Ch. 211..220
When His Eyes Opened Chapter 211
When His Eyes Opened Chapter 211
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.
When His Eyes Opened Chapter 212
When His Eyes Opened Chapter 212
Zoe had worn a strappy red dress to the hotel. She pushed open the door to Room V809.
The darkness of the room took her by surprise, but she very quickly noticed the flickering of red candles inside.
Red candles!
Sitting by the candles was a decanter of red wine and some desserts, and on the chair next to the arrangement was a bouquet of red roses.
Zoe was melting in the romantic atmosphere.
Elliot was unexpectedly sentimental!
Zoe was filled with anticipation for what was about to happen that night.
As she picked the bouquet of roses, she became intoxicated by the strong floral fragrance.
She placed the bouquet back on the chair, then pulled out her phone.
It was almost ten o‘clock, but why had Elliot not arrived?
Was there traffic on the streets?
When another fifteen minutes passed with no sign of Elliot, Zoe began to feel anxious.
Was he not coming?
He could not possibly have painstakingly decorated the room on a whim, right?
Or perhaps, did he mistakenly send the text to her?
Zoe poured herself a glass of wine. She wrapped her fingers around the glass and gently swayed the red liquid inside of it, before taking a sip.
It was not bad at all!
It was a fragrant, full–bodied wine.
It was not until 11 p.m. that the unlocked door was pushed open, and a tall figure walked in.
A spark of great excitement flashed in her blurry eyes.
She hurried toward the tall figure, threw her arms around him, and whispered softly, “I knew you’d come, Elliot… It was a painful wait, but you showed up in the end…”
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The man‘s entire body suddenly stiffened, as if he was shocked
Hoe ignored him and kept her arms tightly wrapped around him
After two glasses of wine, her reason had already flown out the window
All she wanted was to be with him right now!
Zoe was woken up by a splitting headache at seven the next morning
She squinted her eyes and took in her unfamiliar surroundings as everything that happened the night before floated in her mind.
A grin appeared on her face.
Last night, Zoe took a substantial step forward in her relationship with Elliot,
She did not expect things between them to progress this quickly, let alone for the experience with him to be this amazing
Elliot was gentle and patient with her, and he had given her a taste of the joys of being a
woman.
Zoe was even more in love with him now!
At that thought, she turned to look at the man lying beside her.
He was on his side, and there were faint scratches on his pale back.
She had scratched him in the heat of the moment last night,
She had deliberately left her mark on his body as a sign that she had become his woman,
She moved closer to him until their bare skin was touching and their body heat was entangled together.
“Hmm? Do you want to go another round?”
The man’s hoarse voice hit Zoe‘s ears, leaving her speechless. Why was it not Elliot’s voice?!
When His Eyes Opened Chapter 213
When His Eyes Opened Chapter 213
Zoe‘s entire body went rigid as she felt her body instantly turn cold.
Cole turned to face her, then teased bashfully, “I didn‘t know you were that rough in bed, Dr. Sanford. You almost squeezed me dry…”
Zoe finally took a good look at Cole’s face.
This was not their first meeting.
Back when she had burned her hand, Cole was the one who had driven Rosalie over to visit her.
Zoe had too much to drink the night before, and the room was lit up with nothing but a few candles, so she did not realize that this man was not Elliot!
How could something like this happen?
Elliot was the one who had invited her here last night!
What was Cole doing here?!
“How are you here? Why you?!” Zoe picked up her pillow and repeatedly smacked Cole‘s face with it.
Cole covered his head and cried, “Dr. Sanford! Don‘t hit me! I don‘t know what’s going on either! I got a text from Avery last night telling me to come to Room V809, so I came! Who knew that you‘d hug me the moment I walked in… I tried to loosen your grip a few times, but you refused to let go… Not only did you not let go, but you also kept throwing yourself at me… Who would be able to resist that?!”
Zoe threw the pillow onto the ground, then burst into tears.
“Don‘t cry, Dr. Sanford! I know the whole thing is fishy, but it‘s true! I can show you the text! I wasn‘t trying to trick you on purpose! Let‘s just pretend that what happened last night was a dream! I swear I won‘t tell my uncle. He wouldn‘t let me live if he found out about this. I won’t dig my own grave!”
Cole dropped to his knees in front of Zoe and swore to her.
Through red eyes, Zoe stretched her hand out to him and snapped, “Show me the text!”
She wanted to know exactly what went wrong.
Cole quickly found his phone and opened up his messages, but despite his wide eyes, he could not find the text he had received last night.
“Huh? Where is it?! The text last night disappeared! I remember I didn’t delete it!”
Zoe picked up another pillow and hit Cole with it once again!
Cole was devastated!
“Let me explain, Dr. Sanford! I bet it was a hacker! My phone was hacked into not too long ago!
“Are you saying that the text from Avery Tate was the hacker’s work? So, the hacker was the one who sent me that text from your uncle, too?!” Zoe sneered.
She did not believe that the text she had received from Elliot was actually the work of a hacker.
However, why did Elliot not show up last night?
Zoe took a deep breath, found her phone, and opened up her messages.
She instantly became livid!
“Did the text my uncle sent you disappear? Looks like you got hacked, too!” Cole said as the gears in his head turned at full speed. “Last night was a setup to trap the two of us!”
“Who did it?! Who could it be?!”
Zoe was about to lose her mind.
If Elliot found out about what happened between her and Cole, he would surely not want her!
“I don‘t know… This hacker‘s too good, and I couldn‘t find out anything about him,” Cole said as he passed a couple of pieces of tissue paper to her, then added, “Don‘t worry, I’m sure this wasn‘t my uncle‘s work. He‘s still counting on you to treat Shea. He won‘t do something this despicable to you.”
Zoe wiped her tears with the tissue, then said hoarsely, “Could there be surveillance cameras in here? Is there a possibility that what we did last night was recorded?”
Cole glanced around the room and said, “There wouldn‘t be… Right? This is a five-star hotel after all. I‘ll sue them if we were recorded!”
“Send someone over to check and see if there are any cameras in here!” Zoe ordered.
“Oh… Okay…” Cole responded.
Elliot had personally sent Shea to school that day.
Once he dropped her off at her classroom, he walked over to Hayden’s classroom.
After their meeting with Avery yesterday, Elliot and Ben had come to the conclusion that the hacker who had hacked into Angela Academy and Sterling Group was someone close to Avery.
Moreover, it was someone who she cared about very much.
someo
Otherwise, she would not have treated them to lunch,
From that list of people, there was nobody else apart from Laura and the children.
Elliot had also once seen Hayden with a laptop.
Although common sense would argue that it was impossible for a four-year–old child the hacker that challenged him, there were times when the impossible was possible.
Elliot walked into the classroom and walked over to the little boy wearing a flat cap. “Hayden Tate, give me your bag.”
When His Eyes Opened Chapter 214
When His Eyes Opened Chapter 214
Hayden pretended not to hear Elliot and ignored him.
Hayden‘s behavior shocked the teacher, who then quickly walked over and said, “Mr. Foster, may I ask why you need Hayden‘s bag?”
These were two individuals that she could not afford to offend.
However, after weighing the pros and cons, the teacher decided that the consequences of offending Elliot Foster were graver, and she picked up Hayden‘s bag from the desk.
“Don’t be scared, Hayden. Mr. Foster isn‘t a bad person. He‘s just worried about you,” she said, then handed the bag over to Elliot and said, “He passed the security clearance when he arrived at school. There aren‘t any dangerous items in there.”
“I remember he had a laptop with him,” Elliot said as he took the bag from the teacher.
The bag was light, causing him to raise his brows.
When Elliot opened the bag, he found only a change of clothes but no laptop in sight.
“Oh… Hayden does have a small laptop. He enjoys watching cartoons on it,” said the teacher.
Elliot placed the bag on Hayden‘s desk, then loomed over him and said, “Why didn‘t you bring your laptop today?”
Hayden rested his head on the desk and went to sleep.
“Should I give his mother a call?” said the teacher with an embarrassed smile as she tried to
smooth things over.
Hayden shot to his feet, glared at the teacher with his obsidian black eyes, then grabbed his bag and walked out of the room.
The teacher ran after him, yelling, “Come back, Hayden! I won‘t call your mother!”
Hayden ignored her and continued walking away.
Shea was standing at the door when she noticed Hayden had walked out of his classroom.
“Hayden,” she called out timidly.
Hayden glanced coldly at her, then quickened his pace.
When Elliot saw his sister following Hayden, he grabbed onto her and asked, “Where are you going, Shea?”
“Hayden!” Shea cried as she pointed a finger at Hayden with a face filled with worry. “Where’s
he going?”
“His teacher will take care of him. Let‘s get back to your classroom.”
Just as Elliot finished his sentence, Shea broke free of his grip and ran after Hayden
“Wait for me, Hayden!”
Shea’s behavior caused Elliot to furrow his brows.
Why did she like Hayden that much?
What happened between them?
Elliot went after them with long strides.
Hayden managed to successfully leave the school under the pursuit of the teacher and Elliot.
If nobody was following him, he would have taken a cab home.
However, he could not go home now with three people on his tail.
With his backpack on his back, Hayden walked along the street.
Elliot was holding Shea‘s hand, and he was right behind Hayden. The teacher was walking on the other side. The group of four strolled aimlessly down the street.
“Hayden, I can take you home if you want,” said the teacher. “I don‘t want to!” Hayden responded.
“Where do you want to go, then? I‘ll take you. It‘s dangerous for you to be wandering outside like this,” the teacher said bitterly.
Hayden frowned and stopped talking.
They arrived at a crowded street about half an hour later.
It was Shea’s first time out in public, and she found the outside world to be new and strange.
Elliot’s eyes were fixed on her as she glanced around her without blinking.
Zoe had said that gradually allowing Shea to get in contact with society would be good for her condition.
Shea used to refuse everything that had to do with the outside world, so Elliot had never got the chance to take her out.
After the last surgery, there was an obvious change in her.
She was beginning to have a rising interest in the world.
This was a huge improvement.
Seeing the change in Shea made Elliot think of Zoe.
Perhaps he should treat her better.
She was the only one who could save Shea, after all.
Noticing their persistent pursuit, Hayden decided that he might as well just stop in the middle of the street.
Elliot saw Hayden‘s intentions, then said to Shea, “Let‘s head back, Shea! It‘s too hot out here You could get a heatstroke.”
Despite being drenched in sweat, Shea shook her head and said, “Hayden could get a heatstroke, too.”
“Why are you following him?” Elliot asked, confused. “Would you follow him if he went home?”
When His Eyes Opened Chapter 215
When His Eyes Opened Chapter 215
Shea nodded without hesitation.
It was not like she had never gone to Hayden’s house.
She actually quite liked it there and wanted to go back again.
Since Hayden had not brought his laptop to school, he was sure that Avery had taken it away from him.
He could basically confirm that the lawless hacker was the cool little boy in the flat cap in front of him.
Although Hayden was Avery’s adopted son, Elliot wanted to teach him a lesson.
However, Shea’s behavior toward the boy left Elliot in a dilemma.
Suddenly, a loud crash pierced through the air, followed by the ear-splitting sound of harsh
cursing!
The group glanced over to where the commotion came from and saw two people in the middl of a fight.
Faced with the violent scene in front of her, the color drained from Shea’s face and terror flooded into her eyes.
“Ah! Ahhh!”
She screamed at the top of her lungs as she covered her ears with her hands.
Elliot’s heart tightened at the sight of his sister’s breakdown.
She must have remembered the violent abuse she had suffered as a child!
Elliot took Shea into his arms and left in a hurry.
As Hayden watched them leave, Shea’s cries of terror replayed in his head.
What happened to her?
Was she frightened?
Those people were fighting each other, not her. Why was she scared?
“It’s too chaotic here, Hayden! Let’s head back to school right away!”
The teacher grabbed Hayden’s arm and quickly led him away.
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That afternoon, Avery made a trip to the police station.
Five years ago, Wanda Tate’s brother, Richard Worsley, had embezzled close to three hundred million dollars from Tate Industries before fleeing the country
Despite the conclusive evidence, there was nothing that the local police could do.
The country that Richard had fled to did not have an extradition treaty with Aryadelle which meant that the Aryadelle police could not arrest him as long as he was there
Moreover, Richard had gotten an entirely new identity once he had escaped.
Avery had spent the past few years looking into his whereabouts.
It was not until recently that the private investigator that Avery had hired finally sent over Richard’s latest photos and address.
Avery had handed over all these clues to the police.
Today, they finally had a new breakthrough in the case.
“Miss Tate, we’ve sent Richard Worsley’s old friends to persuade him to return to the country. According to our informant, Mr. Worsley’s been living in rather difficult conditions. We’re guessing that he’s blown through most of the money he embezzled.”
“I don’t care if I don’t get the money back. I want him to answer to the law! I’ve spoken to my lawyers, and they told me that the amount of money involved in the case is large enough for him to be given the death sentence. Is that right?”
“Yes. Once he’s back in the country, we will arrest him immediately.”
“Alright. Thank you for your hard work!”
When Avery walked out of the police station, she felt a strong sense of relief. Returning to Aryadelle and rebuilding Tate Industries was part of her plan to bait him back into the country.
She wanted Richard to know that she was now incredibly wealthy.
He had succeeded in embezzling money from the company once, so he was sure to want to try his luck once again.
She had asked the company’s current chief financial officer to get in touch with Richard’s friends and give them the illusion that there was another chance to steal money from Tate Industries, and Richard had fallen for it.
Avery got into her car and was about to head back to the office when her phone rang.
When she saw who was calling, she immediately answered the phone and said, “Hey, Wesley. Are you at the airport?”
“I am. Where are you right now? I’ll come to you,” said Wesley.
“I’m not busy right now, so I’ll pick you up.”
Avery arrived at the airport half an hour later to pick Wesley up.
She asked for his house address, then drove the car in that direction.
“How long are you back for this time?” she asked.
“For good,” Wesley said with a shrug. “I quit and decided to come back home.”
“That’s great! That way, we can see each other all the time,” Avery said with a pure and sincere smile.
However, a hint of worry flashed across Wesley’s eyes.
“Zoe Sanford called me, Avery. She’s more shameless than I imagined. You should be on your guard around her.”
When His Eyes Opened Chapter 216
When His Eyes Opened Chapter 216
“What did she contact you for?” Avery asked.
“She said she needed an assistant and asked me to recommend one to her,” Wesley said with an expression of irony on his face. Then he laughed and continued, “Guess what her requirements were for picking an assistant? She wanted someone who was Professor Hough’s student and whose skills weren’t worse off than hers… She might as well have just said that she wanted to find someone who could single–handedly take on Shea’s case. As if someone who was better than her would agree to be her assistant! i don’t know if she’s shameless or just plain stupid.”
Avery also found the entire thing ironic.
“She obviously doesn‘t have the skills for the job, but she insists on sticking around. Elliot Foster isn‘t an idiot. He‘ll find the truth out sooner or later,” Wesley said. “You’re too soft hearted, Avery. Not many people would treat their own rivals in love.”
“As long as you‘re not uncomfortable about it.”
“There‘s no point in punishing myself over this. We should look ahead in life,” Avery said, then changed the subject, “I‘ve got some good news. I‘m almost done rebuilding my company. Everything is going smoothly.”
Wesley was happy for her and said, “That‘s great. How is Hayden doing at the special needs school?”
The smile on Avery‘s face vanished at the mention of Hayden.
“He has learned to hack from Mike, and his skills are way beyond my imagination. Elliot’s got his eyes on him,” she said as her head began to ache. “I‘m afraid that Elliot might uncover more things if this continues.”
“It’s rare for secrets to be kept under wraps for a lifetime, Avery. You’re no longer the same person you were four years ago. Even if he finds out that he‘s the father of the children, he won ‘t actually kill them.”
“That‘s exactly why I need to make more money and become more powerful. That’s the only way I can protect my children,” Avery said. “I‘ll keep this a secret for as long as I can! Considering the mess his personal life is in right now, the children are better off without a father.”
Meanwhile, Elliot had taken Shea back to the Foster mansion where the family doctor had given her a sedative.
thepletalo
Once Shea was asleep, the doctor asked Elliot, “Mental illness is beyond my scope I suggest you find a psychiatrist to treat her.”
This was not something Elliot had not considered before.
“She’s wary of strangers.”
“It’s worth a try. Didn’t you say that her condition is better than it was before the surgery?” comforted the doctor. “You never know, maybe solving her emotional woes could help her overall recovery.”
Elliot nodded, then asked, “Do you have a good psychiatrist to recommend?”
“I happen to know one of the country’s more well-known psychiatrists, but I can’t guarantee that they will be available. I‘ll ask and find out,” answered the doctor. “You could also ask for Dr. Sanford‘s opinion. She‘s better than I am, so she might have a more professional view on this.”
Elliot nodded in response.
Zoe rushed over half an hour later.
She was dressed in a long–sleeved top and long pants, while her face and neck were covered in a thick layer of makeup.
“Are you alright, Dr. Sanford?” Elliot asked as he took in her appearance. “I heard you spent the night out last night.”
Zoe had not allowed the bodyguard to follow her to the hotel last night.
All the bodyguard knew was that she spent the night out, but not where she went or what she did.
“Yes. A friend of mine came to see me, so I spent the night with her,” Zoe answered with a light smile, then changed the subjeet quickly and said, “Did something happen to Shea?”
Elliot explained everything that happened that afternoon to Zoe.
“Did she suffer similar trauma in her past? If that‘s the case, we need to keep her away from anything that might trigger her. It‘s better for her to get plenty of rest after brain surgery,” said Zoe.
“Could we get a psychiatrist to see her?”
“We could give it a try with an expert psychiatrist, but this will also depend on Shea’s reaction. We don‘t need to rush things if she‘s against it. Once her mental capacity recovers to a certain level, her psychological endurance will also increase accordingly.”
“Go get busy with your work, Elliot. I‘ll look after Shea,” Zoe said.
As Elliot walked in the direction of his study, Zoe watched his back and felt a huge sense of. relief.
Cole had sent someone to search the hotel room that morning and did not find any hidden cameras.
She did not have to worry about what happened the night before for now.
Although she did not know who set the trap, she could deny everything since they did not have any proof.
When His Eyes Opened Chapter 217
When His Eyes Opened Chapter 217
Zoe was now using Elliot to climb the social ladder.
Instead of being an accomplished doctor, she would much rather be at the top of high society
Moreover, she was aware of her own skills, and she knew that she would never reach Professor Hough’s level of expertise.
There was a limit to how far she could go if she remained in the medical field,
Things would be different if she married Elliot.
When the time came, she would be the envy of everyone around her.
Not long after Elliot sat down in his study, he received a phone call from Ben.
“Hey, Elliot. How did things at the school go?”
“He didn‘t bring his laptop today. I‘m guessing Avery took it away from him.”
“It looks like it really was Avery’s son! Isn‘t he only four years old? Is he a so-called child prodigy?” Ben said enthusiastically.
Elliot did not respond.
“What do you plan on doing with the kid?” Ben asked.
He found the entire thing especially entertaining.
It would have been boring if the hacker turned out to be some creep.
Who would have thought that the person who disabled Sterling Group‘s entire network was a little brat?
“Why did he challenge you to strangle him?” Ben continued to ask. “Why don‘t you ask him that yourself if you‘re so interested? He always ignores me,” said Elliot.
“Hahahaha! This kid’s got personality! I really want to meet him.”
“In your dreams!”
What Hayden did was wrong, but he was an “atypical” child after all.
Elliot would not do anything to him, nor would he allow Ben to bother him at school.
“Avery’s birthday is coming up. What if they invite us to the party? Wouldn’t I get to see the kid, then?” Ben said excitedly. “Do you want to get her a present beforehand, Elliot? You may
be divorced, but you once shared an unforgettable relationship. You won’t be so stingy as to not wish her a happy birthday, right?”
Elliot‘s hawk-like eyes narrowed, then he said in a deep voice, “Do you think she’ll accept a gift from me?”
“Wasn’t she pretty friendly when she treated us to lunch yesterday? Even though it was only because we had something on her.”
“There’s no need for that ––”
“How much would a birthday present cost? I could give it to her for you if you’re embarrassed. I really want to take a look at that son of hers,” Ben said.
After a few seconds of deep consideration, Elliot gave in and asked, “What would be a suitable
gift?”
“How about jewelry? Women love sparkly things,” Ben suggested.
“Jewelry isn‘t suitable. We‘re divorced after all.”
“What else if not jewelry? You wouldn‘t be able to give her something cheap, right? She’s a millionaire now!”
Elliot raised his hand and massaged the space between his brows, then said, “Let‘s just go with jewelry, then!”
On the other side of the study‘s door, Zoe‘s heart was overwhelmed by jealousy as she listened in on their conversation.
Elliot had asked his assistant to give her a handbag worth a few thousand dollars on her birthday a while back.
Now, he was about to give Avery expensive jewelry for her birthday!
Who exactly was his girlfriend?!
How could he do this to her?
She was the only one who could save Shea now!
As Zoe’s eyes reddened with hatred, she pulled out her phone and texted her father.
When His Eyes Opened Chapter 218
When His Eyes Opened Chapter 218
It was dinner time at Starry River Villa,
“Avery, Wesley came by to see you this afternoon,” Laura said with bright eyes. “He told me that he was going to settle down here in Aryadelle…”
Avery figured out what her mother was thinking from the grin on her face.
“Mom, I know you’re hoping I‘ll find someone to get married to soon, but please don’t pull that face while we are in public. Otherwise, people would think I’m desperate for marriage!” Avery pleaded. “I‘m still in my twenties. I‘m still young! This is the time I should be focusing on my career. Once I’m successful, men will be lining up to marry me.”
The smile on Laura’s face vanished.
“I‘m not pestering you… I just really think that Wesley‘s a great man. He took care of you the whole time you were abroad! Don’t you see how well he treats you?”
“Am I supposed to marry anyone who‘s good to me? In that case, Professor Hough was good to me, too!”
“Fine! Keep acting blind! Wesley really is a good man. You might never find someone like him again if you miss out now.”
“Can‘t you have a little more faith in me? There will be men who will be attracted to me in the future,” Avery said as she comforted her mother. “Besides, did you ask the children what they think? They don‘t want a stepfather.”
Avery shot a meaningful look at her children.
Layla cleverly expressed her opinion and said, “I don‘t want a stepfather, but I‘ll make myself accept anyone Mommy likes.”
It was clear that her daughter did not understand what Avery was trying to signal to her.
Avery pinned her hopes on her son.
“Let‘s eat, Grandma,” said Hayden,
“Alright, I won‘t say more,” Laura said. “I‘m just worried that your Mommy will regret this, so I‘m just reminding her. I won‘t waste my time worrying about it, since she has no such intentions.”
Avery chuckled and said, “Mom, if you‘re so eager to play matchmaker, then find someone for Mike. He‘s been hanging out at bars every day recently. I bet he‘s dying to find a better half.”
Laura was left speechless.
It was dinner time at Starry River Villa.
“Avery, Wesley came by to see you this afternoon,” Laura said with bright eyes. “He told me that he was going to settle down here in Aryadelle…”
Avery figured out what her mother was thinking from the grin on her face,
“Mom, I know you’re hoping I‘ll find someone to get married to soon, but please don’t pull that face while we are in public. Otherwise, people would think I‘m desperate for marriage!” Avery pleaded. “I’m still in my twenties. I‘m still young! This is the time I should be focusing on my career. Once I’m successful, men will be lining up to marry me.”
The smile on Laura’s face vanished.
“I‘m not pestering you… I just really think that Wesley’s a great man. He took care of you the whole time you were abroad! Don‘t you see how well he treats you?”
“Am I supposed to marry anyone who’s good to me? In that case, Professor Hough was good to me, too!”
“Fine! Keep acting blind! Wesley really is a good man. You might never find someone like him again if you miss out now.”
“Can‘t you have a little more faith in me? There will be men who will be attracted to me in the future,” Avery said as she comforted her mother. “Besides, did you ask the children what they think? They don‘t want a stepfather.”
Avery shot a meaningful look at her children.
Layla cleverly expressed her opinion and said, “I don‘t want a stepfather, but I‘ll make myself accept anyone Mommy likes.”
It was clear that her daughter did not understand what Avery was trying to signal to her.
Avery pinned her hopes on her son.
“Let‘s eat, Grandma,” said Hayden. “Alright, I won‘t say more,” Laura said. “I‘m just worried that your Mommy will regret this, so I’m just reminding her. I won’t waste my time worrying about it, since she has no such intentions.”
Avery chuckled and said, “Mom, if you’re so eager to play matchmaker, then find someone for Mike. He’s been hanging out at bars every day recently. I bet he’s dying to find a better half.”
Laura was left speechless.
At Tate Industries the next day, Wesley‘s visit took Avery by surprise.
“Aren’t you resting at home from the jet lag?” Avery asked as she invited him to take a seat on the couch.
“Do you have coffee here?” Wesley asked.
“I do, but you shouldn‘t have coffee now. Otherwise, you won’t be able to sleep at night,” Avery said, then poured him a glass of water. “How about I take you on a tour of each department later?”
Wesley nodded, then said, “I‘ve actually come to talk to you about something.”
He then placed a photo in front of her.
Avery picked up the photo, and her eyes were filled with curiosity as she asked, “Who’s this?”
“He‘s a patient. He‘s been bedridden for three years, but he is somewhat conscious. He is a little better than someone who is in a vegetative state. His parents contacted Professor Hough half a year ago. He took on the case but wasn‘t able to put together a treatment plan in time…” Wesley answered.
“I see… Since the professor gave his word, please send over his medical records for me to take a look at,” Avery said.
“Would it get in the way of your work? You just started your company after all,” Wesley said hesitantly. “Let‘s talk about this again once things settle down here.”
Avery glanced at the photo, then said, “Send over his records first. It’s a waste for such a handsome face to be lying on a hospital bed for so long!”
“I‘ll send it to you later today,” Wesley responded. “Now, take me on a tour of your empire!”
Avery could not help but laugh.
“Don’t tease me. I didn‘t make fun of you like this when I was at Elizabeth Hospital.”
As Avery and Wesley left the office, they engaged in cheerful talk and laughter.
Very quickly, the news of Avery Tate’s new boyfriend spread through the entire Tate Industries.
When His Eyes Opened Chapter 219
When His Eyes Opened Chapter 219
That afternoon, Ben showed Elliot a photo of Avery and Wesley together
“Avery’s new boyfriend.”
Elliot glanced at the picture, and his eyes darkened as he asked, “Isn’t that Professor Hough’s assistant?”
He took Ben’s phone from his hand and zoomed in.
“Do you know this man?” Ben asked as his interest rose. “Rumor has it that Avery took him around Tate Industries all afternoon. They were walking side by side, chatting and laughing with each other. They looked especially close to each other!”
Elliot passed the phone back to Ben and said, “I know him.”
“Oh. I think they look pretty good together,” Ben said deliberately when he saw Elliot’s expressionless face. “One has a gentle aura, while the other is elegant”
Elliot looked up and shot a cold look at Ben.
“You never have anything nice to say, do you?”
“I‘m innocent! It‘s just that, looking at the jewel you picked for Avery makes me think you still have some love for her,” Ben teased. “You didn‘t want to give her a necklace, earrings, a bracelet, or a ring because you think those are things you give your lover. You ended up picking a brooch, which is fine, but you went with such a huge diamond… Do you know what the jewelry designer said to me? He said that if someone wore such a massive diamond brooch right on top of their heart, it‘d probably be able to block a bullet.”
A wave of gloom instantly washed over Elliot‘s face.
“Are you giving her a birthday present or compensation for the divorce?” Ben said as he continued poking fun at Elliot. “Do you think Avery would dare accept such a gift?”
“Forget it, then,” Elliot said.
He put down his knife and fork as he had lost his appetite.
“That‘s not what I meant… I heard from Chad that you gave Zoe a bag worth a few thousand dollars for her birthday,” Ben sighed. “How could you give her something that cheap? Aren‘t you worried she‘d be upset when she finds out that you gave Avery such a huge diamond?”
“Chad was the one who picked the gift. I didn‘t know how much it cost.”
“Weren’t you the one who signed off on it?”
“I didn’t take a good look at it.”
Ben was utterly speechless.
“Since you have no interest in Dr. Sanford, then hurry up and find a way to break up with her!” Ben suggested. “I don‘t believe that there isn‘t a better doctor than her in the world.”
“That’s what’s giving me a headache,” Elliot said with furrowed brows. “You saw how much Shea recovered after the surgery Zoe did on her. Every doctor I’ve met so far had no way of treating Shea, but Zoe managed to do it.”
If it were not for the fact that Zoe could treat Shea, Elliot would never have given in to her threats.
“Wasn’t Avery also a student of Professor Hough‘s?” Ben asked.
“She was, but she started Alpha Technologies when she was in grad school,” Elliot said. “She’s a businesswoman now.”
Ben shook his head and sighed, then said, “It would be great if Avery could save Shea.”
His words made Elliot‘s chest tighten.
As if something that perfect would happen!
His entire life, the heavens had never truly watched over him.
A week later, Zoe gave Avery a call and asked her to meet.
“No, thanks,” Avery refused without hesitation.
She already witnessed Zoe’s cunning and treacherous ways during their last meeting.
She was not about to give her another chance.
Zoe chuckled coldly, then said, “Since you won’t meet me, then let’s just talk on the phone! You said you adopted your children, but my people searched through all the orphanages in Bridgedale and didn’t find any information on the adoptions. You never adopted them. They’ re your biological children!”
When His Eyes Opened Chapter 220
When His Eyes Opened Chapter 220
Zoe’s words left Avery frozen in shock.
“If I‘m right, the children are yours and Elliot‘s,” Zoe said as her wicked laughter traveled through the phone.
Avery could not help but feel a chill run through her body.
“Adoption papers are private and confidential!” she retorted as she clenched her fists tightly.
“Of course! Adoption papers wouldn‘t typically be disclosed, but my father isn’t just your average Joe,” Zoe said as she let out an arrogant, maniacal cackle. “My father’s connections in Bridgedale confirmed that you lied! I heard Elliot hates children and had always been determined not to have them. I wonder what he‘d do if he finds out that your children are his!”
“Zoe Sanford! You‘re going too far!” Avery snapped furiously.
“Am I the one going too far, or are you?! Elliot is my boyfriend now! You‘re his ex-wife! You’ re divorced! Why do you keep getting in between us?” Zoe shrieked in a much sharper voice than Avery.
“I‘ll keep your secret on the condition that you never meet Elliot again!” Zoe threatened.
Her woman‘s intuition told her that Avery would obediently follow her orders.
Avery’s children were her Achilles‘ heel.
Avery would easily give in to Zoe‘s request.
After all, whether or not she met Elliot had no effect on her life whatsoever.
However, Avery was not willing to surrender!
She never did anything wrong, so why should she endure such injustice?!
“Let’s meet!” Avery said as she quickly composed her emotions. “I‘ll see you at the restaurant we met in before.”
“Fine!”
Half an hour later, Avery and Zoe sat in the same seats at the restaurant from their last
meeting.
As Avery took a seat, she said mockingly, “There’s no hot water today, Miss Sanford.”
A look of embarrassment appeared on Zoe’s face.
Avery turned on the voice recorder on her phone, then showed it to her and said, “Do you want to turn your voice recorder on? Let‘s record this whole thing together!”
Zoe was at a loss for words.
How arrogant!
Why was Avery behaving this cockily when she had something on her?
Avery leisurely looked through the menu, ordered a glass of juice and dessert, then handed it to Zoe.
Zoe ordered a glass of juice, then handed the menu over to the waiter.
Once the waiter was gone, Zoe turned to Avery and said, “You’ve got it rough, Avery. Other women’s worth and status rise after they give birth to a man‘s child, but you’re the exact opposite.”
“I‘m afraid I don‘t have it as bad as you do. You think that way because you treat yourself as nothing but a baby–making machine. I’m not like you. My children belong to me. I didn’t have them for a man, nor did I have them to increase my worth,” Avery said as she flashed a charming smile. “It‘s hard to believe that you‘re an extremely educated woman.”
Zoe‘s shoulders trembled with rage, but she could not think of a good comeback at that moment.
“It looks like you‘re not afraid of Elliot finding out about this at all,” she said through gritted teeth. “If that‘s the case, we better make sure the happy family of four quickly gets to know each other!”
“Ha! Do you know why I asked you to meet? I wanted to see how twisted your face would be when you threatened me,” Avery said. “It looks like I was right.”
Zoe wanted to slam her hand on the table, but she had yet to recover from the burn.
Her eyes reddened as she held back.
“Were you surprised by how easily things went for you when you used Shea’s treatment as an excuse to threaten Elliot into becoming your boyfriend?”
Avery watched nonchalantly at the drastic change in Zoe‘s expression.
“I bet you have nightmares at night. After all, you‘re not the one who operated on Shea.” The color instantly drained from Zoe’s face.