Chapter 3
Isaac shook his head, disappointment clear in his eyes. "Was all that obedient, considerate behavior just a damn act?"
"Absolutely," Regina scoffed, her expression twisted with disdain. The affection she once had for the girl she called her daughter had long since vanished. She added, "When Zoe was here two days ago, she couldn't stop admiring this diamond ring. I was planning to give it to her once she and Andrew got engaged. Who would've guessed Avery would swipe it right from under our noses!
"Maybe you didn't know, but Zoe and Avery went to school together—from elementary all the way to high school. Zoe told me Avery was popular with the boys, and they used to shower her with expensive gifts. She never hesitated to accept them."
"Let's not dig into this," Isaac cut her off, unwilling to tarnish the memory of the girl they had once cherished. "She's leaving soon. We raised her; we should just let it go," he said, trying to push past the bitterness.
"I'm warning you," Regina said sternly. "Don't give her a damn cent. Poor people are like bottomless pits. The moment they get a taste of easy money, they'll keep coming back for more. We can't let that happen."
Isaac nodded. "Don't worry. I'll keep it cordial, but she won't see a dime from me."
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As the couple schemed to keep Avery away, she stood in her almost-empty room, staring at her packed luggage, nearly laughing. Five suitcases were stacked by the door—two filled with clothes, one with shoes, another with bags, and the last one with skincare products and jewelry, none of it worth more than five figures. All the really expensive stuff was gone, but she didn't care.
She grabbed a few clothes and her tablet, packing them into a smaller bag. Scribbling a note, she read it aloud to herself, "I'm gone. Don't worry, and don't miss me!" She placed the note on her desk and quietly slipped out of the room.