After the CEO Divorced Me, He Wants Me Back (Aveline and Lucas)

"Alright," Zachary agreed.

Aveline didn't waste a second. She set off immediately.

The night was thick and dark as she drove away from Maple Garden. The bodyguards who had been discreetly watching over her quickly relayed the news to Lucas.

Sitting in his study, Lucas listened to the report, his expression momentarily still.

"Send more men to follow her," he ordered.

The bodyguard responded, "Yes, Mr. Tudor. And what about you?"

A faint smile tugged at the corners of Lucas' lips. "I'll be attending the court session, of course."

The bodyguard was speechless.

What a strategist.

The drive from Cloudflare City to Arthur Town took nearly seven hours. Aveline had driven through the night, barely getting a wink of sleep. By the time she reached the orphanage, dawn had broken. She knocked on the door, and a moment later, Zachary appeared, concern etched across his face. "You look exhausted. Come inside."

Aveline's head was pounding, and she felt terrible, but there was no time to waste. She needed to see Hilda immediately.

"Where is she?" Aveline asked.

Zachary replied, "Inside. I've hidden her in a storage room; so far, no one has come looking."

With that, he led Aveline toward the storage area.

As he opened the door, a fit of coughing came from within. The room was cluttered with the orphanage's odds and ends, and Hilda lay on a makeshift bed.Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.

Her eyes squinted as they adjusted to the light.

"It's you!" she exclaimed, her voice tinged with surprise.

When Hilda realized it was Aveline, she grew more agitated. "You've come to save me, haven't you?"

Aveline stepped closer, her brow furrowed. Since their last encounter, Hilda had changed a great deal. She looked gaunt, her wrinkles more pronounced a clear sign that she hadn't been faring well. "Who took you from the police station?" Aveline asked directly.

Originally, Aveline had intended for Hilda to suffer a bit in the police station, but then she was taken away in secret.

Who had done it?

Why had they taken Hilda?

What secret were they hiding?

When Hilda heard the question, her eyes darted around, and she coughed twice more. "If you want to know, you'll have to agree to do something for me first." Aveline's brow furrowed.

Zachary interjected, "Madam Hilda, just tell us what you know. Who did you cross? Someone came looking for you, and I had to keep them away."

"Someone's looking for me?" Hilda's face turned pale, her tension evident. "That fast? They've already caught up with me? No, I can't be caught. If they find me, I'll die... I will die if they catch me..."

She muttered to herself for a while, then suddenly grabbed Aveline's hand with surprising strength.

"Aveline, don't you want to know who your real parents are? I can tell you, but you have to get me out of here and give me one million dollars. Once I'm safe, I'll tell you everything I know!" Her grip on Aveline's hand was tight like she was clutching onto a lifeline.

Aveline pulled her hand back, her

voice calm. "You know me. All these years, I've never sought out my biological parents. I'm not interested in them. I came here just to ask on a whim. If you don't want to tell me, then forget it."

She turned to Zachary. "Didn't you say someone was looking for her? Go ahead and hand her over." Zachary was taken aback. "Aveline, are you serious?"

"No!" Hilda shouted, shaking her head frantically. "No, you can't do that! Your biological parents are wealthy, and someone has stolen your rightful place. Aren't yo@even a little bit upset about that?"