Chapter Three: The Last Harbor

Avery stood in front of her best friend Scarlett's apartment door, dragging her suitcase behind her. She knocked lightly.

Scarlett was the sister she had grown up with at the orphanage. Five years ago, when Lucas took her away, Scarlett had said to her, "Avery, if one day he doesn't want you anymore, remember to come home." That sentence had become her only fallback now.

The door opened quickly, and Scarlett's eyes widened in surprise. "Good heavens, what are you doing here?"

Avery gripped the handle of her suitcase tightly, forcing a smile. "I've come to seek refuge with you."

Scarlett noticed the suitcase then, and her smile froze instantly. "What happened?"

"We broke up," Avery said, pretending to be nonchalant.

Scarlett stared at her blankly. The Avery standing before her was alarmingly thin, her pale face gaunt with prominent cheekbones. Her frail figure in the cold wind looked as fragile as paper. Scarlett's heart clenched painfully.

"That damn bastard!" Scarlett pulled Avery into a tight embrace. "You still have me, okay? You're not alone."

Avery's eyes grew warm, and she gently hugged her back. "I'm fine, don't worry."

But how could Scarlett believe that? Over the past five years, Avery had worked herself to the bone day and night, all to save up a million dollars to repay Lucas. She had naively thought this would change how he saw her, but in the end, she was still cruelly discarded.

Scarlett suddenly remembered that rainy night five years ago… If Avery hadn't sold herself to save that boy, she would never have met Lucas. Her Avery should have had a happy life.

"Are you saying you're not welcome here?" Avery suddenly pushed her away with a forced laugh. "I'm freezing to death out here."

Seeing Avery's strained smile, Scarlett felt slightly reassured. She believed Avery would pull through—after all, for orphans like them, being abandoned was nothing new.

"Don't be ridiculous!" Scarlett snatched the suitcase from her hand. "This is your home now. Stay as long as you want!"

She turned and brought over a set of clean pajamas. "Go take a hot shower first. I'll make you something delicious to eat. Tonight, just sleep well and don't think about anything, okay?"

Avery nodded obediently. Scarlett was always like this—a ray of light illuminating her life. But her failing heart was already in its final stages, and soon it would take her away. If Scarlett knew… she'd surely cry, wouldn't she?

"Scarlett," Avery said as she walked toward the kitchen, "I want to quit my job."

"It's about time!" Scarlett didn't even look up as she chopped vegetables. "These past few years, you've nearly killed yourself for those overtime bonuses. From now on, leave the money-making to me. Just rest at home."

Avery's nose tingled, and she turned to head to the bathroom. Since fate had never favored her, she would spend her last three months by Scarlett's side.

---

The next morning, Avery covered her pale face with heavy makeup and headed to the office to resign. As she sat down to write her resignation letter, her colleague Lily rolled her chair over.

"Did you see the email?"

Avery shook her head—she had spent the entire weekend with Lucas.

"Helen sent out a notice," Lily said excitedly. "The chairman's daughter is coming to take over as CEO today."

Avery wasn't interested. She was leaving anyway.

"She just got her MBA," Lily gossiped. "No experience at all, and she's already CEO. Isn't she afraid people will talk?"

Jessica nearby sneered. "Who would dare say anything? She's Mr. Winter's white moonlight."

At the mention of the name "Winter," Avery's hand gripping the mouse suddenly froze.