Chapter 19: Four Years Later

Four years passed in the blink of an eye.

The Foster-Tate family had grown closer than ever.

Avery's bookstore had become a successful chain with branches in several cities.

Elliot continued leading Foster Holdings while supporting Avery's projects whenever she needed him.

Their life was peaceful.

At least, until Avery made a decision that would change everything again.

She stood inside a small airport lounge, holding the hands of two four-year-old children.

A little boy stood on her right.

A little girl stood on her left.

The twins looked almost identical except for their expressions.

The boy had a mischievous smile.

The girl was quieter and more observant.

"Mommy," the boy asked.

"Are we finally going home?"

"Yes," Avery replied softly.

"We're going back to Avonsville."

The little girl looked up at her.

"Will we meet Grandma?"

"Maybe."

"And Grandpa?"

"We'll see."

Avery smiled at them.

She had spent the last four years building a life away from the Foster family.

Not because she hated Elliot.

But because she had needed time to understand everything that had happened.

The twins were the reason she had stayed away.

They were her secret.

Her protection.

Her greatest joy.

She looked down at them and gently adjusted their coats.

"One rule," she said.

"You stay close to Mommy."

"No wandering."

"No talking to strangers."

"Especially not anyone from the Foster family."

The little boy frowned.

"Why?"

Avery hesitated.

How could she explain Elliot to a four-year-old?

How could she tell them their father once believed the worst about her?

How could she explain that the life they were about to enter had once broken her heart?

"Because some people can hurt you without realizing it," she said gently.

"And I don't want anyone hurting you."

The boy nodded seriously.

"Okay, Mommy."

The little girl hugged Avery's leg.

"We'll stay with you."

"Always."

Across the city...

Elliot Foster was sitting inside his office reviewing business reports.

Four years had changed many things.

His company had expanded internationally.

His position had become even stronger.

But one part of his life had never completely healed.

Avery.

He still remembered her.

The wedding.

The garden.

The promise they had made.

Then, one morning, she had disappeared.

She had left only a short note.

"I need time to find myself again."

Elliot had respected her decision.

He never stopped searching quietly.

He never found her.

Until that afternoon.

His assistant suddenly entered the office.

"Mr. Foster, there's something you need to see."

"What is it?"

The assistant placed a tablet on the desk.

A local news article displayed a photograph from the airport.

The headline read:

"Former Foster Family Member Returns to Avonsville."

Elliot's hand froze.

The photograph showed Avery.

Older.

More confident.

Still unmistakably her.

His heart began pounding.

"Where is she?"

"We don't know yet."

"Find out."

Minutes later, Elliot was in his car.

He didn't care about the meetings scheduled for the afternoon.

He didn't care about the board waiting for him.

For four years, he had wondered whether he would ever see her again.

Now she was back.

And he needed answers.

Meanwhile, Avery arrived at a hotel with the twins.

She checked them into a large family suite.

"This will be our home for a little while," she said.

"It's big!" the boy exclaimed.

The little girl immediately ran toward the window.

"Look, Mommy! The city!"

Avery smiled.

"Yes."

The city she had once fled.

The city where her life had changed forever.

She picked up the remote control and turned on the television.

A business interview was already playing.

A familiar face appeared on the screen.

Elliot Foster.

Older.

More powerful.

Still impossibly calm.

The children looked at the screen.

The boy tilted his head.

"Mommy... who is that?"

Avery immediately reached for the remote.

"No one important."

She changed the channel.

But the little boy frowned.

"He looks familiar."

"He's not someone you need to know."

Avery knelt beside both children.

"Listen carefully."

"Stay far away from that man."

"Why?" the girl asked.

Avery's expression became serious.

"Because he's your father."

Both children stared at her.

"Our father?"

"Yes."

The boy looked back toward the television.

"Then why can't we meet him?"

Avery swallowed hard.

"Because once..."

"He said he would never accept children."

"He was angry and didn't know what he was saying."

"But I don't want him finding you until I'm ready."

The boy's expression changed.

"Did he hurt Mommy?"

Avery's eyes softened.

"Not in the way you're thinking."

"But he hurt my heart."

The little girl hugged her.

"We'll protect you, Mommy."

Avery smiled through the tears in her eyes.

"Thank you, sweetheart."

That night...

While the city slept, Elliot sat alone in his office.

He had found no information about Avery's current location.

Then his computer screen suddenly flickered.

A notification appeared.

UNKNOWN USER CONNECTED.

"What the..."

The system began displaying unfamiliar code.

Elliot immediately called his cybersecurity team.

"Someone is inside the network."

"Trace them."

"We're trying, sir."

A message suddenly appeared across the screen.

"HELLO, MR. FOSTER."

Elliot stared at it.

Another message followed.

"I KNOW WHO YOU ARE."

"AND I KNOW WHO MY DADDY IS."

Elliot's heart stopped.

One final message appeared.

"COME AND GET ME, ASSHOLE!"

Elliot stared at the screen in complete disbelief.

Someone had hacked one of the most secure systems in the city.

A child had challenged him.

And somehow...

He knew exactly who Elliot was.

For the first time in four years...

Elliot felt that Avery's return wasn't the only secret coming back into his life.

His children were here too.