Poe Vaughn, by nature, is deep in thought, speaks little, and is always calm, rational, and clear-headed. He is someone who has always known what he wants, as if it’s ingrained in his bones, innate. It’s been this way since childhood, and even more so as he’s grown up. Sharon Sheridan, who raised Poe Vaughn, knows him exceptionally well. Whatever he wants, he will surely get, and no one can find a single flaw in his ways. With Ava Sterling, he is the same. Therefore, Sharon Sheridan cannot believe that Poe Vaughn had no hand in Ava Sterling abandoning her true friendships. The elderly voice entered his ears with a smile, sounding like a casual inquiry, completely indifferent to the answer. Poe Vaughn put down the teacup, his expression unchanged, without the slightest anomaly. He said, "It’s related to me." Sharon Sheridan’s face briefly filled with wrinkles from smiling. If he didn’t do anything, considering Ava’s aloof nature, how could she make such a decision? "You have to make sure to cheer Ava up." "Ava’s heart is sad, who knows how much pain she’s feeling inside." "You mustn’t make Ava mad, and definitely can’t bully Ava, otherwise grandma won’t forgive you." The grandfather and grandson talked for a while, Poe Vaughn had breakfast, and then asked the doctor to go upstairs to check on Ava Sterling. Sharon Sheridan went along too. She came here specifically to see Ava Sterling, and after a night, she was unsure if the child’s body had improved. They came to the bedroom, Ava Sterling was still asleep, showing no signs of waking up. The doctor did a basic examination and then said to Poe Vaughn, "Madam no longer has a fever, and her condition has improved significantly since last night. As long as she continues to take her medication on time and rests well, there shouldn’t be any problems." Poe Vaughn looked at Ava Sterling’s peacefully sleeping face; the flush had subsided, and her skin returned to its original fair condition. And because she slept well, her skin condition was also excellent, resembling that of a baby, extremely soft and gentle. Poe Vaughn asked, "Is there anything we need to pay attention to in her diet?" "Focus on mild food; avoid spicy things for the next two days, and try to refrain from seafood until she’s better."
"I understand." After the doctor left, Sharon Sheridan checked the time and said to Poe Vaughn, "Go about your business; grandma’s here." She had other tasks to attend to. Poe Vaughn’s eyes slightly shifted, seemingly unaware of why Sharon Sheridan was staying here, acknowledged her with a hum, and then entered the cloakroom. With Sharon Sheridan at home, Poe Vaughn was undoubtedly relieved; he tidied up and went to the office while Sharon Sheridan, Yvette, and Sally remained home, with none leaving. Ava Sterling drank so much wine last night and stayed restless until very late, so if she doesn’t sleep until very late into the day, she wouldn’t be the Ava Sterling we know. Sharon Sheridan checked the time, and before the doctor left, she asked about when Ava Sterling might wake up. The doctor looked at Ava Sterling’s condition and said if early, around nine or ten; if late, eleven or twelve. Therefore, not long after Poe Vaughn left, Sharon Sheridan also exited the room and instructed Yvette to warm Ava Sterling’s breakfast and prepare lunch as well. It should be nutritious and mild. Thus, Yvette and Sally got busy in the kitchen, while Sharon Sheridan began to stroll around the house. Time passed bit by bit, the sun outside grew bigger and brighter, shining into the villa, heating it up. In the master bedroom, the curtains were drawn tightly and were very heavy, so even if the sky outside was brilliantly bright, and the heat continued to rise, the master bedroom remained dim. Ava Sterling hugged the quilt while sleeping, but seemed to feel hot as her leg stuck out, resting on the quilt, with her hand holding the quilt like a doll, sleeping soundly. Her long hair spread behind her like a waterfall, smooth and gentle. Suddenly, Ava Sterling frowned, turned over, and then opened her eyes. She woke up naturally. However, the moment she opened her eyes, she was still in the state of dreaming, so even though the arrangement of the master bedroom fell into her eyes, she didn’t react much. She looked on for a while, then hugged the quilt and continued sleeping. But at this moment, her stomach began to growl, her empty stomach started clamoring as if banging on pots and pans, forcefully telling Ava Sterling it was hungry and needed food. Ava Sterling had no choice but to open her eyes. At this point, she became aware. Looking at the crystal chandelier on the ceiling, Ava Sterling still didn’t want to move, feeling extremely weak, wishing she could just lie there forever. However, her stomach was protesting fiercely, so Ava Sterling frowned and tried to sit up. Yet, as soon as she attempted to sit up, she fell back onto the bed because her body was too limp, like she’d been fed soft boned powder, utterly powerless. Her brows furrowed, and at that moment, many images flooded her mind. On the rooftop of Jace Kingsley’s villa at Silvermist Isles, speaking resolute words to Jace Kingsley, then swiftly returning to Green Hill villa, heading to Poe Vaughn’s wine cellar, and after opening up the bottles inside... then... Ava Sterling’s face also tightened at that moment. Because her subsequent memories became chaotic, even fragmented and disorganized. She seemed to drink a lot and seemed to see Poe Vaughn; she seemed to have thrown up, said a lot of words, and perhaps... even cried? These many images appeared in her mind, very mixed up, without any order, just like a dream. Ava Sterling was uncertain whether these scenes were real or false, her brows tensed tightly, her head also feeling dizzy. She might still be dreaming, perhaps not yet awake from the dream? Ava Sterling closed her eyes, and after a while, opened them again, looking at everything around her, first casually, then with focused attention. After finishing her survey, she confirmed one thing. She wasn’t dreaming; those images from last night were real because she’s now in Poe Vaughn’s bed, in his master bedroom. In an instant, a multitude of scenes rushed in. She was touching his face, then crying and yelling, blaming him and then herself, seemingly like a madwoman... At this moment, Ava Sterling’s face stiffened. Not only did her face stiffen, but her entire being stiffened. Was she that reckless last night? Did she have no image to maintain? Ava Sterling closed her eyes, barely daring to recall these scenes. She forced herself to remain calm, not to think about it, nor linger on it, because what had already happened couldn’t be changed. She needed to stabilize now, calm herself, and avoid going crazy like last night. Nᴇw ɴovel chaptᴇrs are published on novel⸺fire.net With this self-hypnosis, for a while, Ava Sterling opened her eyes, filled with firm clarity. She gathered her strength, supported herself to sit up, and touched her constantly rumbling stomach. Hungry, she had to eat. Deal with filling her belly first. After recovering for so long, Ava Sterling gained strength, sitting up steadily. Yet as soon as she sat up, her head spun as if she might fall at any moment. She held her head, frowning. She drank too much alcohol last night, so she had to suffer waking up. But, she didn’t regret it. Some things are hard to let go of, and indeed, some people she doesn’t want to lose; she is not a god, not a demon, but a person with flesh and blood, others treat her sincerely, she returns sincerely, naturally, this friendship is also true. Saying those words to Jace Kingsley, making such a decision, she felt hurt inside and needed to vent. And after venting, she would stand up, continue moving forward, continue to face the new day with her head held high. She wouldn’t stay immersed in discomfort; she is forward-looking, not dwelling on the past. After pausing again, Ava Sterling got out of bed. But just at that moment, her body froze, suddenly remembering something.