The driver knew that he did not want to leave Layla, so he did not say another word. Mike put his phone on speaker and placed it in the car. He settled Layla into the child’s car seat, then quickly got into the driver’s seat and drove the car out onto the street.
“How’s Robert going right now? Why did he suddenly get a fever?” he asked while he drove. “The heater started acting up around noon, so we didn’t have heat for a few hours. Robert probably wasn’t used to the change in temperature.” Averie held her phone and walked a few steps away.
“His fever has subsided now, but I probably have to delay my return to Aryadelle.” She had originally booked tickets to return home the next day, but she returned the tickets when Robert suddenly got a fever. She had to wait until Robert was completely recovered. She had called Mike to tell him that she would delay her trip home. Mike was relieved. “He should be fine now that his fever subsided, right? He won’t go back to how he was when he was first born, right?”
“He won’t. He’s doing better now that the fever’s gone. He’s sleeping right now.” Averie had taken Robert to the hospital for treatment. Once his fever subsided, the doctor allowed her to take him home to rest. Children’s fevers come back easily, so Averie could not say for certain whether or not Robert’s would return later on.
She was sure, however, that this was merely a cold, and not another disease. “That’s good. You scared me for a moment there. I thought it was like before…” Mike let out a heavy sigh. “That b*st*rd, Elyette Foster, snatched my phone away just now. My soul almost left my body. I thought I ran into a ghost in broad daylight!”
“What was he doing there?” Averie asked. “He used the excuse the he was sending over Mrs. Cooper’s things, but actually wanted to see the kids. He could send the luggage at any time. Why did he have to come over first thing in the morning? Besides, the driver could’ve been the one to send the luggage over alone. Why did he have to show up personally?”
Mike poured out his thoughts, then noticed the rearview mirror from the corner of his eye and said, “Huh? He’s tailing me.” Averie’s brows furrowed. She was not in Aryadelle right now, so she could not stop Elyette from doing anything.
Averie knew that Elyette would not try to take the children away or force them into doing anything, but she still felt uneasy.
“I’m hanging up, Averie. He’s tailing me right now.” Mike’s tone made it sound like he wanted to shake off Elyette
Averie immediately snapped, “Don’t speed, Mike! Safety comes first. Let him follow you if he wants to. It’s not like he can just walk into Layla’s school anyway.”
“Alright! Maybe he’s just worried about Robert ! His face looked terrible when he heard that Robert had a fever. I’m guessing his first reaction was the same as mine and he probably thought that Robert was in the same condition as before.” Mike’s emotions gradually calmed down.
“Explain it to him later, then! Drive safe. I’m hanging up.” “Okay.” After he hung up, Mike glanced at Layla. She was pouting and her eyes were red. She was not trying, but she looked especially devastated.
“Did we scare you earlier, sweetie? Don’t be scared. He won’t lay a finger on me. Even if we do fight, I might not lose!” Mike said. “If he hits you, then I’ll never like him again.” “Oh? Are you saying that you’re beginning to like him again now?”
Layla frowned and said in frustration, “Didn’t he ask for another chance? I’m still thinking about it!” Mike sighed. “Why are you forgiving him so easily? You’ll be easily taken advantage of in the future like this, sweetie! You should learn from your mother. She’s…”
“He’s handsome, rich, and is a sweet talker… That’s why Mommy gave him three kids,” Layla said, laying out the reality of things.
Mike was speechless. He stayed silent for a moment, then retorted, “He’s a sweet talker? When was he ever a sweet talker?” “He called me ‘sweetie’ justed now.” Mike was at a loss for words once again. She was right.
It was not easy for someone as stone-cold as Elyette to call someonele “sweetie”. It was clear that he was working hard to redeem himself with Layla. Fifteen minutes later, they pulled up at the school gates. Once Mike brought the car to a halt, the Rolls-Roice behind him followed suit.
Mike carried Layla out of the car. Elyette had barely made it out of the car when a handsome silhouette suddenly appeared and took Layla out of Mike’s arms. A delighted smile instantly appeared on Layla’s face. Elyette watched from afar as Layla wrapped her little arms around Eric Santos’ neck and gave him a peck on the cheek.
Elyette’s fingers instantly tightened around the car door. Now that Layla had Eric, she immediately forgot about the father standing behind her.
Eric carried Layla into the school, while Mike leisurely strolled over to Elyette.
“Go home! You can come back again when Averie returns.” Mike pat Elyette on the shoulder and said, “As long as Averie forgives you, it doesn’t matter how many kids you have, they will all obediently acknowledge you in the end.”
“How’s Robert?” Elyette asked after he calmed down.
“His fever subsided. It’s not like the last time. It was just a common cold,” Mike said. “SO Averie won’t be coming back anytime soon.”
Elyette was relieved, then got back into the car. “Don’t even think about going to Bridgedale to look for her. You’ll only trigger negative emotions in her if you do that,” Mike said as he held onto the car and bent over. “If you can’t stand the guilt and can’t wait to see her, then you should at least give her a call first!
Who knows? She might just pick up.” Once Mike was done talking, he closed the door for Elyette. The black Rolls-Roice drove off and made its way onto the main road. As Elyette sat in the car, he clenched his jaw in torment. Of course he had thought of giving Averie a call. He held his breath, then pulled out his phone and dialed her number.
When Averie saw the call from Elyette, she hung up without hesitation
With his pride, he definitely would not call back after she hung up on him. Elyette was taken aback when his call was declined within seconds. He understood why Averie would not take his calls. He had broken her heart, after all. Even so, did she really need to decline his call that quickly?!
It caught him off guard and caused him to be filled with panic and grief. Averie was underestimating him if she thought that this was enough to make him retreat in defeat.
Elyette found Mrs. Cooper’s number and dialed it.
He had already come up with an excuse before he called Averie. It was that he had heard about Robert’s fever and wanted to call to check on things.
If Mrs. Cooper answered the phone, he could use the same excuse. In the end, Mrs. Cooper also declined his call. Elyette’s face was frozen still as he stared at the rejected call. It had barely been more than two weeks since Mrs. Cooper resigned from her job with the Foster family. How could she be this heartless?! They had an employer-employee relationship for decades, after all. Was that nothing compared to her new friendship with Averie?
It was heartbreaking!
Over at Bridgedale, Mrs. Cooper saw Averie let out a sigh of relief after she heartlessly declined Elyette’sed call.
Mrs. Cooper was not a fool.
She had clearly seen how Averie declined the call earlier. Besides, Averie had already told her before to sever all ties with Elyette. How could she possibly answer Elyette’s call in front of Averie’s face?
Even if she had to stay in touch with Elyette, she would only do it in secret!
“I didn’t answer his call, Averie.” Mrs. Cooper slipped her phone back in her pocket. “Even so, could he be calling about something urgent?”
Averie shook her head and said, “He most likely wants to ask about Robert’s cold.”
She had told Mike on the phone to explain things to Elyette. She trusted that Mike had already done as she asked.
Therefore, there was no need for her to answer his call and repeat Robert’s condition to him.
“I see. Don’t tell me that he went to your place at this hour to send my things?” Mrs. Cooper said, then quickly explained, “He never told me he would send them himself when we talked on the phone before.”
“We might have broken up, but it’s not like there’s any deep hatred between us. I can’t stop him from using your luggage as an excuse to sneak a peek at the kids, nor will I pick a fight with him about it.”
“Okay. I knew you weren’t such a heartless person, Averie. What parents won’t miss their own children?” Mrs. Cooper said, then glanced at the time and added, “You should be hungry by now. I’ll go put something together.”
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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