"Darling, we don''t hate Eric. Your dad and I saw him not long ago! People just drift apart from time to time. It''s normal so don''t read too much into it." Avery tapped La on the shoulder. "We haven''t been as close as we were before you asked him out."


    "I thought that was because he was busy. He has retired and isn''t as busy..." La did not wish for Eric to drift apart from her family since he upied a major part of her childhood.


    "He hasn''t reached out to us! La, you have to understand that maybe he hasn''t contacted us because he needs some time alone. We will never hate him, and if he ever needs help, we won''t hesitate to help Likewise, I''m sure he will do the same for us when we need help as well. But there''s no point in contacting him when there''s nothing important to say."


    La understood what Avery was saying, but she still felt upset, likely because Eric was one of the very people that she truly cared about.


    After lunch, La pulled Elliot outside. It was the hottest time of the day.


    Elliot started sweating as soon as they were out. He stared at La''s flushed face in confusion and asked, "Why do we have to talk out here?"


    "There are people everywhere inside... so let''s talk out here! I bought an apartment near the office, and I want to move out. I wille back on the weekends. Dad, what do you think?" La lifted an eyebrow. A stern look took over Elliot''s face. "Why?"


    "I want to try living alone. I''ve already discussed this with Mom..." Not wanting Elliot to object, she immediately brought Avery up.


    "Why did you go to your mom first? Do you think that your mom cares more about you than I do?" Elliot asked bitterly.


    "Of course, not. My chance of seeding is higher with Mom because she has always been less strict. I know that you two love us all the same. Dad, just agree, okay? I want to try moving out and if I have a hard time adjusting, I will move back." La pouted and rocked Elliot''s arm back and forth like she did when she was little.


    "You just think that it''s easier for you to date someone if you move out, right?" Elliot tried to understand his daughter''s motivations.


    "I want to date someone, but I have no one in mind. Dad, it''s normal for someone my age to start dating, don''t you think?"


    Elliot did not say anything. He felt his blood run cold.


    "What did your mom say?" Elliot asked.


    "The bodyguard will apany me when I head to and back from work," she said. "I can settle my own meals so I don''t need a servant."


    "How? You don''t even know how to cook." Elliot scowled.


    "I can learn! I bought a recipe book, and I can just follow the instructions. If I learn how to cook, I can cook for you and Mom when Ie home on the weekends, okay?" she said confidently. "Dad, I just need to know if I have what it takes to be


    and I''ve never been on my own..."


    independent. I''m twenty eel.


    "Since your mom has agreed, there''s nothing I can say, "Elliot said in resignation. "You can move out, but if you are struggling, you can always ток back in. Don''t white-knuckle through it."


    "Of course, I''m not stupid." La pulled him back into the house with a big grin. "Dad, let''s take a family photo! We haven''t done that since Ivy came home!"


    Agreeing to the idea, Elliot went to take his camera.


    La brought Avery and Elliot to their respective seats, while the four siblings stood by their sides.N?velDrama.Org owns this.


    "Wesley, I heard that you are great at taking photos, so why don''t you do it?" Chad handed the camera to Wesley.