The CEO Gets What He Wants

Dylan did not turn Talia down.

Indeed, he needed an opportunity to bury the hatchet between him and Toby.

To some extent, Dylan recognized that he was more stubborn and prideful than his father.

In fact, Toby had never really raged at his unfilial son. His anger at his son, if any, never lasted longer than ten minutes.

Watching a movie or a play with his parents was something Dylan had agreed to five years ago when he started serving his prison sentence.

His parents had visited him together. He remembered being led out by a warden, handcuffed and dressed in a prison uniform.

After taking his seat, Dylan stared at his parents wordlessly. He did not know what to say when he noticed their weary appearances.

It did not help that he barely spoke to his parents in the first place.

With a thick plexiglass partition between them, Talia said between sobs, “Don't give up hope while you're inside, Dylan. Focus on turning over a new leaf and leave your law-breaking days behind you. We still love you very much. Once you're out of prison, we can spend time together as a family again. You can get married and have kids; there's still a beautiful future to look forward to...”

Dylan remembered that his mother had said many things to him that day, all muffled by sobs.

A particular sentence stood out to him. Talia had said, “If you feel sorry toward your father and me, you can make it up to us once you're out of this place. We don't need you to become an overachiever or anything. Just watch a movie or a play with us, and we'll be happy.”

Though Dylan had listened to her mutely and expressionlessly, he was stunned by his parents' surprisingly low expectations.

It turned out that being a filial son was as simple as accompanying one's parents to a show.

He could not believe he had never done it for his parents in the twenty or so years of his life before he entered prison.

At that moment, Dylan was driving on the road as a free man.

When his mother called and told him she had ordered three tickets to a play, memories of his parents' first visit five years ago replayed in his mind.

Now that I'm starting to remember everything, it's time for me to make good on my promise.

Meanwhile, Avery did not allow Cayden and the kids to enter Blake's ward with her.

After all, she had told her grandpa not too long ago about Cayden's unsuitability as a partner. If she showed up with him now, it would be an awkward situation for everyone.

She fed Blake lunch, then took her leave, citing some matters to attend to.

Before she left, she grabbed the laptop she had left behind in the hospital after work the day before.

Avery had carried the laptop around in case Cecelia had urgent tasks for her to complete.

After having his meal, Blake walked around his ward and waved his granddaughter goodbye.

When Avery walked out of the hospital, she immediately spied a familiar black Land Rover outside the entrance.

She approached the car, reaching it at the same time as Cayden, who had been smoking elsewhere. He swiftly took her laptop with one hand and opened the car door with another, ushering her into the car.

“What do you want to eat?” he asked before she had a chance to thank him.

Avery turned to look at him, replying, “Let's see what Zach and Rory fancy.”

Cayden nodded, indulging in his role as a perfect husband who automatically deferred to his wife's and kids' wishes.

He concentrated on driving while Avery googled a list of restaurants for Rory's and Zachary's selection.

Zachary set his phone aside and took Avery's before both he and his sister scrolled through it.

Rory blinked rapidly as she stared at the screen.

“Have you decided?” Avery asked.

Zachary continued staring at the phone as he mumbled, “Not yet.”

“It's okay. Take your time.” Avery had already taken the day off to accompany the kids, so she had all the time in the world.

While the kids stewed in indecision, two WhatsApp notifications popped up on Avery's phone.

The messages came from Nina, who wrote: My mom came to the office. I just shooed her out five minutes ago. Thank god you were not here, or my mom would be all over you! God, she's horrifying! Why doesn't she ever see herself as the problem?

The next message read: My mom spoke to the lawyer, and Zayne's getting at least a year in prison. I wasn't even sad or angry when I heard that. I don't even know why, but I was craving a plate of jambalaya. I'm pretty sensible, huh, Ery? Zayne's obviously in the wrong, and he needs a few years in prison to fix his morals.

Zachary and Rory did not understand Nina's message, but they immediately noticed the jambalaya she had mentioned.

It sounded delicious.

Zachary lifted his head and asked Avery, “Ms. Ery, what's jambalaya?”

Jambalaya?