The bloody, severed finger was like a sharp knife that was stabbing at her heart!
Mike’s cab pulled up in front of the villa.
He heard Layla’s shrill cry of misery even before he got out of the car, and his brows furrowed tightly.
He saw the children holding onto Averie’s arms, while she insisted on leaving with a suitcase in her hand.
Mike ran toward the heartbreaking scene and snatched the suitcase out of Averie’s hand.
“Have you lost your mind, Averie? Can’t you hear the kids crying?!” He threw her suitcase aside, then placed his hands on his hips and demanded, “What exactly happened? I heard you got a package… Where is it?!”
Averie lowered her gaze, then walked to the side.
Mike followed closely behind her.”
“I signed for the package at one in the afternoon. If I’m not in Bridgedale in the next twenty four hours after the package is delivered, then they’ll kill Wesley!” Averie’s eyes were pits of endless darkness. “I don’t have much time left… Don’t stop me!”
Mike did not expect things to be this serious.
“I’m coming with you. Don’t tell me to stay home and watch the kids! These guys don’t sound like your average punks, Averie. You’d be walking right into your own funeral if you go alone! It’s fine if you want to die by yourself, but do you want to drag the baby you’re carrying along with you?!”
Averie’s eyes welled up in tears. She did not want to die, nor did she want to take such a huge risk!
However, she could not let Wesley die for her sake!
That would be more painful than her own death! “Wait for me at the front gate. I’ll go talk to the kids,” Mike said into her ear, then made his way over to the children.
Ten minutes later, Mike walked to Averie’s side while carrying her suitcase.
‘Let’s go!”
As Averie took her first step away from the house, she heard the sound of Layla wailing behind her.
She felt like her heart was broken into pieces!
She wanted to turn back for one last look at the children, but she did not have the courage to do so.
Now that she was being forced into a corner, the only thing she could do was move forward.
At the VIP lounge at the airport an hour later, Mike stared at the series of messages from Chad and did not know how to reply to him.
“Do you want to give Elyette Foster a heads up about this, Averie?” Mike watched Averie’s cold face and said reluctantly, “You two made up today, after all. It’d hurt him if you left without saying goodbye.”
Averie clenched her phone so tightly that her fingers turned pale.
It was not that she did not want to let Elyette know, but he would certainly not let her go if he found out.
“Someone’s calling you, Averie,” Mike said when he saw Aveyr’s phone light up.
Averie looked down and saw Elyette’s name flashing on her phone screen.
She pursed her lips, took a deep breath, then answered the call.
“I’m at the airport right now, Elyette. I’m going to Bridgedale.”
Elyette was silent for a few seconds, then snapped loudly and nervously, “What are you going to Bridgedale for?! Don’t leave yet, Averie. I’m going to the airport right now! Let’s meet just once. Wait for me!”
After the phone call ended, Averie checked the time.
She wondered where Elyette was.
The airport was in a secluded area. If he was in the city, it would take him at least an hour to rush over.
There was only forty minutes left until Averie had to board the plane.
There was no way she would wait for him.
If he missed her flight, she had to wait until the next morning for the next one.
Time was not on her side.
Mike noticed Averie’s dejected expression, so he reached out and held her cold hand.
“Don’t be scared, Averie. Whoever’s behind this probably needs your medical skills,” he consoled her. “Drag things on for as long as you can. I will definitely find a way to save you.”
“We have to save Wesley first,” Averie mumbled.
“Of course.”
“Of all the years I’ve known Wesley, he’s never refused me once out of the countless times I’ve asked for his help. He would always share good things with me. He’s never asked me to do anything for him. Not even once… Every time I said I’d treat him to a meal, he would always pay the check in the end. He’s like a brother to me.” At this point, Averie’s tears rolled down her cheek. “He could have just told them my name. That way, he wouldn’t have gottenga hurt!
Mike’s eyes reddened as he held her and said, “Don’t cry. Wesley will be fine.”
After Averie and Mike’s departure from the Starry River Villa, the children had fallen into pits of misery.
Mike had told them that something happened in Bridgedale that needed their attention, and that they would come home immediately after things were settled.
However, he did not say how long it would take.
Moreover, tonight’s events were too strange, and Hayden could not figure out what happened at all.
He had a strong hunch.
He was sure that something really awful had happened, and that’s why his mother was that upset and had to leave in such a hurry!
Averie had never done anything like tonight. She had never insisted on leaving Layla and him behind without a heads up.
Hayden never cried easily, but tears were controllably escaping his eyes.
“Why are you crying, Hayden? Do you miss Mommy?” Layla had just calmed down earlier, but burst into tears once again. “Does Mommy not want us anymore? I’m scared, Hayden!”
Hayden wiped the tears off his face and wrapped his sister in his arms.
“Don’t be scared, Layla. They’ll be home soon. I’ll protect you while they’re gone.”
Layla sobbed in her brother’s embrace for a while until her voice turned hoarse.
“Hayden, I want Shea to come over… Can you call her?”
Hayden agreed.
The city sparkled brightly with neon lights in the night.
A black Rolls-Roice sped through the city in a flash, and arrived at the airport in the shortest amount of time possible.
The moment the car came to a halt, Elyette pushed the door open and got out.
With his phone in his hand, he rushed to the departure hall.
There was an announcement for the passengers of the flight to Bridgedale to proceed to Gate Four for boarding
Elyette’s hawk-like eyes quickly spotted the gate, then hurried over to it.
He needed to know what was going on with Averie.
She had to tell him why she was leaving in such a hurry!
If possible, he wanted to face whatever it was together!
When Elyette finally made it through the crowd and arrived at the gate, the attendants had just finished checking everyone’s tickets.
He looked toward the long hallway behind the counter, and spotted Averie’s familiar silhouette among the crowd.
His Adam’s apple bobbed in his throat.
“Averie!” he cried out hoarsely.
He wanted to ask why she did not wait for him, but there was no longer any point to the question.
Averie froze in her tracks.
Mike, who was next to her, turned back and saw Elyette.
“He’s here, Averie. Don’t you want to go and talk to him for a bit?” Tears rolled around in Averie’s eyes.
What would Averie say to Elyette if she walked over to him?
She had to go to Bridgedale right now.
Her decision would not change whether he agreed with it or not.
Besides, she did not want to drag him into this mess.
She took a deep breath and continued walking…
There was a turn a few feet away.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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