Filed to story: Love Entangled with Her Unconscious Husband Novel >>
Once Shaun sent the photo to Wanda, he decided to watch over the safe all day in hopes that she might surprise him.
If Wanda could crack the safe’s code, then he could kick Avery out of the picture without giving her a penny.
Wanda called about half an hour later and said, “I can’t think of anything else other than the combinations that you’ve already tried, but I noticed that the date of birth written here for Laura Jensen is the one on her ID. That’s not her real birthdate. Let’s try again with the real one.”
“Alright!” Shaun responded enthusiastically.
Two hours later, they had finally managed to get the safe door open.
Wanda was right. Jack had used Laura’s real date of birth and not the one stated on her ID.
Jack had used a combination of Laura’s and Avery’s birthdates as his passcodes.
The correct passcode and the family portrait in the hidden room matched perfectly together.
It was Jack’s homage to Laura and Avery.
Wanda was on a video call with Shaun, and she burst into a raging fury when the safe opened.
“That b*st*rd! After all the years we’ve been together, he went and set such an important code to Laura’s and Avery’s birthdates! Sh*t! He would get an earful from me if he were still alive!”
When Shaun opened the safe, his muscles tightened in excitement, and his eyes sparkled with anticipation.
He did not hear Wanda’s cussing at all.
There were two security levels to the safe.
The first was the passcode, and the second needed either a key or facial recognition.
The key was inside the room itself, and both Shaun and the other two technical staff knew of its location.
Shaun turned the key in the safe’s lock and carefully opened the door.
He was met with a completely empty safe.
There was nothing in the safe!
Shaun’s face was a picture of horror and fury.
“F*ck! Where the hell is it?!”
He violently landed his fist on top of the safe as his eyes reddened with anger.
“It must have been Avery!” Wanda cried from the other side of the phone. “Who else could it be but her? She gave you that piece of paper on purpose! She must have used her mother’s correct birthdate to open the safe before this!”
“Did she plan to take everything for herself?” Shaun said through gritted teeth.
“D*mn it! I didn’t expect her to be this ambitious! You can’t let her get away with this, Mr. Locklyn!”
Wanda would love nothing more but for Shaun and Avery to go against each other.
All she had to do was sit back and watch the show.
Shaun ended the video call.
Avery was bad news, but so was Wanda!
He would not have wasted any of his time on them if it did not yield any profit.
He kicked the safe door shut, then thought carefully about when the contents were taken away.
Whether Jack had moved it before his death, or someone had taken it after he died, Avery Tate was still his biggest suspect.
Did she want to take everything for herself? Did she think she could get away with it that easily?!
At the Foster mansion, Mrs. Cooper hurriedly sat Avery on the couch as she entered the living room.
“Master Elliot prepared a gift for you, Madam.”
Mrs. Cooper opened up the white gift box on the table, revealing the exquisite white gown.
“Are you sure he gave this to me?” Avery said as she looked at the gown in disbelief.
“Yes, Madam. There’s a dinner tonight that you need to go to with Master Elliot. There are shoes, too!” Mrs. Cooper explained, then opened up another box carrying a pair of fine stilettos.
Avery picked up one of the heels and stared at it with apprehension.
“Why is he taking me? I don’t know any of his friends. Isn’t he worried I’d embarrass him?”
“I’m sure he has his reasons,” Mrs. Cooper replied, “Move on from the past, Madam, and just spend the rest of your days happily with Master Elliot.”
Avery looked up at Mrs. Cooper and then said, “Do you think he’s moved on? We still don’t know what his real intentions are for taking me out tonight!”
“Madam… Was the baby you were carrying before really Mr. Cole’s? I didn’t think you’re that kind of woman,” Mrs. Cooper said.
Avery lowered her gaze and said, “That’s all in the past. Let’s not talk about it anymore.”
Then, she took the gown out of the box and said, “I’ll go try it on.”
“Alright,” replied Mrs. Cooper.
Avery arrived at Florrance Villa that evening. She walked into the banquet hall dressed in her new, ivory gown.
Under the light of the grand crystal chandelier, she looked like a mystical fairy that had mistakenly wandered into the human world.
All eyes were on her.
“Who is that? She’s stunning! Why haven’t I seen her before?”
“I think she’s the Tate family’s eldest daughter, Avery Tate. You know, from the soon-to-be bankrupt Tate Industries?”
“Oh! Now that you mention it, I kind of remember hearing something about that. What’s she doing here? Who invited her? That dress she’s wearing looks like the latest haute couture from Shanel. Is she that rich?
The crowd engaged in a fevered discussion as their eyes continued to follow her.
Avery glanced around the hall but did not see a trace of Elliot.
Her feet were beginning to feel sore from her high heels, so she found an empty seat and sat down.
A few people approached her as soon as she rested herself on the chair.
“Miss Tate, is the gown you’re wearing Shanel haute couture?”
Avery glanced down at her dress.
Was it not just a typical gown?
Was it actually haute couture?
“Is something the matter?” she asked.
“I doubt you can afford haute couture now with your family facing bankruptcy. What I’m trying to say is… Wearing a knockoff to an event like this is pretty humiliating, no?”
“If that’s the case, I’d be the one humiliated. What does that have to do with you?”
The two women next to her burst into mocking laughter upon hearing her answer.