeming as though she was only asking curiously.

Ava continued to hold onto Henry’s elbow, coldly glancing at her. “What other thoughts could I have? I’ve already married Antonio for some time. After being together for a period, feelings have grown. We should just be together happily. Marriage is simple, how could there be any complicated thoughts? How could there be so many whys?”

“These words are good. Simple is the best.” Henry nodded his head. After Ava had acted spoiled in front of him for a while, his heart of a father was unused to it, but at the same time, he felt very comforted.

In actuality, before returning, Ava had considered asking Antonio if he had time. However, after considering that her father had wanted to ask about Thomas’s companies, not to mention there were also Stella and Jessica at home, she felt that the return home would definitely cause chaos, and after consideration, she did not mention it to him.

Besides, she did not want to see Stella interacting too much with Antonio. It would cause her to feel nauseous.

Stella tolerated it and did not speak anymore, but quietly glanced at Jessica.

If the relationship between Ava and her father worsened, the one to benefit would definitely be Jessica.

Now that Ava was suddenly so obedient, seeing the ice break between the father and daughter, how could Jessica sit still and watch?

“Auntie Jessica, don’t you feel like my sister has changed too much?” Stella spoke carelessly.

At this moment, Jessica was indeed suspicious.

Why did Ava suddenly change? Becoming so obedient and mature?

“Ava dear, Auntie hasn’t seen you for a while. Quickly come here and sit with me.” Jessica smiled as she pointed at the seat next to her, the one furthest from Henry.

Ava sat at the seat closest to Henry without moving, acting as though she did not hear anything as she calmly spoke, “Dad, your health has barely any problems. Don’t eat too much medicine from here on. Those strange medicines sound like supplements but eating anything extra will affect your body’s immunity.”

Hearing this, Henry had yet to speak up, but Jessica’s hands which were about to pick up the chopsticks staggered.

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