Aveline smiled and said, "You've changed a lot too. If you hadn't called out to me, I wouldn't have recognized you."

Aveline and Russell grew up together in the orphanage and were close friends as

kids. But as they got older, things changed and they drifted apart. After Aveline left for college, she lost touch with her old friends from the orphanage.

Zachary asked, "Are you back to see us?"

"Yes, I am." Aveline nodded.

Originally, she had wanted to take her time before going back, but it seemed that wasn't going to happen now.

Zachary's eyes lit up. "That's great! Aveline, Madam Hilda will be so happy to see you. She's been talking about you all these years."

Aveline smiled. "I'm going to buy a few things. Do you want to come with me?"

Sure," Zachary agreed.

During their conversation, Aveline learned that Zachary had just graduated and hadn't found a job yet. He had returned to Arthur Town hoping to find a stable job, which would also allow him to help out at the orphanage regularly.

Aveline listened with a gentle smile, though her eyes held a distant emotion.

After buying the supplies, they loaded them into her rented car, and Aveline said, Let's go back."

Zachary opened the car door and remarked, "You know, you've done the best out of all of us from the orphanage. You got out of Arthur Town and made it to a big city like Cloudflare. Where are you working now?"

"I'm currently not working," Aveline replied. She had resigned, so she was indeed jobless.

Zachary paused and then smiled. "No worries. There are plenty of jobs out there. You'll find the right one.'

"Yes," Aveline agreed.

Following the familiar route from her memory, Aveline drove back to the orphanage. It looked just as it had before: a three-story building surrounded by high walls, the

gate closed, with occasional sounds of laughter drifting out from inside.

Zachary went to open the gate, calling out to those inside, "Madam Hilda, look who's back!"

Amid the clamor of footsteps, an excited voice rang out, "Is it Juliet? I knew it had to be her. I always knew she'd come back to repay me after marrying a wealthy man!" However, when Hilda reached the gate and saw it wasn't Juliet, she froze.

"Who is it?" she asked.

Aveline opened the trunk and started unloading the supplies. "Madam Hilda, it's me, Aveline."

Hilda, with her graying hair, squinted at Aveline. The joy on her face vanished instantly, replaced by a cold tone. "Why are you back? Didn't you say you'd never return?" Zachary quickly tugged on Hilda's arm. "Madam Hilda, Aveline came back because she was thinking of you. Don't be like that. Let her in."

Hilda snorted but said nothing more, turning to walk back inside.

Feeling awkward, Zachary walked over to help with the supplies. "Aveline, you know how Madam Hilda's temper is. Don't take it to heart."

"I won't," Aveline replied with a smile, her clear eyes remaining indifferent.: owner of this content.

She had expected this reaction, which was why she hadn't rushed back. Pushing her thoughts aside, she followed Zachary into the orphanage. Hilda had already gone into a room.

Zachary led Aveline inside as well, smiling. "Madam Hilda, don't you think Aveline has changed a lot over the years? I almost didn't recognize her."

Sitting on a wooden stool, Hilda shot Aveline a cold glance. "How much money have you made these years? How much are you planning to give me? I've heard Cloudflare is a very wealthy city. You must have made millions. Give me six hundred thousand dollars, and we'll call it even for raising you!"