Avery returned home earlier than usual that evening.
Once Laura took Hayden home from school, she picked up Layla and went into the bedroom.
Hayden already knew what was about to happen when he saw his grandmother carry his sister
away.
“Give me your bag, Hayden,” Avery said as she stretched a hand out to Hayden
Hayden passed his bag to his mother with both hands.
Avery opened the bag and took out the laptop.
She did not open the laptop, but said, “Uncle Mike told me everything. You’ve used the skills he taught
you to do a lot of bad things. Did you know that was illegal, Hayden? Do you know what you would have
to face if they caught you?”
Hayden answered his mother without batting an eyelid, “I‘m only four. Can they throw me in jail?”
Avery was at a loss for words.
Even if Elliot ruled over Aryadelle, he probably had no way of sending a four-year-old to prison.
However, that was not the point.
The point was that Hayden‘s values were beginning to get twisted.
“You won‘t be four years old forever. You‘re bound to grow up,” Avery said as she tried to educate her
son. “I can‘t watch you make the same mistake again, so I‘m confiscating your laptop for now.”
“Uncle Mike would just get me a new one,” Hayden said.
Avery felt her head throb, then sighed and said, “Are you planning on acting up again?!”
Hayden shook his head and said, “I won‘t mess with Elliot Foster again.”
As long as he left Elliot Foster alone, nobody else would be able to figure out that it was him.
“No dinner for you tonight,” Avery said, then walked towards her room with the laptop in her arms. Her
eyes were red.
Hayden knew that his mother would never lay a finger on him, but the thought of Avery’s angry face
upset him.
All he wanted to do was punish the person who picked on his mother.
At seven in the evening, Zoe received a text message.
(Meet me tonight at 10 at the Scenic Hotel, Room V809. I want to get to know you better. Elliot.
Did Elliot just invite her to a hotel at 10 p.m.?!
It was hard not to let one’s imagination run wild considering the meeting place and time.
They were both adults.
Even someone who had never dated would know the deeper meaning behind that text.
Why was Elliot suddenly changing his behavior toward her?
Zoe did not overthink it, because her head was spinning with joy.
She had to dress up tonight and make sure to leave a lasting impression on him.
She was determined to completely take over Avery‘s place in Elliot‘s heart.
Over at the Starry River Villa, Hayden and Layla climbed in bed after washing up.
Layla pulled out a piece of chocolate from underneath her pillow, then said, “Grandma asked me to give
this to you, Hayden. She was worried you‘d be hungry... Hurry up and eat it!”
Hayden shook his head and refused.
Layla shoved her hands back under her pillow and fumbled around.
Suddenly, she pulled out yet another piece of chocolate.
“This was from Mommy. She‘s also worried you‘d be hungry. Just eat one of them, Hayden! We ‘ll take
one piece each. How‘s that?” Layla begged gently.
“Did Mommy really ask you to give that to me?” Hayden said as he stared at the chocolates in his sister’s
hand.
They were clearly identical.
“That‘s right! Actually, they‘re both from Mommy. She told me to say it was from Grandma at first
because she felt bad...”
A hint of warmth washed over Hayden’s cold face. At 10 p.m. that night, an alluring person appeared at
the entrance of the Scenic Hotel.
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