Chapter 22 The Voices In Her Head 

That evening, Cayden did not join his family for dinner at the Moore residence. 

Allie put some vegetables onto Zachary’s plate before giving Rory some too. “Now you guys listen to your grandma. I know you don’t like these, but they’re good for your body. You won’t grow big and tall if you don’t eat them.” 

Everybody was enjoying dinner at the dining table. 

After looking at the vegetables on his plate, Zachary obediently put them into his mouth. When he was done, he turned to his grandmother. “Grandma, why aren’t you eating the onion?” 

On the table was a pan–fried onion that Zachary and Rory loved. Everybody seemed to enjoy it, except for Allie, who always stayed as far away as possible from food with onion. 

Whenever Allie smelled the vegetable, she would lose her appetite. 

Before Allie could say anything, Lily scoffed, “Because she’s a classic picky eater. That’s why.” 

As soon as Jeffrey heard that, he deliberately coughed loudly to stop his daughter–in–law from causing a scene at dinner. 

Pouting, Lily continued with her food. Even though she did not think she was wrong, she decided it was best not to push her luck. 

Naturally, Allie could sense the hostility coming from Lily, but she chose to ignore the woman. “It’s because of my father. He didn’t like onions either when he was still around.” 

“I see!” Zachary fidgeted with his spoon. “I know a pretty lady who dislikes onions too.” 

In response to that, Allie chuckled. There are many like me who dislike onions. We’re no different than those who hate broccoli or any other food. 

After dinner, the two children went outside to play until bedtime. Everybody brushed their teeth and went into their bedrooms respectively. 

Avery tossed and turned all night long because she had a dream, and in it, she could hear Cayden showering. 

After opening the door to the bathroom, Avery walked up to the man from behind and held his chiseled body. 

Cayden then turned around to leave lovebites all over her neck. 

Hungry for more, Avery lifted her head to look at the man. 

His sensual breathing and gentle touch were enough to cause her to tremble all over. As she was drenched in sweat, her hair clung to her face, and the scene continued to get steamier. 

Every muscle in Avery’s body tensed up, causing her to shake uncontrollably. 

She took a step back, and Cayden followed. The two gazed into each other’s eyes briefly before letting their tongues wrestle. 

Amidst the waves of passion, Avery began to let out soft moans. When she opened her eyes, she could clearly see Cayden’s eyelashes, which were so thick that they would make woman jealous. 

any 

Suddenly, the dream took a strange turn, and all Avery could see was the old but wealthy businessman waving at her with a hideous smile. 

“Ah!” cried Avery before bolting upright in bed. 

Breathing heavily, the woman took a while before she realized it was all just a bad dream. 

She let out a sigh of relief and was glad that what she had seen was not real. 

It was dark in Ackleton that night, and not a star could be seen. Avery was still partially caught up in her dream, unable to fully return to reality. 

Ever since she saw the old businessman on television five years ago, Avery would think of him whenever she wondered about her baby’s father. 

She could not stop thinking about her baby because that was her flesh and blood. However, she would always be reminded of the businessman’s cunning and terrifying visage every time she did so. 

Avery had had the same nightmare many times before. 

Even though it had stopped for a while after she went to see a psychologist overseas, the businessman had eventually returned to haunt her in her dreams. 

Avery could not help but wonder if she would be tortured like that for the rest of her life. It’s all in the past now, but why does it refuse to leave me alone? 

The woman tried to forget it but to no avail. 

She turned toward the window and took a few deep breaths, trying her best to bring herself back to reality. 

However, before she could do that, she started hearing Cayden’s voice again. 

you crying?” 

J 

Avery instinctively tightened her grip on the bed sheet when she suddenly heard another voice inside her head. It belonged to the man who had taken advantage of her five years ago. “Your legs. I want you to open them wider.” 

The two voices were getting louder and louder in Avery’s mind until a lightning bolt flashed before her eyes. 

Not long after that, raindrops as big as jelly beans started to fall from the sky. With the wind blowing harshly, they were sent pattering against the bedroom window. 

At that moment, Avery could no longer hold back her tears. 

This is my fate, and I have to accept it. I had no choice but to sell my body to an old businessman because that was the only way to save my beloved. My mind only made me hear those voices because I loathed the old businessman. 

The following morning, Zachary went to his sister’s room. “Rory, why do you think Daddy was holding Ms. Ery yesterday?” 

“Daddy held Ms. Ery?” 

“Yeah.” 

“Maybe he hit Ms. Ery. I mean, why else would she be crying?” 

“But why would he hit her?” 

“Because Ms. Ery is a picky eater. She didn’t eat her onion!” 

Zachary was visibly puzzled. Daddy hit Ms. Ery and made her cry because she was a picky eater who refused to eat onions? 

“I’ll ask Daddy about it when the time is right,” stated Zachary concernedly. “Maybe I’ll need to ask him to sit down so we can talk. He should act more gentlemanly toward ladies.” 

“Daddy is a worrisome man, isn’t he?” Rory sighed, seemingly disappointed in her father. 

After returning home early in the morning, Cayden went upstairs to take a shower. 

While taking off his necktie, Cayden noticed a cartoonish sticky note on the bathroom door, and on it was a child’s handwriting: Daddy, you should learn to be more of a gentleman. 

Cayden took the note down after reading it. 

When Zachary heard movements in his father’s bedroom, he entered. 

Staring at his father who was standing a few feet away, the child voiced cautiously, “Daddy, I have a question for you.” 

Cayden, who was rarely that serious, nodded before giving his son a brief response. “Sure.” 

“Rory said you hit Ms. Ery and made her cry because she didn’t eat her onion…” Zachary knew it was inappropriate for him to talk to his father like that, but he was convinced that it was necessary to do so. Hence, the boy summoned up all his courage to continue rebuking Cayden. “We’re all born equal and independent, so to treat anybody otherwise would be wrong. I don’t think it’s right that you tried to force Ms. Ery to eat onions. Just because she dislikes one or two kinds of food doesn’t mean she’s a picky eater! Besides, Ms. Ery isn’t your child. Unlike us, she wasn’t brought up by you, so she doesn’t have to listen to you.” 

Zachary seemed to be making a lot of sense. 

“So you’re saying you have to listen to me because you’re my children and that I brought you up, right?” Cayden said. “Then if I promise to take care of her until her hair turns white, which means the time I spend looking after her is going to be longer than the time I spend bringing you up, shouldn’t she listen to me too, just like you do?? 

Zachary scratched his head in bafflement while looking at his father. “I guess it makes sense, but-‘ 

Instead of waiting for his son to finish the sentence, Cayden walked into the bathroom. He preferred not to waste time explaining things only adults would understand.