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