The first thought in Jamie's mind was no. But Avery said before he could, "Don't say no in a hurry. B Country is a large state. They might not run into each other..."

If they left Jessica here, not only would her mother and sister make life difficult for her, Mamai's family might also give her a hard time. They let her off the hook this time. But would they regret later?

If Jessica stayed in B Country, they couldn't do anything since she was far away in a different country.

Avery asked the bodyguards to take Jessica upstairs. They weren't blocked. Mrs. Clifford was so mad that her nostrils moved. But she didn't do anything after seeing the number of bodyguards outside the house.

Jamie lowered his head and didn't say anything. If there was a better choice, he would be sure he would say no. But Jessica had depression and had to stay with the spiteful mother and sister. She would get worse.

Avery said, "You should think about it." She let Jamie make a choice for Jessica. Then she gave Mrs. Clifford a meaningful look. It was a warning look. Mrs. Clifford couldn't help trembling. But she still glared back at Avery.

Their looks met in the air. Avery smiled, "Mrs. Clifford, I have to trouble you to take care of Jessica. I'm sorry to intrude so late at night."

The polite remarks were warnings too. If they dared to touch one finger of Jessica, she would not let them off the hook.

"Get lost! We don't welcome you!"

Mrs. Clifford said firmly. But she wasn't as confident as before.

"Mrs. Clifford, watch your language. Clifford's family isn't as it used to be. If you keep refusing to realize it, you will regret anything that should happen in the future."

Avery grabbed Charles. It had no point to reason with Mrs. Clifford and her type. They wouldn't listen anyway.

Avery waved at Mrs. Clifford, ignoring all the horrible things she said. She turned around and left with Charles.

Charles drove Avery to the building where Gabrielle stayed. She wasn't at home since she was out making a movie. So Avery stayed in her apartment temporarily. She would get back to B Country after everything was sorted out.

Charles called Avery's name and got out of the car.

Avery looked back with confusion. He was in front of her, "Take this. You might find it handy one day."

Avery looked down at a brown glass bottle. She was more confused, "What is it?"

"The special glue to take off human skin masks."

"You mean..."

Avery took it over with hesitation. She glimpsed and a bodyguard gave Charles something. Was this it?

"If you meet someone you feel puzzled, give it a try... when you apply the glue to the face, the corner of the human skin mask will stick up. It won't take seconds."

Avery held the glue tight. Should she give it a try to George?

Avery didn't say anything. She refused to believe George Lautner was Evan. But she couldn't help connecting the dots with so many coincidences and facts.

Charles asked tentatively, "Is the man Evan Howel?"

Avery frowned, "How do you know?"

Charles answered, "Lucky guess. I know he went to B Country, not as Evan Howel."

Avery rebuked, "Are you investigating him?"

She had no idea why she felt so hostile.

Charles felt her hostility and said, "Avery, I've been waiting for you. It's not so much investigating him than caring for you."

Avery's look was calm. She felt something for a long time. But she was overwhelmed when Charles actually said the words.

"If Evan is out of the picture, can you give me a chance?"

Avery slowly looked up. She didn't know how to refuse him. She admitted she was careful with the answer. After all, Charles was almost the only one that could save her daughter's life.

But if she didn't say no, she would give Charles the delusion that she would date him one day.

As she was hesitating, Charles released her hand, "You can think about it. Take as long as you like. I'm not forcing you."

Avery stared at him with a serious look, "If I say no, would you refuse to save my daughter?"

"How do you want me to answer it?" Charles said after thinking for a while, "If I said yes, that's forcing you. But if I said no, that's forcing me."

Avery smiled bitterly. Why did they all come up when she was most helpless?

She had promised she would marry whoever found Vando first between George and Mr. Black... She brought it up casually because she knew how hard it was to find Vando. But it was messy. Avery didn't want Charles to get involved too.

Even if she didn't think Mr. Black meant it.

But she didn't want anybody else to get involved before she found out the truth about George. And she had no time or energy to think about anything else other than saving her daughter.

"You don't need to tell me now. Maybe I'm the one you go for at last."

The one at last?

Before Avery had time to figure out what Charles meant, he moved to give her a hug. It was a hug between friends. Charles was always like this. He stayed with her without making requests, taking his time.

He was confident.

Under Avery's watch, Charles got in the car. Soon, it disappeared in the night.

***

Charles went back to the hospital.

His office was the most secretive place in the hospital because he had a secret lab. Few knew about it.

After pushing one ornament on the desk towards an angle, the secret door leading to the lab was opened.

There were various equipment and devices. Charles went straight into the room down the end. There was a frozen cabinet. The lowest temperature could hit over one hundred below zero.

Charles opened the door. The cold white frog came out. One's vision was blurred because of it.

Inside it was a glass chest. A purple plant was frozen. The leaves were as wide and thick as kelp. The long leaves were warped in the pot.

One bodyguard came in, "Sir..."

Charles closed it fast. He turned around, "Are our guys ready?"

"Yes. We select the best of the best who have been trained to survive in the desert."

"Remember. The order is to kill anybody in the desert looking for Vando."

No matter what identity Evan assumed or whom he sent to look for Vando, he would not allow him to get it. In fact, he would not allow anybody to get it.

Even if they probably would not find it, he wasn't willing to take the risk.

Charles stroked the wound on his chest. He has been waiting for a long time to get back to Evan. It was time.

Only if Evan was gone, he, the guy with Vando, would be Avery's final choice.