Avery cried in his embrace for such a long time until the crickets in the surroundings stopped chirping. When her sobs subsided, she realized her belly and waist were aching dully.

She was familiar with that kind of pain, for she had to experience it every month.

This time, her period came earlier than expected.

Every time she didn't get enough rest, her body would act up, and she would experience irregular periods.

Avery disentangled herself from his arms hastily. Feeling mortified, she forced back her tears.

Feeling the emptiness in his arms, Cayden looked a little displeased. Despite that, he asked her gently, “Do you want to go back to Ackleton or stay here to continue searching for him? Does he have any relatives in Livingsfill?”

He would respect her decision no matter what it would be.

“Grandpa doesn't have any living relative in Livingsfill...”

Suddenly, Avery realized Blake would never return to Livingsfill even if he were to run away from home.

Worried that Blake was in trouble, she couldn't stop horrifying images from popping up in her mind.

As if having seen through her thoughts, Cayden took one step forward and smoothened her fringe, which had gone messy when she was crying in his arms. “No news is good news. If he got into trouble, someone would've called the police.”

Avery's head snapped up. She trusted his explanation instinctively.

Without her knowing it, she had grown to rely on him wholly.

“Just trust me,” Cayden said to her as he gazed into her eyes solemnly.

Avery nodded. Yes, Grandpa will be fine.

She reassured herself again and again.

“Let's go back to Ackleton.” Cayden placed his hand on her left shoulder and led her back to the car.

Suddenly, Avery came to a stop. After a brief hesitation, she said, “Wait for me here. I need to buy something at the supermarket. Don't follow me.”

She hurried away after saying that.

The surroundings were dark, and there was no streetlamp around. She could only depend on the moonlight.

Avery dared not enter his car for fear of staining his car seat. Besides, the amount of her period would increase as time ticked by.

Cayden stood at the door like a knight in shining armor.

His black Land Rover was parked right in front of him.

Cayden watched as she headed to the supermarket. In the end, he couldn't stop himself from going after her.

The Rumpley residence was quite far away from the supermarket. Avery hadn't returned to Livingsfill for years, so she wasn't familiar with the surroundings.

Cayden couldn't bear to see her disappear from his line of sight.

At the entrance of the supermarket, Avery fished her phone out and switched on the torch function to find the doorbell.

In small towns like Livingsfill, supermarkets usually closed at around nine at night.

No one would show up to buy stuff past midnight unless it was absolutely necessary.

“Where is the doorbell?” Avery muttered in her haste.

Cayden came to her and knocked on the door without hesitation.

“Is anyone there?” he asked in his deep, magnetic voice.

Soon, the owner responded, “It's past midnight! Who is it?”

“I'm here to buy something! Please open the door,” Avery cut in.

Cayden's voice was loud and frosty enough to wake the owner, but if he were to ask the owner to open the door, the owner might refuse to do so out of fear.

Hearing that it was a woman's voice, the owner came to open the door.

A middle-aged lady appeared behind the door and glanced at the two of them.

“You don't look like locals,” she said hesitantly. Hmm, should I close the doors?

“I need to buy something,” Avery said. She then turned to Cayden and said to him, “Stay outside. There's no need for you to come in.”

Cayden stayed outside obediently.

Avery bought a packet of sanitary pads and paid for her purchase.

The lady owner told her to leave right after that. It was past midnight, and they were both strangers to her. Avery might look gorgeous, but the owner refused to put her guard down.

“May I use the restroom?” Avery pleaded.

“Restroom?” The lady owner shook her head and said loudly, “No! Go somewhere else!”

She then asked Avery to leave.

Avery had no choice but to leave the supermarket.

She bought the sanitary pads but had nowhere to put them on.

Cayden was puffing on a cigarette outside. He took one puff and saw her walking out. “What's wrong?” he inquired.

Avery glanced ahead. Besides the inn, there was nowhere else with the lights on.

“What's wrong? Tell me.” Cayden's expression grew stern. He realized she had been acting weird since a while ago. She must be hiding something from me!

“It's nothing. I need to head to the inn,” Avery said. She stuffed the sanitary pads into her pocket.

Cayden grabbed her wrist and pulled her to him. His other hand reached into the pocket of her denim shorts and pulled the packet out.

It was a packet of daytime ultra thin sanitary pads.

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255