Chapter 3

The visitor wore a custom-made red gown, with long silver-white hair and deep blue eyes. Despite her petite frame, she radiated an unmistakable air of nobility.

The moment Jack saw the girl, his expression froze.

He never expected to run into her here.

He and this girl had once shared an unforgettable experience, but now he just wanted to live an ordinary life and leave the past completely behind.

"Mr. Caldwell, don't you remember me?"

Jack snapped back to reality and spoke with a somewhat cold tone: "Long time no see."

Seeing the girl's extraordinary bearing, Annie asked: "Jack, who is this lady?"

The girl was about to reveal her identity, but Jack cut her off: "This lady is my former employer. I haven't seen her in a long time."

Avery stared at him wide-eyed, puzzled as to why Jack wouldn't be honest about his identity.

But years of understanding made her play along.

"Yes, I'm his former employer."

Jack then introduced to Avery: "This is Ms. Simmons, my current employer."

Avery warmly extended her right hand: "Hello, Ms. Simmons."

Annie shook Avery's hand and replied: "Hello!"

Jack asked again: "What brings you to Philadelphia?"

Avery smiled mischievously: "What if I said I came here to find you? Would you believe me?"

Hearing this, Jack fell silent. He didn't know how to respond. Of course he believed her—in fact, he was certain Avery had come specifically to find him.

Seeing his silence, Avery changed the subject: "Just kidding. I'm here to handle some business for my family."

What kind of business in a small place like Philadelphia would require Avery from the Ellis family to handle personally?

The lie was too obvious.

But Jack didn't press further. After all, Annie was still there, and there were some secrets Jack didn't plan to tell her.

After all these years, Avery had so much she wanted to say to Jack, but with a third person present, and since Jack clearly didn't want to reveal his identity, she naturally had to help him keep it hidden. This left her wanting to say something but holding back.

Annie noticed the subtle expressions between the two, both looking like they wanted to speak but hesitating. She tactfully excused herself, saying she had important company matters to handle, and left.

Only after Annie's figure completely disappeared from their view did Avery slowly speak.

"Why are you hiding your identity? Is this some mission I don't know about?"

She wanted to ask why Jack had left in the first place.

Many major events had happened during the years he was gone, and many people had been looking for him. But the federal government had hidden all his records, and those who spent fortunes investigating came up empty-handed.

Avery remembered Jack once mentioning that the place he most wanted to go was called Philadelphia—where it all began.

So she came to Philadelphia. She just didn't expect to run into Jack on her very first day after landing. What a coincidence.

If those important people knew she had found Jack so easily, they'd probably lose their minds.

Jack didn't want to explain: "Some things you shouldn't ask about."

Avery immediately shut up, not daring to ask further. But at the same time, she didn't want to part with Jack so soon.

So she tried asking again: "Well then, would you mind having a meal with me? Just to celebrate our reunion?"

Jack didn't want to get too involved with her, but suddenly thinking of Annie's situation, he nodded in agreement: "Actually, there's something I need your help with."

"Whatever you need, just say it. You don't have to be so formal with me," Avery walked toward her sports car parked nearby. "So, shall we go somewhere else to talk?"

Jack nodded and followed.

The sports car sped along and soon arrived at a luxuriously decorated hotel.

As soon as they got out of the car, Avery's phone rang. She didn't even look at it and hung up directly. Just as she was about to say something, the ringtone rang out again abruptly.

Jack didn't want to make things difficult for her: "You should handle that first."

Avery looked apologetic: "I'm really sorry. Please wait in the lobby for a moment. I'll take care of this and be right back."

With that, she answered the phone and hurried away.

Jack was about to go in and wait when he was suddenly stopped by a doorman.

An arm blocked Jack's chest. "Stop right there."

Jack stopped and asked, puzzled: "What's wrong?"

The doorman looked him up and down. Seeing that he wasn't wearing a single name brand, his eyes filled with disgust. "Where did this broke loser come from? Are you blind? Can't you see what kind of place this is? This isn't somewhere a homeless bum like you can enter. Get lost!"

Jack's brow furrowed slightly, but his tone remained calm: "Do you need to check someone's status just to have a meal these days?"

"Have a meal?" The doorman acted like he'd heard the funniest joke. "You? Someone like you probably came in to pick through leftovers."

"Do you know what kind of important people are in there? They could crush you with a flick of their finger!"

Jack didn't back down, just looked at him quietly.

The doorman thought he'd scared him and became even more smug, puffing out his chest: "I got word that Ms. Avery Ellis from the Ellis family is bringing an important guest today. You better get lost right now. That guest isn't someone you can afford to offend!"

Jack said flatly: "How are you so sure that guest isn't me?"

The doorman froze for a second, then burst out laughing.

"You?" He wiped tears of laughter from his eyes. "Do you even know what you're saying? Impersonating Ms. Ellis's guest? Are you tired of living?"

His smile slowly faded, and his expression changed from mockery to offended anger. This poor kid not only wasn't scared, but dared to talk back?

The doorman was completely enraged: "I tried being nice, but you wouldn't listen. Now you're forcing me to get rough?"

He took another step forward, poking Jack's chest: "I'll ask you one last time—are you leaving or not?"

Jack looked down at the finger poking his chest, then slowly raised his eyes.

"Move it."

It was just a simple response, but for some reason, when the doorman met his gaze, he involuntarily shuddered.

Why would this homeless guy have such a powerful presence?

He felt a bit scared, but then that fear was quickly covered by anger.

A broke loser daring to intimidate him?

"Fuck you!" The doorman raised his hand, about to slap Jack's face. "If I don't teach you a lesson, you won't know who's in charge here!"

Jack didn't move, just looked at him quietly. Just as the doorman's slap was about to land on his face, a sharp female voice suddenly rang out from behind: "Stop!"