Buried in the Avalanche Our Love Expired novel Chapter 5

Chapter 5 Airport Encounter

It was sent yesterday.
Nella thought about it and realized she must have already been on the plane with her phone off.
She hadn’t expected Alfred to reach out first.
After all, over the past two years, aside from necessary notifications, Alfred had never initiated contact with her.
Even when she occasionally tried to close the distance between them by sharing bits of her daily life, he’d either leave her messages on read or not read them at all.
Nella stared at the message for a long time. She’d initially planned to ignore it, but remembering they only had two months left until their three-year arrangement ended, she replied.
“The northern lights were beautiful. Got so caught up watching them, I forgot to take photos.”
She knew Alfred wouldn’t reply. After sending the message, she was about to put her phone in her bag when Alfred unexpectedly replied instantly.
“Zoey had a depression episode and almost killed herself. As her sister-in-law, you haven’t even sent a word of concern after all these days. That’s pretty inappropriate.”
Every word dripped with accusation. Even through the screen, Nella could imagine exactly what expression Alfred wore right now.
She thought for a moment and replied.
“Sorry.”
No excuses or explanations. After sending those two words, she put her phone in her bag and pulled her suitcase out of the airport.
…
Meanwhile, at another terminal gate, Alfred stared at Nella’s reply of “Sorry” with a dark expression, feeling no satisfaction whatsoever.
He’d waited for her all night, and all she sent back was that one line. No explanation at all. Her usual paragraphs of text had dwindled to just a few words after two weeks.
Alfred didn’t know what he was so angry about. In any case, he’d sent that string of accusations almost out of spite.
But after sending it, he regretted it.
After all, she didn’t know about Zoey’s depression episode. His accusation really had no basis.
Just as he was about to give them both an out, he decided to send a voice message instead.
“Forget it this time. When you get back, apologize to Zoey. She won’t hold it against you … ”
Before he could finish, the word “Sorry” abruptly popped up in the chat.
Alfred’s expression instantly turned cold. He jabbed the delete button, erasing the voice message he hadn’t sent.
“Alfred, Archie says he’s already outside the airport. Let’s go.”
Zoey grabbed Alfred’s arm and walked happily toward the airport exit.
…
Outside the airport, Nella stood at the pickup area with her suitcase, waiting for her ride, when she heard that familiar voice not far away.
“Alfred, hurry up. Archie and the others said they’re throwing us a welcome back party tonight.”
Nella’s body stiffened, and her hand on the suitcase handle unconsciously tightened.
Alfred and Zoey were returning today too?
What a coincidence.
She found it rather amusing, though she had no intention of going over to disturb them.
Their little world didn’t need her barging in like a third wheel and ruining the mood.
She looked down at her phone. The rideshare she’d ordered was almost there.
But just then, she heard Zoey call out in confusion. “Nella?”
Nella pretended not to hear and kept staring at her phone screen.
“Nella! Alfred, it’s your wife.”
“Nella, Nella!”
“Nella!”
Now that she was calling her repeatedly, pretending not to hear would be too obvious. Nella had no choice but to turn around helplessly.
She saw Zoey’s hand linked through Alfred’s arm, waving at her happily.
The next second, Zoey pulled the sullen-faced Alfred toward her.
Nella pressed her fingers to her temple helplessly. She really wanted to remind Zoey that her beloved Alfred clearly wasn’t happy and obviously didn’t want her there right now to ruin their time together. Couldn’t she tell?
“Nella, you just got back too?”
Zoey came up to Nella, her gaze sweeping over Nella’s suitcase.
Nella glanced at her and Alfred, then nodded. “Yeah, my leave’s over.”
She could feel those piercing eyes boring into her, sharp as knives, as if trying to cut right through her.
Was he blaming her for showing up here?
Well, sorry about that. She didn’t have the gift of foresight to know they’d be here too.
If she’d known, she definitely wouldn’t have appeared here to play third wheel.
Seeing Nella’s expression remain calm without a trace of anger or jealousy, Zoey’s heart skipped a beat.
Then her eyes shifted. She clutched Alfred’s arm and said to Nella with a guilty expression, “Nella, I’m so sorry. If I hadn’t had a depression episode and relied on Alfred so much, he wouldn’t have left you to come with me. I’m so useless. I ruined your trip. I’m truly sorry.”
As soon as she finished speaking, her eyes reddened, as if Nella’s refusal to forgive her would drive her to something drastic.
Though Nella wasn’t skilled at playing mind games or pulling the innocent act, that didn’t mean she couldn’t see the blatant provocation hidden in Zoey’s simple words.
But even so, she couldn’t be bothered to take the bait. She just smiled faintly and said, “It’s fine. I don’t blame you. When someone’s life is at stake, I understand.”
Clearly, this magnanimous reaction wasn’t what Zoey wanted. She stared at Nella’s smiling eyes, seemingly trying to find some trace of displeasure or resentment.
However, Nella maintained that calm, gentle demeanor everyone was used to seeing.
Zoey bit her lower lip, still unwilling to give up.
“Nella, I know you blame me and you’re mad at Alfred. Otherwise, why haven’t you contacted him after all this time? It’s all my fault. Nella, go ahead and yell at me. Just don’t be mad at Alfred, okay?”
Nella fell silent.
Even with her usual good temper, she couldn’t help but want to curse right now.
She’d been so tactful and gracious, yet Zoey insisted on making her cause a scene?
She glanced at Alfred and saw him maintaining that dark expression, clearly unhappy. She gave up on any thought of explaining.
She sighed and looked at Zoey. “Ms. Mack, I’m really not mad at you, and I’m not mad at Alfred either. I truly understand.”
Under Zoey’s disappointed gaze at her failed attempt to stir up trouble, she said, “The reason I didn’t contact Alfred was because I was too busy enjoying the scenery. I just forgot.”
“Ha.”
A cold, mocking laugh came from beside her. Nella’s lips stiffened, but in the end, she said nothing.
“Hey! Alfred, Zoey!”
Just then, an eye-catching Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe appeared in their line of sight.
The car’s appearance and brand were enough to turn heads.