**Chapter 83** "I really wish I could turn back the clock, Mom," Avery sighed, her voice barely above a whisper. "I wouldn't mind being poor if it meant things could be different." Laura settled onto the couch beside her daughter, looking deeply into her eyes. "Avery, no matter the circumstances, running away is never the answer. If you find your father's company too overwhelming, let it go. Money can be made again, but you cannot sacrifice your education." Avery studied her mother’s face, tracing the fine lines etched by time and worry. "I won't run away, I just... I feel exhausted." "Then you need to take a break. Have you eaten anything yet?" Laura asked, concern etched on her brow. Avery shook her head, the weight of her silence hanging heavily in the air. "Let me whip up something for you," Laura said, rising with determination and heading toward the kitchen. As the clock struck eight in the evening, a gentle rain began to patter against the windows of their modest apartment. Avery sighed and retreated to her room for some peace, her mother going out for a moment to toss the trash. The rain fell not in torrents, but rather in a soft, relentless drizzle. Laura, unwilling to change her course to fetch an umbrella, dashed through the cool rain towards the dumpster, her jeans quickly becoming damp. She tossed the bag of trash into the bin and turned back toward the warmth of home. That’s when she saw him—an imposing figure standing solemnly at the entrance of their building. The shadowy outline, barely visible through the rain, sent a shiver up her spine. She sprinted back to the entrance, her heart racing as she drew closer. The moment she recognized his face beneath the rain-soaked strands of hair, her breath caught in her throat. "Elliot?!" Laura’s shock echoed in the silence of the rain, her voice almost lost among the droplets. "What are you doing here? Why are you just standing out in the rain?" She instinctively grabbed his arm, gently pulling him toward the shelter of the entrance, yet he resisted, his expression one of determination. "I'm not going in," he stated resolutely, eyes fixed ahead. The last time he had been here, Avery had made it abundantly clear he was not welcome anymore. Stepping inside now would surely spark her fury once again. "Why not? You're here for Avery, aren’t you? She didn't explain why she was upset, but I could tell you two had an argument," Laura pressed, urgency in her voice. Taking a moment, Elliot wiped the rain from his face before responding bluntly, "I want to apologize to her." "Then come inside! You can't apologize out here where it's pouring. She doesn't want to see you getting drenched!" Laura’s concern surged as she ushered him forward. Elliot stepped back slightly, shaking his head. "I'm afraid she doesn't want to see me in your house." Laura’s heart sank. "You both desperately need to talk. It's vital! Let me go get Avery." She turned and hurried into the apartment, urgency fueling her every move. As she entered Avery's room, her damp clothes trailing water onto the floor, she found her daughter startled upright in bed. "Is it raining out there? Why didn’t you take an umbrella? You’ll get sick!" Avery exclaimed, guiding her mother towards the bathroom. "You need to take a shower..." But apprehensive, Laura held Avery's hand tightly. "Avery… Elliot’s waiting outside. He’s been standing out there in the rain for God knows how long… did you turn off your phone? Won't you let him come up?" Avery froze, disbelief flooding her senses. "He said he wants to apologize," Laura persisted. "But he’s too stubborn to come inside without you. Please, Avery, just go talk to him." Pain surged through Avery’s temples, and she frowned. "I don’t want to see him. If he’s willing to get soaked, then let him be!" There was a tone of finality in her voice as she diverted the conversation, "I’ll make you a cup of tea instead." After a few moments, Laura emerged from the shower, the refreshing warmth of steam enveloping her. On the dining table, she found a steaming cup of tea waiting silently, while Avery sat in a daze, her thoughts clouding her mind. "I think he could use this cup of tea even more than I do," Laura remarked lightly, trying to coax her daughter out of her reverie. "I’ll throw it out if you don’t want it," Avery said, rising from her seat, determined to leave the cup behind as she walked toward the kitchen. Laura quickly caught up to her, grasping Avery's arm gently. "He doesn’t look as bad as you think, Avery. The rain is getting heavier. Don’t you feel even a little bit sorry for him?" The tension between mother and daughter crackled in the air, the weight of unresolved emotions pulling them into a somber silence. The storm continued outside, mirroring the turmoil brewing within.