Tears stread down Linda’s face as she lanted, "Unfortunately, sothing happened in my family. My parents forcibly took away on our wedding day and locked up, forbidding from seeing Jaden." Her words were extrely moving, punctuated by tears and sobs, as she clutched her chest, her voice hoarse.
Avery didn’t know whether anyone else would be touched, but she felt nothing at all. The more Linda spoke, the more agitated Avery beca. Linda repeated the sa tales of how she and Jaden fell in love during college, making grand promises to each other. She emphasized, "Back then, the Carter family was very poor. Jaden was incredibly filial. He would return to the countryside to care for his grandparents on weekends and holidays, leaving us little ti to date, but I never complained.
"Whenever I had free ti, I would accompany him to the countryside, helping him care for his grandparents and do chores.
"We dug that beautiful path in front of the house together. That’s a testant to our love! You have no idea how much I sacrificed for him!
"When his grandparents fell ill and were hospitalized, I took leave to care for them, taking the dayti shifts while he stayed with them at night.
"My family isn’t well-off either. We have many mouths to feed, and expenses are high, but I still saved money to secretly buy supplents for his grandparents.
"Throughout my four years of college, almost all my free ti was spent on the Carter family.
"After graduating, I didn’t look for a job but stayed in the countryside with Jaden, helping him grow vegetables and feed livestock. Everyone in the Carter family and the whole village knows this."
Linda went on and on, focusing on her sacrifices for Jaden and the Carter family. Avery said nothing, leisurely sipping her fruit tea while occasionally glancing up at Linda. To be honest, she was growing impatient and found Linda quite annoying.
The reason Avery endured the conversation instead of walking away was to better understand Jaden and to figure out what was going on with Linda so she could strike effectively. Avery was surprised to discover Jaden had such a past, yet the Carter family had never ntioned a word about it.
After an hour, Linda finally seed tired, and her voice was hoarse from crying, so she paused to sip her fruit tea and soothe her throat. Avery finally looked up, calmly eting her gaze, and cut straight to the point. "What’s the deal with the 100-thousand-dollar loan? Where have you been these last three years?"
A mocking expression crossed her face as Avery continued, "You seem to be doing quite well now, dressed in designer clothes, enjoying a lavish lifestyle, looking well-fed. I don’t see how you’re troubled by love or struggling in life."
Linda’s face flushed, her gaze evasive, unable to et Avery’s eyes. With a hint of guilt, she stamred, "I... I was forcibly taken to another city, far away from Valemont City.
"My father has uremia and needs a kidney transplant, along with long-term care. I... I had to borrow 100 thousand dollars from Jaden, but it wasn’t enough."
Linda lowered her head, covered her face with her hand, and began to sob again. "My family has borrowed a lot of money from others and can’t pay it back, so they forced to marry soone else. I... I had no choice..."
Avery scoffed, "So you’re saying you’re a married woman now, yet you still want to flirt with other n?"
"No, it’s not like that!" Linda looked up, her eyes filled with tears. "My husband passed away two months ago, so I’m single now."
"Oh, your husband just died, and you’re already eager to find another man?" Avery elongated her voice. "A woman like you deserves Jaden?"
"I was forced!" Linda defended herself. "I’m a victim too. I’ve missed Jaden every single day for the past three years. We once shared so much together. He’s so kind, and he’ll understand ."
Avery scoffed, pulling out her phone and dialing a number on speaker. On the other end, Jaden’s voice ca through. "Avery, how’s everything going?"
"Very smoothly! I’m getting ready to go ho," Avery replied sweetly, her voice playful. "Tonight, I want to eat your chicken pot pie, casserole, and fennel carrot soup. And I’m so tired. Could you give my shoulders a massage when I get back?"
Jaden’s voice was filled with fondness. "Sure, I’ll go buy the ingredients."
"Thanks! See you at ho." Avery ended the call, stood up, and said triumphantly, "Jaden and I are already a family. We’ve been living together for a while now, and our parents fully support us. You don’t stand a chance."
Before Linda could say sothing, Avery made a face at her. "Oh, and I’m quite wealthy. Your loan doesn’t affect Jaden at all. Listen, if you dare harass Jaden, you’ll regret it."
With that, Avery left. Her steps were light and quick. Linda watched Avery’s retreating figure, her swelling anger, jealousy, and pain contorting her features. She grabbed her cup of fruit tea and smashed it onto the ground. The cup shattered with a loud "bang," and red liquid splattered everywhere. She paid to compensate for the store’s losses and climbed into her BMW, frantically thinking about how she could contact Jaden.
Linda thought that given Jaden’s personality, as long as she admitted her mistakes, pleaded, and made ands, reminiscing about the good tis they had, he would surely forgive her. But it was best to et Jaden in private. She couldn’t let anyone from the Carter family find out about her, or they might interfere.
So, Linda couldn’t go to the Carter family or look for people in Mid-Level Mountain Garden. She was wondering what to do. Then her gaze landed on a bank by the roadside, and she suddenly had an idea.
Linda thought, ’Jaden ca out of Trustcorp Bank when I saw him the day before yesterday. He was holding a bank file bag. He must have gone to apply for a loan. He used to say that his dream was to develop the barren hills and lands in the countryside, letting free-range chickens roam the fields, and covering the hills with fruits and flowers, just like the paradise described in stories. He also ntioned that if he couldn’t raise enough capital, he’d apply for a loan from the bank.’
With this thought, Linda smiled smugly and said to herself, "Trustcorp Bank is just a small bank. If I deposit hundreds of thousands of dollars there, the bank will treat with respect."
"Then I’ll ask them for Jaden’s number, and they wouldn’t dare refuse if I asked them not to lend him money. "
"Then I can fund Jaden’s dream, and he’ll surely be touched, just like back then."
Linda stepped on the gas, racing toward that bank.
anwhile, Avery didn’t head back to the villa but went to a restaurant not far from there. The old house was under renovation, filled with the sounds of hamring and chaos, and there was so much dust everywhere. Avery didn’t go in but stood at the entrance, calling for Arthur to co out.
Arthur, wearing a hard hat, mask, and gloves, jogged out. Upon seeing her, he quickly removed his mask and exclaid happily, "Avery! What brings you here?"
Avery looked at him seriously and said, "Arthur, I need to ask you sothing about Jaden."
"About Jaden?" Arthur touched his hard hat and said, "Go ahead. I’ll tell you whatever I know."
Avery continued, "I t a woman nad Linda, around twenty-seven or twenty-eight, quite pretty. She claims to be Jaden’s first love and said she was forcibly taken away by her family on their wedding day."
"Bullshit!" The usually gentle and smiling Arthur was angry, unable to hold back his expletives. "She’s lying! She’s greedy and shaless! She’s the worst woman I’ve ever seen in my life! If I see her, I won’t hit her, but I’ll definitely curse her out!"
Avery was taken aback by his reaction. "Arthur, calm down. She..."
"I can’t calm down!" Arthur was so furious that he was pacing back and forth, continuously pounding his fist against his hard hat, feeling like he might explode.
Avery asked, "Do you know what she did to Jaden?"
Arthur said, "She stood him up on their wedding day! Then she made off with the 100 thousand dollars and disappeared without a trace, leaving not a penny behind!"
Arthur’s eyes turned red with anger, and he was nearly crying. "That’s money our whole family saved for two years, ant for renovating the new house. She just swindled it away!"
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