Chapter 18 Chapter 18 Aveline lowered her head and glanced at the white paper . It was written with the address of a cemetery . Could it be that his sister had already passed away ? But what did her death have to do with her father ? Aveline knew Anthony well enough that he would never harm a young girl . Knowing that the two wouldnt reveal much , Aveline didnt press them further and stayed silent on the way to the Sterling residence . Returning to this familiar place , Avelines heart was filled with mixed emotions . Jordan politely asked , Madam , would you like to go inside ? No , Ill wait for him here , she replied . Her final encounter with Alexander was limited to their divorce proceedings , and she didnt want to complicate things . Every tree and every stone in this place carried memories of the two of them , and she didnt want to reopen old wounds . If she had to blame someone , it would be the man who once held her close , afraid of losing her , and -cherished her in his hands . Even though he had become increasingly cold , she couldnt help but remember the good times . Although she should despise him , she couldnt bring herself to harden her heart . The cars engine remained running , providing her with warmth . Aveline was alone in the car , and her stomach began to hurt again . She curled up into a ball , clutching her knees tightly , crouching on the seat , waiting for dawn , In winter , the days grew dark early , and the mornings were late to brighten up . Even though it was past 7 AM , the sky was still dim and foggy- The leaves of the persimmon trees in the yard had long fallen , and her thoughts drifted back to the past . During the season when the fruits of the persimmon tree ripened , she wanted to eat persimmon , pumpkin seeds , and chicken noodle soup . He climbed the persimmon tree in the yard , which was over ten meters tall , and shook the fruits for her . The green leaves rustled down like a golden rain , just for her . Chapter 18 At that time , Alexander was approachable , and he was an excellent cook who doted on her . As she reminisced , she didnt realize when she had walked alone to that tree . The persimmon tree remained , but everything else had changed . The leaves had long since fallen , and only a few dry leaves clung to the branches , just like the precarious state of her relationship with Alexander . Alexander walked out of the villa and was met with this scene . A girl in a thin sweater stood under the tree , with the cold wind rustling her hair . Today , contrary to the past few days of bad weather , the first rays of morning sunlight fell on her face . Her skin was nearly translucent , like a fading goddess . Her hands were still wrapped in gauze , and oddly , she was still wearing last nights clothes , looking exhausted . Alexander , she didnt turn around but knew he had arrived . Yes , he replied . Aveline slowly turned around and her gaze fell upon the tall man . They were so close , yet they had become worlds apart . I want to taste the persimmon , pumpkin seed , and chicken noodle soup you used to make. past Alexanders dark pupils flashed a hint of surprise , and in the next second , he responded coldly . Its p the season for persimmon fruit , Aveline . Dont waste your time . Avelines eyes reddened , and she muttered , Cant I have one last request before our divorce ? After three months apart , she had seemingly changed a lot . He spoke , If you want to taste it , wait till next year , the fruit is not fresh . Next year … Aveline reached out and touched the rough bark of the tree . She probably wouldnt have to wait until next year . Alexander , do you hate me this much ? Chapter 18 Yes , he replied . She turned to look at him and whispered , Then … would you be happy if I were dead ? Boom ! Avelines words seemed to thunderously strike his heart . Alexander felt a deafening roar in his head , momentarily losing his composure . After a moment , he regained his composure and said coldly , Its just a soup . Come inside . Aveline watched him walk away , and a slight smile played on her lips . Alexander , are you still afraid of my death ? A vengeful thought rose in her mind . She suddenly wondered what his expression would be if he heard of her death one day . Would he be happy or sad ? In the fridge were some frozen persimmon fruits that had been saved from last year . Alexander efficiently took out the ingredients and started to thaw them . Watching him work inside the kitchen , Aveline only felt a deep sense of sorrow . This would probably be the last time he would cook for her . Thats alright . Its like leaving behind a memory . Aveline roasted sweet potatoes in front of the fireplace . The scent of the sweet potatoes wafted through the room . In previous winters , she would squat in this spot , roasting sweet potatoes , and the old lady , Mrs. Sterling , would always come when she smelled the fragrance . The old lady treated her well , like her own granddaughter . Unfortunately , she passed away two years ago , and the elderly Mr. Sterling , not wanting to grieve day and night , had moved abroad . The once warm mansion was now cold and empty . The sweet potatoes remained sweet and fragrant , but without the old lady to share them with , Aveline felt a lack of enthusiasm . Chapter 18 After eating the roasted sweet potatoes and drinking a glass of warm water , her stomachache subsided somewhat . As the kitchens aroma wafted over , Aveline got up and saw Alexander put the soup into a thermos and then scooped some into a bowl . She couldnt help but glance at the delicious looking soup , but she had lost her appetite . Its getting late . Lets go to the Civil Affairs Bureau , Aveline said . Arent you going asked , his handsome brows showing a hint of anger . to drink the soup . I dont want to , she replied . In the past , she had been quite stubborn , and he had always patiently appeased her . Now , he just looked at her for a moment , and without a word , he poured the soup down the sink . Without any expression , he walked past her , saying , Lets go. Alexander handed the thermos to Jordan . Take this to the Noble Springs Residence . Sterling . It was only now that Aveline realized that there was no way to salvage their relationship . Their perseverance over the past year had turned into a farce . She walked briskly to the car . As she passed the persimmon tree , a gust of cold wind blew . The last few leaves that had clung to the tree finally fell away . Aveline caught the lifeless leaf in her open hand and whispered , What are we holding on She casually dropped it and stepped on it with her foot , crushing the fragile leaf . to ? As the car door closed , even with the heater inside , the two of them sat on opposite sides , and a chilling aura emanated from them . The journey to the Civil Affairs Bureau was smooth , with no traffic jams along the way . Every street had green lights , as if even the heavens were opening a backdoor for their divorce . They turned into the next street , and the car arrived at their destination . Alexanders phone rang , and a voice filled with urgency came from the other end , Alexander , Jamies fever wont go down . I didnt want to bother you , but just now , it reached 39 degrees , and Im so scared . Please come over quickly … Chapter 18 Im coming right away . Alexander hung up the phone and then turned to face Aveline , her eyes filled with bitterness and hatred . She asked , one word at a time , What is that childs name ? ( 0 ) Five-year-old Annie, who can understand animals, saved Landon Hawthorne, a wealthy businessman, from suicide. Now she's his whole world and he's her legal cheat-code against every villain fate throws ...