After parting ways with Amelia, Ava returned to one of her properties in New York.
Knowing she was coming back today, her brother Jacob had already arranged for someone to clean her room thoroughly.
After the exhausting fifteen-hour flight, Ava was mentally and physically drained. She got home, changed into her pajamas, and collapsed into bed. By the time she opened her eyes again, darkness had completely fallen.
Ava reached for her phone next to the pillow and checked the time—it was already past seven in the evening.
Before she could put her phone down, a new text message popped up from her mother, Penelope.
[Welcome home dinner for my baby, 9 PM sharp][Location: International Hotel, Downtown New York]
Seeing this, Ava frowned in confusion.
Wasn't she supposed to eat at home? Why were they going out now?
With less than two hours until dinner, Ava didn't have time to dwell on it. She threw back the covers, got up, and walked into the bathroom.
This was her first public appearance since returning to the country—she couldn't show up looking like a mess.
After coming out of the bathroom, Ava applied an impeccable makeup look, then carefully selected her outfit and accessories, making sure she was flawless from head to toe before grabbing her new chain bag and heading out.
Ava hadn't had time to get her car since returning, but fortunately, the hotel wasn't far from where she lived—just a ten-minute taxi ride away.
Before getting out of the cab, Ava checked her phone. Three minutes ago, the private room number had been sent to her phone.
She memorized the number and calmly pushed open the car door to step out. As she looked up, her eyes inadvertently caught sight of a Rolls-Royce Phantom a few yards away—the extended version, her favorite model.
Ava had seen plenty of luxury cars before, but this one was clearly in a league of its own. Out of curiosity, she walked closer and glanced at the license plate.
A New York plate ending in 8888.
"That's quite auspicious," she muttered under her breath.
Then suddenly, something felt off. Why did this car look so familiar?
It seemed... identical to the one she had set her heart on the year she graduated from college.
A limited edition extended Rolls-Royce Phantom—only one in the world. She had planned to buy it as a graduation gift for herself.
The reason she remembered this car so vividly was because after coveting it for several months, someone had snatched it up before her, leaving her disappointed for quite some time.
After extensive inquiries, she discovered that the jerk who snatched it had the last name Anderson and was from New York.
Ava: "..."
Talk about running into your nemesis!
But what was Sebastian's car doing here? Was he attending some business dinner at this hotel?
"..."
Surely she couldn't be that unlucky, running into her ex-boyfriend on her first day back?
Surely fate wouldn't be that cruel—maybe he had lent his car to a friend.
Ava reassured herself as she walked into the elevator with an uneasy feeling.
Just as she stepped out of the elevator, she saw several waiters hurriedly emerging from another elevator carrying drinks and wine.
"Boss, who are the VIPs in the private room today? Even the general manager got involved?"
"You're new here so you don't know. Today's guest is Mr. Anderson from the BrightCore Inc, who's also a major shareholder of our hotel—practically the behind-the-scenes boss. He rarely visits, maybe once or twice a year. I don't know who he's entertaining today, but the general manager brought out wines he's been saving for years."
The head waiter: "Let's go, stop dawdling. When we get in there, be on your best behavior and don't cause any trouble..."
"..."
Ava was speechless. It really was a case of your worst fears coming true.
At least Penelope had reserved a private room, so they wouldn't easily run into each other.
The hotel was familiar to her; she'd been here often enough that she could find her way to the private room without any assistance from the staff.
However, just as she reached the door, she saw the same servers she'd encountered at the elevator earlier walking out of what was supposed to be her private room.
Ava: "?"
She instinctively pulled out her phone to double-check the room number.
It was just three digits, but she verified them no less than three times to be certain there was no mistake.
"..."
Confusion flashed across Ava's face.
Instead of going in immediately, she took out her phone and texted Jacob to confirm the room number again, thinking that perhaps Penelope had carelessly given her the wrong information.
After sending the message, she casually glanced through the partially open door to assess the situation inside.
Limited by the narrow gap, Ava could only make out the man closest to the door. His back was turned to the entrance, wearing a middle-aged style suit with graying temples. He appeared to be around her father's age, but judging by his silhouette, it couldn't be him—Ava's father wasn't nearly as broad-shouldered.
This reassured her somewhat.
Most likely, Penelope had simply given her the wrong room number.
Ava quickly withdrew her gaze and was about to leave when she suddenly heard a familiar voice from inside—
"Avie has been abroad for many years. Her studio in China isn't far from BrightCore Inc. I'd appreciate it if you could look out for her when you have time, nephew."
Hearing this, Ava froze mid-step, her heart sinking abruptly.
That voice...
It was unmistakably her father's.
So the room number wasn't wrong after all?
But wasn't this supposed to be her welcome-home dinner? Why would Sebastian be here?
Instinctively, she looked through the gap again. Perhaps due to the change in angle, this time she could clearly make out that familiar yet strange face directly opposite the door.
The man had handsome, well-defined features with exceptional bone structure that made him impossible to forget. A pair of gold-rimmed glasses sat on his high, straight nose, as if he'd rushed out after work and forgotten to remove them, adding a touch of dignity to his already cool and distinguished aura.
He wore a pristine white dress shirt, and even at this private gathering, every button was meticulously fastened to the top, above which was his prominent Adam's apple—sensual yet somehow restrained.
Compared to five years ago, he had shed some of his youthful air and gained a certain gravitas.
This was the first time since their breakup that Ava had studied him so intently, momentarily forgetting to look away.
At that moment, the man across from her seemed to sense something and unexpectedly turned his gaze toward her.
Their eyes met.
Ava's heart lurched as her lingering gaze crashed into those deep, unfathomable dark eyes.
The man's eyes also clearly registered a flash of surprise.
Soon, Ava watched as his well-defined fingers gently lifted the teacup from the table, his face displaying a clear, gentle smile: "Uncle Flores, you're too kind. It's my pleasure."
Yet his gaze never wavered from her.
In that moment, Ava's heartbeat seemed to pause briefly.
It took her a long time to process the fact that Sebastian was also attending her welcome-home dinner today.
So long that she almost forgot to react.
Until a gust of wind blew through the hallway, slamming the half-open door shut with a loud "bang."
Completely cutting off that gaze of indecipherable meaning.
Ava's mind was in disarray as she dazedly made her way into the restroom at the end of the hallway.
It was empty inside. She leaned against the window, letting the cool breeze wash over her for a moment, which helped clear her head somewhat.
But that meaningful yet unruffled gaze from earlier lingered in her mind, impossible to shake off.
Five years had passed, and apart from his appearance, nothing much about him seemed to have changed.
Those eyes were still just as cold and emotionless as ever. Even during their most intimate moments in the past, she had never seen them stir with the slightest ripple of feeling.
This made her question how much he had ever truly felt for her.
Back when they were together, Ava had more than once deliberately sought to distract Sebastian when he was busy.
The young heiress had an ever-growing repertoire of ways to tease him, but Sebastian always managed to counter her moves, eventually pulling her into his arms with indulgent resignation, soothing her with soft words.
Those were the moments when Ava felt most loved, yet she always wanted one more confirmation. She would wrap her arms around his neck and ask coquettishly, "Sebastian, do you love me?"
Sebastian would always lower his eyes and ask in return, "What do you think?"
Back then, her heart and eyes were filled with nothing but Sebastian. She would have given him the best of everything in the world, so her answer was naturally: "I love you. More than anyone in the world."
Then she would ask again: "And you?"
His answer would come in the form of his overwhelming frost-like pine scent and a flurry of gentle kisses.
Back then, she had been so intoxicated with love, so immersed in the safe harbor of his tenderness that she would forget what she had just asked.
Looking back now, she realized how ridiculous she had been. In all their time together, she had never once heard the word "love" from his lips.
She had always wondered if there was anyone or anything in this world that could stir his emotions, even just a little.
Apart from her carefree childhood, Sebastian had occupied her entire adolescence from ages 15 to 19.
She had spent her whole youth trying to find out, but regrettably, she still had no answer.
Perhaps the person who could move his emotions had never been her.
Her thoughts gradually drifted away.
After letting the breeze cool her down for a while, Ava's mind cleared considerably.
She lowered her head to turn on the faucet and washed her hands. After drying them, she took out her phone and started walking out, intending to text Jacob to tell him she wouldn't be joining them tonight and asking him to make an excuse for her.
Just as she stepped out, she caught sight of someone in her peripheral vision, standing not far down the hallway, talking on the phone.
"The work that couldn't be handled today can wait until tomorrow. I have something tonight, so please reschedule the rest of my appointments..."
She instinctively looked up.
The man had a tall, straight figure. His white shirt was neatly tucked into his suit pants, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist, exuding a distinguished aura.
His voice was pleasant—deep and crisp, like an icy spring in early winter.
Combined with his naturally superior looks, he was a sight to behold even with his stern expression as he spoke.
Perhaps sensing her gaze, Sebastian frowned and looked up.
Their eyes met.
Ava saw his expression noticeably pause before instantly returning to normal.
The moment their eyes met, Ava was the first to look away this time, pretending not to see him as she turned and walked away quickly.
Standing where he was, the man finished giving a few more instructions to whoever was on the phone before following after her.
Sensing someone following her, Ava pressed her lips together, her steps becoming slightly unsteady.
In contrast, the man behind her maintained a steady pace, keeping a distance that was neither too close nor too far—perfectly measured.
The atmosphere between them was peculiar.
Ava despised this feeling of being controlled by someone else.
They maintained this careful distance all the way to the private room's entrance. The footsteps behind her were so distracting that Ava, lost in her irritation, barely noticed they had reached the door.
Just as she was about to walk past it, the footsteps behind her suddenly stopped.
Then, from not far behind, came that familiar voice, low and magnetic yet detached:
"Aren't you going in?"