Chapter 245


    A soft sigh escaped Cayden''s lips. After threatening the little ones, I''ve got to coax the big kid now. I''m


    really quite a failure as a father.


    He rose to his feet helplessly and walked over to Avery. Then, he drew her close against his chest with


    his strong arms.


    Stroking one hand along her back in aforting gesture, he said, “There, there. It was my fault. Don''t


    be mad, okay? I was only worried they''d get too picky with their food and that it''d affect their health. I


    won''t be so fierce toward them in the future.”


    Seeing how sincere he was in his apology, Avery felt bad about arguing with him further. Nheless,


    she could not help saying, “You''ve given your word today. You can''t treat them like that ever again.


    They''re still children, after all.”


    His breathing became easier when he sensed she was no longer as angry as before.


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    Heaven knows how much I care about her feelings.


    Meanwhile, Zachary and Rory had their hands resting against their cheeks as they watched their


    parents in silence, thinking that the scene before them was utterly unbelievable.


    Daddy has changed so much after Mommy came into our lives. Mommy is just amazing! Even a tyrant


    like Daddy bes obedient in front of her.


    Both children were filled with admiration for Avery.


    With that, the minor disagreement during breakfast blew over just like that.


    After finishing their meal, Cayden and Avery hurried to the hospital with the kids.


    It was the day of Leonardo''s funeral, and Avery wanted to let the children “meet” the maternal


    grandfather they had never met. I suppose it''ll be their first andst time doing so.


    Meanwhile, Dn was sitting in his car outside the hospital. The acrid smell of smoke hung in the air


    inside the vehicle, and numerous cigarette butts littered the floorboard. He had stayed up the entire


    night, and a half-burned cigarette still dangled between his fingers.


    He was well aware of who was by Avery''s side at that moment, and he knew how deeply she


    misunderstood and loathed him. Despite that, he could not stop thinking about her.


    A pang of bitterness shot through his heart when he thought of her cold and aloof attitude toward him.


    I resorted to deplorable means to force her into bing mywfully wedded wife, yet such a situation


    has happened. How ironic is it that a husband must stake out the hospital for a chance to meet his


    wife?


    Suddenly, he spotted a family of four at the entrance to the hospital. Oh, what an eyesore!


    The tall man hovered protectively over the delicate and beautiful woman like a guardian spirit. The pair


    were holding the hands of two angelic-looking children, looking as though they were indeed a warm


    and loving family.


    Dn watched as the harmonious and happy family was about to enter the hospital, and the sight


    agitated him so much that his calm andposure flew out the window.


    He stubbed out his cigarette angrily, then kicked open the car door and stormed toward them.


    I was the one who met Avery first! She was so young and innocent at the time—as green as grass. I


    thought it''d be a pity to approach her so soon and wanted to wait until she was older. However, I never


    imagined that my act of kindness would give that brute, Cayden, a chance to swoop in ahead of me.


    How can I possibly ept that?


    “Avery!” Dn called out, his bloodshot eyes shing with rage as he grabbed her hand. “As your


    husband, how could you not let me know that something as serious as this has happened? Had I not


    heard from others about my father-inw''s passing, were you nning on keeping it a secret from me


    forever?”


    “Let go of me!” Avery tried shaking him off as hard as she could. However, he held onto her with a vice-


    like grip, and she could not break free.


    Seeing that, she sneered and scoffed, “Husband? I believe you know better than anyone else how this


    fake marriage came about. In my eyes, you''re no more than a stranger. No, not even that. You''re


    nothing but a b*stard who coerces women using despicable methods!”


    Her words seemed to pierce Dn''s heart like a row of needles, causing his heart to ache.


    Dn smirked. Although upset, he acted as though he could not care less and delivered a cutting


    retort, saying, “So what? Even if you don''t love me, doesn''t my name appear as your spouse''s name?


    As long as I live, you''re my wife byw. You and Cayden will never get to be a couple openly!”


    Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain in his wrist and had no choice but to release Avery''s hand.


    Fury spread across Dn''s face, but then he saw Cayden gripping his wrist.


    Cayden was exerting so much force that Dn felt as though his wrist was about to snap.


    Dressed in a ck hand-tailored suit, Cayden looked as noble and elegant as ever. However, his aura


    was so cold and forbidding that the atmosphere around him seemed positively cial.


    “Today is the day of Avery''s father''s funeral, so I''m in no mood to pick a fight with you now. If you''re


    also here to say your final goodbyes, then be my guest. But if you''re here to cause a scene, don''t


    me me for showing no mercy even though we''re cousins,” Cayden uttered. His gaze was piercing,


    and he radiated a murderous intent.


    Seeming to sense the tension in the air, the children hid behind Cayden and Avery so that only their


    large, dark eyes were visible as they peeked out at the adults. Neither of them dared to say a word.


    Cayden let go of Dn''s wrist abruptly, then led Avery and the two children into the hospital with his


    arms around them protectively.


    Dn nced at his wrist, which was still hurting, and saw the severe bruising. That jerk! He''s ruthless!


    Lucky for him, I''m not going to take any action now. I''ll take my time to settle the score between us next


    time. What''s important now is Avery''s father''s funeral.


    Over at the mortuary, Leonardo''s bodyy inside a coffin, his face pale.


    If it were not because he had no pulse, it would appear as though he was merely sleeping peacefully.


    “Zach, Rory, my dears. Come over and pay your respects to your grandfather. It''ll be your first andst


    time seeing him,” Avery said, holding back her tears.


    She led them over to the coffin so that they could personally pay their respects.


    Zachary and Rory gazed at their mother''s tear-filled eyes, then turned toward their maternal


    grandfather, who looked as though he were asleep. Then, they bowed their heads obediently.


    Looking solemn, Zachary said, “Granddad, it''s my first time meeting you, yet you can''t see me...


    Mommy says you''ve gone to heaven. I hope you''ll be well and happy there. I''m all grown up and am a


    big boy now. I''ll take care of Mommy for you in the future, so you don''t have to worry.”


    After that, Rory also introduced herself gravely. “Granddad, it''s me, Rory. I''m Zach''s baby sister, and


    I''m super adorable. I can write, draw, tell stories... Oh, and I can dance too! I''ll help Zach take care of


    Mommy, so you don''t have to worry about a thing.”


    Avery''s eyes brimmed with tears at the scene before her, and an overwhelming wave of sadness


    swelled within her heart. She covered her mouth to suppress her sobs. Then, she felt a tall, strapping


    figure embrace her.


    Cayden wiped away her tears and murmured a few words offort. Then, he said to Leonardo, “Rest


    in peace. I promise that as long as I''m here, I''ll never let Avery suffer any injustice.”


    Standing as rigidly as a board, Dn watched from a corner as the harmonious “family” said theirst


    goodbyes to Leonardo. Then, he sneered softly.