CHAPTER 24: CHAPTER 24: ILLEGITIMATE CHILD

"Heavens!"

"What did you do last night???"

Ava Sterling didn’t have work in the morning, so she slept in, only waking up past noon because her stomach was loudly protesting. She grudgingly got out of bed, running her fingers through her hair.

As soon as she stepped out, she saw Lauren Howell returning from outside.

Ava didn’t want to talk since she hadn’t slept well the night before.

When she doesn’t sleep well, she wears a sour face and ignores everyone.

But Lauren suddenly shrieked, giving her a fright.

Ava shot her a sharp look, as if she could devour Lauren alive on the spot.

Lauren shivered in fear, immediately clamping her mouth shut, not daring to say another word.

Ava ignored her and went directly to find some hot water to drink.

She didn’t drink cold water, not even on the hottest days.

So whenever they stayed in a hotel, Lauren would arrange for the staff to prepare a brand-new hot water dispenser in advance. Ava could just grab a cup and pour the water she wanted.

Ava drank half a glass of warm water, feeling much more awake.

She squinted at the sunlight streaming in through the window, bright enough to lighten even the gloomiest mood.

Her expression softened slightly as she drank the rest of the water, then sprawled on the sofa, shaking off the last bit of her bad mood.

Lauren cautiously watched Ava’s face, then tiptoed over, placing some food on the coffee table, and whispered, "Ava, you must be hungry. Want something to eat?"

As soon as Lauren mentioned hunger, Ava’s stomach growled in agreement.

She was indeed hungry.

She opened her eyes and sat up.

Lauren instantly fetched the food enthusiastically: "Look, I bought your favorite spicy rice noodles, steamed meat, small pickles, and soup dumplings—all from established brands! Super authentic flavors!"

With that, Lauren held a soup dumpling up to Ava’s mouth.

Seeing Lauren’s eagerness, it was obvious to Ava what Lauren was after.

She took the dumpling and popped it into her mouth, then leaned back comfortably into the sofa, chewing with her eyes closed.

Truly, there’s nothing like eating when you’re hungry.

She relaxed completely, her morning grumpiness gone.

Lauren’s eyes lit up, and she immediately started massaging Ava’s shoulders and legs, attending to her with great care.

Every time Lauren wanted to gossip, she acted like this, and Ava was more than familiar with it.

After swallowing the dumpling, Ava finally spoke up, "Don’t waste your energy, it’s not happening between Jace and me."

"Why!"

Lauren sprang up, almost knocking her eyes out of her sockets in shock.

Seeing Lauren’s exaggerated reaction, Ava frowned slightly, picked up some chopsticks, and grabbed some pickles. She said while eating, "He’s a serious guy looking to marry, and I’m not about marriage. Being with him would only waste his time."

The previous night, their conversation outside the hotel clearly revealed his intentions to her.

He was looking to build a friendship that would lead to marriage.

Even after she made her stance on not marrying clear, he still wanted to take things slow with her.

From friends to lovers to partners.

Even though she thought nobody would ever want to marry someone like her, Jace’s sincerity warranted her serious consideration.

"Not wanting marriage is just your current thought, not the future one."

"You’ve been completely influenced by your parents!"

"You need marriage, someone who’ll stand by and protect you, sheltering you from all storms!"

Lauren, filled with righteous zeal, plopped down beside her.

Ava eyed her like she was nuts.

Lauren, her eyes twinkling as she spoke, pulled out her phone and said, "Quick, let me show you Jace’s profile!"

"Got it first thing in the morning!"

"He’s a big deal. If you marry him, you won’t regret it!"

She shoved the phone in front of Ava’s face, the dense letters swimming before her eyes.

Ava wasn’t curious about Jace’s background, because even with Lauren saying all this, she wasn’t curious.

She and Jace were simply not meant to be.

"Get that out of my face, I’m eating."

She pushed the phone aside and started on the rice noodles.

Seeing Ava so indifferent, Lauren was exasperated!

Lauren went for it with words instead.

"Jace Kingsley, male, 28 years old, an illegitimate child of the Kingsley family. Three years ago, he suddenly became the CEO of Omnisphere Group with complete control, making him the true power behind Omnisphere!"

Illegitimate child...

Ava frowned, her expression changing.

She hadn’t expected Jace to be an illegitimate child.

It was impossible to tell.

Seeing Ava starting to listen, Lauren got excited and continued her enthusiastic introduction.

"As soon as he joined Omnisphere Group, he made sweeping changes, leading it to new heights in just three years, becoming the dominant force in Miraport!"

"In Miraport, the Kingsley family ranks just under anyone!"

"Just like how The Vaughn Family dominates Aurelia!"

"In Aurelia, The Vaughn Family is invincible; in Miraport, the Kingsley family holds that power!"

Ava listened as Lauren got more and more passionate, even dragging The Vaughn Family into it, but she didn’t want to hear any more, so she continued eating.

But she couldn’t not listen, as Lauren quickly came closer, counting on her fingers, "Wouldn’t you need a capable guy for marriage? Jace is capable, right?"

"You want responsibility, right? With Omnisphere this big, he managed it alone. Even though he retired a year ago, in the Kingsley Family, Omnisphere still listens to him!"

"As for character, do I even need to talk about that? You already know him, spent time with him, so you know his character, don’t you? Pretty good, huh?"

"Well, then. Capability, responsibility, character—he checks all the boxes. Isn’t he better than 90% of men out there?"

"Look at him, isn’t he handsome?"

"His physique isn’t bad either, right? Long legs?"

"He’s not shorter than you, right?"

"What do you have left to pick on?"

Before Ava could answer, Lauren continued relentlessly, "If you’re bringing up the illegitimacy issue, then you’re not much better. You’re the abandoned one, he’s the illegitimate one, aren’t you a match?"

Ava found herself not getting angry, truly not a bit.

But she had this intense urge to strangle the person trampling all over her patience line.

"See, how aren’t you compatible? Totally compatible!"

"Ava, we’ve been friends for so many years, I swear, this guy is truly a rare find. He’s even offering himself to you; stop being so picky, alright?"

Lauren’s hands landed heavily on Ava’s shoulders. Ava put down her chopsticks, grabbed a napkin to wipe her mouth, and looked at Lauren with her panda-sized tired eyes: "Do you really think it’s a good idea?"

Ava’s frighteningly calm demeanor made Lauren cautiously retract her hands, studying Ava’s face before nodding.

But right after nodding, she quickly added, "Ava, I did some digging. Jace is genuinely great, really. Marry him, and there won’t even be any in-law issues."

"I heard his mother isn’t in the best health and is always resting, so having a mother-in-law would be like not having one. You can just..."

Mid-sentence, Ava pushed Lauren onto the sofa, reaching straight for her neck.

"Ah! Murder—!"