billion book
Chapter 879
"What?!" Selena's face immediately lit up with shock after hearing Aveline's words.
Maria, of all people, had been working for Lucas this whole time.Text © owned by NôvelDrama.Org.
"Wait a second..." She raised her hand, a look of realization dawning on her face as she pieced things together. "Maria, Brian, Baron, Braden... it was all right there!" Aveline was speechless.
Selena turned toward her, her expression incredulous. "With all those similarities, you never suspected anything? Not even a little?"
Aveline shook her head honestly. "No, I didn't."
Selena let out a long sigh.
What could she even say? Lucas had practically laid the answer right in front of her, yet Aveline hadn't connected the dots. Was it because she trusted Maria too much? Or had she never really been that concerned with Lucas' actions? Maybe it was a bit of both.
Selena looked at her and asked, "So, are you mad at Lucas right now?"
Aveline replied, "Shouldn't I be?"
Selena scratched her chin thoughtfully. "You should be. But you know, Maria being close to you means she could easily reach you if something happened. And when things got dangerous, it was Lucas who had Maria find you. If you think about it, it's hard to judge whether what he did was wrong or right."
Aveline fell silent.
Selena eyed her carefully. "So, Ave, what's really bothering you? Is it that Lucas disappeared without a word, with no explanation?"
Aveline pressed her lips together. "I don't care."
With that, she stood up and headed toward the stairs.
"Hey!" Selena quickly followed, concerned. "How about I ask Aaron to find out what's going on?"
"No!" Aveline turned to face her. "Don't ask, and don't have Aaron ask either. I don't want to see him right now, and I don't want to know anything."
"Alright, alright! I won't ask, I won't say anything. Let's talk about something else!" Selena said quickly, noting Aveline's emotional state.
Since getting pregnant, Aveline's emotions had become unpredictable. One minute she could be happy, and the next she might be on the verge of tears.
So now, everyone around Aveline was mindful of her emotions.
That evening, when Wilfried, Gavin, and Gernard returned home and saw Selena, they were delighted.
Selena's straightforward and lively personality had always made her likable, and they enjoyed having her around.
Gavin's eyes fell briefly on the ring,
on her finger, his expression calm as he asked, "You're spending the New Yearchere? Aren't you afraid Aaron
will come looking for you?"
"If he comes, do I have to go back with him? This is my family home!" Selena lifted her chin defiantly.
Wilfried laughed heartily. "Exactly,
this is your home too. Selena, you and Aveline have been such good friends, supporting each other for so many years. How about this-let me officially make you my goddaughter. I'll treat you just like I treat Aveline!"
Selena's eyes lit up immediately. "Really? I can?"
Wilfried waved a hand grandly. "Of course! From now on, you'll be the elder lady of the Cooper family!"
Since Selena was a year older than Aveline, being the elder lady made perfect sense.
Selena's eyes sparkled as she turned to Aveline, about to say something when Gavin suddenly interrupted, "Dad, there's something I need to discuss with you. Let's talk in the study."
Wilfried's expression shifted slightly. "What is it?"
The two headed upstairs together.
Selena, a little impatient, called after them, "What could be so urgent? Can't we finalize my status as the elder lady first?"
Gernard glanced between Gavin and Wilfried before saying, "Honestly, the way things are now, formalizing it is just a gesture. You're already family."