Avery put down the keys and changed into a pair of slippers. Tip-toeing into the bedroom, she took out
two blankets and placed the first one on top of Zachary.
She then turned to place the other blanket in her hand on top of Rory, who was sound asleep in
Cayden's embrace.
Just as Avery was about to pull her hand away, the eyelids of the man lying on the snapped open all of
a sudden, revealing a pair of dark eyes.
Beneath the thick eyebrows, exhaustion showed on the edges of his eyes. Upon closer inspection, one
could see faint outlines of blood vessels in his eye.
If it were any other day, Avery would be concerned and advise him to prioritize his health instead of
working so hard... regardless of his identity as the father of her children, her boss, or possibly
something else.
However, Avery had nothing to say to him at the moment.
Every word Xavier had said was ingrained in her mind. No matter how hard she tried, she could not
forget them.
When Mr. Moore arrived here last night, he received a call to go to a dinner party. The two children
were left in the condominium alone without anyone to look after them... They didn't even have dinner.
Zach got so hungry that he brought Rory downstairs to look for food with the little cash they have. The
management of the residential area saw them but did not stop them. However, we've not heard from
them ever since they left the condominium last night...
Mr. Moore had a bit too much to drink last night and had fallen asleep in a hotel. He has not woken up
yet and no one dared to wake him up.
Cayden failed miserably as a single father.
As Cayden woke up, Rory was awakened as well. Following suit, Zachary on the other end of the
couch woke up too.
Zachary rubbed his eyes drowsily. When he caught sight of Avery, he immediately got off the couch
and hugged Avery on her thigh, pouting. “Ms. Ery, what are you doing here?”
The boy sounded as though he was not fully awake.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtWhen Avery heard his voice, her eyes began to redden out of the blue. Bending down, she touched her
son's face gently. “Where did you run off to with Rory last night? Don't you know that we grown-ups will
be very worried?”
Zachary remained silent as he recalled the night he had fallen asleep with Rory and Cayden. In the
morning, Cayden had even gone to the supermarket to get groceries for breakfast. Even though
Cayden had a cold expression and the eggs he fried were almost inedible, his willingness to learn how
to cook breakfast made Zachary and Rory feel like the happiest kids in the world.
However, Cayden had returned home from work all of a sudden a moment ago. In a serious tone, he
told the two children that if they wanted Avery to live with them and become their mother, they would
have to tell her a white lie.
They would have to lie that Cayden was a bad father.
After that, they waited for Avery along with Cayden. Cayden guaranteed them that Avery would show
up.
While they were waiting, Zachary and Rory fell asleep.
“I won't do it anymore. I'm sorry, Ms. Ery.” Zachary apologized meekly while rubbing his face in her
embrace.
Avery's heart ached as she pulled Zachary closer to her chest. Touching his cheek, she placed a kiss
on her son's forehead. “Never do something like that again, okay?” she said gently. “Tell me, where did
you go with Rory last night? You must be terrified, weren't you? How did you come back?”
The series of questions stumped the poor boy. Without being given a script, Zachary could only look at
Cayden for help.
Cayden had gotten up to use the restroom. As he was brushing his teeth, he answered in a hoarse
voice, “The two of them had spent a night in KFC. My phone was switched off, and there was no one at
the Moore Residence.
So if the kids had called home last night, no one would have picked up. Even if they managed to get a
car to go back, the gate will be locked as well. The keys to the condominium were with Cayden and
Xavier.
“Why didn't you go to the office to look for Dad or Mr. Rumpley?” Avery asked Zachary as she was
confused.
Zachary puckered his lips, not wanting Avery to think that he was stupid. It's all Dad's fault. This lie is
making us sound like total idiots...
“I... I didn't have any cash for a car. I'm scared that we'll be taken away by a bad taxi driver...”
Rory spoke up pitifully. Due to the fact that she had just woken up, her tired voice sounded like she was
about to cry.
Letting go of Zachary, Avery went up to hug Rory instead. Once both the children had been comforted,
Avery coaxed them gently, “You must be exhausted from last night. Go sleep in the bedroom.”
To make the lie more convincing, the two children pretended to drag their feet as they walk to the
bedroom and got under the blanket.
Only after seeing that Zachary and Rory had closed their eyes did Avery leave the bedroom, closing
the door behind her.
Once she was out, she began looking for Cayden.
There was no trace of him in the living room or the bathroom. When she returned to the living room,
she saw him standing on the balcony, smoking a cigarette. The sense of security that once emitted
from his tall silhouette was replaced by distrust.
Walking to the balcony, Avery spoke up. “If you can't take care of the children, let me help.” Despite
knowing that she was being rash, she refused to swallow her words.
No mother would ever want to hear the news of their children being starved or going missing. The news
had been nerve-wracking.
“I've never revoked your right to take care of them.” Cayden put out the cigarette and threw it in the
ashtray before turning around and raising his eyebrow at her.
The balcony had limited space. Staring at the tall man in front of her, thousands of questions suddenly
sprung up inside her head.
Cayden looked like a celebrity and a gentleman all the time. However, how would a commoner like her
understand the complications in his life?
When she recalled the dinner party that Xavier had mentioned, Avery could not help but wonder what
sort of important occasion it was that could make someone so responsible to abandon his children the
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmwhole night.
Although she was raging, Avery felt as though she had no right to discipline him on how to be a better
father. Just as she was thinking about what to say next, the latter asked her a question that she could
not answer. “How are you going to take care of them with your situation now?”
“I—” Avery was at a loss. An upset look was hanging on her face as she raised her head to look at
Cayden.
After an interminable amount of time, Avery was left on the balcony alone.
Zach and Rory are still young. They are only five years old. How can they take care of themselves?
Their great-grandpa is old now. Plus, he's currently staying in the hospital. As for the housekeeper, she
was no longer young either, so there are certain things she cannot do.
The only suitable choice would be Allie, the children's grandmother. Allie was still young, and it was
completely possible for her to take care of her grandchildren. However, whenever Avery thought of
Allie's face, she was even more worried.
Because of that, the two children had been staying with their single dad. When Avery thought of what
Xavier said that morning, her heart ached again.
After thorough consideration, Avery walked toward the bathroom and approached the man who was
shaving in front of the mirror. “I can come back and forth between the town and Ackleton every day.
Driving will make things easier, but I can't do the school run.”
Cayden did not stop shaving. Avery tried to gauge what he was thinking by peering at his reflection, but
his eyes gave nothing away.
When the bathroom smelled completely of after shave, Cayden finally turned around. His dark eyes
fixated on her anxious-looking face. “If you've thought it through, I have no objections; but bear in mind
that my mom would most likely cause you trouble.”
Avery had almost forgotten about Allie the trouble maker.
Seeing her frustrated look, Cayden gave her a solution that would solve all of her problems in the
future. “Which is why we'll be going for a DNA test this afternoon.”
No one would be able to stop a mother from wanting to be with her children.