Chapter 232

Avery arrived at the Foster mansion half an hour later.

She headed straight into the living room to find no one in sight.

She was stunned,

“Layla!” she called out.

Soon after, she heard the sound of Layla‘s child–like voice.

“Mommy! I’m over here! Come save me! The dirtbag wants to hit me!”

Avery followed the sound of her daughter‘s voice into the dining room.

Layla was hiding under the dining table with a panicked expression on her face.

She did not let go of her guard until Avery appeared.

“Layla! What are you doing under the table? Get out here!” Avery said as she walked over to the table
and pulled her daughter out from under it. Layla threw herself in her mother‘s arms, then cried through
reddened eyes, “He‘s trying to hit me! I was so scared... That‘s why I tried to hide! I ran away quickly so
he didn‘t catch me… If he caught me, then he would have beaten me to death!”

Of course Avery did not believe a word Layla was saying.

Why would Elliot raise his hand to a child?

It was not like he knew that Layla was her biological daughter.

“He won‘t hit you, Layla,” Avery cooed.

“Actually, I was about to hit her, “Elliot said.



Avery’s eyes shot up and met his gaze.

He was wearing a gray robe and there was a clear bite mark on his neck.

“Why did you bite him, Layla?”

Avery noticed the rage in Elliot’s eyes and had to give him some sort of explanation.

Hayden had bitten Elliot last time because he had taken him home of his own accord.

This time, however, Layla was the one who showed up at his house herself.

Layla rubbed her swollen eyes, then said, “He carried me! I didn’t want him to touch me… He did it
anyway… I was so mad!”

“Even if that‘s the case, you can‘t just go around biting people!” Avery said. “Look, you bit him hard
enough to draw blood. Hurry up and apologize.”

Layla puffed out her cheeks and said stubbornly, “I won’t apologize to him! Hayden would laugh at me if I
did!”

Avery had run out of ideas with her daughter.

“Let’s talk privately, Avery,” Elliot said hoarsely with a sullen face.

Avery handed Layla over to Mrs. Cooper, then followed Elliot out of the dining room.

Once they were out of the room, Elliot turned to her and questioned, “How exactly do you raise your
children? Did you know how much they despise me?”

Avery absent mindedly shook her head and said, “I‘ve never badmouthed you in front of them.



“It‘s Mike‘s fault, then,” Elliot said as his Adam‘s apple rolled in his throat, then added mockingly, “Your
children have each taken a bite out of me. Do you want a turn, too?”

Avery‘s cheeks flushed as she said apologetically, “I‘ll get the first aid kit.”

Elliot walked over to the couch and took a seat.

Avery returned soon after with the first aid kit.

As Elliot lifted his head, Avery‘s eyes landed on his slender neck and sensual collar bone.

Avery felt restless.

She tended to his wound as she found a subject to talk about.

“Did you go to my birthday party last night?”

“I didn‘t,” Elliot said as his deep eyes filled with resentment. “I wasn‘t invited.”

Avery was taken aback.

“Oh... Maybe Mike thought that since we‘re divorced...”

“Didn’t you see the guest list?” Elliot was still upset about the matter. “I didn’t. I only found out yesterday
that Mike had planned such a huge birthday party for me.”


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