The silhouette of Ava Sterling was no longer in the living room, only Poe Vaughn remained. Even with someone there, the living room felt empty, as if it were uninhabited, extremely quiet. Mrs. Wei looked at the person standing at the bar, who was staring in the direction where the pink sports car disappeared for a long time before retracting his gaze and putting down the kettle. Mrs. Wei felt that their sir didn’t want the madam to leave, at least not right now. She wanted to say something, but seeing Poe Vaughn pick up the half-filled glass of water to drink, she decided to hold her tongue and headed to the kitchen. Poe Vaughn took a sip of water from the glass. It was warm but once it reached his stomach, it felt devoid of warmth. He put down the glass again, looking out the front door. Ava Sterling had already left and wouldn’t be back for a while. He lifted his wrist to check the time, then put his hands in his pockets and went upstairs. Ava Sterling rode the accelerator all the way to Jace Kingsley’s Silvermist Isles, yet her mind was persistently filled with the image of that person touching her forehead, like a brand burned into her memory, unable to fade away. Ava thought that person was abnormal, really abnormal. It was making her feel like she was going crazy too. A horn honked from behind, snapping Ava back to reality, only to realize she had unknowingly crossed the line. She immediately checked the rearview mirror, then switched on the turn signal, and steered onto another lane. By now, she had to concentrate; if she thought any more, she could end up in an accident. If an accident happened, that person wouldn’t be responsible. Ava quickly brushed away the image in her head, focusing solely on driving without a stray thought. As for that person’s strange behavior today, she chalked it up to them having a whim, a sudden impulse. No need to overthink it. The car swiftly parked at the Silvermist Isles, all within an hour. Jace Kingsley heard the sound and came out early. Today he was wearing casual home wear, all in white, looking very elegant and gentlemanly, like a prince. "I thought you’d take a bit longer, didn’t expect you this soon," he said with a smile, watching Ava Sterling get out of the car. His words clearly directed at her, ensuring she wouldn’t feel she arrived late. After all, more than an hour had passed since their phone call ended before she arrived here. Ava listened to his unconcerned, non-reproaching, and entirely pleasant tone and sighed inwardly. Look at him, how wonderful he is, such a great person, how could someone like Ava Sterling be worthy, not even to be friends with him. "Not quick at all, something came up in the middle, sorry to keep you waiting so long," Ava Sterling was the kind to admit when something was her fault, never evading an error. Jace’s smile grew gentler: "It’s fine, I wasn’t doing much today, just tidying up at home." Having said that, he glanced at his watch and then gently asked, "Shall we go buy groceries now?" Ava nodded, "Yes, right now." He was about to go fetch the car keys when Ava said, "Let’s just take my car." Jace paused for a moment, then smiled, "That’s fine too." Both got in the car, and soon the vehicle left Silvermist Isles. Ava Sterling would sometimes go grocery shopping herself, so she knew where the markets were, which ones were well-stocked and better. But Jace didn’t know, so once in the car he asked, "Where are we going to buy groceries?" Ava said an address, then added, "That market is quite large, the daily produce is very fresh, and some of it is home-grown and sold as surplus without any pesticides. I buy that kind of produce whenever I go." "However, those sellers are usually there in the morning; at this time, they’re probably not around." Listening to her knowledgeable words, Jace smiled, "Miss Halloway said you knew where to buy groceries, saying I shouldn’t worry. I believed it, but I didn’t expect you to be this informed." "Of course, with how much I love eating and considering my health, I obviously do my research." Jace’s smile deepened, "Then I should follow along and learn from you." Ava Sterling stopped speaking. Tonight after dinner, she had to make things clear with him so they wouldn’t continue to contact each other. But not now, after dinner. Bringing it up now would spoil the mood. Ava’s lips moved as if to speak, but Jace interjected, "Have you contacted Miss Halloway?" "I messaged her, hasn’t she arrived yet?" Ava knew Jace had invited Lauren Howell, and she realized he was concerned about them being alone in his home cooking, so he invited Lauren Howell along. He was a very thoughtful person. But based on her understanding of Lauren Howell, Ava suspected she wouldn’t arrive any earlier. She put great effort into trying to match Ava with Jace. "Not yet, she called me before you arrived, saying she’d be late." "Miss Halloway is busy with work, very hardworking." Regarding Jace’s unprompted excuse for Lauren Howell’s tardiness, Ava snorted and changed lanes, "She’s just being busy for nothing." In her understanding of Lauren Howell, she knew Lauren wouldn’t show up until it was time to eat. Jace listened to her complete disdain and laughed. He shifted the conversation to Ava and Lauren Howell’s many years of friendship, discussing Ava’s past life, and just like that, unawares, they reached the parking lot near the market. Both got out of the car, Jace looking at the prominently displayed four large characters—The Evergreen Market. Ava took the car keys and pressed a button, locking the car, and said, "Yes, this is it. Although you probably haven’t been here before, you might be in for a surprise." Jace’s eyes shifted slightly, a serene amusement covering his gaze, "I have been to a market before." Ava was momentarily surprised, evidently not expecting this. After all, he was so busy, when would he have time to browse a market? Moreover, his status was unusual; even though he was an illegitimate child, he was still from a wealthy family, leading a life different from ordinary people. Could such a child have been to a market? Jace looked ahead at the clearly less sophisticated than a mall environment, which was instead dark and filled with a chaotic, dirty atmosphere seeping out. It wasn’t upscale, nor luxurious, nor glamorous, but rather filled with all sorts of unpleasant odors, displeasing. It was a simple, mundane kind of place, like the sky meeting the ground. "When I was young, I wasn’t at the Kingsley Family, before being taken back to the Kingsley Family, I lived a life..." His words paused slightly, his expression briefly altered, and then he turned to Ava, his smile growing even gentler, "As a child, I was like any ordinary kid, much like Ava, very common, very ordinary." "Bought groceries, picked up soy sauce, and even sold scrap." "I did many things that kids do." ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ novel•fire.net He spoke these words with a smile, his gaze forward, his eyes also smiling. But if one looked closely, this smile was different from his usual smile. Ordinarily, he was a true prince, a true nobleman, without the slightest trace of a commoner in him. But now, he was like a prince who had been forgotten outside, endured much hardship. Yet, even so, he remained dignified and elegant. Her steps faltered unconsciously. She looked at Jace, her mouth opening, wanting to say something yet suddenly found herself at a loss for words. She hadn’t expected him to have such an experience. It was shockingly... heartbreaking. Not hearing a response, Jace turned to Ava, seeing her furrowed brows and tender, pitying gaze, especially... sympathy. His own eyes stirred, the smile on his face fading away.