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.
When 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 whole 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.
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