Ch. 201..210
When His Eyes Opened Chapter 201
When His Eyes Opened Chapter 201
Tammy knew.
“Avery, why didn’t you tell Elliot? If he finds out that these are his kids…”
“He doesn’t want kids, Tammy. If you tell this to anyone or even Elliot, we won’t be friends anymore.” Avery said with a cold voice and her face was even colder as if she was a whole different person.
“If this is serious, of course I won’t tell. This is your privacy and I will keep your secret.” Tammy said anxiously, “I really don’t understand Elliot. What do you think, does he have a mental problem?”
“Not unlikely.” Avery sat by the bed and articulated each word, “I only want to take care of the kids until they grow up.”
“Avery, don’t worry. I promise you I won’t tell anyone about this.”
At the Foster family mansion.
It was seven in the evening when Elliot came home.
“Elliot, is Zoe okay? Why was she so careless? A doctor’s hands are the most precious body part of them all!” Rosalie heard about Zoe’s burn and she was worried.
“It’s no big deal.” Elliot did not want his mother to worry
He sent Zoe to the hospital and saw the burn on her hands.
They were quite severe.
The skin surface was completely damaged.
“That’s good. We need Zoe to treat Shea’s illness!” Rosalie mumbled.
“Mother, let’s not talk about this.” Elliot helped his mother up to the dining table and sat her down.
*There was a feast prepared on the table. Everyone did not eat and waited for him to come
home.
“Uncle, do you remember the girl I told you about?” Cole was anxious, so he started the conversation with Elliot, “I went to see Avery in the afternoon and saw a photo of the same girl on her phone.” .
Elliot’s eyes darkened and his movement halted.
“I’m quite certain that she’s the same girl who came to me. The girl looks just like Avery, I can’
t forget that! I suspect that she’s Avery’s actual daughter.” Cole told Elliot about his speculation.
Elliot instantly put down his fork.
Henry glared at his son, “Don’t make things up when you’re not sure! Also, why did you go to Avery today? Even though your Uncle had a divorce, she’s still your ex-Aunt! Wake up!”
Cole, “Dad, I passed by Tate Industries so I went over to have a look. I won’t look for her again.
Avery’s mouth was as dangerous as poison! How poisonous!
Elliot fidgeted and stood up from the chair.
“Elliot, you haven’t finished your dinner! Even if Avery has a daughter, she’s not yours! Why’ re you so excited?”
Rosalie held onto her son’s arm and tried to talk him out, “You have Zoe now, don’t go back to Avery.”
At night, Elliot had trouble falling asleep.
He had not met Avery’s daughter.
He wondered what she looked like. He wondered if she was adopted or Avery’s.
He had a strong gut feeling that Avery was keeping something from him.
He must not trust everything she said.
Including how she claimed to have burned Zoe on purpose. How could he believe her?
Also, he was disgusted by Zoe’s act of recording their conversation to hand it to the bodyguard.
He hated indirect and tactful women like her.
Although he fought with Avery very often, Avery would never do silly things like this.
The next morning, he phoned his assistant with his eyes red. He said with a hoarse voice,” Find out Avery’s current address for me.”
When His Eyes Opened Chapter 202
When His Eyes Opened Chapter 202
He had two voices inside him. One voice was telling him not to get back with Avery. Another voice was telling him to find Avery’s daughter.
Even if the daughter was not his, he wanted to see how alike the girl was to Avery.
And for that dude! A thorn to his heart!
At the Starry River Villa.
Tammy came with the newly bought puzzle.
As a result, it was Mike who opened the door for her.
“Why don’t you have clothes on again?” Tammy looked at Mike’s naked top and complained,” You’re not alone at home, there are Laura and Layla! Can you care more about your appearance?”
Mike looked half awake, “Why didn’t you bring breakfast? The buns you bought the other time were not too bad!”
Tammy was speechless.
She put down the puzzle and walked toward the master bedroom.
However, Avery was not around.
“Is Avery at work?” Tammy walked out from the bedroom and asked.
Mike yawned, “If she’s not around, then she’s at work!”
“Where’s Laura? Sending the kids to school?”
“If she’s not around, she must be out!” Mike went back to his room and put on a t-shirt.
Tammy chased after him and asked, “You don’t sleep in the same room as Avery? It seems like you two are not at that stage yet!”
“Why’re you so nosy? Even though we’re not sleeping together, no other man is closer to her than I am!” Mike said proudly as he walked out of the room.
Laura had already prepared breakfast and left it in the kitchen.
He walked over to have breakfast in the kitchen.
Tammy followed him and wanted to get more information out of him.
“How did you meet Avery? Since when did you two start seeing each other? My Avery is not someone who sees two men at once. Did you two meet after her divorce?”
IIT
“You should ask Avery. If she doesn’t tell you, I can’t tell you.” Mike ate the noodles, “If you want information from me, you should trade it with other information.”
Trading with other information?
“How’re you so stingy? Is this how you treat Avery as well?” Tammy sat opposite to him and frowned.
T
“Of course I don’t treat Avery this way. I will do anything for Avery. As long as she says the word, I will do it.” When Mike said those sweet words with his charming and handsome face. Tammy had goosebumps all over her.
“I don’t even know your name! I am Tammy, Avery’s college friend.” Tammy said.
“I know you’re Tammy, I also know that you’re her college friend. Can you give me some more useful information?” Mike complained.
Tammy took a deep breath and a sip of water, “Did you know that Avery was framed by another person yesterday?”
Mike raised his eyebrows, “Oh?”
Tammy said, “Tell me your name first and I will tell you how she was framed.”
“Mike.”
“Oh, Mike. So, do you know Elliot? He has a new girlfriend and her name is Zoe. She went to have lunch with Avery and during the meal, she purposefully used boiling water…”
“D*mn it! She used boiling water to splash at Avery?!” Mike dropped the fork and he was ready to fight.
Tammy pulled him back, “Hear me out! She did not splash at Avery! She did it to herself! She then framed Avery for splashing it at her! How mean is she?!”
Mike was flushed red with a glint in his eyes, “How could she do this?! My Avery feels bad even when she kills an ant, how would she splash boiling water on another person?”
“I know right! Most frustrating of all, the stupid Elliot even phoned Avery to question her for Zoe! Don’t you find it triggering?”
.Mike said, “D*mn it! If I were Avery, I would have cursed at him badly!”
Tammy was overwhelmed, “That’s too much.”
Mike, “Too much? Is Zoe looking for trouble? How dare she frame my Avery!” Mike had already started coming up with ideas to take revenge on Zoe.
When His Eyes Opened Chapter 203
When His Eyes Opened Chapter 203
Meanwhile, Hayden walked over to them.
Tammy was shocked, why was Hayden not in school?
Mike was equally shocked, “Big H, why’re you not in school? Let’s go out and play!”
Tammy was speechless.
Mike called Hayden “Big H”?
Hayden pulled on Mike’s arm and pulled him away.
Tammy was speechless.
It appeared that the two of them were quite close.
No wonder Mike won Avery’s heart. He got along with her kids.
At the Sterling Group.
After Elliot arrived, Chad came in to report to him.
After the report, Chad pushed his glasses over the bridge of his nose, “Mr. Foster, Miss Tate’s current address is at the Starry River Villa. Are you looking for her? You had a divorce, I’m afraid she might not let you in.”
Chad did not want Elliot to get into trouble.
Elliot, “Chad, keep looking for a doctor to treat Shea for me. No matter how much they want, we can negotiate as long as Shea can be treated.”
Chad was surprised, “Miss Sanford is no longer treating Shea?”
Elliot threw him a glance and Chad instantly got it.
“Miss Sanford did cross a line. How could she threaten you with this.” Chad said, “I will keep looking. Right, Miss Tate has been quite busy recently. I have a friend who went over to work at Tate Industries. Miss Tate stayed back late every day.”
“I want to see her daughter. I heard that she looks just like Avery.” Elliot opened up, “I think she’s keeping something from me.”
Chad, “I see. You could go over in the evening. Right, my friend also said that the golden haired man is the Director of Operations at Tate Industries. His name is Mike.”
“Director of Operations?” Elliot had a glint of surprise in his eyes, “Is he good?”
Chad said, “I can’t find anything on him online. I can’t get his information from his country
as well. He is a mysterious guy.”
Elliot’s eyes dropped.
A mysterious man?
How did Avery meet him?
“Chad, ask your friend to keep an eye on him. I want to find out more about him.” Elliot said.
Chad smiled, “I already told my friend to. To be honest, I don’t believe that Avery is in a relationship with Mike. He is too different from you. A person’s taste can’t change so much.”
Elliot had a pen in his hand as he said in a low voice, “Cole said that Avery’s daughter went to him twice. Avery would not have let her daughter do so. Someone else must have asked her daughter to do so.”
“You’re suspecting Mike?”
“Not sure. They are strange.”
“Yes, not long ago, Angela Special Needs Academy’s server was hacked. I wonder if Mike did it.
“Therefore, I need more information on this man.”
Five in the afternoon.
Laura went to the kindergarten to pick up Layla.
“Grandma, two boys got me snacks today but I didn’t take them.” Layla mumbled, “I’m not a foodie! Also, my brother told me to not play with the boys. I will get unlucky!”
Laura asked, “Your brother actually said that?”
Layla said, “Yeah! Brother said that other than him and Uncle Mike, other men are bad!”
Layla spoke with her eyes sparkling when she saw a tall and well-built man standing in front of their house. “Grandma, why is that man standing in front of our house? Who is he?”
When His Eyes Opened Chapter 204
When His Eyes Opened Chapter 204
Laura walked toward Elliot.,
When he saw Laura walking toward him, he said, “Hello, Aunt.”
Laura looked cold, “Did Avery invite you over?”
“No.”
“Then, why’re you here? You had a divorce, please stop disturbing our lives.” Laura’s attitude was harsh. This was their house and Elliot came uninvited out of the blue.
Elliot looked at the closed gate and then at Laura’s face. He had to leave, “Sorry for disturbing.
He could not break inside.
When he left, he caught a small white object moving behind the bushes.
The small object must have been Avery’s daughter.
He really wanted to see her but not through this way.
He walked away.
After he left, Layla ran out from the bushes.
“Grandma! Why did Dad come?”
Laura held Layla’s hand and walked toward the villa’s gate, “How do you know he’s your Dad?”
“Because he is Mom’s ex-husband!” Layla said worriedly and sighed, “What a pity that he’s a douchebag. My brother and I won’t have a Dad for the rest of our lives.”
Laura smiled, “Not necessarily. Your Mom is still young. Who knows, she might meet a nice man. Your step-father will love you just as much!”
Laura spoke because, as a mother, she hoped that her daughter could find a better man.
After all, life is long and it would be less lonely to have a partner.
· Layla pouted, “I don’t want a stepfather! Brother also doesn’t want a stepfather.”
The gate was opened and the both of them went inside before Laura closed it behind them.
“Brother!” Layla knew that Hayden was not in school today, so she called out, “Brother, I’m home!”
our brother is not home. He went to your Mom’s company with Uncle Mike.” Laura brought Layla to the living room.
“What is my brother doing in Mom’s company? To play? I also want to play there! Grandma, don’t make dinner, bring me to find Mom and Brother!” Layla pulled on Laura’s hand and pleaded.
Laura could not resist, so she had to bring Layla over.
This was the first company dinner after Tate Industries was re-built.
As the owner, Avery made a toast before walking out from the restaurant.
Her mother and two children were waiting for her outside.
The two children did not like places with a lot of strangers.
She had to send them home.
“Avery, did you drink?” Laura asked.
Avery shook her head, “I had juice. I need to drive, they understood.”
The mother and daughter each held onto one child and walked toward the parking lot.
Not far away, in the darkness, part of Elliot’s face showed under the lamppost
He looked at the four of them darkly. How much he wanted to walk over but he knew he had to hold back
Laura had made it clear to him earlier in the evening.
As long as he had dignity, he must not disturb them.
“Mr. Foster, the girl that Avery is holding must be her daughter?” Chad looked over at Avery and said.
Elliot gulped and said in a hoarse voice, “Chad, should I stop harassing them? No matter who her daughter belongs to, it won’t be mine. She already aborted the baby that we had.”
Chad said, “Even though you had a divorce, it’s still okay to say hi. I don’t think you’re harassing them.”
“They stay away from me like I’m a monster and they clearly don’t want to see me.” Elliot stood transfixed on the spot. His voice was cold.
“Mr. Foster, why don’t I say hi to them? I can have a look at her daughter.” Chad wanted to help him.
“No need. Your mission tonight is to get close to Mike.” “Okay.”
When His Eyes Opened Chapter 205
When His Eyes Opened Chapter 205
After the Tate Industries dinner had ended, there was a series of entertainment.
Chad’s friend promised him to let him join them.
This way, Chad could get close to Mike.
After Avery and her family sat inside the car, Chad said to Elliot, “Mr. Foster, get some rest! Zoe’s hands are hurt, you haven’t visited her today, right? Why don’t you check on her so that she’s not disappointed.”
Elliot spent the whole day working today. Chad could tell that Elliot was not feeling well and so he used work to numb himself.
However, Elliot had to face her eventually.
Now Shea needed Zoe’s treatment. As Zoe’s boyfriend, Elliot must not be too harsh.
Around half an hour after Elliot had left, Chad’s friend came out from the restaurant.
There was a group of men coming out along with him. Including Mike.
“Our Director of Operations will wing us to continue drinking at the bar…Chad, I remember that you can drink a lot. Come and join us.” Chad’s friend patted Chad on the shoulder and said in a low voice, “I feel like he is more of a sister to Miss Tate…normally a couple won’t act like this. I don’t know if you get what I mean…find out when you drink with him later.”
Chad was shocked but pleased.
If Mike was merely a friend of Avery, then that would be ideal
In the past two days, Elliot was feeling down due to Mike and Avery.
And yet, since they already had a divorce, Elliot could not do anything.
“To be fair, I’m not sure about my boss’ relationship with Shea. They’re not a couple but they… do have something. I can’t tell.” Chad said in a low voice, “Don’t spread this, if not, my boss will fire me.”
“Well, don’t tell anyone about what I told you as well. After all, he’s our Director of ‘Operations. If he’s not gay, he will definitely fire me.”
“Yeah!”
At the bar.
Under the dim light and with the alcohol working, one could lose consciousness easily.
Mike had two drinks when Chad’s friend brought Chad forward.
“Director, this is my friend, Chad. He is good at drinking, let him drink with you!”
Mike glanced at Chad.
Chad had an ordinary look but his eyes were special. Mike had not seen such clear eyes for a long time.
“How much can you drink?” Mike held on to his glass and touched it with Chad’s.
Chad said, “Half a bottle maximum, I don’t really drink a lot.”
“Oh, that’s not a lot. Well, then drink half a bottle with me, then!” Mike’s face was red, forming a stark contrast with his neck.
Chad had a drink with him. Based on their conversation and eye contact, Chad felt that Mike did not seem gay.
However, his friend said Mike seemed gay, so Chad decided he would test it further.
Chad took a deep breath and as the alcohol worked in their heads, Chad moved his legs toward Mike.
Mike saw it and he was quite shocked.
Chad coughed and moved his legs away.
When he did this, Mike did not move his legs away.
This showed that he might actually be gay.
However, he was not sure yet.
Both of them finished their second drink. They were talking when Mike’s legs leaned forward out of the blue!
Their legs were touching very closely. Skin to skin.
Chad was speechless.
Mike was definitely gay, but he was not! He stood up right away as he was going to leave but Mike hugged him tightly!
When His Eyes Opened Chapter 206
When His Eyes Opened Chapter 206
At 5 a.m. the next morning, Elliot‘s phone vibrated. He had received a text message.
It was not until two hours later that he woke up and saw the message from Chad.
(Sir, according to Mike, he‘s an expert hacker.)
(He‘s gay.)
(I‘d like to take the day off, Sir.)
Elliot‘s brows furrowed as he read the three messages.
How did Chad manage to find out this much crucial information in the span of a night?
Mike was not someone who was easy to deal with.
He would not simply reveal personal details to a stranger for no reason.
At that thought, Elliot dialed Chad‘s number.
“Chad, how did you get all that information from Mike?”
Chad remained silent for two seconds, then said with a hint of exhaustion in his voice, “I was drinking with him last night. He told me after a few drinks.”
“That‘s it?”
“Yes. Also, I had too much to drink, so I‘d like to take the day off.”
“Okay. Stay home and get some rest.”
Chad‘s eyes were red at the end of the phone call.
No one would believe what happened to him the night before.
He had no plans to talk about it, anyway.
It was too humiliating.
At eight in the morning at Starry River Villa, Avery was getting ready to take the children to school.
“Didn‘t Uncle Mike come home last night, Mommy?” Layla asked with her backpack on her back and a curious expression on her face. “I checked his room and he wasn’t there!”
Avery had called Mike at 11 p.m. the night before.
I hope
He had told her he was out drinking.
When she called again at midnight, he had not answered her call.
“He probably had too much to drink and ended up staying at a hotel,” Avery answered. “Don’t worry about him. He‘ll be fine.”
Mike had always had an entertaining nightlife, so it was normal for him to be out all night.
“Oh. Will you and Uncle Mike get married, Mommy?” Layla pried nosily. “I won’t be mad if you and Uncle Mike got together.”
Avery found her daughter‘s words both laughable and infuriating.
“Mommy would never get together with Uncle Mike. Stop imagining things.”
“Hayden and I really like Uncle Mike, though.”
“I know you like him, and I will be friends with him forever,” Avery said, then led the children out the front door, where their eyes landed on the black Rolls–Roice out front.
Elliot was standing by the car outside the gates, and his gaze was fixed on Avery and the children.
The expression on their faces instantly changed.
It was only eight in the morning, so what was Elliot doing at their front gate?
When did he get here?
Why did he come?
Avery felt the blood rise inside of her. Avery felt as if weights had been attached to her feet, and she could not move.
From the living room, Laura noticed the three standing still outside and walked out to check on them.
“What‘s wrong, Avery?” Laura asked as she walked out to the front yard.
When she noticed Elliot outside the gates, Laura immediately began to charge at him.
Avery ran after her and caught up to her.
“Take the kids to school, Mom!”
Worried that her mother would start a fight with Elliot, Avery quickly grabbed onto Laura’s
arm.
“I forgot to tell you that he came by last night. Now he‘s here again… What’s he doing hanging
around like this?” Laura‘s face was flushed with anger.
When His Eyes Opened Chapter 207
When His Eyes Opened Chapter 207
Avery glanced at the children, then turned to Laura and said, “Take the kids to school. I’m sure he has a reason for being here.”
As Laura led the children past Elliot, he noticed Layla’s face.
It was true that Layla looked similar to Avery.
Layla’s 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.
“Why are you here this early in the morning?”
Elliot looked at Avery‘s cool, clean face, then asked with a complicated expression on his face, “Is she your biological daughter, Avery? She looks a lot like you.”
“Did you come by just to look at my daughter?”
“Who‘s her father?” Elliot asked in a raised voice. “Since she‘s already in preschool, she‘s definitely more than three years old.”
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.
“That‘s right. She‘s my biological daughter, but you‘re not the father,” Avery answered with a smile. “I found a random sperm donor from a sperm bank abroad to fulfill my wish to become a mother.”
What a wish!
Avery’s words rendered Elliot completely speechless.
“If that‘s the only reason you’re here, then you can leave now,” Avery said curtly.
Elliot’s face turned cold as he said, “That man who lives in your house is gay.”
The smile on Avery’s face froze.
“How did you know that?”
It was impossible to find any information on Mike online.
Mike was the world’s most notorious hacker.
No one was able to find out his personal information unless he revealed it.
Elliot felt a sense of relief.
“It looks like you already knew.”
“Do you have too much time on your hands, Elliot? How‘s your girlfriend’s wound? How’s Shea recovering? With all these women waiting for you to dote on them, there’s no reason for you to waste what little energy you have left on me. Do you think there could be anything left between us?”
Avery gave Elliot a hard shove, then turned and walked back into the front yard.
“Avery! My relationship with Shea isn‘t what you think it is!” Elliot called out at Avery’s 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?
“Are you having fun messing with me like this, Elliot?” Avery turned and said mockingly several feet away from Elliot. “The one who you owe an explanation to and who you should feel responsible to is Zoe Sanford! Not I!”
Her words woke him up, but he did not agree with her last statement.
“I‘m not obligated to explain to or feel beholden to any woman unless I feel I am. You know I don‘t love Zoe.”
“What‘s that got to do with me? I don‘t care who you date!” Avery snapped, her words stabbing at Elliot‘s heart. “You‘ve never truly loved me, so I won‘t let you fool me again!”
If he had truly cared for her, he would not have held back. He would have told her everything he needed to say.
“You said your relationship with Shea isn’t like that,” Avery said with a tremble in her voice.” Even so, she’s the most important person in your heart. Please let me go, Elliot! I‘m done being toyed with!”
When Chad returned to the office after his day off, he noticed that Elliot‘s mood was worse than before.
He was surprised, then went to ask Ben.
“What‘s wrong with Mr. Foster?”
Ben was drinking a cup of coffee, then sighed, “According to his driver, Elliot went over to Avery’s yesterday to make up with her, but ended up getting heartlessly rejected.”
“It looks like I suffered through that work–related injury for nothing, then.”
“What work-related injury?”
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.
When His Eyes Opened Chapter 208
When His Eyes Opened Chapter 208
Avery rushed to the technical department the moment she received the notice.
“Our director isn‘t here today, Mr. Foster.”
The manager at the technical department had no clue what had happened,
However, judging from the coldness on Elliot‘s face, he guessed that Mike had somehow offended the man.
“Perhaps I should escort you to the president!” said the manager just as Avery walked into the room.
Avery approached Elliot, noticed his rage, then said, “Let‘s talk in my office.”
He probably came up to the technical department to see Mike about something that had happened between them.
Mike did not tell Avery anything but based on how livid Elliot looked, she guessed that it must be something serious.
Once they were in Avery‘s office, Elliot and Ben sat down on the couch while the bodyguard waited at the door.
“What happened?” Avery said as she served each man a glass of water.
“Miss Tate, I‘m afraid your director of operations violated Chad,” Ben said.
Avery was speechless.
Chad was Elliot‘s most trusted assistant and right–hand man. Anyone who picked on Chad picked on Elliot.
Avery‘s head began to spin.
She did not expect Mike to do something this outrageous!
She picked up her phone and called Mike. He was quick to answer her call.
Avery lowered her voice and hissed, “Come to the office right now!”
Mike was bewildered, “I‘m eating out! What’s going on? Why are you snapping at me?” “Did you mess with Elliot Foster‘s assistant?!”
“What are you talking about? How am I supposed to know his assistant?”
“Elliot Foster’s sitting in my office right now. He wouldn’t be here if it weren’t true!” Avery snanded as her breathing quickened. “Did you sleep with him without even knowing his
name?!”
“Of course not! I’ve only slept with one person since I arrived -”
“What was his name?”
“Chad. I haven‘t been able to contact him since that night.”
Avery inhaled a slow tortured breath and said, “That‘s Elliot Foster’s assistant! Get your *ss over here right now!”
Once she hung up, Avery walked over to Elliot and Ben, then sat across from them. Her cheeks were flushed.
“How‘s Mr. Rayner doing? My apologies. Mike didn‘t tell me what he did,” she said apologetically, then added with a hint of suspicion, “How do they know each other?”
Aside from work, Mike spent his time bar–hopping.
Avery could not imagine how he could have met Chad.
After thinking over the matter for a few seconds, Ben said, “Mike went to a bar after your company dinner the other night, and Chad was there, too. I admit that Chad went to that bar to dig up information about Mike—”
Avery instantly understood.
“So, you sent Chad Rayner to get close to Mike, and by some strange circumstances, they ended up sleeping together,” she said, then turned to Elliot and added, “That‘s how you found out Mike was gay.”
Noticing that they were about to get into a fight, Ben quickly jumped in, “There’s something you don‘t know, Miss Tate. We investigated Mike because our company had recently been hacked. Our entire network had been disabled. The hacker even left a written challenge on Elliot‘s computer. We suspect that this hacker is the same one that hacked into Angela Special Needs Academy.” Avery‘s heart tightened, and her fists clenched slightly as she asked, “Why do you suspect it was Mike?”
“That‘s because he‘s your director of operations. I bet his technical skills are amazing! Besides, we found it suspicious that we could not find any information about him,” Ben said. ” We never asked Chad to sacrifice his body like that. Mike was the one who forced him into it.”
Avery lowered her gaze as she lost confidence in her argument.
If Mike really forced himself onto Chad and hacked into the school and the Sterling Group, then Avery would not stand up for him.
There was nothing she could do even if she wanted to help.
Elliot would be showing him great mercy if he decided not to kill him. Soon after, Mike arrived at the office.
When His Eyes Opened Chapter 209
When His Eyes Opened Chapter 209
Mike burst through the doors and strode into Avery’s office.
“Avery! Chad was the one who had initiated it!” Mike said. His pale blue eyes filled with apprehension, “We were just drinking and chatting at first when his leg slid against mine… If he didn‘t mean anything by it, then why did he bump my leg with his? Wasn’t that a signal for
sex?
Avery’s face turned scarlet.
“Chad was trying to find out if you were gay or straight,” Ben said awkwardly.
Mike was determined to argue his case.
“I didn’t know what his true intentions were! Besides, he had the time of his life that night!”
The entire room dipped into pin–drop silence.
Elliot picked up his glass of water and took a sip.
Ben followed suit.
Avery changed the subject, “Did you ever hack into Angela Special Needs Academy? Also, were you behind the system breach at Sterling Group before this?”
Mike raised both his hands and swore, “It wasn‘t me! I’d admit it if it were me. It’s true that my hacking skills are impressive, but it really wasn‘t me.”
He then shot a meaningful look at Avery.
His eyes said, “It was your son.”
Avery was at a loss for words. Finally, she composed herself and said, “So… I haven‘t had lunch. What about you guys? Let‘s go get lunch together!”
In order to protect her son, she had no choice but to muster her courage and treat Elliot an Ben to lunch.
“There’s a really good Mexican restaurant nearby.”
Ben glanced at Elliot and decided to help him win this round.
“Miss Tate, that‘s––”
“Didn‘t you say you love Mexican food? Give it a try!” Elliot interjected before Ben could finish his sentence, and accepted Avery‘s offer.
Ben was bewildered.
Since when did he like Mexican food?
“Ha! Serves him right getting tortured by Avery!” Ben thought.
“Could you ask Chad out for me? I‘d like to talk to him,” Mike said.
He was not interested in joining them for lunch. All he wanted to do was to set things straight with Chad.
“Just head over to Sterling Group if you want to see him. I doubt you‘d act recklessly once you’ re on our turf,” Ben said.
“I never picked on him!” Mike said with an innocent expression on his face. “That night, he was a little reluctant and twitchy at first, but then he—”
Avery did not want to listen to the details, so she interrupted him and said, “Go apologize to him right now! And don‘t harass him again after this!”
Mike instantly turned meek and said, “Okay.”
Once they were at the restaurant, Avery ordered a few of the specials, then passed the menu to Ben, who then passed it to Elliot.
“Didn‘t you say you loved Mexican food?” Avery asked.
“Elliot likes it, too,” Ben said with a grin.
“I see… Did you suffer any damage from the hacking attack?” Avery asked.
Ben and Elliot had both seen Mike communicating something to Avery with his eyes.
Whoever the hacker was, even if it was not Mike, it was definitely someone close to Avery.
“Of course. We failed to close a hundred–million–dollar contract that day, and another company swooped in and got the contract. What‘s worse was all the important information on Elliot‘s computer was wiped clean! We‘re still looking into the whereabouts of that hacker! Once we find out who he is, we‘ll make sure he pays for his crimes financially and legally!”
Ben‘s words made Avery turn pale.
Noticing her reaction, Elliot said, “He‘s just scaring you. We can excuse the financial matters, and I still have all the data that was on my computer. However, the written challenge the hacker left behind annoyed me. I‘ll definitely find him and throw him in prison!”
When His Eyes Opened Chapter 210
When His Eyes Opened Chapter 210
Avery’s chest tightened.
She could hear the nervous tremor in her own voice as she tried to stay calm.
“I see… What did the challenge entail?”
Elliot’s thick brows furrowed as he said with a chilling expression, “Come and strangle me,
you *sshole!”
Avery was speechless.
Ben did not know whether to laugh or cry.
“I suspect the hacker‘s pretty young!”
“Not necessarily!” Avery said. “You can‘t tell much from that one sentence!”
“An adult probably wouldn‘t add in the term ‘*sshole‘ right? Other than in those old, corny soap operas, of course.”
To prevent them from suspecting a minor, Avery looked at Ben and muttered, “sshole,” then turned to Elliot and once again said, “sshole.”
Both Ben and Elliot sat in stunned silence.
“See, there‘s nothing silly about the word!” Avery said. “Adults can easily use it, too.”
She was hard at work, trying to clear her son‘s name.
Her expression had unwittingly given her away.
Ben and Elliot exchanged glances for a moment as they came to the same conclusion.
“How did you and Mike meet, Miss Tate? It‘s hard to imagine that you would know someone that special,” Ben said, changing the subject to something more lighthearted. “Also, it looks like he‘s especially obedient. He listens to your every word.”
Avery took a sip of water and made up an excuse.
“We met at a networking event when I was studying abroad. We’re friends, so there’s no such thing as obedience.”
“I see… Did he follow you to Aryadelle?”
“He came because he felt like it, and he‘ll leave when he feels like it. What‘s this about following me around?” Avery said as she picked up a taco and placed it on her plate.
Mike was at Sterling Group trying to explain his intentions to the receptionist at the front
desk
“I‘m sorry, but you need an appointment to see Mr. Rayner.”
“It’s lunchtime now,” Mike said.
“Exactly! It‘s lunchtime, so you may make an appointment after lunch at two in the afternoon, ” said the receptionist.
“That’s not what I mean… Elliot Foster and Ben Schaffer sent me to see him. Do you know who those two are?”
The receptionist was taken aback.
How could she possibly not know who the president and chief financial officer were?
“One moment, Sir. I‘ll call Mr. Rayner and bring the matter to his attention.”
After a short phone call, the receptionist turned to Mike and said, “Mr. Rayner doesn’t want to see you.”
“I know he doesn‘t want to see me, but your boss told me to come here. Are you going to listen to him or your boss? Just take me to where he is,” Mike said.
He was determined to see Chad because he was absolutely furious!
The receptionist hesitated for a moment, then led Mike to Chad’s office.
The moment Chad saw Mike, he began to seethe with anger.
Mike closed the door to Chad‘s office behind him, then snapped coldly, “You spy!”
Faced with Mike‘s chastising, Chad refused to back down.
“I admit, I had ulterior motives for getting close to you that night, but you—”
“It‘s good that you‘re admitting to that! Avery gave me an earful! She even made me come here to apologize to you! There‘s no way I‘m apologizing!”
Mike was infuriated, but he was still relatively level – headed.
“Nothing would‘ve happened between us if you hadn‘t deliberately approached me, so don’t act like the victim here!”
“Delete my number!” Chad hissed through gritted teeth.
“My pleasure!” Mike said as he pulled out his phone and deleted Chad’s number.
At the same time, Chad also got rid of Mike’s number.
“Let’s never meet ever again! Even if I run into you, we should pretend like we don’t know
each other,” said Chad.
“Ha! i’d rather run into the devil than run into you!” Mike responded.
After a heated argument, the two men parted ways.
Mike walked out of Sterling Group, then entered a cafe nearby and ordered a cup of black coffee.
He then gave Hayden a call and said, “Hey, Big H. Your mom knows about what you did. I’ve got my own butt to worry about, so you’re on your own this time!”
“It looks like I‘ll have to bring the plan forward,” Hayden mumbled.
“I think so! I bet your mom’s going to confiscate your laptop and give you a piece of her mind. Elliot Foster gave her some trouble today, so I’m guessing she’s in a terrible mood! Shouldn’t you just run away from home?” suggested Mike. “I’d rather get a beating than break Mommy’s heart,” said Hayden.