Chad swore, “Are you nuts! How are you going to do that? If you were to talk to my boss this way, you‘ll be deported from Aryadelle!”
The officer took a piece of paper and a pen and passed them to Averie.
“Miss Averie. I know you‘re upset right now, but it‘s wrong to beat someone up.” The officer looked at her coldly. He said patiently, “List your transgressions and pay Wanda‘s medical fees, and you will be released.”
Averie looked at the piece of paper and sneered, “Why do I have to list it down? I wanted to hit her.”
The police officer was speechless.
“You want me to pay for her medical bills? Sure! Once she dies, I’ll do it,” Averie continued.
The police officer was once again at a loss for words.
Averie pushed the pen and paper away with her slender fingers. “Just go ahead with your procedures!”
The police officer furrowed his brows. “Miss Tate, I know you have your own opinions, but the evidence we have right now has nothing to do with Wanda. But if we suspect her even a little, we will arrest her and question her.”
Averie lowered her gaze and pursed her pale lips, saying nothing.
She was angry, but not at the police officer. She did not want to trouble everyone, but she was extremely upset.
If she did nothing and allowed Wanda to go just like that, she could not bear to see herself.
Half an hour later, a black Rolls–Roice parked right in front of the entrance of the police station.
Mike saw Elyette alighting the car, so he quickly approached him.
However, Elyette was quicker. He immediately passed Mike by without even noticing him!
Mike cursed silently, “Sure! Treat me like air!”
When Elyette entered the police station, he immediately saw Averie‘s slight person.
“Elyette! You‘re finally here!” The captain waved to Elyette. “Please persuade Miss Tate! As long as she writes a list of her wrongdoings, we‘ll let her go immediately.”
When Averie heard his name, she looked up and looked at him, stunned!
Why was he here? Elyette picked up the piece of paper on the table, tore it in half, and threw it into the bin.
“I’ll settle this myself,” Elyette said to the captain.
Then he grabbed Averie’s slender wrist and said, “I’m taking her with me.”
The captain simply nodded.
Once they were out of the station, Averie shook off Elyette’s slightly cold hand.
Elyette raised his brows as he stared at Averie’s defensive posture.
“Your mother wouldn’t come back to life even if you did kill Wanda, Averie. There are many ways to take revenge, yet you chose the most foolish one.”
“Who are you to judge me?”
Averie looked at Elyette’s familiar yet unrecognizable face and sneered.
“Are you judging me as the mighty President Elyette Foster, or because Wanda Tate is your future mother-in-law?!”
Every word she spoke was sharp and fractious.
An unreadable emotion flashed through Elyette’s eyes as he said, “Calm down, Averie.”
“I can’t calm down!” Averie lashed out, her voice breaking. “My mom’s lifeless face appears in front of me every time I close my eyes! What did she do wrong?! She never did anything wrong! How could someone kill her?!”
She broke down into wailing sobs.
All of Elyette’s reason vanished the moment he saw her frail body crumple and an expression of agony twist her face.
He pulled her into his embrace and wrapped his arms tightly around her.
Averie snapped when she smelled Elyette’s unique musky scent.
Even if the scent of his cologne was unchanged, he was no longer the same Elyette Foster!
“Let me go!” she cried as she pushed against his muscular chest.
“I won’t!” Elyette held Averie in his arms. His voice was hoarse when he said, “Calling Wanda my future mother-in-law is utter bullsh*t! I’ve only ever had one mother-in-law, and she was your mother.”
Averie could not escape his hold and so decided to stop struggling altogether.
She numbly contemplated his seemingly profound statement. Looking up at him with tear filled eyes, she coldly asked, “Now that Zoe’s pregnant with your child, will you order your bodyguard to force her to get an abortion?”
Averie’s question made Elyette abruptly release his grip on her.
“Didn’t you hate children, Elyette? Then why can you accept Zoe’s child?” Averie demanded as she stood before him. “Did she force you to? Did you give in once again to save your dear Shea? Aren’t you always acting so high and mighty in front of me? You didn’t even bat an eyelid when you made me get an abortion… Do you find me easier to pick on?”
Elyette’s heart throbbed with pain, but his eyes were fixed calmly on Averie.
Her emotions were much stabler than they were before, but the words coming out of her mouth were growing harsher.
“Don’t mention my mother to me ever again. She never acknowledged you as her son,” Averie said as she stared at Elyette’s face. “Even though she’s dead, it just feels misfortunate to have you talk about her.”
She watched as a dreadful expression appeared on Elyette’s face.
Not only did her heart not break for him, she actually found it gratifying.
Perhaps it was because she had finally given up on him.
Elyette could have a child with Zoe or recognize Laura’s killer as his mother-in-law… As long as he did not appear in front of her, he could do whatever he wanted.
“Let’s go home, Averie!” Mike said as he drove the car out onto the road. He glanced at Averie and added, “You must be exhausted.”
“I’m not,” Averie answered in a clear, calm voice. “I don’t feel like going home.”
“Okay. Where do you want to go, then?”
As though she did not hear Mike’s voice, Averie looked out the window and uttered softly, “If I hadn’t insisted on coming back here, this wouldn’t have happened to Mom…”
Mike’s heart ached with concern as he saw Averie’s haggard face grow overcome by guilt.
Could she have some kind of stress-induced mental disorder?
Mike turned the car around at the next turning, then drove toward Elizabeth Hospital.
After hearing about Averie’s condition, Wesley felt worried but certain.
“She’s a strong woman. I know she can get through this.”
He prescribed some sleeping pills for Averie and handed them to Mike.
“What she needs now is rest. Let’s see if she improves after some time.”
A week later, Averie’s mental state appeared stable. The children returned to school.
After breakfast, Averie took the children to school.
Hayden was the one who had suggested going to the same preschool as Layla.
That way, Averie would not have to drive around picking them up and sending them off.
It felt like everything had remained the same after Laura’s death, but it also felt like everything had changed.
“Winter’s come and gone, Averie,” Mike said as he drove the car onto the main road. “Let’s move on from all this unhappiness! Every day from now on will be filled with good luck.”
Averie stared at him blankly.
“Can’t you speak like a normal person?”
Mike cleared his throat and said, “I know you’ll still be down for a while, but we should keep our eyes facing forward. There are many more beautiful things and people that await you in the future.”
“Keep your eyes on the road.”
“Okay,” Mike responded, then turned on some music.
After taking a moment to ponder his words, Averie suddenly said, “Thank you, Mike.”
“Hmm?” Mike said as he turned the music off.
“Thanks for helping me with the kids through all of this.”
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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