Chapter 561
Chapter 561
Chapter 561 The Threat Of A Tyrant
Late that night, Avery dreamed about how she had been falsely accused of cheating in the exam hall.
In her dream, Yulissa pointed at her contemptuously and accused her of being a shameless cheater. Meanwhile, the onlookers gathered around them watched with indifference. Some even laughed and her and joined Yulissa in hurling insults at her.
No one believed she was innocent!
“I didn't... I didn't do it...” Sweating profusely, she kept explaining to the others, but no one was willing to take her word for it.
“You're dishonest, and you've ruined your future! You'll never be an architect. If you ask me, people like you don't even deserve to live!” Yulissa said in her dream with a vicious smile.
Suddenly, Yulissa opened her bloody mouth wide and morphed into a fanged monster. Baring her terrifyingly sharp teeth, she made to bite Avery's neck.
“No! I didn't cheat on the exam! Why won't anyone believe me?” Avery was screaming in terror as her eyes suddenly flew wide open.
The scenes from her nightmare still played in her mind. She clutched at her chest, her heart racing, and she was drenched in a cold sweat.
“Ery...” Her scream had also jolted Cayden out of his sleep. Observing that she was very agitated, he drew her into his arms and gently comforted her. “Don't be scared. It was just a nightmare.”
Her breathing was heavy, and her entire body shook like a leaf.
He could distinctly feel her body trembling.
She knitted her brows as her heart throbbed painfully. “I really didn't cheat on the exam. Why don't they believe me?”
He helped her sit up, then went to the kitchen to fetch her a glass of warm water. Upon returning to the bedroom, he gave it to her. “What do you mean no one believes you? Silly, I believe you. A hundred and one percent. Besides, doesn't that student in the exam hall named Evangeline also think you're telling the truth too? Don't let your imagination get the better of you. Just get a good night's sleep. When I find out what happened, I'll clear your name.”
Avery took a moment to catch her breath before slowly sipping the water. Although she felt a little better after downing the whole glass of water, despair still lingered in her heart.
“Be good. Don't think about anything and rest early. Everything will be okay,” Cayden said reassuringly as he helped her lie back down.
After turning off the wall lamp, he patted her back gently as though he were comforting a fussy child in the middle of the night.
His efforts to comfort her as she grasped his large hand tightly made her feel particularly at ease, and she soon fell back into a deep sleep.
Sometime in the middle of the night, a light rain began to fall.
He could feel the warmth emanating from her body as he held her in his arms, worried she would have another nightmare. Listening to the sound of the rain, he stayed up almost the entire night.
After dawn broke, it stopped raining, and the sky cleared up. In the distance, several fluffy white clouds floated in the sky. The morning sun spilled in through the window. Occasionally, the soft pitter-patter of the water droplets falling from the eaves onto the stone tiles below could be heard.
Just as it was starting to get light out, Cayden was actually already awake and had washed up.
He gazed at Avery as she slept restlessly. Even the way in which she was curled up while sleeping appeared to be a defensive position.
I remember how playful yet gentle she used to look. Her expressions were so animated and varied, and she always beamed at me. But now...
He sighed, carefully tracing her delicate features with his slightly calloused fingers.
He sighed, carefully tracing her delicate features with his slightly calloused fingers. Her skin was smooth and pale, as soft as the finest satin, and her small face was only the size of his palm. He could cover her entire face with one hand, and she looked so petite and delicate that it was almost too much for him to bear. As for her pink lips, they were a little dry.
Seeing that, he could not help lowering his head and kissing her deeply.
Avery was awakened from her slumber by his kiss and opened her eyes blearily.
At first, it seemed as though she was not yet fully awake as she drowsily rubbed her eyes. When she finally clearly saw Cayden's handsome face close to hers, her lips curved into a slight smile. “Good morning.”
With his lips still pressed against hers, he murmured in a low voice, “Good morning, Babe.”
A faint blush spread across her cheeks. Even though they had been together for a long time, she still felt a little shy to be woken by a kiss first thing in the morning.
“Why don't we go on an outing today? What do you think?” he whispered tenderly in her ear.
She was a little surprised. “What gave you that idea all of a sudden?”
“Well, I've been so caught up with work recently. I'm either at the office the whole day or busy entertaining clients. I haven't had much time for you and the kids, and I feel terrible about that. Now that things at the office are a little less hectic and I can have a break, naturally, I want to spend time with you guys. Also, you've been recuperating at home for a long time after your injury. I can tell you want to go out for some fresh air. Since it's Saturday today, Zach and Rory don't have school. Hence, we can all go on an outing together,” he replied matter-of-factly, pinching the tip of her nose.
In truth, Avery was in no mood for an outing because the accusations against her were still not yet resolved. However, seeing the eager look in Cayden's eyes and recalling how the two children had complained to her about how long it had been since he had spent time with them, she finally nodded. “Okay.”
When the twins arrived at the mansion with Jake and learned that their parents were taking them on a
trip, they were ecstatic.
The whole family had breakfast and got into the car. As soon as Cayden drove the car out of the garage, however, Avery was surprised to see several luxury off-road vehicles parked in a line outside the mansion's entrance. This text is © NôvelDrama/.Org.
In front of the cars stood a row of adults and children.
There was the handsome and aloof Xander, the mischievous father-son duo—Jacob and Seamus, the pregnant Stephanie, and Kendrick, who still looked half-asleep.
Avery turned to Cayden with a questioning look.
“It seemed a bit quiet if we were to go by ourselves. These guys happened to be free, so I thought it'd be much more lively if we all headed out together,” he explained.
She nodded in understanding. “It's true that it'll be more fun with more of us. However, what a peculiar coincidence that they're all free today.”
Although Xander and the others did not say anything, they were secretly bemoaning their fate. Avery, it's no coincidence at all! All of us are snowed under with work, but some guy said he wanted to take his wife out on an outing because she was in low spirits and twisted our arms so we would tag along to console her!
They could not help lamenting inwardly about how the dignified and self-respecting Cayden they knew, someone who had never touched a woman's body, had changed into a man who completely spoiled his wife. He's beyond saving at this point! Also, why can't he comfort his wife himself? What's with
dragging a bunch of us along to cheer her up?
Nonetheless, no one dared to utter a single complaint. That was because Cayden had made it clear that whoever failed to show up would have to bear the consequences, and they were terrified!
Their good friend appeared gentle and harmless on the surface, but in reality, he was more cunning and ruthless than the others. If they disobeyed him, it would only be easy for him to use his smarts and stir up some big trouble for the group. Hence, faced with a tyrant's threat, they had no choice but to squeeze time out to show up for no reason other than to support Cayden in consoling his wife.