Chapter 2

Once Avery agreed, the itinerary for a private jet to Frankland was promptly sent to her phone. The flight was set to depart in a month. Rowan's team also worked quickly to remove the flood of AI-generated images that had swarmed the internet. Still, Avery knew the scars left behind wouldn't vanish so easily. After taking a moment to steady herself, she stepped outside for a walk. A few passersby couldn't resist stealing glances and whispering behind her back. "Isn't that the woman from those leaked nudes online?" "She's actually pretty hot. Why don't you go ask how much she charges for a night?" "There's no way in hell I'm going anywhere near that chick. A slut like her probably wouldn't even ask for money. She'd practically pay you to sleep with her." Avery's chest tightened. She lowered her head and quickened her pace. Before long, she reached the company building. Her plan was to take a short break and leave once night had fallen. Oddly enough, the whole office was deserted. The elevator took Avery straight to the CEO's office on the top floor. Before the doors even slid open, she could hear a commotion coming from outside. With a sharp bang, colorful confetti rained down from above. Elijah rolled a cake forward as the employees behind him brought in a variety of gifts. The entire top floor had been transformed into a castle straight out of a fairy tale. As soon as Avery appeared, the room fell silent. Elijah's expression darkened as he asked, "What are you doing here?" Before Avery could respond, the elevator doors chimed open again. Lara stepped out, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Wow! Is all this for me?" Elijah's stern face softened into a warm smile. "Yes. Happy birthday to this stunning and beloved lady we all admire!" With smiles brightening their faces, those nearby stepped forward to offer their warmest wishes. As Avery took in the joyful scene, memories of her first year of marriage came flooding back. Back then, Elijah was constantly tied up with work and seldom came home. Caring for him had always been her top priority. Every day, she brought him lunch and fruit at the office. She often stayed late, keeping him company long after everyone else had gone. Even on her own birthday, she put his needs before hers. One time, her friends had arranged for a cake to be delivered at midnight, but Elijah threw it away without a second glance. "This is a workplace, not your home. If you want to celebrate your birthday, do it somewhere else." Suddenly, the room was swallowed by darkness. Amidst the chorus of "Happy Birthday", Lara couldn't help but blush. She closed her eyes and made a wish. Standing beside her, Elijah lowered his gaze, his eyes filled with unspoken affection. It was a sharp departure from the cold, proud expression he usually wore around Avery. Without acknowledging anyone, Avery let out a bitter chuckle and slipped away quietly. She hailed a cab and made her way to the McPherson residence. The house was brightly lit, yet not a single light was meant for her. The lively chatter inside stopped the moment she opened the door. The room fell into a heavy silence, every gaze fixed on her. Walter cleared his throat, breaking the tension. "Ave, what are you doing here?" Ignoring the probing stares, Avery replied, "You promised that once everything was over, you'd fulfill one of my conditions. Does that still stand?" "Of course," Walter replied, his brow furrowing. "But it can't be anything too extreme." Avery could see what was on his mind. It was clear he was worried she might use this as a way to pressure him into marriage. She understood all too well how little she must matter in his eyes. "I want to transfer my registered address out of the McPherson residence and revert my name to Avery Quinn," she said. Changing her last name was simple enough, but transferring her registered address could only be done by the head of the household. She had no choice but to ask Walter for help. After a brief hesitation, he nodded. As Avery stepped out, whispers began to rise from the room behind her. "She just wants to leave our household so she can be with you legally. How can you go along with this?" "She can do whatever she wants," Walter replied. "I have no intention of marrying her, after all." Avery forced a bitter smile. It didn't matter anymore; she was no longer concerned. When she returned home, Elijah was stretched out on the black leather couch, one leg casually draped over the other. At the sound of the door opening, he lazily glanced up at her. "Where have you been at this hour?" he asked. Knowing he didn't really care, Avery responded indifferently, "The McPherson residence." Elijah narrowed his eyes but didn't push further. "Lara wants to take part in tomorrow's concert." Avery was a gifted cellist, with her reputation growing ever since her university days. Tomorrow's concert would be both a parting performance and a meticulously prepared showcase. Afterward, she would start over, adopting a new name and identity. She decided to fill in as a temporary accompanist. After all, she was leaving soon and had no intention of getting caught up in more drama. With that in mind, she nodded. Elijah seemed momentarily surprised. He hadn't expected her to agree so easily. He couldn't shake the memory of his friend's words from that afternoon. "Mr. Tarver, I honestly envy you. "At home, you have a wife who's completely devoted to you, putting in the work without ever complaining. And out there, you still have your childhood sweetheart by your side. "In my opinion, you can cross Lara off your list. Women like her come and go, but Avery's devotion is one of a kind." His friend's envy should have flattered Elijah, but hearing him talk about Avery like that stirred an inexplicable unease in his chest. As Elijah watched her prepare dinner without rest, he couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. If not for Lara being his lifesaver, he would've undoubtedly fallen for Avery. But alas, life held no room for "what ifs". Elijah lifted his gaze and handed Avery the gift he had originally meant for Lara. "This is for you. Don't make me look bad at tomorrow's concert." Without another word, he stepped closer and fastened a necklace around her neck. The space between them seemed to hum with unspoken tension. Avery looked at him in surprise. Just as she parted her lips to speak, his phone rang loudly. "Eli, I've had a little too much to drink... I really miss you." The woman's voice on the other end was breathy and sweet, curling around him like a temptation. Elijah's throat tightened, and without a second thought, he turned and walked away. Soon, the door clicked shut. Without a flicker of emotion, Avery set the knife down. She walked into the study and started practicing for tomorrow's concert. In the study, her gaze was suddenly drawn to a confidential file tucked away on the bookshelf. Avery usually had no interest in anything that involved Elijah. But this time, a strange curiosity nudged her to open the file. What she found inside made her laugh out loud. It turned out Elijah's years of devotion to Lara were all based on a mistake. He had confused her for the person who had saved him. Meanwhile, the banner celebrating Avery for her act of bravery on that very same day remained neatly folded in a drawer. Avery's mood instantly lifted. She could hardly wait for the day Elijah finally learned the truth. With a smile, she retrieved the contract she had signed three years ago. She then placed it alongside the banner and sent them both to a storage facility. "Make sure Elijah receives these in one month," she instructed. The terms of the contract were laid out explicitly. Avery had agreed to marry Elijah as a gesture of gratitude for Walter's kindness. The arrangement was to last exactly 1,000 days.