Chapter 53: Treatment Method

"Mrs. Howel, your table is ready," a waiter interrupts Avery and Claire's conversation.

Avery nods then turns to look at Claire.

"Thank you," she said sincerely.

She knows that she never would have remembered her wedding night if Claire hadn't prompted her. She never would have understood why Evan had treated her so coldly for the last three and a half years. The knowledge gives her confidence.

"Maybe it's better if you forget what I said," Claire says nervously, she's not sure if she should have revealed so much information to her new boss, "If it's okay with you, I'm going to take my lunch break now."

Avery walks to the restaurant and ponders the new information. She made a lunch reservation and planned for Bryan and Charles to meet her. Charles is prompt, but Bryan still hasn't arrived by the time the waiter brings them their drinks.

Charles considerately pours some red wine for Avery. A bouquet of red roses sits at the center of the table—a gift from Charles in honor of Avery's first day managing the Zuri Hotel.

"I'll call Bryan," Avery says, picking up her mobile phone.

"There's no need," Charles says sheepishly, "He sent me a text saying he had some unexpected plans come up."

Charles pours himself a glass of wine and avoids Avery's gaze. Bryan did send him a message, but Charles was responsible for arranging the 'unexpected plans.'

"Hmm, unexpected indeed," Avery says doubtfully.

She looks across the table at Charles. Charles is dressed formally in a crisp suit, and Avery thinks he looks nice without his white lab coat.

"Do you feel uncomfortable having lunch with me alone?" Charles asks with sudden concern.

"I didn't think about that," Avery says, swirling the wine in her glass.

Charles raises his glass and toasts her, "Well, to your first day managing Zuri Hotel!"

"It might also be my last day," Avery says frowning.

Charles seems unsurprised by her pessimism. Carefully he pulls a business card from his pocket and slides it across the table to her.

"This company is controlled by a multinational listed enterprise. It has holdings in a number of industries, including hospitality. I believe they might be interested in acquiring the Zuri Hotel," Charles says, "If you're interested, you don't even need to negotiate with them. I'll make a deal for you."

Avery looks at the black and gold edged business card. She runs her finger over the edge and notes the rich texture of the paper and the smoothness of the embossed letters. She nods slightly. 

"I trust your ability completely," she says.

Charles becomes solemn.

"Are you sure you want to leave him?" he asks.

She hesitates. His question echoes in her head.

"Do I really have to leave him?" she thinks.

Suddenly, she recalls her wedding night: Evan called a dozen bodyguards to insult her and threaten her. She recalls the dark closet, whippings, and every other humiliation she's suffered in the Howel household. Her eyes gradually darken and her expression became determined.

"Yes, I have to leave," she thinks.

She lowers her voice and whispers across the table to Charles, "Evan has some sort of an agreement with his grandfather. If I don't get pregnant within the next six months, his grandfather will intervene and force us to get divorced. I just need half a year."

She knows she has to hide for the next six months. Evan has become quite insistent about getting her pregnant, and she's scared she won't be able to resist him. Ever since the hospital, she's been forming an escape plan in the back of her mind. She knows this is her best chance to escape as Evan has allowed her a great deal of freedom running the Zuri Hotel; even his bodyguards have become somewhat scarce.

Before she disappears she has to transfer her nanny to a new hospital and rent a secure and private house to live in. She'll need a huge sum of money to accomplish it all. If she takes the money directly from the Howel family or uses her credit card, Evan will be able to trace her. Her best option is to sell the Zuri Hotel.

There is a sly gleam in Charles' eyes. He knows that she needs the money but she's too proud to take it from him. Selling the Zuri Hotel for her will allow him to help her escape from Evan.

Avery nods. The hotel was a gift from Evan and she doesn't want it to remind her of him. More importantly, she doesn't want to have any contact with Evan after the divorce; disposing of the hotel now will eliminate any complicated legal proceedings that might bring them together.

"I'll help you. I just need a week," Charles says.

"I'll need to transfer Nanny, too," Avery says,

Avery knows that Evan will use her beloved nanny to threaten her if she doesn't hide her away from him.

"Leave it all to me," Charles says.

Avery smiles, her eyes suddenly filled with hope.

"To our future plans," she toasts.

The harmonious atmosphere is suddenly interrupted, and the hope dies in Avery's eyes. A tall, dignified figure is standing in the doorway, watching them. Avery places her glass on the table without taking a sip.

Evan stalks across the room to the table. Robert scurries behind him and pulls out the third chair at the table.

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"Evan?" Avery asks, frowning slightly, "What are you doing here?"

"I have a reservation," Evan says casually.

"A reservation?"

The waiter turns to Avery, "It's true, Mrs. Howel. Mr. Howel reserved this table."

"So why did you lead us to this table?" Avery asks, frustrated.

"When Mr. Howel made the reservation he said he was having lunch with you," the waiter says, flustered, "I assumed you knew. I apologize if I've made a mistake."

The waiter is embarrassed. He had no idea that Mrs. Howel would bring another man to lunch. Avery scowls at both the waiter and Evan.

"When did I agree to have lunch with you?" Avery asks her husband.

"It's not too late to agree now," Evan replies.

Evan possessively rests his arm on the back of Avery's chair. Then he glances at the bouquet on the table and makes eye contact with Robert. Robert immediately grabs the roses and deposits them in a trash can.

"My apologies Dr. Meyer, but my boss is allergic to pollen," Robert says.

Avery scoffs.

"Since when has he been allergic to pollen?" she thinks, "His so-called allergies certainly didn't prevent him from having flowers on our table yesterday."

Avery slams her wineglass onto the table and stands up, "Charles, it appears that Mr. Howel has reserved this table. Let's go to another one. Mr. Howel, enjoy your lunch."

Charles immediately stands up and nods politely at Evan.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Howel. I hope we can have lunch with you another time," he says.

"Sorry Mrs. Howel, but Mr. Howel has actually observed all of the tables," the waiter says.

"Ahh, well watching him flaunting his wealth like that has taken away my appetite," Avery says sourly, "Come on Charles, let's go."

"Wait a minute," Evan says, "Dr. Meyer is our guest. I could never allow a guest of mine to leave hungry. Could you?"

Evan twirls a lighter in his hands, and then he raps on the surface of the table twice.

"If I recall correctly, Dr. Meyer really likes spaghetti," Evan continues, "I've heard this restaurant makes an especially good spaghetti dish. Please do me the honor of joining me, Dr. Meyer."

Though Evan speaks politely, his tone makes it clear that Charles shouldn't refuse his invitation. Charles shrugs and sits down.

"It'd be a pleasure," Charles says, "It's so thoughtful of you to remember my favorite dish."

Robert secretly observes Charles—many men would cower in front of Evan, but Charles remains cool and poised. Though Charles appears to be modest and gentle, Robert sees that he has a great deal of forbearance and tenacity. He's like a porcupine who hides his spines; he seems harmless enough, but when he decides to attack, the blow will be deadly. 

Avery follows Charles' lead and sits down as well. Evan is so terribly jealous that she's scared to leave Charles alone with him. She worries he might do something awful to Charles if she's not there to stop him.

Avery crosses her arms over her chest and leaned back in her chair, trapping Evan's arm between her back and the back of the chair. Evan ignores her and remains calm, pretending to play the benevolent host. He smiles slightly and turns to Charles.

"Dr. Meyer, if someone was scratched or bitten by a dog, would it be effective to burn the dog's hair and apply it to the wound?" he asks with amusement.

Avery's back stiffens. How does he know about that?

Charles also leans backward, "No, that's just an old folk treatment. It has no scientific basis whatsoever. If someone is attacked by a dog, they must get a rabies vaccination."

Evan's smile widens, "Ahh, a stupid woman I know used that folk treatment method."

Evan's fingers trace tantalizing circles on Avery's back. Avery leans forward to escape his touch.

"Why hasn't the food been served yet?" Avery asks, "A stupid man I know must be hungry after spending an entire night alone with his dog."

"Oh, did you miss me last night?" Evan smirks, "Are you jealous?"

"Don't flatter yourself," Avery says.

Charles feels his chest tighten as he watches them. Though they bicker, they don't seem like a couple on the verge of divorce. Instead, they look more like quarrelsome lovers, teasing each other. What's more, Evan's possessiveness is truly concerning—Charles can sense that it goes quite deep.

Though Avery claims that she has no affection for Evan, Charles can see that there is some ambiguous but powerful feeling between them. The very air around them is charged with it. Charles knows that a man like Evan can get everything he wants. No woman in the world—not even Avery—can withstand him. He watches Evan stroke her back, and his stomach turns as he imagines all the ways a man like Evan can excite the affections of a woman like Avery.

"I won't wait any longer," he vows silently, "I have to get Avery away from him as quickly as possible."

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