Nathan felt satisfied at the anxious expression on Averie’s face.
He stretched his back lazily and said, “A few days back.The results came out this morning.If it’s up to me, I wouldn’t bother with a paternity test! We look so alike that even an outsider like you can tell that we are related, it’s not like he couldn’t tell the same, otherwise how did he even end up being the boss of Sterling Group? He just didn’t want to face reality! Now that the truth is out, there’s no way he is getting out of it!”
Averie panted heavily as though she was drowning.
So Elyette had met with Nathan the night he got drunk; Nathan had gone to him with the truth about his background, and that was the reason why he drank on his own.
Elyette had not mentioned a word to her, just like how she had not talked to him about it since she found out.
He had spent so much money on gifts for her and the children because that was him trying to relieve the pain somehow.
The thought made her feel like someone had tied a noose around her neck.
She picked up the glass on the table and took a big gulp of water, before setting it down.
“You went to him for money, right? How much do you want? How much would it take for you to leave?!” She roared.
Nathan’s eyes glammed, he was both surprised and pleased that Averie cut to the chase.
“I told Elyette to give me 15 million…”
“15 million?”
Desperate to end the torture, she interrupted him and said, “I’ll pay you!”
Nathan burst out laughing.
“You are so short- tempered! Do you hate me this much? If the two of you act like you hate me, it’s hard for me to leave.”
Averie flushed and threatened, “Stay and see if Elyette would kill you!”
She knew that when facing shameless men like Nathan, the only way to control them was to be more vicious than they were; besides, it was not entirely a threat.
If he overstepped the boundaries, there was a high chance that Elyette would kill him.
The smile faded from Nathan’s face.
It was bad enough to be threatened by Elyette, but to be threatened by his soon-to-be daughter-in-law was humiliating.
“Tell him to come kill me then! If he kills me, my eldest son will make sure that everyone in this country knows what a barbaric beast Elyette Foster is!”
Nathan shouted.
Averie glanced at the door to the private room and was instantly relieved that the waiters did not hear them.She had chosen to meet with him in private precisely to avoid being overheard if they started fighting.
“Once everyone knows, and then what?”
Averie calmed herself and questioned sharply, “With Elyette’s power and status in Aryadelle, it’s easy to kill you off without anyone knowing! If your son dares to cause a scene in Aryadelle, he would end up just like you! Take the money and leave! That’s your best way out!”
“Fine! I agree to take the money and leave! I will leave if you give me 15 million each month!”
Nathan leaned back against the chair with an expression that clearly stated ‘pay or I will fight you to the end’.
Averie gasped at his audacity and exclaimed in her mind, ’15 million a month?! Does he think of Elyette and me as ATMs? Even if we have the means to make money, we can’t possibly just hand it out for nothing! All money is hard-earned money, so who does Nathan think he is to just take it from someone that easily? He has never even raised Elyette.He doesn’t deserve that much money!’
“Tsk tsk! You two are so stingy! I did my research I know you are rich!”
Nathan said enviously, “If you two refuse to pay, then…”
“I have one condition!”
Averie swiftly made the decision after a brief moment of thought.
“Give Adrian to me! You don’t even treat him like a human- being, so hand him over to me!”
“How are we not treating him like a human-being?”
Nathan gaped and said, “Speak properly.Why are you insulting us? He is my youngest son!”
“He is Shea’s brother.Do I really need to say that out loud?”
Averie no longer wanted to beat around the bushes with him.
“You swapped Adrian with Elyette, otherwise, how would you explain how Elyette ended up as the Foster’s young master?”
An evil smile appeared on Nathan’s face.
“Nothing goes unnoticed by you, Doctor Tate! If you know that Adrian is the true young master of the Foster Family, then you should know that 15 million a month would not suffice.The young master of the Foster Family is worth a lot; why else would I keep him well-fed up until now?”
Averie’s temple started to hurt.
“An extra 15 million and I will hand Adrian over to you.I will take my children back to Bridgedale, how does that sound?”
Nathan summoned up the courage and voiced out the request.
30 million a month would add up to 360 million, that’s a better life than some CEOs of small enterprises; it was enough for him to live out the rest of his life in luxury.
‘‘Baam!’ Averie slammed her palms onto the table and got up.There was no point in continuing the meeting or the conversation.It was the bottom line for her to offer Nathan 15 million a month; if Nathan had accepted it, nothing would have happened.
She knew that Nathan had called her only because he failed to negotiate with Elyette.
Elyette was much richer than her and the only possible reason that Elyette refused to pay Nathan had to be that he couldn’t get past himself, not because of the money.
‘What kind of a father is Nathan? Is he even a man?! Who does he think he is?!’ She thought.
Once Averie left, Nathan took a gulp of liquor gloomily, thinking, ‘Have I asked for too much? 360 million each year wasn’t much! It’s barely a few digits off Elyette’s annual income!’
Averie felt even more frustrated by the time she walked out of the restaurant.She had finally gotten the whole story and if she couldn’t satisfy Nathan, he would definitely go after Elyette again.
‘That old bast*rd, let him get his as* kicked by Elyette!’ She thought, ‘Though…Elyette must be really troubled right now”
As she drove home, she put on her bluetooth earphone to call Elyette, dying to hear his voice.
She unlocked her phone and was surprised to see a message from Mrs.Cooper.
‘Hayden and Layla got into a fight.It’s bad.Hurry home once you are free”
She saw stars before her eyes as soon as she read the message.
Averie set her phone down and took her earphones off, before racing back.
In the living room of Starry River Villa, Layla held onto the box while squatting on the floor, sulking as she quietly wiped away her own tears.
Mrs.Cooper remained outside the door of the children’s room to talk to Hayden, but there was no response at all.
Luckily for them, Robert was not crying or throwing a tantrum at the moment as he was nibbling at snacks and playing with his toys in the crib.
Shortly after, Averie hurried back.She hadn’t had time to change her shoes and strode directly into the living room.
When she saw how upset Layla was, she immediately took her daughter into her arms.
“What’s wrong, Darling? Why did you fight with your brother?”
Averie noticed the workbooks as she spoke, and said, “Was it because of these?”
“Hayden didn’t like Dad’s gift and kicked at the box.I said that’s not right so he shouted for me to get out.”
Layla lowered her eyes with tears still lingering on her long lashes.
Averie could already picture how furious her son was from Layla’s gloomy tone.
“Okay.I will go find Hayden now.Stay right here don’t cry anymore.Go eat first if you are hungry and I will catch up with you soon.”
Averie put Layla down and strode towards the stairs.
“Mom, Hayden locked the door from the inside,” Layla reminded her.
“Yeah.It’s okay.I will get him to open the door.”
Mrs.Cooper heard the noises from upstairs and alerted Hayden through the door.
“Hayden, your mom is home.”
As soon as that was said, the door was opened.
Averie walked up the stairs and Mrs.Cooper approached her, before whispering, “I will go down first.Try talking to Hayden.”
After Mrs.Cooper left, Averie strode into the children’s room and saw Hayden sitting in front of his desk with his jaw clenched and his lips pursed.
“Hayden Tate, you are not a three-year-old anymore and I can’t keep trying to please you like I would a three-year-old.”
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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