Chapter 38

Chapter 38
"I swear, I'll make sure you can't stay at this company for long!"
 
Jason had specifically researched Avery's background.
 
He knew she had a half-sister named Chloe who worked as a reporter at CQ Broadcasting Company, and that the sisters weren't on good terms.
 
He took out his phone and found CQ Broadcasting Company's number.
 
"Hello, I have a explosive news tip, the kind that could cause a citywide sensation."
 
A cold smile appeared on Jason's face.
 
"Could you connect me with reporter Chloe Vaughn? I need to speak with her directly."
 
"Of course, please hold!"
 
The staff member on the other end didn't suspect anything and transferred the call to Chloe.
 
Soon, Chloe's sweet voice came through the line.
 
"Hello, how can I help you?"
 
"Hello, Ms. Vaughn, my name is Jason. You're Avery Vaughn's sister, right?"
 
Jason tightened his grip on the phone.
 
"You probably don't know, but our company's owner is Matteo Ferrari, and Avery and Matteo appear very close."
 
"With Matteo's support, Avery quickly established herself in the company."
 
"Ms. Vaughn, doesn't that make you jealous?"
 
His words concealed his own resentment.
 
Chloe quickly realized Jason had conflicts with Avery.
 
"Jason, you didn't call me just to describe how successful Avery is at work, did you?"
 
Chloe's eyes narrowed as she tested the waters.
 
"You can't stand her, can you?"
 
"Of course not!"
 
Jason spoke through gritted teeth.
 
"Avery uses Matteo's support to look down on everyone at the company."
 
"When she first arrived, I thought she was innocent and I actually liked her."
 
"But who knew she'd not only be arrogant toward me, but even mock me as an ugly toad, saying only men like Matteo were good enough for her."
 
Jason deliberately distorted the facts.
 
"If we don't deal with her, eventually she'll disregard even you and your family!"
 
"Ms. Vaughn, we're both smart people. Since we share a common enemy, why not join forces to drive her out?"
 
He stated his purpose directly.
 
Rather than fighting alone, it was better to find a partner.
 
Chloe narrowed her eyes.
 
"You probably don't understand Avery well enough. She actually gets overwhelmed when someone pursues her enthusiastically—she can't handle it."
 
A plan formed in her mind.
 
"So, you could pretend to court her."
 
"When the time comes, you can create a scene, and I'll use public opinion to help you."
 
If things escalated, Avery would be labeled a flirt regardless of what she did or didn't do.
 
"But she's already rejected me," Jason recalled Avery's cold warning.
 
He hesitated for a moment.
 
"Jason, you're this afraid and still want to make Avery pay?"
 
Chloe continued with a cold laugh.
 
"Don't underestimate the power of public opinion. I'm a well-known reporter—I'll have plenty of ways to help when the time comes."
 
"Fine, I agree," Jason bit his lip and nodded.
 
His only goal now was to drive Avery out of the company!
 
He didn't care what methods were used.
 
After hanging up, Chloe's expression grew cold.
 
She hadn't expected Avery to get closer to Matteo.
 
If she didn't destroy Avery's job, wouldn't Avery have more time to get close to Matteo?
 
With this thought, she immediately went to her boss's office.
 
"Wilson, for this month's business profile, I want to feature Matteo Ferrari."
 
"Are you sure about Matteo? He's extremely private," Wilson questioned, looking Chloe over.
 
"As far as I know, Matteo has never agreed to an interview with anyone."
 
"Others may not succeed, but I definitely can!"
 
Chloe smiled confidently.
 
"After all, you know how everyone praises my approachability."
 
Wilson thought for a moment before nodding.
 
"Alright, give it a try."
 
He wasn't expecting much anyway.
 
Letting Chloe try wouldn't cost him anything.
 
The next day, Avery went to work as usual to revise her proposal.
 
She received a call from Owen.
 
"Avery, you've really gotten bold," Owen said, lying in the hospital covered in bandages.
 
He still thought Avery was just throwing a tantrum.
 
"Why are divorce papers being delivered to the hospital?"
 
He laughed coldly.
 
"Is this your way of forcing me to apologize?"
 
After the race ended, Owen was hospitalized for his injuries.
 
During this time, he'd been expecting Avery to calm down eventually.
 
She should at least come to the hospital to take care of him, like before.
 
But after waiting several days, Avery hadn't even called him, and now legal papers had arrived.
 
"The documents spell everything out clearly. If you're not blind, you should be able to read them perfectly well," Avery's voice remained calm as ever.
 
But her words were extremely cutting.
 
"If you really can't see clearly, you could donate your eyes to someone who needs them."
 
Owen's veins bulged as his anger became impossible to suppress.
 
"Avery, how long are you going to keep this up? My patience has its limits!"
 
His chest rose and fell rapidly with anger, making him speak without thinking:
 
"If you divorce me, do you even have a home to go back to?"
 
As he finished, Owen suddenly stopped.
 
He realized he'd said something wrong, since Avery had been alone for years.
 
Since her mother's death, she had never returned to her home.
 
When they married, he had promised to give Avery a home.
 
But now, he was attacking her with these words.
 
"I didn't mean it that way," Owen felt incredibly frustrated.
 
"Avery, I just want you to be rational and not be deceived by men like Matteo..."
 
But before he could finish, he was interrupted.
 
"Owen, I'm disappointed in you."
 
Avery's fingers tensed.
 
"I should have let go long ago. You've changed. You're not the Owen from before."
 
She appeared calm, but was actually struggling to breathe.
 
When she was bullied as a child, Owen had stood beside her.
 
He had clenched his fist and said, "Don't be afraid. No matter what happens, I'll protect you."
 
On their wedding day, Owen had personally placed the diamond ring on her finger.
 
He promised, "Avery, I'll give you a home so you'll never be homeless again."
 
But somehow, Owen had not only become suspicious of her but even cheated on her.
 
Owen on the phone didn't know what she was thinking.
 
He frowned and said, "Let go? You..."
 
But before Owen could finish, the call was completely disconnected.
 
For some reason, Avery's last sentence made Owen's heart ache.
 
He repeatedly told himself he wasn't wrong.
 
All these years, Avery had been deceiving him.
 
After all, Avery's diary clearly stated she had always been disgusted by the scars on his body.
 
Even her willingness to marry him was purely out of self-interest.
 
Owen's expression became extremely unpleasant.
 
"How dare she hang up on me."
 
Chloe, who was beside the hospital bed, didn't know what they had said, but could vaguely guess they had argued.
 
"Owen, don't be upset. Your health is most important," Chloe pretended to be concerned, speaking softly.
 
"Avery is probably waiting for you to comfort her."
 
"Comfort her? She wishes!" Owen looked up expressionlessly.
 
"Avery is just a woman who craves vanity. She better understand that once she divorces me, Matteo won't accept her so quickly!"
 
"So, she absolutely won't leave me easily."