Elliot glanced at the rearview mirror, his surprise evident as he caught sight of what his son held in his hand. They rarely carried any items with them when they went out, and certainly not such childish toys found in Daniel's grasp. Curiosity piqued, he took advantage of the traffic red light to turn his head and inquire, "Daniel, tell Daddy where you got those ducks from?"Daniel's eyes narrowed, his small pupils conveying a hint of unease. Clutching the little duck protectively, he remained silent, his lips pursed tightly. Elliot's mind drifted back to the encounter he had just had with a woman on the street—an encounter that seemed to have brought him unexpected luck.Daniel had received something from that mysterious woman.Elliot couldn't shake off the peculiar feeling he had whenever he thought about her. It was like a fleeting breeze that slipped through his fingers whenever he tried to grasp it, vanishing in an instant.Sophie, observing Elliot's frustration, grabbed hold of
After years of not seeing her, Susan's eyes were red with emotion as Avery scuttled over to her, shouting excitedly. The woman, although only in her forties, appeared much older due to the hardships she had faced in life. Avery flew into her arms, and Susan embraced her goddaughter tightly, tears streaming down her face. "Avery, is it because I'm about to die that you're finally willing to come and visit me?" Susan playfully complained.Avery wasn't fooled. She knew her initially strict mother had claimed there was an urgent matter, but she had a premonition that it was because Susan was aging and wanted to see her precious daughter one more time. Avery listened to her words, feeling a mix of heartache and guilt."I'm sorry, Mom. Many things have happened in the past few years, and I haven't been able to come back to see you. This time, you'll come with me to the city to live. I can see that your legs and feet aren't as good as they used to be, and I worry about you," Avery thought t
Avery's gaze remained fixed on the television as she read the advertisement silently. In two days, the Stone family would be hosting a contest at their manor. The winner would not only receive a substantial reward but also be offered a high-paying position as the nanny for the Stone family's young master. The qualifications and conditions for participating were listed on the back, emphasizing the requirement of proficient English and a qualification certificate as a psychologist. It was also emphasized that the young master had a difficult temperament and communication would be a challenge, implying that patience and tolerance were necessary qualities for applicants.As Avery absorbed the information, her fists clenched tightly, and she felt an overwhelming urge to scold Daniel's stepmother and Elliot, the person responsible for raising him. How severe was Daniel's temper that it had to be publicly acknowledged? A child should be nurtured and guided from the day they were born. Did El
Outside the door, Elliot stood in the corridor, surrounded by a pile of toys, his silence speaking volumes. He had always believed his son to be obedient and docile, but reality had proven otherwise. Ever since returning from the airport, Daniel had changed. He became quieter, lost his appetite, and refused to sleep through the night. Elliot couldn't understand what was causing this sudden change in his son's behavior.Frustrated and unable to vent his anger on a sick child, Elliot found himself blaming Avery. That woman, he thought bitterly. His subordinates had reported her falling into the river six years ago, but despite his efforts to search for her, he found no trace of her existence, dead or alive. He had long considered her dead and had even contemplated finding another woman to play the role of Daniel's mother. However, he couldn't bear the thought of his son being hurt, so he couldn't rush the process of finding a suitable stepmother.His mind was fixed on a particular perso
The competition had a specific rule: each contestant would team up with a child. Together, they would enter a maze-like dream castle, and the adults must come out of exit A within a limited time, while the children must exit through exit B. The team that completed the task first would win rewards and the opportunity to babysit the young master.As Avery looked at the scene layout, she frowned in disapproval. The maze resembled a prison cell, and she believed that even though Daniel was a boy, he still deserved an environment that reflected innocence. She disagreed with someone's aesthetic choice in designing the maze.Avery completed the written test at the office and then joined the line at the practice office. However, she soon realized that she didn't have a partner. She had forgotten that each contestant must line up with a small child at the entrance, and there were already numerous people waiting for the referee's order.As Avery joined the line alone, countless eyes fell upon h
Daniel blinked as he gazed at Avery. Earlier, he had been quietly observing the contestants in the arena and had no intention of approaching them. However, when he spotted the beautiful aunt he had met at the airport, he couldn't resist coming forward to watch.He hadn't meant to disrupt the proceedings, but he was pleasantly surprised when Avery recognized him. It felt good.With a hesitant nod, Daniel agreed to participate. Avery's hand remained on his shoulder as she noticed his thick coat despite the summer heat. She raised an eyebrow and expressed concern, "Baby, why are you wearing such a heavy coat in the summer? Aren't you feeling hot? Shall I help you take it off?"Daniel nodded in response and obediently extended his small hand to unzip the jacket, revealing a thick sweatshirt underneath. Avery frowned upon seeing this and swiftly removed his long sleeves, tossing them directly to Elliot, who was standing nearby. She believed there was no need to bundle him up like a rice du
As the crowd looked on, Avery emerged from Exit A, drenched in sweat. She didn't even spare a glance at the onlookers as she turned towards Exit B, hoping to see Daniel there as well.And just as Avery reached Exit B, Daniel appeared. His eyes searched the area, and when he turned around, his gaze met Avery's. Instantly, a delighted smile spread across Avery's face.She thought to herself, "As expected of my son. How could he only be stubborn and troublesome as his eccentricity was described in the advertisement? He is smart. Where did Elliot put his eyes?"Avery hurriedly trotted over to Daniel and enveloped him in her arms, praising him, "Daniel, you're so awesome!"The scene was warm and harmonious. Elliot, who stood not far away, raised an eyebrow, his surprise evident in his eyes. He narrowed his gaze and contemplated.It seemed he had underestimated Avery. She not only understood psychology but also managed to win his son's favor. And now, she had even broken the records in Mich
The next day...Avery arrived at Stone Manor early in the morning. But when she entered the door of the living room, she was suddenly blocked by a figure.The person was not tall, but her body was plump. And a strong fragrance pervaded Avery's nose from the person.At first, Avery thought that the servants of the Stone family had come to teach her the rules. But when she looked down, she was surprised to find that it was an old acquaintance. It was Lauren.Lauren was the youngest daughter of the Smith family—in fact, she was her father's illegitimate daughter. Many years back, Avery had no idea what means Lauren used to return to the Smith family.It was also due to her instigation, that Avery was expelled from the Smith family.According to the investigation her eldest brother did, since she was rescued six years ago, there had been one more woman in the Stone family. And that was Lauren.Not only was she able to come and go freely in the Stone manor. She was also allowed to approach