Avery raised her gaze, and their eyes met.
When she thought of their sexual encounter five years ago as well as the intercourse they had a few days ago as though they were rekindling old flames, she felt she had found a place where she belonged. Being with Cayden gave her a particularly strong sense of belonging.
It was as if she had finally regained her freedom after being constrained by loneliness for years.
Like an expatriate who finally returns home, I feel safe, warm, and free from loneliness.
“What's on your mind? Your eyes are red.” The sight of her sorrowful appearance sent a pang of sadness to Cayden's heart.
He admitted that he had raging desires for Avery both physically and emotionally. Whenever he looked at her, he couldn't control his supposedly calm heart.
I guess this is what they call “addicted.”
On the one hand, since he was a man who experienced carnal pleasures a long time ago, it was inevitable that he yearned for the exhilaration her body could bring him.
On the other, he had the desire to protect and possess her. He wanted to know her inside out and had her entirely to himself.
Otherwise, he would feel unsettled.
Avery couldn't bear his burning gaze. When Cayden's fingers were about to touch her eyes, she forced herself to regain composure and stop dwelling on the misfortunes in the past.
Just then, a loud bang came from the bathroom, followed by a child's mellow voice.
As soon as Avery heard that, she hurriedly went past Cayden and headed to the bathroom.
Once again, my kids are stealing her away from me...
In the restroom, Rory stood on tiptoe on a stool to reach for a small box on the rack, but before she could get the box, the things on the rack fell to the ground.
After stepping down from the stool, Rory squatted down and picked up the toothbrush case.
“What's the matter? Are you hurt?” Avery came in and knelt down to check on Rory.
“No.” Rory picked up a new toothbrush and toothpaste. “Mommy, this is the strawberry-flavored toothpaste I got for you.”
Avery took it over and had a look. It was a strawberry-flavored children's toothpaste. The toothpaste had colorful packaging that attracted children's attention.
After that, Rory eagerly took out a bottle of new shower gel and shampoo, which were both strawberry-flavored as well. Basically, all the daily necessities she prepared for her mother were strawberry-flavored.
Avery noticed that the new pair of house slippers she was wearing were white in color and had a big strawberry on top. I guess these are chosen by Rory too.
“Who brought you to buy these things?” Avery asked in a hushed voice.
Rory answered truthfully, “It's Daddy.”
At nine o'clock that night, Avery had already finished washing up. She was not only taken care of by Cayden but also by the two little ones.
When Avery was taking a shower, Rory went into the bathroom to shower with her. Rory was done showering first, but she remained in the bathroom to help her mother.
Avery declined the little girl's offer to help. Instead, the former wanted to fulfill her responsibility as a mother and bathe her daughter every day.
However, Rory shook her head and said, “There's no need for that. I'm used to showering on my own. Mommy, you have low blood sugar. What if you faint again? I want to help you while you shower.”
With that, she handed her mother shower gel, a comb, and bath towels from time to time.
Before Avery finished taking a shower, Zachary placed her house slippers nicely outside the bathroom and even peeled an orange and a banana.
Then, he brought several fruits to his father in the kitchen.
Cayden took the fruits and washed them in the sink to get rid of the pesticides. After that, he cut them and covered them with plastic wrap.
Zachary was the one who reminded Cayden to use plastic wrap. The boy said, “Daddy, you must wrap it. Back at the Moore residence, Ms. Lear and the others would wrap the fruits with plastic wrap after cutting them to preserve the freshness.”
The father who lacked basic life skills could only listen to his observant, smart son.
Avery felt that she was protected too well that night. As a person who was used to taking care of others, she couldn't get used to being taken care of by a man and two kids.
Before she slept, she leaned against the headboard of the bed in a pink nightgown.
Her half-dried hair draped over her shoulders. Since she had applied Rory's lotion, her moisturized skin smelled like strawberries.
Rory had a cartoon storybook in her hands as she told her mother a bedtime story while snuggling up to Avery. She even reminded Avery, “Go to sleep only when your hair is completely dry. Otherwise, you'll have a headache. Ms. Lear, the nanny at the Moore residence, said so.”
After spending several hours with Rory as her mother, Avery felt both happy and sad at the same time. She was glad that both her son and daughter were sensible. However, knowing that her children's sensibility came from their nanny's daily teachings almost brought tears to Avery's eyes.
Cayden was occupied with work. He had to manage a big company, so it was understandable that he couldn't spread himself too thin to educate his children. Besides, he would teach them life principles whenever he had the time.
The children's great-grandpa, who had a great personality, also deserved credit.
Avery felt sorry for the two little ones who never had a mother to teach them. Even their biological grandmother didn't teach them anything good. They only learned negative things from their grandmother.
Cayden was doing some paperwork in the study, but he went to the bathroom frequently. Whenever he walked past the bedroom, he would shoot a frustrated glance inside.
The glance was not meant for Avery. Instead, it was for Rory, who remained by Avery's side.
After waiting for about another hour, Cayden came out again and strode to the bedroom's doorway. When he took a look inside, he saw Rory fast asleep in her mother's arms, almost drooling.
He walked into the room, keeping mum. His intention was clear as day.
Seeing that Cayden was about to carry Rory out of the room, Avery couldn't help but remind him, “Be careful. Don't wake her up.”
Cayden stood at the side of the bed and shot a meaningful glance at Avery, who was taking care of the child.
Their eyes met, but Avery didn't understand the look in his eyes.
Cayden then sent Rory back to the kids' room. I've raised the two kids for five years, yet this is the first time I truly feel like I'm their father. Just now, I was told by the kids' mother that the way I carried a child was not right. Women are more attentive after all.
In the bedroom, Avery heard the sound of water coming from the bathroom.
Cayden returned to the bedroom with a towel wrapped around his waist after taking a shower, looking sexy and muscular. He found that Avery was still reading Rory's childish storybook.
What's so special about that book?
Just as Avery was about to turn the page, the book in her hand was snatched and thrown aside by Cayden. Afterward, the lights in the bedroom were turned off, and the room became pitch-black.
Avery was not sleepy yet. After reuniting with Zachary and Rory as their mother, there was no reason for her to be hesitant around Cayden anymore.
Though she still felt uncomfortable sleeping in the same bed with Cayden, she had to persevere.
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