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As Avery busied herself in the kitchen, sounds of the children squealing in delight came from the living
room until Rory gave a sudden cry of pain before silence ensued.
Avery froze while holding some leaves in her hands. She hurried out anxiously and pried Rory's hand
away from her eye. “What happened?”
“I poked myself in the eye,” Rory mumbled, feeling guilty.
I have made Ms. Ery worry!
“Is it serious? Does it hurt?” Avery leaned closer with a warm expression and gently blew at the gauze
on Rory's eye.
“It doesn't hurt anymore, Ms. Ery,” Rory said sweetly.
Upon ascertaining that the child was no longer in pain, Avery's lips spread into a warm smile as she
caressed her hair. “Be good and do some homework with your brother. Dinner will be served soon.”
Rory nodded.
Zachary opened his bag to take out his stationery and books and go started on his homework
alongside his sister.
Yearning for a mother's love, the children were terrified of doing something wrong and losing Avery who
they saw as a motherly figure.
Obedience was the only weapon they had at their disposal at their young age.
Avery returned to the kitchen, satisfied by the children's attitude with their task.
Though cooking could be a grind, it brought her absolute joy to feed Zachary and Rory.
“Do you need help?” a man's low voice sounded behind Avery.
Without her high heels, Avery was only five foot five. Compared to Cayden, who stood at six foot two in
his socks, the difference in their heights was startling. She looked petite next to him.
Avery was about to reject his offer when his slender hand reached over to snatch the potato she was
about to peel.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtThose who knew Cayden would imagine his private life to be very colorful and surrounded by beautiful
women and influencers flocking to him by the dozen.
After all, enjoying the company of beautiful women was what a successful man's nightlife should entail.
Otherwise, it was nothing worth shouting about.
She was amazed that the owner of Trident Group, a nationally acclaimed architect whose reputation
exceeded every top architect within his employ, was peeling potatoes in a tiny rented apartment
spanning six hundred square feet.
Despite being characteristically immune to the charms of the opposite sex, Avery considered herself
mollified.
“Let me do it.” Avery stood at the side and watched him instead of preparing the other ingredients.
It's a strange feeling to have your boss peel potatoes.
“I'll feel awful for having a meal at your expense without doing anything in return.” Cayden kept his
eyes fixed on peeling the potatoes.
Somehow, the potato slipped out of his grasp, resulting in the peeler shaving off some skin on his hand.
Avery's gaze widened with horror. Flustered, she was torn between fetching the first-aid kid from the
living room and rinsing his wound over the sink.
“How careless of you! I told you to let me do it,” Avery admonished with a frown. She had him rinse his
wound as she brought the first-aid kit to the kitchen.
More blood flowed out from the cut as soon the water washed the blood away.
After applying some iodine to stop the bleeding, she produced some bandages and carefully wrapped
the wound.
Throughout the entire process, Cayden's brow remained relaxed. He watched the woman who was
much shorter than him mutter as she carefully wrapped the wound. Her voice was full of concern about
how careless he was.
Avery grumbled to herself at length before realizing that she had overstepped her bounds after she
quietened down.
There was oddity hanging in the air between the two of them.
“I'm going to start cooking. The exhaust fan might not work well as it hasn't been changed for many
years.” Avery switched on the exhaust fan without looking back at him.
I hope he gets the hint to leave.
Cayden stood his ground in the kitchen and even lit a cigarette. As he smoked, his gaze upon her back
did not waver.
I can't get enough of her.
The kitchen was cramped. Avery turned toward the fridge for some seasoning when she found herself
face to face with the man's chiseled features and burning gaze through the haze of smoke.
After swiftly procuring what she needed, Avery reached for the spatula and addressed the person
behind her, “The kitchen's too cramped. Wait outside.”
“I don't want them to breathe in the smoke.” Under a pretext of protecting the children, he claimed that
the kitchen's exhaust fan suited his purpose to smoke as he waited.
Avery's patience wore thin. Fine, just stay in this kitchen then. Don't ever leave!
Despite the setbacks, Avery managed to produce a resplendent feast.
She felt her cheeks burn as she headed out with the dishes in her hands and attributed it to the
humidity in the kitchen.
The children sat across each other during dinner, separating the two adults.
Avery was unaware that the children were raised not to speak during mealtimes.
As a result, dinner was a silent affair.
When they were done eating, Zachary sheepishly placed his fork down as he gazed down at his empty
plate. “Can I stay here, Ms. Ery?”
There was nothing Avery wanted more than that. She would love to have Zachary and Rory every day
if she could.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmShe gazed pleadingly at the children's father.
Cayden was done with his meal as well. He stood up and looked at the two children. “Be good, don't
trouble Ms. Ery.”
“Thank you, Daddy!” Zachary hopped off his seat and met his father's eyes. “Please take Rory and me
to buy some pajamas, Daddy.”
Avery smacked her forehead in dismay. She only thought about getting groceries and slippers at the
grocer and had forgotten all about their pajamas.
Maybe I'll have Xavier get two sets from the Moore residence.
Cayden looked at Avery apologetically as he picked up his jacket. “I have something to deal with
tonight. You take them.”
Avery nodded quietly after a startled pause.
Sullenly, she stood up to clear the table after everybody was done. The children lent a helping hand.
Though Avery did not dare have the children exert themselves, she was hesitant to reject their
thoughtful gesture. She compromised by handing Zachary two ladles and Rory four forks with
instructions to deliver them to the kitchen.
Despite having obtained his jacket, Cayden did not leave. His gaze latching on Avery, he frowned upon
sensing her mood.
Her unusual behavior had been evident to him since picking the children up. At his mention of having
something to deal with, her mood worsened further.
Does she not want me to leave?
Cayden could not think of another reason beyond that.
“Behave yourselves when you're out with Ms. Ery. After coming home, take a shower and get
yourselves to bed. I'm leaving now.” Under his stern reminders, Zachary and Rory blinked obediently
with their large eyes as they watched their father depart.
Cayden looked at the kitchen and saw her slender back as she do the dishes. Is she still angry with
me?
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