The call soon connected. Elliot's low and mesmerizing voice came through. "Layla?""It's me," Avery said awkwardly, "Why did you transfer money to me?"Elliot said, "Those are for the children."Avery was even more awkward. "If you want to give them money, can't you give them in person? Why do you have to send it to me?"Elliot explained, "Did you not see the message Layla sent to me? She sent me a voice message greeting with your phone."Avery was speechless. She wanted to dig a hole for herself and hide in it. She only saw the transfers. She did not scroll up.She tapped open their chat and scrolled up. She saw that she sent a voice message over. It must have been Layla.Avery took a deep breath. She was feeling so awkward she was blushing. She did not know what to do."Mommy!" Right at that moment, Layla ran into her room. Seeing Avery holding her phone, Layla immediately covered her mouth with her hand.Avery looked at her and passed her the phone. "Your father."After
"Then, forget about it! It's so cold at night!" Layla gave up on that idea. "Let's just see Daddy's fireworks!""Hmm! Go ahead!" Avery moved away from the camera. After she left, the light in Elliot's eyes vanished too.…Avery came out of her room and found Mike. "Mike, call Tammy!""I've already done it," Mike said with an expression that says he understood her. "I got Big H to call her. She said she would come over soon."Avery said, "Thank goodness for you.""Hahaha! Tammy might be angry with you, but could she be angry with the children?" Mike measured Avery up in her new dress. "All of you are wearing red except me. Am I not family?""Don't you hate the color red?" Avery retorted, "It's because I treat you like family, so I remembered your likes and dislikes."Mike was speechless.A while later, Tammy arrived. She came alone."Where's Aunt Mary?" Avery pretended as if the fight never happened. She asked calmly, "Didn't you say you're bringing your boyfriend? I even prep
In Bridgedale, after Mike and Tammy had a few rounds of alcohol, they started to vent to each other.Tammy said that she was in a lot of pain. She knew that there was no hope with Jun, yet she still could not forget him.Thus, Mike spread his hair apart to show her his scar. "I almost died previously. Right when my injuries were the most serious, my boyfriend dumped me. I think I'm worse off than you. After all, you're not the one that got dumped.""Okay, you're much worse than me. Not only was I not dumped, but I also did not almost die from sickness." Tammy raised her glass to him. "How did you come out of it?"Mike took a sip of wine. "I can now say that I am not afraid of death, but when I was almost dying, I was actually quite afraid. Avery saved me from the brink of death. What I then thought was not that I had been dumped, but I was still alive. Do you understand the joy of returning from the brink of death? Hahaha!"Tammy nodded. "To be honest, although I'm in pain and I c
Avery was speechless.Elliot was already in such a drunken state, yet he said that he was not drunk."Happy New Year." Avery furrowed her brows. "Did you make a video call just for this?""No." Elliot's tone was firm. His thoughts were clear. "Where's Robert? Can I see him?"Avery did not expect that Elliot would request that."You finally thought about this child?" Avery took a jab. "You don't blame him anymore?"Elliot did not retort. He merely responded, "I have never forgotten him."He had tried so hard to protect this child with all his might once, how could he have forgotten about him?"How did you come to terms with the child?" Avery wanted to know his process of coming to terms."Even if I killed him, Shea would not come back to life." His tone was terrifyingly cold, but his eyes still had a shade of an intoxicated daze. "Rather than blaming the small and weak child, I should just blame myself.""What use is there blaming yourself? You didn't force Shea to do so," Ave
Elliot was afraid that once he saw Avery and the children, he would be too engrossed in the happiness that he would not be able to calmly face the darkness behind him.He did not want his terrible problems to affect her and the children.Avery looked at Elliot remaining silent. She could see the complicated gaze he had. She could not read his expressions.She thought that as long as she took the initiative to invite him and be the first one to admit defeat, he would accept it. However, why was he remaining silent?What was he thinking about?"It's fine if you're not free." Avery could not stand such endless silence and speculation, so she said, "Layla said that you were spending the New Year alone, so I…""Do you wish for me to come over?" Elliot interrupted her.If he rejected her, she would be sad. The thing that he did not want to see the most was her being sad.Avery blushed at his question. She had already openly invited him, yet he still wanted her to express her opinion
Since she was the one that invited Elliot over when he arrived, he would most likely stay with them. It was easier for him to spend time with the children that way too.Avery carried Robert to the hall. Mrs. Cooper immediately went forward to take Robert from Avery."Mommy, who called you just now?" Layla has finished her meal. She got down from her chair and went up to Avery."Your father," Avery said. She held Layla's hand and headed to the dining hall. "He has decided to come to spend the New Year with us."In the dining hall, everyone heard what Avery said."Avery, are you saying Elliot is coming?" Mike asked loudly."Hmm. He is going to board the plane soon.""Oh, then what about Chad? Is Chad with him?" Mike was not concerned for Elliot. He only cared about Chad.Avery said, "I didn't ask him about this. Why don't you call Chad and ask?"Mike replied, "Forget about it. I doubt he will come. He said that he is spending time with his parents during the holidays.""Hmm. Tr
Avery did not understand what Mike was trying to say. "What will happen to me when he comes?"Mike said, "What do you think? We don't have any extra rooms in our house. The room that you brought Tammy to is so small. Tammy might still be able to stay in it, how could Elliot take it?"Avery said, "If it's fine with Tammy, why can't he stay? If he thinks that the living conditions here are not great, he can book a five-star hotel outside."Mike raised his brows and looked at her.Avery turned sheepish. "What are you looking at me for! We'll see about it when he comes. Maybe he won't stay with us. Maybe he'll head to the hotel once he lands."Mike responded lightly, "Oh," before asking, "How long is he here for?""He didn't say. Is this important? He won't be here for the rest of his life.""I'm only casually asking, why are you so worked up?" Mike continued to measure her up with a meaningful gaze. "Why did he suddenly decide to come over? Why did he not come yesterday! Don't tell
At five minutes past midnight, Elliot landed at the airport in Bridgedale. Mike was at the airport to pick him up. It was not Avery that told him to pick Elliot up, but Chad called him to make sure he picked Elliot up at the airport.As for where to send Elliot to after picking him up, Chad said that he was to send Elliot back to Avery's house, to let Avery arrange the next part, so after Mike picked Elliot up, he sent him back home.At that moment, the bodyguard, servants, and the children have gone to bed. However, Avery was waiting in the living area.When Mike saw her, he yawned. "I've picked him up, I don't think there is anything I need to do anymore, right?"Avery ignored him.Elliot was looking at Avery closely. There was no one else in his view. Mike felt as if he was nothing at that moment. He felt awkward and aggrieved at the same time. He said, "So, I'll go back to my room?"Still, no one responded to him. He slipped back to his room and planned to complain about