Chapter 14

She stood at the curb clutching her box, taking one last look at the mansion behind her.

"Whether you want to be with Chloe or do whatever else with your life, from now on—it's none of my business."

Avery's words came out calm and measured.

To Owen, however, they felt like a brutal line being drawn between them.

He clenched his fists, anger burning through his chest.

"You'd better not regret this!" Owen blocked Avery's path. "And for the record, if anyone's doing the dumping here, it's me—"

His words cut short when someone yanked his wrist, nearly sending him stumbling to the ground.

"Who the—?"

He looked up to see a man with silver hair and crimson eyes.

"Sorry. Hand slipped." Matteo Ferrari towered over him, meticulously wiping each finger with a silk handkerchief.

His movements were elegant and aristocratic, without a trace of actual apology. If anything, he looked bored and dismissive.

Avery stood frozen in surprise.

"What are you doing here?"

She'd been wondering how to manage Owen's blockade while carrying her box, and now Matteo had effortlessly solved the problem.

"Just needed to discuss some matters with my employee." Matteo casually took the box from her arms. "Time to go, Ms. Vaughn. You have quite a bit of unfinished work waiting."

Owen's jaw dropped in shock.

"Mr. Ferrari, you actually hired Avery?"

In Owen's mind, while Avery might have some talent in design, she lacked both international experience and impressive credentials. The Ferrari Group wouldn't normally look twice at someone like her.

Most importantly, Avery had quit his company without saying a word!

"Of course. She's an exceptional designer," Matteo said, loading the box into the trunk.

He leaned against the car window with a smirk. "I suppose only someone truly blind would mistake trash for treasure while overlooking an actual gem."

His words carried pointed meaning.

Though Avery didn't understand why Matteo was helping her, she stepped forward with a simple, "Thank you."

Matteo opened the car door for her with gentlemanly flair.

"No need to thank me. A boss helping his employee with a box is hardly worth mentioning."

The way he smiled while saying this made Avery suspect he was being deliberately ironic. Just earlier that day, she'd made a similar comment about them being nothing more than boss and employee.

Owen grabbed her wrist. "Avery, you still haven't explained when exactly you quit and jumped ship."

He didn't dare offend Matteo—not when he still needed The Ferrari Group's partnership. So Owen could only demand answers from Avery.

But her response was ice-cold.

"Mr. Walker, you seem to have forgotten something. I was there with you when you started your company. If I choose to leave, you have absolutely no right to question me."

Avery peeled his fingers off her arm one by one. "Let go, or you'll regret it."

Owen laughed bitterly. "I have no right?"

He tightened his grip. "Did you already have your escape plan ready? Is that why you've been pushing for this divorce?"

The moment those words left his mouth, Matteo fixed those blood-red eyes on him.

"Mr. Walker, what exactly do you think you're doing to my employee?"

Matteo's voice carried a clear warning. Even lounging casually against the car, a single glance from him was enough to send chills down anyone's spine.

"Nothing. I wasn't doing anything." Owen gradually released his grip.

His brow furrowed as Matteo's words sank in. He looked between them in disbelief.

What did that mean? Was Matteo interested in Avery? Impossible.

Owen was sure he must be overthinking it. After all, why would a billionaire CEO like Matteo be interested in someone of Avery's background?

Besides, everyone knew Matteo didn't seem interested in women. He'd never had any known partners—reporters couldn't even dig up a hint of romantic gossip about him.

"We'll be going now," Matteo said, completely indifferent to Owen's thoughts as he drove the Rolls-Royce away with Avery in the passenger seat.

Avery sat in unusual silence. She didn't believe for a second that Matteo had just happened to be passing by. Combined with the fact that he'd investigated her before, she couldn't help wondering what game he was playing now.

"Still not over your feelings for Owen?" Matteo glanced at the rearview mirror.

As the car moved forward, Owen's figure grew smaller and smaller until it disappeared completely.

Avery had been quiet since getting in the car, showing little curiosity about Matteo's timely arrival.

"This has nothing to do with Owen. I was thinking about something else."

Avery stared out the window, her mind replaying the earlier scene at home.

Her father's obvious disgust. Her stepmother and stepsister teaming up to push her out. They looked like a real family—without her.

If her mother were still alive, she would have been heartbroken to see it.

"Thank you for earlier, Mr. Ferrari," Avery said, coming back to the present.

She lowered her eyes, hiding her emotions. "If there's anything you need me to do, I'll do my best."

Matteo studied her profile, his crimson eyes narrowing slightly.

"I don't need your gratitude."

His assistant had investigated Avery's family situation, so he knew about her strained relationships at home. When she'd emerged from the house earlier, despite her calm expression, her eyes had betrayed her sadness. She'd clearly endured a lot.

"Whatever's happening with your family—you don't have to talk about it, and I won't ask. I only came because I don't like seeing my employees mistreated."

In Matteo's world, only he was allowed to give Avery a hard time. No one else.

He casually increased the car's temperature. "Get some rest if you're tired. If people see those dark circles under your eyes, they might think I'm working you to death."

Avery couldn't tell if he was being sarcastic or genuinely considerate.

She shot him a look. "I just didn't sleep well last night."

The car moved at a steady pace, the temperature inside perfect for relaxation. Avery had been exhausted all day.

Gradually, she let herself relax in the car, slowly closing her eyes. Logically, she knew Matteo was dangerous. Yet somehow, she felt strangely safe.

Avery didn't even realize when she drifted off. When she woke, the car had stopped.

"Matteo?"

The door opened, and his voice came from outside. "Get out if you're awake."

Avery looked out the window in confusion.

Under warm lights, a vast field of roses swayed in the evening breeze, releasing an intoxicating fragrance. Behind the flower field stood a castle straight out of a fairy tale.

"It's beautiful," Avery breathed as she stepped out of the car, unable to tear her eyes away. "But where are we?"

"My castle," Matteo said, walking into the sea of flowers. "Come. The view is perfect right now, and it deserves an audience."

Avery didn't mind his commanding tone. She followed him without hesitation.

For some reason, Matteo's scent seemed to blend with the roses. Avery couldn't distinguish which fragrance was calming her more.

In this moment, her mind emptied completely, all troubles vanishing without a trace.

Standing in the middle of the flower field, bathed in moonlight and the warm yellow glow of the lights, a rare, gentle smile appeared on her face.

"This place feels wonderful."

Matteo's gaze never left her face.

He let out a soft laugh. "So, feeling better now?"

Avery froze. "You knew..."

Had he brought her here specifically because he knew she was upset?

Matteo raised an eyebrow.

"Like you said, we have a boss-employee relationship. It's only natural for a boss to care about his employee."

After saying this, he gave her a mischievous smirk.

"So, are you falling for me a little now?"

In the moonlight, his blood-red eyes watched her intently.

Avery's heart betrayed her with a quickened beat.

"Of course not."