The CEO Gets What He Wants
Chapter 155
While Avery carried Rory out, Zachary ran after them after grabbing his sister's shoes from the entrance.
“Say goodbye to Mr. and Mrs. Hayward.” With that, Cayden walked toward the Land Rover. After unlocking the door, he opened it and threw the school bags in.
“Bye, Mrs. Hayward. Bye, Mr. Hayward. Take good care of yourselves.”
Zachary skipped up to them and threw his hands around their necks before planting a kiss on each of their cheeks.
Avery, too, turned around and said respectfully, “Bye!”
Beaming, Lindsay and Grover nodded approvingly at her.
Cayden then threaded his hand around her slender waist and ushered her into the back seat along with the children for their safety.
After all, there was no such thing as being too cautious, and he couldn't afford to have anything untoward happen to either of them.
“Ms. Ery, why did you come with Daddy?” Zachary asked with a curious tilt of his head upon getting into the car.
As for Rory, she remained silent after having her eye poked by the neighbor's children by accident. Even though it wasn't a big deal, it still hurt a little when she opened her eyes.
Pouting pitifully, she hugged Avery with her chubby arms while burying her face in the latter's chest.
After giving Rory a kiss, Avery turned her attention to Zachary. “I... happened to be with your father when I heard that Rory hurt her eye. Hence, I just tagged along.”
“Okay.” Zachary nodded before promptly sitting down in thought.
I wonder if Ms. Ery can come home with us?
As the car drove toward the city center, Zachary felt the urge to invite Avery home but didn't dare say it for fear of angering the adults.
Torn between what he should do, he looked at Cayden when they finally stopped at a red light.
Coincidentally, Cayden caught a glimpse of the look in Zachary's eye through the rearview mirror.
Given the connection the father and son shared, he roughly guessed the reason for his son's silence.
Zachary felt apprehensive about speaking for fear of his father. However, he didn't harbor the same sentiments toward Avery at all, given how kind and gentle she was.
Nonetheless, he noticed through the rearview mirror that Cayden's gaze was no longer cold nor stern. In fact, he could sense a hint of indulgence in it.
Convinced that his father was actually encouraging him, Zachary took a risk and invited Avery, “Ms. Ery, can you come home with us tonight? A-And then leave tomorrow?”
Despite being aware that he was pushing his luck, Zachary just couldn't resist, for Avery felt like a mother to him.
Envious of their friends who found comfort in their own mothers, he and Rory wanted to experience the same.
Avery, who felt awkward over the question, looked at Cayden by reflex.
Nevertheless, Cayden continued to drive quietly, as if he didn't hear the exchange at all.
“Daddy works all the time and doesn't know how to take care of Rory. As for me... I'm still just a child,” Zachary explained their predicament in a pitiful voice.
Evidently, raising two children didn't come easy for a single father.
As for Avery, she was stumped for a reply.
It was true that the children were hers, but she had signed away her rights as a mother in return for money.
With the custody of the children in Cayden's hands, his permission was needed before she could visit.
“Do you need my help?” Avery carefully put the question to Cayden, for she wanted to stay by the children's side and take care of them, especially Rory.
Even though Rory had complained that her eye hurt after injuring it from fooling around with the neighbors, Avery, as a mother, felt her heart ache even more.
Hugging her tight, Avery had no intention of letting go.
“As long as we're not imposing on you, we do need your help.” Cayden racked his brains for a suitable excuse.
Even though he was still angry at her for marrying Dylan, he still needed her, not just to take care of the children but also to give him peace of mind by being at his side.
“Not at all. I don't have anything on.”
After obtaining Cayden's approval, Avery nuzzled her head against Rory's body. This adorable girl is none other than my daughter.
For the very first time, a sense of bliss descended upon her.
Lying in Avery's embrace, Rory gradually fell asleep, exhausted from crying the entire day. The moment she saw Avery and Cayden, she craved their attention and begged for a hug.
Once she was wrapped in Avery's arms, drowsiness fell upon her.
The Land Rover drove toward the condominium in the city center before heading into the parking lot upon its arrival.
While Avery waited at the entrance with Rory in her arms, Zachary followed closely behind them.
After parking the car, Cayden came over with the children's school bags and belongings. Even then, he stretched out his arms toward Avery. “Are your arms tired? Let me carry her.”