Allie shot Avery a resentful glance before strutting into the living room. As if it was her own home, she chucked her branded bag onto the coffee table.
Just like a radar, Allie gave the living room a quick scan.
Failing to see Cayden around, she barged into the bathroom and continued searching for clues.
Avery, filled with displeasure, got in her way. “What in the world are you doing? What are you looking for?”
When she spotted a pair of male slippers and two pairs belonging to children by the shower, Allie exploded in rage.
She pointed at Avery and snarled, “Do you enjoy being a vixen, Avery? How shameless can you be? As a daughter-in-law of the Musk family and Dylan's wife, what are you doing fraternizing with my son? Not only have you taken him away from me, but you've also sunk your claws into my two grandchildren. And here I was, wondering why I haven't seen Cayden and my grandchildren recently. It turns out that they're here. I can't believe despicable women like you even exist in this world.”
Avery trembled in anger.
Nevertheless, with the children still in the bedroom where the walls were thin, she knew it wasn't the time to get into a quarrel. She replied calmly, “I have no intention of arguing with you today. If that's the reason you're here, I'll have to ask you to leave.”
Avery, her face cold, made her stand clear.
Even though Allie was her father's ex-wife, Avery had no affection for her at all.
Further incense by the response, Allie bellowed, “Do you know how despicable you are? Instead of feeling ashamed for having an affair, you talk back and kick your own mother out. How did I end up having a wanton daughter like you? Despite knowing that Cayden is your half-brother, you insist on having an immoral relationship with him. Don't you feel disgusted by it?”
Regardless of how Allie raved, Avery remained calm.
All she did was give Allie an occasional stare as if the latter was nothing but an annoying pest.
Her response only served to fan the flames of Allie's anger. She had the urge to give Avery's pretty face a slap.
Staring at the ugly look on Allie's face, Avery responded sarcastically, “The reason I haven't called the police on you is that you're my father's ex-wife, but that doesn't automatically make you my biological mother. Ms. Musk, if I may... Considering how different we are from each other, be it in terms of appearance or character, are you sure I'm your daughter?”
“W-What are you trying to say?” The shock caused Allie's face to lose all color as a self-conscious glint flashed across her eyes.
“I'm sure you're well aware of the answer.”
Allie's tone became softer as she said, “Are you making wild claims just so you can be with Cayden? Whose daughter are you if not mine? I carried you in my belly for ten months, for goodness' sake. Your relationship with Cayden is nothing but a moral sacrilege! Have you lost your mind and started convincing yourself that I'm not your real mother?”
“In that case, Ms. Musk, look into my eyes and tell me if I'm really your daughter.” Avery's piercing gaze caused Allie's hair to stand on end.
“Of course. Why would I lie over something like that?” Allie's eyes shifted to the right as she racked her brains on how to back up her lie.
However, the tension within Avery suddenly eased as a smile crept up on her face. The burden she had been carrying all this while seemed to have felt lighter.
“What are you smiling at?” Allie felt uneasy, and she did not know how to describe that feeling.
Standing quietly in front of her, Avery looked into Allie's eyes. “I wasn't sure if you were really my biological mother before this. Because of you, I was tormented by the thought that Cayden and I were in an incestuous relationship. But now, I'm certain that you're not my mother.”
“W-What?” The usually eloquent Allie began to stammer.
Avery continued in a firm tone, “Ms. Musk, I'm sure you're not aware that I studied psychology at university. Coincidentally, it was a subject that I did well in. The renowned psychologist, David Lieberman, discovered that one's eyes will look to the right when the left brain is active, while an active right brain will cause one to look to the left. When one is being dishonest, one has to use the logical mind to weave a lie, triggering activity in the left brain and causing one's eyes to look right. And that was exactly how you reacted when I asked you if I was your biological daughter. Evidently, you were concocting a lie. Isn't that right, Ms. Musk?”
Allie was rendered speechless.
As she was barely literate, she didn't understand the theory of how the left brain affected the right brain.
What she did know was that Avery was now aware of the truth, which was the reason for her panic.
I can't allow this! The knowledge that she and Cayden were half-siblings wasn't enough for her to leave him. Wouldn't she tighten her grip on him now that there was no lie to hold her back? As long as I'm alive, my son can marry anyone he wishes except for her!
“I don't care about any of your nonsensical theories. Without a single doubt, you're my daughter. If you refuse to believe it, we can get a DNA test.”
As Allie grabbed Avery's wrist, her sharp nails dug into the latter's skin. “I'm warning you again. Leave my son, or I'll make you suffer! Instead of being the good daughter-in-law of the Musk family, you insist on becoming Cayden's lover. Since you're so licentious, why don't you get a job as a whore?”
Avery was so overwhelmed by fury that she could hardly breathe.
Despite that, the thought of the children forced her to suppress the swelling rage within her. “Ms. Musk, I've no intention of quarreling with you, so please leave before I call the police!”
Allie's expression drastically darkened.
Just when she raised her hand to slap Avery, the children suddenly burst out of the room.
Rory called out to Allie in her piping voice, “Grandma, it really is you. Zach and I heard your voice in the bedroom just now. Are you here to visit us?”
“Grandma, Mommy has taken very good care of us,” the clever Zach added.
The sight of the two children caused Allie to hold back her anger.
Nonetheless, the sound of Zachary addressing Avery as “Mommy” made her heart clench.
Damn you, Avery! Since when did she have the children eating out of her hands too? How shameless can she be?
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