"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
This was Elliot's chance to start a deep conversation with Avery."Shea and I—"He began to speak, but the photo on Avery's phone screen grabbed his attention."Who's this man?"He looked a little familiar.Elliot kept glancing back at the photo. He was sure that he had seen the man before, but could not recall anything about him.Avery snatched her phone back."You haven't changed at all. You're still just as controlling. Is this a common problem that older men face?"She shoved her phone into her bag, then said mockingly, "He's a celebrity I've been following recently. He's handsome, right? Not only that, but he's also very young. I've recently been into this type of man."Elliot gritted his teeth in rage.Was she calling him old?He planned on having a proper conversation with her, but it looked like there was no need for that!After all, she had no interest in older men and only liked young men!"What did you want to tell me just now?" Avery asked.The anger in Elli
Tammy's words left Avery speechless. It was all her own fault!Why did she have to accept Elliot's gift?!Things would not be this awkward if she had just rejected it.Avery hung up on Tammy, then called Mike and said, "Don't you think you should tell me before reorganizing a birthday party for me?""What if I told you, and you said no?" Mike said. He knew her too well. "If I inform everybody else before I tell you about it, then you would have no choice but to show up."Avery laughed bitterly."You have fun with everybody on your own, then! I'm not going!""I already invited Elliot Foster! That shameless man accepted the invitation right away!" Mike said mockingly. "Your ex-husband sure is thick-skinned, Avery. Why do you like men like him?"Avery lifted her hand to massage her temples, then hung up the phone.Tammy called again less than a minute later."Elliot's going to the party, Avery! I thought that someone as proud as him would definitely decline the offer, but he d
[No problem! I can handle my drink!][I have a pretty high tolerance, too!][It's all of us against Elliot Foster. We've got this!]Mike broke into a grin as he read the enthusiastic messages in the text chain.Why was he gracious enough to invite Elliot to the party?This was his true motive.Picking on Avery meant picking on him.There was not much Mike could do to defeat Elliot but getting him blackout drunk was right up his alley!That night, Rosalie asked Elliot to bring Zoe over to the old Foster mansion for dinner.Dinner began once the two of them arrived."You should visit more often when you have the time, Dr. Sanford," Rosalie said with a smile. "Elliot is usually too busy to spend time with you."Zoe nodded and said, "Alright. I'll come by more often as long as you don't find me bothersome.""Why would I? You are so outstanding, I like you very much!!"After a pleasant dinner, Rosalie called Elliot over to her room for a private conversation."Dr. Sanford seem
The wild ambition in Zoe's eyes was clear and undisguised.Cole felt his dying soul being awakened.Now that he was in the same boat as Zoe, her success meant his success.Women could gain honor through their children, and so could he.He would gain honor from his child!…At 10 p.m. that night, a black Rolls-Royce pulled into Elliot's mansion.Elliot had attended a dinner event tonight.He had done this because one of the country's top entrepreneurs in the drone industry was in attendance.Elliot wanted to understand every aspect of Avery's company.From the information he had gathered at the dinner, he discovered that although Tate Industries had been rebuilt, it had hit a wall when it came to their sales. Alpha Technologies was formidable abroad. The attention and reputation it had achieved were outstanding. However, Avery did not bring Alpha Technologies to Aryadelle. Instead, she had revived Tate Industries. Although products were same, a different brand also meant
"That's right! I'll do anything as long as it's for the money!" Avery yelled as her voice trembled and a flush colored her cheeks. "Mind your own business!"A savage fury rose in Elliot's eyes."Clear the place!"At his order, his bodyguards instantly kicked out everyone from the restaurant, including Norman who slumped on the floor.In an instant, Avery and Elliot were the only two people left in the grand restaurant.Avery shoved at Elliot's chest and snapped, "Elliot Foster, you scoundrel! You're such a jerk!"Despite all of her efforts, Elliot did not budge."Weren't you willing to sell your body? Let me help you with that!"With his large hand, Elliot tried to tear her blouse.The color vanished from Avery's face."Don't touch me! Elliot! Please don't touch me!" she begged."If other people can touch you, then why can't I?! Is it because I didn't pay you?"Elliot had completely lost his reason.He took his wallet out of his pocket, pulled out all of the cash from it,
At the Lynch Mansion, Tammy took out a t-shirt for Avery."What on earth happened to you? How did you manage to fall and rip the buttons of your blouse off?" Tammy looked at her all suspiciously and guessed, "Avery, did you get into a fight with someone?"Avery replied as she put on the shirt, "Yeah, you guessed it.""And you lost right? You look terrible. Shall I hire you a bodyguard?" Tammy said as she poured Avery a glass of water. "You are now worth 100 million dollars. It’s essential to have one. Look at Elliot, he has a bunch of bodyguards following him around. I heard they are all extremely well trained…"Avery smiled wryly and said, “If that’s the case, I don’t need to hire anyone else.”Tammy asked, “Why?” and as she asked the question, she understood. "Is he out of his mind? Why he finds trouble with you?"Avery took a sip of the water and placed down her glass."Thanks for the shirt. I'm heading back to the office now." Mike had called her to get some updates on the d
Elliot opened the bag and found his shirt and cash inside.He shoved the bag, and it fell to the ground. "Get rid of it!" exclaimed Elliot coldly."Alright," said Chad as he picked it up and walked out the door.At the mall, Mike was flinging multiple pieces of clothing at Avery for her to try on. "You got to try it on for you know if it fits," said Mike as he pushed her into the fitting room."You've such a good boyfriend, Miss. It's rare to have an attentive man!" The salesperson grinned as she said to Avery, "Do you need my assistance?"Avery shook her head vigorously, "I can manage."Mike and Avery spent the entire afternoon walking the length and stretch of the mall. Soon the boot of the car was filled with shopping bags. Mike had not only bought clothes for Avery, but he had bought some for Hayden, Layla, Laura, and himself as well. Avery decided not to go shopping with Mike in the future. She took Mike to a random restaurant because she was so famished at this poin