Hayden was in the mansion. He was done packing his bags, but he could not fall asleep. He sat on his chair, holding his backpack. He was waiting for the right moment to leave. Just when he thought that Elliot was not going to come for him, the door swung open. Elliot appeared before him."Have you packed?""I finished packing long ago." Hayden got down from the chair and walked over to Elliot. He studied Elliot. "Can we go now?""Hmm." Elliot hesitated for a while before saying, "You will leave for Aryadelle tonight." "Is Mommy not coming with me?" asked Hayden. "I've already spoken to Mommy, and she has agreed to return with me!" "She can't leave for the time being," sighed Elliot, coming clean. "You'll leave first. I'll find a way to get her back to Aryadelle once you're gone."Hayden saw how calm Elliot was, and he instantly understood what had happened. "Did I cause you trouble by killing Christopher?"Elliot shook his head. "If I were you, I would have done the same
Avery had lost her appetite, but she knew she had an uphill battle to fight. "Sandwich and milk.""Why are you always eating this?" the bodyguard teased."Then, just bring something up."After the call, Avery went to the bathroom to wash up. When the bodyguard brought her breakfast up, she had already changed her clothes. Jed had followed the bodyguard."Close the door," Avery said. Jed closed the door, and the three of them sat together, discussing the events of last night."I think this matter is quite serious. Why don't you two leave?" Avery said as she ate her breakfast. "I don't want to drag you two down."The bodyguard and Jed looked at each other. The bodyguard said, "If we're going to leave you— the patient— here alone, how can we call ourselves men?"Jed said, "Since I have decided to operate on you, I will when you leave."Avery was moved by their answer. "I just sent Elliot a message, but he hasn't replied yet. The sentiment is pointless. You should leave while t
Gary knew that Elliot's verbal agreement to give up everything and stay in Ylore would never be enough.Gary was not only selfish, but he was also very crafty. He knew that the only way to make Elliot his— besides making him his son-in-law— was to have him put down roots.It meant that Elliot would need to father the future generation. If Elliot had a child in Ylore, he would not think of going back to Aryadelle."We'll talk outside, after Christopher's funeral." Ted scanned his surroundings and said in a low voice, "Anyway, your son did what we all couldn't. Your son is going to have a bright future!""Christopher brought it on himself." Elliot put out his cigarette in the ashtray. "If Christopher had not harmed Avery, none of this would have happened." "Your son is amazing. My son is five years older than your son, but all he does is play video games all day long. It's causing me a headache. How did you raise such a fine son?"The topic had suddenly turned into an exchange of
Avery nodded."Avery, if you get the chance to leave— right now, will you take it?" Jed looked up to see a small bird flying freely in the sky.Avery followed his gaze, looking at the open skies, and said cautiously, "Back when everyone was telling me how dangerous of a place this was, I ignored them. But now, I have realized how right they are. This place really is dangerous. You could die here. I don't mind risking my life, but I can't risk the lives of others." She had been the one to ask her bodyguard and Jed to accompany her to Ylore. She had to take them with her when she left.If an opportunity arose, she would not hesitate to take it."You can't just simply risk your life either," Jed said. "We will find a way. We will surely leave this place.""Hmm."There were fewer people than average on the streets that day. Although it was sunny, an ominous cloak covered the city. "Do you think someone might be secretly following me?" said Avery, looking around.The bodyguard fo
Jed did not inform Avery of her pregnancy because he was afraid that she might want to keep the child. There was no way that Avery could keep the child, and she should not think of keeping the child. She had to wait nine months before she could give birth to the child, and that meant that she had to wait nine months till she could have her brain surgery. It was impossible to predict how bad the tumor would be in nine months. She might not even live past these nine months.Of course, if she was lucky, she might be able to give birth to the child and undergo brain surgery, but the chances of success would be extremely slim. He was afraid that Avery might risk it.In his opinion, there were only two possible outcomes if Avery insisted on having the child. The first was that her child survived and she died. The second was that they both died.So that she might live, he had decided that he was not going to tell her anything— no matter the outcome. For the past two days, he had
"Mommy, Layla is angry." Hayden changed the topic. "She thought that I would be returning with you, and now, she is upset with me because I didn't get you home. She is now ignoring me."Avery was heartbroken. "Let's call her!""She won't answer," Hayden said. "Then, I'll call her tomorrow," Avery said. "Don't tell her about the things that had happened here. I don't want her to worry." "Hmm." Hayden understood. "Mommy, they beat Elliot up for getting me out of Ylore."Avery was stunned."I saw a footprint on his shirt. Gary must have beaten him," said Hayden. "I don't hate him for strangling me anymore."Avery had mixed feelings. She did not know if she should be happy that father and son had finally forgiven each other, or if she should be upset about Elliot's current condition."Mommy, when can you come back? Has he told you already?" asked Hayden when he saw Avery's silence. "I don't know. Christopher's funeral will be held the day after tomorrow. I'm guessing he will o
"Oh, are you heartbroken?" Nick smiled thuggishly. "What is a light beating to a man like Elliot? He would not have minded being stabbed or shot." Avery furrowed her brows. "Nick, Elliot is not like the rest of you men. When he was in Aryadelle—"Nick interrupted her. "We're in Ylore. Don't bring up the past, including his affairs in Aryadelle. That is the past."Avery's scrunched her brows. "He will return to Aryadelle. He said that he will return once he settles things here.""When did he tell you that?""A few days ago.""He told you that before Christopher died, right?" Nick sneered. "The night Christopher died, he promised Gary that he would never leave Ylore."Avery instantly paled. She looked lost."You can't bear it, can you?" Nick was not trying to upset her. It was something she was bound to find out— sooner or later.Her finding out about it now was better than her finding out about it from Elliot. She had been completely caught off guard. "There will be many mor
Once Avery left Ylore, Gary might never allow her to return. It was a long time before a cedar coffin— borne by the members of the Gould family, exited the hotel. She saw Elliot's towering figure. He had clearly become a part of the Goulds.Gary would not have him carry Christopher's coffin otherwise. Soon, they placed the coffin into the hearse. Many expensive cars left, disappearing from sight.Avery, with the umbrella in her hand, followed the crowd and left.She did not hail a taxi. She slowly walked back to the hotel. Her bodyguard and Jed were having tea in the lobby of the hotel when they saw Avery entering the building. They stared at her in shock. They had thought that Avery was resting in her room."Miss Tate!" her bodyguard gasped.Avery was in shock, and she mechanically headed for the lift. It was an action born out of habit.Jed realized that something was not right. He approached her and stopped her. "What happened to you? Why do you look so down? Don't tel