Chapter 207
When His Eyes Opened
Avery glanced at the children, then turned to Laura and said, âTake the kids to school. Iâm sure he has a
reason for being here.â
As Laura led the children past Elliot, he noticed Laylaâs face.
It was true that Layla looked similar to Avery.
Laylaâs glistening wide eyes had a hint of hostility in them, and she glared at him when they walked past.
He wondered what thoughts could have been instilled in her for her to despise him to this extent.
Avery approached Elliot soon after.
âWhy are you here this early in the morning?â
Elliot looked at Averyâs cool, clean face, then asked with a complicated expression on his face, âIs she
your biological daughter, Avery? She looks a lot like you.â
âDid you come by just to look at my daughter?â
âWhoâs her father?â Elliot asked in a raised voice. âSince sheâs already in preschool, sheâs definitely more
than three years old.â
It seemed like Avery could not get away with saying that Layla was adopted.
Her daughter resembled her too much. Layla looked exactly like her when she was a little girl. It was as if
someone had created Layla out of the same mold that had been used to create Avery.
âThatâs right. Sheâs my biological daughter, but youâre not the father,â Avery answered with a smile. âI
found a random sperm donor from a sperm bank abroad to fulfill my wish to become a mother.â
What a wish!
Averyâs words rendered Elliot completely speechless.
âIf thatâs the only reason youâre here, then you can leave now,â Avery said curtly.
Elliotâs face turned cold as he said, âThat man who lives in your house is gay.â
The smile on Averyâs face froze.
âHow did you know that?â
It was impossible to find any information on Mike online.
Mike was the worldâs most notorious hacker.
No one was able to find out his personal information unless he revealed it.
Elliot felt a sense of relief.
âIt looks like you already knew.â
âDo you have too much time on your hands, Elliot? Howâs your girlfriendâs wound? Howâs Shea
recovering? With all these women waiting for you to dote on them, thereâs no reason for you to waste
what little energy you have left on me. Do you think there could be anything left between us?â
Avery gave Elliot a hard shove, then turned and walked back into the front yard.
âAvery! My relationship with Shea isnât what you think it is!â Elliot called out at Averyâs slender back as his
fists tightened.
Avery gritted her teeth.
How long had she waited for those words?
She had given him countless chances to explain himself.
Why did he not say anything before? What was he trying to salvage by telling her now?
âAre you having fun messing with me like this, Elliot?â Avery turned and said mockingly several feet away
from Elliot. âThe one who you owe an explanation to and who you should feel responsible to is Zoe
Sanford! Not I!â
Her words woke him up, but he did not agree with her last statement.
âIâm not obligated to explain to or feel beholden to any woman unless I feel I am. You know I donât love
Zoe.â
âWhatâs that got to do with me? I donât care who you date!â Avery snapped, her words stabbing at Elliotâs
heart. âYouâve never truly loved me, so I wonât let you fool me again!â
If he had truly cared for her, he would not have held back. He would have told her everything he needed
to say.
âYou said your relationship with Shea isnât like that,â Avery said with a tremble in her voice.â Even so,
sheâs the most important person in your heart. Please let me go, Elliot! Iâm done being toyed with!â
When Chad returned to the office after his day off, he noticed that Elliotâs mood was worse than before.
He was surprised, then went to ask Ben.
âWhatâs wrong with Mr. Foster?â
Ben was drinking a cup of coffee, then sighed, âAccording to his driver, Elliot went over to Averyâs
yesterday to make up with her, but ended up getting heartlessly rejected.â
âIt looks like I suffered through that workârelated injury for nothing, then.â
âWhat work-related injury?â
Chad dejectedly explained everything that happened the night he met Mike at the bar.
That afternoon, escorted by his bodyguards, Elliot appeared at Tate Industries surrounded by a
murderous aura.