After struggling for a while, Avery gave up and kept her eyes shut.She could make out Elliot's voice, but who was the woman talking to him?It was an unfamiliar voice… It kept referring to him as "Big Brother".Was Elliot flirting with that woman?Ha!She was fast asleep, and he was flirting with another woman by her bed.How shameless!If she could get up right now, she would definitely kick the two of them out of her room!Half asleep, Avery was so angry that her heart ached.Soon, she drifted off into sleep again. Elliot took Shea's hand and took her back to rest.Once Shea was asleep, Elliot returned to his room.Avery turned in bed, still deep in slumber.Elliot walked into the bathroom and took a shower...When Zoe heard that Elliot had brought Avery home, so that Avery might rest, she saw red. Who exactly was his girlfriend now?She knew that the only reason Elliot agreed to date her was so that she would treat Shea's illness.Even so, he should keep up app
Hayden looked stern as he said, "Grandma won't let us go look for Mommy if we told her about it."Layla puffed her cheeks and looked a little torn as she said, "Okay… Let's just go find Mommy, then! What if Dirtbag Dad's picking on her?"Hayden pursed his lips, then came to a decision after a quick deliberation."I'll go alone. You wait at home. Come up with an excuse if Grandma comes back," he said, then left the house.As Layla watched the room door close behind Hayden, she blinked a couple of times. Two streams of tears rolled down her cheeks.How could she allow Hayden to go after Dirtbag Dad by himself?What if he got caught?She could not lose her big brother!At that thought, Layla ran over to Mike's room in tears.She opened the door, rushed to the disheveled bed, and yanked on Mike's arm, wailing, "Wake up, Uncle Mike! Hayden's gone! He left the house alone… He didn't take me with him…"Over at Elliot's mansion, a servant walked out of the kitchen and wondered, "Why'
Elliot felt a strong sense of deja vu every time he caught a glimpse of Hayden's face.It was as if he had traveled back in time and was looking at his younger self!Hayden shot a glare at Elliot, then averted his gaze."Did you really cause the power outage, Hayden?" Mrs. Cooper asked in a panic. "How did you do it? Is this your laptop? Do you know how to use it at your age?"Hayden pursed his lips, then quietly placed his laptop back into his backpack.He took his bag, walked over to the stairs, and sat down at the bottom step, waiting for Avery to come. Mrs. Cooper glanced at Elliot to see his livid expression and the raging fury in his eyes.If Hayden were not a child, he would not be sitting there as safely and soundly as he was now. About half an hour later, a bodyguard walked in and reported, "Sir, there's a suspicious foreigner who keeps looking in our direction. Should I bring him in for questioning?"Mike's face popped into Elliot's mind.He walked to the front ya
Layla had planned to go to the first floor to search for her mother, but suddenly, she heard the sound of footsteps coming from the kitchen. She was so terrified that did not dare breathe. She ran straight up the stairs.Forced to run up to the second floor, Layla leaned against the wall and caught her breath.At that moment, the footsteps grew closer!Someone was coming up the stairs!Layla panicked and quickly found a place to hide.Soon after, Mrs. Cooper appeared on the second floor and made her way to the master bedroom to see Avery.She was worried about the match between Elliot and Mike.Even though Elliot had recovered from the car crash years ago, the doctor had instructed him to avoid strenuous activities.Mrs. Cooper did not want to see Mike punch him, so she came to see Avery. She opened the door, then walked over to the bed.Mrs. Cooper glanced at Avery's sleeping face, and no matter how bad she felt about waking her, she had no choice but to do so because Ave
Could there be another child in the house?!Elliot took in a sharp breath!He walked out of the room and saw Layla trembling at the top of the stairs with tears in her eyes.It was Avery's daughter!How ridiculous!When did she get in here?How had he been unaware of her?Could the mansion's most advanced security system be useless against them?Elliot suddenly remembered how they had only managed to get the mansion's network back up and running two hours ago.Layla was carrying a backpack in the shape of a bunny.She held a bunny doll in one hand while her other hand gripped the banister. She sobbed as she carefully made her way down the stairs. She did not notice Elliot following her.The servants gathered at the bottom of the stairs and stared at the little girl, who had appeared out of thin air, in shock."Mommy… My Mommy's gone… I'm crying so loud… but she's not coming for me… Ahhh!"Layla's cries were continuous. They almost resembled the rhythmic sound of a train
"Why are you shouting at me?! Of course, Mommy taught me to knock before going into someone's house, but she never said anything about knocking before entering a dirtbag's house!" Layla yelled in a voice louder than Elliot's as she glared at him with her brilliant eyes.It was as if she was competing with him to see whose voice was louder and more powerful.Elliot gritted his teeth.Dirtbag?Who had taught her to say that?"I didn't want to come here anyway! I'm leaving right now!" Layla huffed angrily, then jumped off the couch and walked toward the front door with her doll in her arms.At the hospital, after going through a series of routine tests, Avery asked Mike for his phone so she could call Laura.Her phone was dead, and she needed to let her mother know she was safe.Mike pulled out his phone and handed it to her.Laura answered the call soon after it began ringing."It's Avery, Mom," Avery said with a smile. "I'm fine. I was too tired yesterday and fell asleep. You
Avery arrived at Elliot's mansion half an hour later.She headed straight into the living room but found no one.She was stunned."Layla!" she called out.Soon after, she heard the sound of Layla's delicate voice."Mommy! I'm over here! Come save me! The dirtbag wants to hit me!"Avery followed the sound of her daughter's voice into the dining room.Layla was hiding under the dining table, looking afraid. She had not dropped her guard till Avery had appeared."Layla! What are you doing under the table? Get out here!" Avery said as she walked over to the table and pulled her daughter from under it.Layla threw herself into her mother's arms and began crying. "He's trying to hit me! I was so scared— That's why I tried to hide! I ran away quickly so he didn't catch me— If he caught me, then he would have beaten me to death!"Of course, Avery did not believe a word Layla was saying.Why would Elliot raise his hand to a child?It was not like he knew that Layla was her biologi
"What have you been so busy with?" Elliot asked as he looked at Avery emotionally.Avery finished tending to his wound, then turned and packed the first aid kit."I've been busy with work," she answered casually."You're lying. If it's work, then why aren't you going to the office?"Elliot sat up straight, then grabbed onto Avery's arm and continued, "You've been behaving weirdly recently. I can't read you at all.""What's there to read?" Avery said. "Listen, Elliot. I'm thankful that you saved me last night and I can buy you dinner… Or I could give you a medal."Elliot was taken by surprise, and he released Avery's arm and said, "I didn't save you for your thanks. Take your daughter and go! Also, that bratty son of yours messed with my home's power and the internet today. If you won't discipline him, then don't mind if I do so myself!""I'm sorry," Avery apologized awkwardly. "I'll teach him a lesson when I get back. I promise this won't happen again."Avery put the first aid