Chapter 187
When Avery returned to Rosemont City, the celebration of Advent Sunday was almost over. She had really wanted to come back before Advent Sunday—to celebrate Josie’s fifth birthday and spend the holiday with her entire family. But there was nothing she could do.
The ruin discovered this time covered a vast area and lay at the bottom of the sea, making research exceptionally challenging. Cracking the prehistoric traps was even more difficult. On top of that, other organizations had insisted on joining after arriving, causing constant disputes along the way. This delayed the research even further.
By the time the expedition ended, everyone was exhausted, left in a terrible state. Avery herself took a few days to rest before barely regaining her energy. She returned on a private jet, unsure of her exact arrival time—only that she’d reach home sometime in the afternoon or evening of the 3rd.
At five o’clock, she first returned to her private apartment at Mid-Level Mountain Garden. On the way, everything seemed normal except for the traffic jams and crowds. But as she arrived at the community gates, she sensed something was off.
"It feels like someone’s staring at me," she thought.
She slowed the car, rolled down the window, and scanned her surroundings. Since it was a holiday, there were plenty of people, cars, and hidden spots around. The dimming sky didn’t help visibility. After a careful look yielded nothing, she had no choice but to drive into the neighborhood.
Lights were already glowing in the villa’s main building. Faint sounds of the television and cheerful voices spilled out, painting a picture of warmth inside. Avery wasn’t in a hurry to greet anyone. Instead, she parked the car and walked toward the main building.
The door stood open. She stepped into the foyer, changed her shoes, and smiled. "Hi, everybody. I’m back."
The lively living room fell silent—only the television’s murmur remained. Everyone turned to look at her in unison, then stood and rushed over to welcome her.
"Avery, you’re back! Have a seat and rest first. Your dad and I will bring out the food. We can start eating shortly."
"Welcome back! You’ve been away so long—it must’ve been tough. Let me give you a shoulder massage."