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
Hayden watched his sister's innocent little face, then shattered her fantasy."A dirtbag is called a dirtbag because he can love multiple women at once. Don't be fooled by Elliot Foster."Layla felt a little disappointed.She did not dare tell her brother that, even though Elliot was a dirtbag, she could not help but feel drawn to him.…After dinner, Avery called Hayden to her room for a private conversation."Do you know what I want to talk to you about, Hayden?"Hayden hung his head and said nothing."What did you promise me? You said that you would never mess with Elliot Foster again, but you broke your promise," Avery said as her heart filled with unease. "I know you did it for me today, but this isn't the way—""I'm sorry, Mommy," Hayden apologized as he looked up. "I won't do it again.""Hayden, Elliot is not as nice as you think he is. We're already divorced. If you anger him again one day, and he decides not to take our past relationship into account, he won't let us
If Avery had an ounce of dignity left, she would end the call immediately.As expected, Avery suddenly became aware when she heard Zoe's voice."I'm sorry for interrupting your date. I'll accept the gift, but I won't give you anything in return. Please don't give me anything ever again."She hung up the phone before Elliot could respond.The sound of the call being terminated made Elliot feel as if his heart had been pierced. He felt a dull ache in his chest. "I heard that Avery locked herself in her car last night. Is she alright now?" Zoe asked."She's fine." Elliot was disinterested and did not want to discuss Avery. "You mentioned there was a doctor you wanted to recommend. Who is it?"Zoe pulled out a business card from her bag and handed it over to Elliot."I heard that this is Aryadelle's top psychiatrist. Her appointments are booked up until next year. I used my connections and managed to get you a slot for next Wednesday morning. You can take Shea to see her, then."
Hayden turned up the brightness of the bedside lamp.There was a CD and a piece of paper.Layla unfolded the piece of paper and stared at the words on it.After inspecting it a few times, she cluelessly handed it over to Hayden and said, "What does it say, Hayden? I don't know how to read this."Hayden glanced at the piece of paper, then said indifferently, "I can't read it either."After all, he too was in preschool.The words on the piece of paper looked to be in a foreign language. The reason for that was that the paper was written using professional jargon. "What's this, then?" Layla asked as she picked up the CD and inspected it.There were no pictures or words on it.Hayden also felt curious about the CD.However, there was no way for him to check its contents without his laptop."Don't we need to put this in a computer to see what's inside, Hayden?" Layla asked, then something hit her. "We could borrow Uncle Mike's laptop!"Hayden saw the spark in his sister's eyes.