Provocation


    I didn’t return to my ce for dinner with Ryan and my family that night. Instead, I stayed with As.


    After what he told me, I couldn’t leave him alone in his vast mansion on New Year’s Eve.


    He told me a lot about his happy times with his parents before he turned ten. However, he didn’t


    mention his life after losing them, and I didn’t dare to ask. I believed those were the scars he didn’t


    want to reopen.


    No wonder he loved being home so much, and he was so patient with Ava. I guessed he was


    emting


    his dad.


    While listening to his stories, I had a strange feeling that I had lost many happy memories. I only


    remembered things from my senior year of high school but had no memories of what happened before.


    I couldn’t recall much of my childhood or how my parents treated me. It was as if I had no friends. I


    even envied As for speaking of his past happiness and sorrow. Still, I wondered if I had chosen to


    forget


    certain things.


    I wanted to ask him about Annalise, but my words would always get stuck in my throat. As and I


    spent New Year’s Day snuggled together.


    Unbeknownst to me, a reception urred at the Pierce family’s mansion in Nocturnia that day.


    However, it ended in disarray due to As’s absence. As a result, it affected me, even though I was in


    Foswood.


    I returned to work when the holiday ended. Surprisingly, the first client to visit mypany was Ste.


    She smiled and cheerfully entered my office, saying, “Happy New Year, Chloe!”


    I was stunned but admired her acting skills and impableposure. It would be a waste of her


    skills if I didn’t engage her. “It’s been a while, Ms. Ste. You look like you had a lovely New Year. Did


    you


    celebrate in Nocturnia?”


    I smiled as I spoke.


    Ste casually sat on the sofa and said, “Oh, yes! The Pierce family has many traditions and events


    during the New Year, so I had to return, especially this year. I was in a hurry when I left and didn’t have


    time to say goodbye to you. No matter where As and I are, we must return to visit our parents


    yearly.”


    “Oh, your biological parents are also in Nocturnia?” I asked deliberately.


    Ste looked at me in surprise, “You didn’t know?”


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    “What?” I feigned curiosity.


    My dad used to be the assistant to As’s parents. My dad and As’s parentsst went on a business


    ne crash. W


    The family buried them close to each other, so As and I return to pay our respects yearly,” Ste


    spoke of these events without a hint of sorrow, “Later, my mom was heartbroken and fell severely ill.


    She passed away in less than half a year, and then Mrs. Celine adopted me.


    “As and I share a simr fate, and it all started with the Pierce family. That’s why they take good care


    of me, especially As. He once swore at my parents‘ grave that he would never upset me.”


    “Oh! I listened with great interest but felt bitter inside. It seemed As had always protected her. I said


    casually, “No wonder Mr. As’s birthday is so important to you.”


    “Haha! Yes, how could I forget? That’s the anniversary of our parents‘ deaths and the day As


    despises the most,” Sheughed wickedly, with a cunning look.


    Then she stared at me meaningfully and said, “I always prepare gifts for him and find a suitable time to


    give them to him. It’s a way to celebrate his birthday without touching on his parents‘ deaths.”


    Ste made perfect sense. She had shifted all the me to me, causing As’s outburst. I was


    frustrated at myself for being too stupid not to realize it sooner.


    I hadn’t forgotten how As shouted at me that night, asking me who told me about his birthday and


    calling me stupid. It meant he knew Ste was behind it. Still, he hadn’t med her that night.


    Otherwise, Ste wouldn’t havee to refresh my memory from that night. It seemed she came to


    provoke me today.