Chapter 708 Who Else Would Have Kissed Me Like That?
Avery froze.
A bitter smile crossed Isadora's face. "That was my first time going to see Tobias. I saw you with Autumn in the parking lot. She was sobbing uncontrollably, and you were holding her with such tenderness in your eyes."
Avery frowned, confused. Had that really happened?
He searched his memory, then recalled the day he'd gone to buy formula for Maggie. He had run into Autumn, who was completely drunk. He drove her home, nothing more than common courtesy. He never imagined Isadora would witness it.
Avery's denial came instinctively, "I don't have feelings for her."
Isadora only gave him that same bitter smile.
She said nothing more, simply mentioned she'd pick up Maggie in the morning. Even when Avery tried to convince her to stay, she refused, leaving his hotel suite with unwavering determination.
After Isadora left, Avery stood alone for what felt like hours. When the night grew deep and silent, he finally tore off his shirt and threw it straight into the trash. His mood had turned absolutely foul.
Isadora thought he was unfaithful, while he thought she was making a mountain out of a molehill. But Autumn's behavior was genuinely unreasonable.
Just thinking about it made Avery want to strangle Autumn with his bare hands.
That night was torture. He barely slept.
Early the next morning, Isadora came to collect Maggie.
Avery was still in bed. His business was actually finished - he could return to Evergreen City with them. But he'd hoped to keep Isadora in Oceancrest City for a couple more days, to try salvaging their relationship.
"It's not convenient," Isadora said quietly while dressing Maggie. "Work's been hectic, and my mother's being discharged from the hospital tomorrow."
Right in front of her, Avery rose from bed wearing only a bathrobe, then let it fall open as he began getting dressed.
Avery stood there in black boxer briefs, his muscular torso on full display.
Maggie clapped her hands over her eyes. "Daddy has no shame!"
Maggie had been giving him the silent treatment since last night, refusing to let him prepare her bottle when she woke up. Now that she was finally talking again, Avery felt genuinely happy.
After getting dressed, he crouched down and pinched Maggie's nose. "So you're willing to talk to Daddy now? You used to get along so well with me."
Maggie turned her little face away with a soft "hmph!"
Such an adorably defiant expression.
Avery pinched Maggie's soft cheek again, deliberately saying, "I wonder who she gets this little temper from. Taylor and I aren't like this, and Serafina has such a sweet disposition. That leaves only one person."
Isadora took the bait, instinctively protesting, "How is your temper good?"
Avery chuckled. "So you're saying she takes after me, huh?"
Isadora rolled her eyes, clearly not wanting to continue the topic.
Seeing she wasn't responding, Avery turned back to Maggie. "So, is Daddy's nose taller than Mommy's?"
Maggie tilted her head, studying them seriously. "Hmm… Mommy's eyes are prettier!"
Avery pretended to be hurt. "Oh no, you're totally on Mommy's side!"
Isadora rolled her eyes again. "Can you be any more childish?"
Avery kept quiet. If he didn't humble himself, Isadora might be gone for good — and seeing Maggie could end up requiring her permission.
So he bit back his pride and raised the topic of custody. To his surprise, Isadora simply said, "Let's alternate weeks."
Avery thought she was being too accommodating.
Isadora was brutally honest. "I trust Maggie with you, and it gives me time to date."
Avery's expression darkened.
Maggie clapped with glee at the idea of Mommy dating again. Avery figured his daughter was running on a pretty big double standard.
In the end, Isadora still didn't stay, taking the morning flight back to Evergreen City.
Avery followed.
Back in Evergreen City, their relationship entered a cooling-off period. They still had contact, but only as Maggie's parents. Whenever Isadora dropped Maggie off, she never entered the Montague Mansion, simply handing their daughter to the family's staff before leaving.
One evening at dusk, Avery stood on the second-floor terrace talking on the phone, his long fingers holding a cigarette, his handsome face striking against the twilight.
He spotted Isadora and Maggie approaching, quickly stubbed out his cigarette, and headed downstairs.
At the main house steps, Isadora was opening her car door when Avery's voice came from behind, "Why don't you come in? It's getting late - stay for dinner before heading home."
Avery knew his parents had invited Isadora countless times, but she consistently refused. He understood she was drawing clear boundaries between them.
Avery glanced back at the mansion. "You should at least pretend, for Maggie's sake."
Isadora smiled faintly. "It's precisely for Maggie's sake that I keep my distance. I can't let her get the wrong idea - that her parents might reconcile."
Avery let out a cold laugh. "Can't we reconcile?"
Isadora didn't want to answer. Just then, Avery's phone rang. Seeing Autumn's name on the screen, he looked at it without answering, then hung up.
Isadora guessed who it was but didn't care. Now that she and Avery had no relationship beyond Maggie, she spoke with clinical objectivity, "This is actually setting things right. You were supposed to marry Autumn originally."
Avery held Maggie, giving Isadora a cold smile: "You're such a hypocrite, Isadora! Who was it that wrapped her arms around my neck, kissing me like she never wanted to let go? Now you're calling it 'setting things right'?"
Isadora didn't give him the satisfaction of a reaction.
Maggie was clearly on her mom's side, and to Avery, that made her a little traitor. But then Maggie cupped his face in her tiny hands and gave him a big, noisy kiss.
"Maggie likes Daddy more," she declared with all the seriousness of a secret.
Avery did not believe a single word of it, but with her small arms still around his neck, the moment felt warm and soft.
After Isadora's car disappeared, Avery carried Maggie inside.
In the early summer weather, Maggie wore a pure cotton dress, fluttering like a little butterfly into Henry's arms for several kisses before nestling into Amelia's embrace, refusing to come down.
Henry and Amelia basked in their grandparental bliss, but Henry couldn't resist needling Avery, "Every time Isadora sees you, she looks like she's seen a ghost. After all this time, you haven't made any progress whatsoever. Your mother and I are embarrassed for you."
He continued his assault, "Your sister's pregnant, your former brother-in-law found himself a wife, and you're still a bachelor! You're not bad-looking, the Montague family wealth speaks for itself - how can you not win Isadora's heart? She should at least tolerate you for the money."
That last comment was particularly cutting.
Avery leaned back on the sofa, casually brushing lint from his pants. "There's nothing wrong with my... performance."
Henry chuckled. "I'd suggest getting treatment before you disappoint more women."
Avery shot back, "If there were problems, where would Maggie come from?"
Maggie piped up in her sweet, childlike voice, "Uncle Jacob says I grew on a tree."
Avery made a mental note to settle scores with Jacob later. He'd find some extra work to keep his brother-in-law busy - clearly Jacob had too much free time if he was filling Maggie's head with nonsense.
Henry saw right through Avery's thoughts, remarking dryly, "Still holding grudges, I see."
Avery would never admit it.
Henry wasn't worried. A man with his kind of experience knew that when two people got as tangled up as Avery and Isadora, there was no room for anyone else. They were just too stubborn to admit it. In the end, all it would take was one night together to set things straight.
He wasn't anxious. Beside him, Amelia was even less concerned.
Avery's personality needed someone as stubborn as Isadora to keep him in line.
Spring turned to summer.
In July, when Maggie's school break began, the Montague family had her stay with them.
When Avery came to pick up Maggie, Lila was polite, but the warmth she once had was gone.
Avery couldn't help making a pointed comment, "Don't worry, Mrs. Penrose. With Maggie at my place, Isadora has time to date."
Lila was both annoyed and amused.
She kept her expression neutral, offering only perfunctory responses.
When Avery realized he wouldn't see Isadora, he asked, "Where is she?"
After a moment's consideration, Lila told him the truth, "Serafina set her up with someone. They're... seeing each other."
Avery was stunned.