The CEO Gets What He Wants
Chapter 76
As soon as the two children reached downstairs, they saw a luxury car parked right outside the house. It's a black Land Rover! Daddy's back!
“We've missed you, Ms. Ery!” The children rushed out, and Rory was the first to hug Avery, who had just gotten out of the car. When Rory threw herself at Avery, it almost caused the woman to lose balance.
“I've missed you too!” uttered Avery after lowering herself to pinch Rory's soft cheeks.
Jeffrey could not help but rejoice to see such a heartwarming scene, convinced that Cayden had finally sealed the deal. If the adults are happy with each other and the children welcome their future stepmother, I don't see what could go wrong.
“You two, be good and give Ms. Ery some space.” Cayden stepped out of the car and glanced sternly at his children.
Pouting, Rory lowered her head and muttered, “Daddy just wants Ms. Ery all to himself, but I remember how he made her cry last time.”
Upon hearing that, Avery immediately turned bright red.
“So you're the one the children call Ms. Ery, huh? I've got to say. Cayden's a lucky man to have you.” Jeffrey hurried over to flatter his future granddaughter-in-law.
With his straight back, the elderly man, who wore a pair of dark gray trousers and a plaid shirt with a vest on top of it, looked gentlemanly and as fashionable as a model on a magazine cover.
Avery immediately stood up to greet the man respectfully, “It's a pleasure to meet you, Old Mr. Moore. I'm Avery Rumpley.”
“The pleasure's mine. Please come inside. It pleases me to see how much the children like you.” Jeffrey treated the woman as if she was already his granddaughter-in-law.
The housekeeper hurried over to help carry the gifts Avery had brought.
Even though they were not expensive, Jeffrey was happy with them. He thought Avery was down-to-earth and not a hypocritical bootlicker.
Avery quickly stood up once again when the man addressed her as his sister-in-law. She knew Cayden had a stepbrother but not much else beyond that since the Moores was a complicated family.
After all, no one could really tell what was true about the family just by reading about them in magazines.
“Hi there! I'm Avery Rumpley,” greeted Avery.
The family then sat down to talk with her.
Cayden had Avery sit beside him and made sure his grandfather, stepbrother, and children only asked questions that were appropriate.
“How old are you, Ery?” inquired Jeffrey.
“Twenty-four.”
“Then Cayden's five years older than you. That's good. I just so happen to have an article that you should read.” With that, Jeffrey took out a newspaper from the drawer of the coffee table and handed it to Avery.
Kendrick thought that was deliberate of Jeffrey. We just got the new coffee table, so why would there be a newspaper in its drawer? He probably had somebody put it there after learning that she is five years younger than Cayden.
Avery took the newspaper and started reading.
According to the paper, a study showed that couples where the man was five years older than the woman were less likely to have arguments and that their marriage would be happier and more stable.
“Where's Grandma?” asked Zachary suddenly with a frown.
The boy looked so serious that one could be forgiven for thinking that he cared more about Avery's visit to their house than everyone else.
Cayden looked at Zachary and noticed that his son was dressed in a black suit and a bow tie. If the man did not know any better, he would have thought that Zachary was a father waiting for his son to introduce him to his daughter-in-law.
“You have so much product in your hair that your head's probably turned highly flammable. You used up all my hair products, didn't you?” joked Kendrick while rubbing the back of his nephew's head.
However, Zachary did not appreciate the humor. Uncle Kendrick is embarrassing me in front of Ms. Ery!
Fortunately, Avery smiled at Zachary and gestured for him to come to her side, which immediately mitigated his embarrassment.
Sitting next to Avery, Zachary turned to meet Cayden's cold stare, convinced that his father was just jealous that he was younger.
Afraid Avery would misunderstand and think that the family had anything against her, Jeffrey quickly explained, “Cayden's mother had an important event to attend today. This is my fault, really. I heard that Cayden has a girlfriend, so I couldn't wait to meet you. I should've picked a better time to invite you over. Anyhow, I'm sure she'll be back home soon.”
Avery had seen Allie before in magazines. The older woman would always be invited to parties attended by socialites and celebrities.
Just when Avery was about to assure Jeffrey that she understood, she heard a car drive in.
“Grandma's back?” Rory leaped out of her great-grandfather's arms and went straight to the door to welcome her grandmother.