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“Who is he?” Blake didn't dare make assumptions, for it would be bad if he made a mistake.
Looking sharp in the suit, Cayden walked in. He stretched out an arm and wrapped it around Avery's
waist politely yet intimately. That action clued Blake in on their relationship.
“You're Zayne Richter, the man my son mentioned?” Blake broke out in a grin. Standing before the fire
pit, he remarked, “I've committed your name to memory long ago. Ery's father told me that you two
have been together for more than five years and are now getting married soon.”
Worried that Cayden would refute that, Avery hurriedly interjected, “You've lost weight, Grandpa. Were
you not used to living in Jetroina?”
“I'm up in years. This is the norm for old people.” Hunching over with the poker in hand, Blake went into
one of the shabby rooms.
After searching for a long time, he finally found two stools. Taking them out, he placed them on the
kitchen floor and urged his soon-to-be grandson-in-law to take a seat. “Come, child. Sit here. There
isn't any good furniture here.”
Avery looked down at the two rickety stools before glancing at Cayden apprehensively, worried that he
would disdain them and remain standing.
Surprisingly, Cayden thoughtfully took Blake's feelings into consideration and put down his usual high
and mighty demeanor, sitting down on the stool without a trace of contempt. On top of that, he even
took her hand and murmured, “Sit down. Let's chat with Grandpa for a bit.”
Meanwhile, Blake sat on the stool that was already present in the kitchen.
“You talk to Grandpa. I'll go out and buy some groceries.” Avery wheeled her suitcase to the side
before she took out some money from her bag. Then, she eyed Cayden worriedly.
Understanding her worry, Cayden nodded in reassurance.
“So, I'll be leaving first.” Avery took a final look at her grandfather before leaving.
Walking through the yard inlaid with red bricks and exiting the gates, she caught sight of a crowd
standing a few meters away when she lifted her head.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtShe could still vaguely remember some of the neighbors' names.
Whenever the neighbors spoke of her, she was the daughter of that “sl*t.” Thus, they reckoned that she
must also be one when she grew up. As the person in question, she had heard all the gossip about her
when she was young.
Avery headed toward the small shop that sold groceries.
The gossiping voices behind her were far softer than when she was young, but they carried rich
content.
It was as though Cayden and her arrival reawakened the old gossip they had forgotten eons ago.
“Is that Blake's granddaughter, Ery?” a middle-aged woman inquired in a whisper, pointing at her from
behind.
At once, someone answered, “Of course! Although she has changed a lot, her features are still there. I
recognized her as Ery at a single glance.”
“Tsk-tsk! Things are different now. The only constant in life is change. Look how lucky she is!
Compared to her, my daughter only married a low-ranking police officer in the county.”
“Don't say that, Mrs. Whelan. Your daughter made the best match among all the maidens in our town!”
“It wasn't that great. Her father and I only agreed to the marriage because our son-in-law gave us a
dowry of two hundred thousand and bought him a car worth over a hundred thousand. My son-in-law
isn't good at anything. He only has money! How awful!”
Someone then stepped forward and praised the woman to the skies. “Your daughter married into a
good family for real. As for Ery, I reckon she's likely being a mistress. Look at that man's car. It must be
worth several million, huh? He's probably some man she hooked up with out there, so she's in a hurry
to bring him back to show off to the fellow townspeople!”
“What a materialistic woman! She's as shameless as her mother, who ran off with a wealthy man!”
Similar sentiments rang out, one after another.
Meanwhile, Avery bought vegetables, meat, spare ribs, and seasoning at the shop.
When she went back, the crowd of gossipmongers was still there.
Walking through the yard and entering the house, she saw Cayden holding a bowl of leftovers. He was
going to throw it away, but Blake was staring at it with a reluctant gaze. It was clear that he wanted to
stop the man, yet he was embarrassed to do so.
“Grandpa, eating this bowl of vegetables won't do you any good. On the contrary, it'll be bad for your
health.” After saying that, Cayden resolutely disposed of that bowl of leftovers.
Blake sat back down silently, saying nary a word.
Avery stood at the door with her hands laden with bags. She couldn't describe her feeling then, but an
indescribable sense of security flooded her.
Cayden was bustling around the kitchen in an orderly manner. He held the shabby bowl with his long
and slender fingers, the diamonds inlaid on the branded watch on his wrist glittering in the dingy and
dilapidated house. Everything seemed out of place.
Noticing that she was standing at the door with her hands laden with bags while looking dazed, he put
down the old and chipped bowl. He lifted his head and asked, “You're back? What did you buy?”
Avery was moved at his consideration and lack of disdain.
Everyone else in the town was already using natural gas. Even the poorer ones were using gas
cylinders. Blake was the only one still using a fire pit, burning branches he collected from the forest.
Cayden once lived in a town for a whole year, so he was familiar with life in town.
Livingsfill's condition was only so bad because of the passivity of the previous leader.
Since the leadership had changed, the economy there would develop rapidly. This time, the
government and developers expended great effort to develop the town jointly. That was also proof of
Livingsfill's value in the future.
Cayden bought a gas cylinder, and the delivery person installed it. All that only took twenty minutes.
“You keep Grandpa company while I cook.” Cayden walked over to the cutting board, worried that she
didn't know how to use a gas cylinder or would accidentally cut her finger because the old knife was too
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmblunt.
“I can handle it. Go and sit down. Otherwise, I'll feel bad.”
Avery was exceedingly grateful to him yet also harbored guilt. As such, she certainly didn't dare have
him cook dinner.
Besides, she was very much surprised that he could cook.
Cayden glanced at the ingredients she cut. Then, Blake called him over to talk further.
Avery had cooked during the few years she was in Ustrana and when she was living in the town during
her teens. Back then, when her grandfather was busy with the fields, she would help to pick the beans
together with him on the weekends. When it was almost sunset, she would run back home and prepare
dinner for both of them in advance using firewood.
While they didn't have any good food to eat then, at least they didn't starve.
During the few years she studied, she had money from Leonardo and that which she earned herself by
working part-time. At that time, she was so content that she felt as though she was living in heaven.
Her cooking skills improved as well.
After cooking barbecue spare ribs, she took them to the table. Inadvertently glancing in the direction of
her grandfather, she saw him smiling so widely that his eyes had narrowed into slits.
Cayden was gesturing something or other elegantly, his posture still aloof as usual. However, Blake
was listening attentively. Not only did he admire his soon-to-be grandson-in-law, but he was also
thankful that his granddaughter had found such an outstanding man.
“All right, talk later, Grandpa. Come and eat,” Avery hollered as she placed all the food on the table.
The shop sent three plastic chairs over. That aside, they also rummaged their warehouse for an old
table and sent it over. Blake was slightly embarrassed then, worried that his soon-to-be grandson-in-
law would be offended.
“Zayne, the living conditions in a town can't compare to that of a city. Just make do first and sample
Ery's cooking.” Lifting his fork, Blake took a piece of spare rib for Cayden.
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