CHAPTER 497: CHAPTER 497: A COMPLETE DEFEAT

Ava Sterling listened to the captivating voice, a smile spreading across her face for a moment, and said, "On the beach. Are you done with your work?"

"Yeah."

"Then come over, I’m just playing on the beach, didn’t go anywhere. Just walk straight out of the hotel."

Saying that, Ava Sterling hung up the phone quickly.

It’s not that she was impatient, but she was thinking about the competition with this little kid.

She wondered how the little kid’s sandhouse was, whether she would win or the kid would win.

Thinking this, Ava’s spirit of competition arose, she quickly put her phone in her bag, and looked at the little kid still gazing at her.

However, at this moment, little Sylvie Ainsworth was no longer confused, he recovered his previous brightness and clarity.

Seeing Ava looking at him, he immediately said, "Sister, I’ve finished building mine too, come see the house I made."

Then, the little kid grabbed her pants and led her to see.

Ava smiled, "Okay, let’s see whose is better..."

The word "okay" was still on her lips, not yet fully spoken, as Ava froze.

Because when she turned around, she saw the little kid’s house. To be precise, it was not a house but a castle.

This castle, like one from a fairy tale, had spires and was round. It was very beautiful, very dreamy, a place clearly meant for a prince and princess, very desirable and likable.

Ava knew kids could play and that this kind of sand project was surely not difficult for them. But she didn’t expect—this wasn’t just playing—this was expert level playing.

This castle was so beautifully built that it could easily be photographed and shown off online.

And looking at this beautiful castle, then at her own small shabby house, it was simply pitiful.

In an instant, Ava was speechless, her face went stiff, and there was not a hint of a smile left.

It was clear that the little kid had won, and it was a landslide victory. The result was obvious without needing to say it.

Ava never thought she would lose, after all, she was an adult. How could she lose to a little kid?

But the fact proved that she did lose, and she lost quite thoroughly.

Ava was very unhappy, extremely unhappy.

She had participated in the competition with full heart, taking it very seriously. But the result was that she lost, and she lost so completely.

How could she be happy about that? How could she smile?

She didn’t want to speak, glaring at the castle, then glaring at her own shabby house. Her expression was visibly unpleasant.

The little kid wasn’t stupid, he could tell at a glance that Ava was unhappy.

He tugged on Ava’s pants and said, "Sister, I’ll give you my castle."

"Sister is a princess, very beautiful, and a beautiful princess should live in a castle."

"I built this castle for sister."

Look at that, these words instantly dissipated Ava’s unhappiness.

Ava withdrew her gaze, looking at the little one looking up at her with pure innocence, his eyes especially clear.

Not a hint of insincerity or lies. It was genuine, completely genuine.

Ava folded her arms, huffed twice with a bit of pride, and said, "You win, I’ll give you a prize."

Saying so, she started searching in her bag for something that could be a prize.

She really had quite a few things in her bag: makeup, tissues, wipes, keys, hairpins, hair ties, and her own documents.

Because of her profession, she almost always carried her documents with her, including visas and such, hardly ever leaving them behind.

As she rummaged through, Ava quickly found something—a little doll hanging from her keys.

Chubby, laughing with mouth wide open, big eyes smiling like crescent moons, looking very endearing.

Indeed, this doll was quite similar to the little one right now.

Ava took it down and handed it to little Sylvie Ainsworth, "Here, your prize."

"Sister always keeps her word, no going back."

A loss is a loss, and Ava can accept her loss!

Little Sylvie didn’t expect a prize, especially a little doll, when Ava seemed unhappy.

The little kid immediately received it with both hands, uttering a wow, full of joy and happiness: "So cute~"

Ava zipped up her bag, hearing the little one’s full excitement, she proudly raised her chin, "Of course, it’s cute! The things Sister chooses, how could they not be cute?"

"Besides, this doll cost me quite a bit of silver, you’re getting a good deal."

Little Sylvie nodded immediately, enthusiastically: "Thank you, sister, I really like this prize!"

Ava watched the little one’s happy smile, she smiled too.

Although she lost, losing to the little one wasn’t disgraceful.

Originally, she wasn’t good at building houses. The fact she could make one was already quite something, and she was satisfied with her work.

Everyone has their expertise. Losing, that’s normal!

But...

What’s the time now? Why haven’t the police arrived yet?

Ava looked around but didn’t see any police, she frowned, how long had it been since she called them?

Thinking that, Ava took out her phone from her bag to check the time, and at this moment, her pants were being pulled.

Ava paused, looking at the little one who had caught hold of her, "What’s the matter?"

"Sister, I have a gift for you too."

Ava raised an eyebrow, "You also have a gift for me? But I lost."

"It doesn’t matter if you lost, I just want to give sister a gift."

Then, the little one reached into his dungarees, quickly pulling out a lollipop, "Sister, here’s some candy for you~"

Ava looked at the flattened lollipop and immediately burst into laughter.

This little guy even had a lollipop, she thought he might have run out.

But she liked this gift.

Ava took it immediately, saying, "Thanks, I like this gift."

Saying so, she directly unwrapped the lollipop and put it in her mouth.

Seeing Ava eat the lollipop, the little one’s face lit up with a smile, especially happy.

Ava watched the little one smiling like a dumpling, his little curls catching the soft light of the night, she couldn’t help but reach over and ruffle his curls.

The little one was even happier now, looking up at her with shining eyes, "Sister, I’ll teach you how to build a castle."

Ava’s eyes lit up and she immediately said, "Okay!"

Quickly, they both sat on the sand again, Ava on one side, the little one sat close to her.

The little one placed his chubby hands in the sand, scooping up a handful to show Ava how to build houses, how to make them look good. Ava watched and imitated him.

Just like that, the two of them faced the sea, facing the sea breeze, and started building houses again seriously.

In the hotel.

After leaving the suite, Poe Vaughn called Ava, and as he stepped out of the elevator, the call was disconnected.

However, he was not upset.

He picked up his phone and walked toward the hotel exit.

The hotel was located by the seaside, and this area was full of tourists, with many hotels, good and very good, just varying in quality.

But the hotel where Poe Vaughn was staying was the best in the area, with prime location and views.

However, the hotel was a bit of a distance from the beach. At a glance, it didn’t seem far, but it still took some time to walk there.

He walked steadily toward the lively area ahead, his gaze focused on the thick halo of light, watching those sitting, standing, or running in the distance.

Then, as the distance between him and the beach shortened, he saw the person sitting on the sand with their back to the light.