Avery returned home earlier than usual that evening.Once Laura took Hayden home from school, she picked up Layla and went into the bedroom.Hayden already knew what was about to happen when he saw his grandmother carry his sister away."Give me your bag, Hayden," Avery said as she stretched a hand out to Hayden.Hayden passed his bag to his mother with both hands.Avery opened the bag and took out the laptop.She did not open the laptop, but said, "Uncle Mike told me everything. You've used the skills he taught you to do a lot of bad things. Did you know that was illegal, Hayden? Do you know what you would have to face if they caught you?"Hayden answered his mother without batting an eyelid, "I'm only four. Can they throw me in jail?"Avery was at a loss for words.Even if Elliot ruled over Aryadelle, he probably had no way of sending a four-year-old to prison.However, that was not the point.The point was that Hayden's values were beginning to get twisted."You won't be

Zoe had worn a strappy red dress to the hotel. She pushed open the door to Room V809.The darkness of the room took her by surprise, but she very quickly noticed the flickering of red candles inside.Red candles!Sitting by the candles was a decanter of red wine and some desserts, and on the chair next to the arrangement was a bouquet of red roses.Zoe was melting in the romantic atmosphere.Elliot was unexpectedly sentimental!Zoe was filled with anticipation for what was about to happen that night.As she picked the bouquet of roses, she became intoxicated by the strong floral fragrance.She placed the bouquet back on the chair, then pulled out her phone.It was almost ten o'clock, but why had Elliot not arrived?Was there traffic on the streets?When another fifteen minutes passed with no sign of Elliot, Zoe began to feel anxious.Was he not coming?He could not possibly have painstakingly decorated the room on a whim, right?Or perhaps, did he mistakenly send the text

Zoe's entire body went rigid as she felt her body instantly turn cold.Cole turned to face her, then ridiculed, "I didn't know you were that rough in bed, Dr. Sanford. I'm almost dried out down there…"Zoe finally took a good look at Cole's face.This was not their first meeting.Back when she had burned her hand, Cole was the one who had driven Rosalie over to visit her.Zoe had too much to drink the night before, and the room was lit up with nothing but a few candles, so she did not realize that this man was not Elliot!How could something like this happen?Elliot was the one who had invited her here last night!What was Cole doing here?!"How are you here? Why you?!"Zoe picked up her pillow and repeatedly smacked Cole's face with it. Cole covered his head and cried, "Dr. Sanford! Don't hit me! I don't know what's going on either! I got a text from Avery last night telling me to come to Room V809, so I came! Who knew that you'd hug me the moment I walked in… I tried to l

Hayden pretended not to hear Elliot and ignored him.Hayden's behavior shocked the teacher, who then quickly walked over and said, "Mr. Foster, may I ask why you need Hayden's bag?"These were two individuals that she could not afford to offend.However, after weighing the pros and cons, the teacher decided that the consequences of offending Elliot Foster were graver, and she picked up Hayden's bag from the desk. "Don't be scared, Hayden. Mr. Foster isn't a bad person. He's just worried about you," she said, then handed the bag over to Elliot and said, "He passed the security clearance when he arrived at school. There aren't any dangerous items in there.""I remember he had a laptop with him," Elliot said as he took the bag from the teacher.The bag was light, causing him to raise his brows.When Elliot opened the bag, he found only a change of clothes but no laptop in sight."Oh… Hayden does have a small laptop. He enjoys watching cartoons on it," said the teacher.Elliot pl

Shea nodded without hesitation.It was not like she had never gone to Hayden's house.She actually quite liked it there and wanted to go back again.Seeing his sister's stubborn face made Elliot experience a variety of emotions.Since Hayden had not brought his laptop to school, he was sure that Avery had taken it away from him.He could basically confirm that the lawless hacker was the cool little boy in the flat cap in front of him.Although Hayden was Avery's adopted son, Elliot wanted to teach him a lesson.However, Shea's behavior toward the boy left Elliot in a dilemma.Suddenly, a loud crash pierced through the air, followed by the ear-splitting sound of harsh cursing!The group glanced over to where the commotion came from and saw two people in the middle of a fight.When she faced with the violent scene in front of her, the color drained from Shea's face and terror flooded into her eyes."Ah! Ahhh!"She screamed at the top of her lungs as she covered her ears with

"What did she contact you for?" Avery asked."She said she needed an assistant and asked me to recommend one to her," Wesley said with an expression of irony on his face. Then he laughed and continued, "Guess what her requirements were for picking an assistant? She wanted someone who was Professor Hough's student and whose skills weren't worse off than hers… She might as well have just said that she wanted to find someone who could single-handedly take on Shea's case. As if someone who was better than her would agree to be her assistant! I don't know if she's shameless or just plain stupid."Avery also found the entire thing ironic."She obviously doesn't have the skills for the job, but she insists on sticking around. Elliot Foster isn't an idiot. He'll find the truth out sooner or later," Wesley said. "You're too soft-hearted, Avery. Not many people would treat their own rivals in love.""You wouldn't say that if you met Shea," Avery said with a bland smile."As long as you're n

Zoe was now using Elliot to climb the social ladder. Instead of being an accomplished doctor, she would much rather be at the top of high society.Moreover, she was aware of her own skills, and she knew that she would never reach Professor Hough's level of expertise.There was a limit to how far she could go if she remained in the medical field.Things would be different if she married Elliot.When the time came, she would be the envy of everyone around her.Not long after Elliot sat down in his study, he received a phone call from Ben."Hey, Elliot. How did things at the school go?" "He didn't bring his laptop today. I'm guessing Avery took it away from him.""It looks like it really was Avery's son! Isn't he only four years old? Is he a so-called child prodigy?" Ben said enthusiastically.Elliot did not respond."What do you plan on doing with the kid?" Ben asked.He found the entire thing especially entertaining.It would have been boring if the hacker turned out to b

It was dinner time at Starry River Villa."Avery, Wesley came by to see you this afternoon," Laura said with bright eyes. "He told me that he was going to settle down here in Aryadelle…"Avery figured out what her mother was thinking from the grin on her face."Mom, I know you're hoping I'll find someone to get married to soon, but please don't pull that face while we are in public. Otherwise, people would think I'm desperate for marriage!" Avery pleaded. "I'm still in my twenties. I'm still young! This is the time I should be focusing on my career. Once I'm successful, men will be lining up to marry me."The smile on Laura's face vanished."I'm not pestering you… I just really think that Wesley's a great man. He took care of you the whole time you were abroad! Don't you see how well he treats you?""Am I supposed to marry anyone who's good to me? In that case, Professor Hough was good to me, too!""Fine! Keep acting blind! Wesley really is a good man. You might never find someo

That afternoon, Ben showed Elliot a photo of Avery and Wesley together."Avery's new boyfriend."Elliot glanced at the picture, and his eyes darkened as he asked, "Isn't that Professor Hough's assistant?"He took Ben's phone from his hand and zoomed in."Do you know this man?" Ben asked as his interest rose. "Rumor has it that Avery took him around Tate Industries all afternoon. They were walking side by side, chatting and laughing with each other. They looked especially close to each other!"Elliot passed the phone back to Ben and said, "I know him.""Oh. I think they look pretty good together," Ben said deliberately when he saw Elliot's expressionless face. "One has a gentle aura, while the other is elegant—"Elliot looked up and shot a cold look at Ben."You never have anything nice to say, do you?""I'm innocent! It's just that, looking at the jewel you picked for Avery makes me think you still have some love for her," Ben teased. "You didn't want to give her a necklace, e

Zoe's words left Avery frozen in shock."If I'm right, the children are yours and Elliot's," Zoe said as her wicked laughter traveled through the phone.Avery could not help but feel a chill run through her body."Adoption papers are private and confidential!" she retorted as she clenched her fists tightly."Of course! Adoption papers wouldn't typically be disclosed, but my father isn't just your average Joe," Zoe said as she let out an arrogant, maniacal cackle. "My father's connections in Bridgedale confirmed that you lied! I heard Elliot hates children and had always been determined not to have them. I wonder what he'd do if he finds out that your children are his!""Zoe Sanford! You're going too far!" Avery snapped furiously."Am I the one going too far, or are you?! Elliot is my boyfriend now! You're his ex-wife! You're divorced! Why do you keep getting in between us?" Zoe shrieked in a much sharper voice than Avery."I'll keep your secret on the condition that you never me