**Chapter 50** Avery felt a chill run down her spine, cold sweat pooling at the small of her back as she slammed her laptop shut, a surge of panic flooding her senses. This was not the reaction of a dedicated scholar—no, it was the instinctive reflex of a woman pushed to her limits. In her whirlwind of anxious thoughts, she had hastily opened a new document, a digital canvas for her carefully orchestrated plan. Among the scattered ideas and frenzied notes, one stood out starkly: a timeline for her impending divorce from Elliot, a divorce she yearned to see finalized before her seventh month of pregnancy. The twins deserved a peaceful arrival, and that could only happen if she severed ties with their father long before the chaos of labor began. Failure was not an option. If her plan fell flat, she would have no choice but to disappear into the shadows, and that thought alone sent a shudder through her. Avonsville was her sanctuary, a place where she had nurtured her dreams, and she wanted nothing more than to give her children the same roots she had. But here she was, wrapped in anxiety, her overzealous caution turning Elliot’s demeanor sour. Did he truly believe she was lost in her academic endeavors? Or did he sense the undercurrent of her intentions? His expression, dark and forbidding, snapped Avery back to the present. Without skipping a beat, she jumped to her feet, her heart racing as she maneuvered past him toward the door. “Did you not enjoy the book I gave you?” she asked, her voice sweetening to mask her rising dread. “You shouldn’t look down on it. It’s an excellent book detailing all sorts of ways to maintain good health. The author is a well-respected professor, someone my mentor highly regards.” As she spoke, Avery entered the living room, reaching for the book resting on the coffee table. The seriousness with which she promoted it seemed to catch Elliot off guard, giving her a fleeting moment of reprieve from his skepticism. “You can peruse it whenever you’re free—start at any chapter, and you’ll still be able to follow along," she added, trying to lighten the atmosphere. Mrs. Cooper, ever the diligent housekeeper, chimed in cheerfully, “Is it really that remarkable? Now you’ve piqued my interest!” Beaming, Avery replied, “I’ll make sure to grab one for you tomorrow!” The warmth of her words danced lightly in the air. “Oh, that’s quite alright. I’ll fetch it myself,” Mrs. Cooper insisted, waving an appeasing hand. “It wasn’t a problem at all! It was on sale, you know. Just a dollar fifty,” Avery chirped, her tone brightening further. A brief silence enveloped the room as Mrs. Cooper’s smile faltered, her expression recognizing the absurdity of such a low-cost gift for Elliot. This was the very gift that had stirred such dissatisfaction in Elliot—a mere dollar? How could Avery present something so trivial to a man who had previously received lavish gifts? An awkward tension coiled in the air, and Avery felt it keenly. Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she picked up the ornate gift box on the table. “This gift box, however, was not cheap! It's was significantly pricier than the book!” she asserted, her voice a touch defensive. Even as she claimed the box’s expense, the irony hung heavy; it probably wasn’t substantial enough to boast about. “Thank you, Madam! I’ll focus on dinner for Master Elliot now,” Mrs. Cooper excused herself hastily, retreating to the kitchen as if escaping a storm. Avery turned her attention back to Elliot, comforted to see traces of his fury dissolve, replaced by a more neutral countenance. Was the storm within him passing, or had he simply chosen a moment of tranquility, much like her? His previously impending rage had transformed, and his calm demeanor was unsettling for her. The headache that had settled in his skull was now a dull throb, tuning out everything else, including the absurdity of the gift. With her heartbeat racing, concern welled within Avery. “What were you discussing with Professor Hough earlier? Are you unwell?” she asked, her brows knitting in worry. Before he could unleash whatever frustration he felt brewing inside him, Avery swiftly offered him a banana, her hand brushing against his. That fleeting touch ignited an electric charge between them, a sensation both foreign and familiar. She snatched her hand back, a rosy blush creeping up her cheeks. But before she could make her escape, Elliot’s grip latched onto her arm, pulling her gently back toward him. “You still haven’t clarified what transpired earlier,” he said, his voice low and edged with curiosity. No matter if the book was worth a dollar or a million, Avery owed him the decency of an explanation, especially for the disruption she had caused in his day.