"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.

If Layla had known about the contents in the box, she would not have gone through all the trouble to bring it home.However, it would be difficult for her to return it now without anyone finding out.She probably would never be able to go to her dirtbag dad's house ever again.Forget it! She would just keep the box hidden under the bed.It was nothing but a CD and a piece of paper, so it definitely was not anything important.By the time Hayden entered the bedroom after returning the laptop, Layla had already fallen into a deep slumber.In the other room, Avery was wide awake.Perhaps it was because she had overslept that day that she was now wide awake.When wide awake, one's mind would wander when one had nothing else to do.At this moment, for example, Avery's mind was obsessing over Elliot.Her head was filled with images of his handsome face, while every breath she took reminded her of his.She could even remember the touch and temperature of his skin.If he had not fo

Ten minutes later, Cole appeared in front of Zoe.He was dressed in his pajamas and a pair of sandals.His hair was disheveled because he had rushed over right after the phone call.He wanted to throw a fit!That phone call from Zoe baffled him.How could Zoe be so rude to him?He had not planned the events that had taken place at the hotel. He was a victim, too!However, when he saw Zoe's eyes red with tears, the rage inside of him instantly vanished."What's wrong, Dr. Sanford?" Cole asked, then cleared his throat and said, "My uncle didn't dump you, did he?"Zoe laughed bitterly as she grabbed onto the tree that was next to her and got to her feet. "I'm pregnant, Cole Foster!" she hissed through gritted teeth as her mouth filled with the strong taste of blood. "You're the father!"The corners of Cole's lips twitched."No way… We only did it once…" he said in disbelief.Before he could cry out, Zoe picked up her bag and violently attacked him with it."You b*st*rd! You

Elliot took out a couple of pieces of candy from his pocket and placed them in Shea's hand.Shea finally let go of Elliot's hand when she saw the candy.After watching Shea enter the treatment center, Elliot's heart filled with unease.This was the first time he had taken her to see a psychiatrist.Moreover, she was with one of the country's leading psychologists. He wondered if Shea would be able to overcome her mental and emotional obstacles.The doors to the treatment center opened about half an hour later.Shea hurried out and ran straight into Elliot's embrace.Her emotions were relatively stable.She was not crying, but she was just a little scared and nervous.Elliot wrapped his arms around Shea and patted her back."It's alright, Shea. I've been waiting here the entire time."The doctor offered Elliot a seat on the couch next to them."Mr. Foster, I took a look at the information you sent over last night. From my interaction with Shea just now, I don't think she's

"Let's have lunch together," Elliot said. He was inviting Avery to lunch. Avery met his eyes and asked, "Have you been waiting out here this entire time?"In silent acquiescence, Elliot nodded lightly.If he had not been waiting for her, he would have left a long time ago. Avery looked up at the sun.It was early fall, so it was not as hot out, but the afternoon sun was still rather hot."Where's Shea?" she asked.Elliot shot a look over to the parking lot, then said, "She's in the car.""I see… You two go ahead! My mom cooked, so we're going home for lunch," Avery said, declining his offer without hesitation.She could not figure out what Elliot was thinking by asking her to eat at the same table as Shea.Did he not feel shame?Even if he wanted to two-time—No, three-time anyone, there was no need for him to be this obvious about it!"I made a reservation at that restaurant over there," Elliot said as if he was unfazed by Avery's rejection. "I need to send Shea to school