Chapter 94 The atmosphere in the room was thick with tension. The doctor and Rosalie stood by the window, their serious discussion hovering over Elliot’s fragile health like a storm cloud. Yet, right outside the door, Avery felt an anchor of dread weighing her down, rooted to the spot as if the very floor had turned to quicksand. She couldn’t summon the courage to step inside. Just then, Chelsea emerged from the haze of the room, her hand holding a basin filled with water. The moment she caught sight of Avery lingering in the doorway, her surprise quickly morphed into a hushed urgency. “Avery! What are you doing here?” Chelsea’s voice dipped to a whisper, protective of the fragile silence that enveloped Elliot. Avery felt a flush of anxiety as Chelsea set the basin down and strode purposefully toward her. The faint sounds of their conversation had caught Rosalie's attention, and soon enough, she joined them by the door, her expression a mask of scrutiny. Instinctively, Avery took a few hesitant steps back toward the safety of the stairwell. The thought of disturbing Elliot sent a tremor through her, yet Chelsea misread her retreat as an attempt to flee. She closed the space between them, blocking Avery’s escape with a fierce intensity. “Avery! Are you toying with Elliot’s emotions? If you don’t care for him, why don’t you let him go? If you dare to hurt him again, I swear I’ll make you regret it!” The venom in Chelsea’s voice was palpable, her eyes gleaming with a mix of fury and despair. Rosalie stepped forward, her voice a sharp reprimand. “Avery, you need to understand! Elliot is holding on to you because he’s captivated by you! I never expected this level of ingratitude from you! I was wrong to think you were a good person! If I had known then what I know now, I’d have chosen Chelsea to be with Elliot—she truly loves him!” Avery felt the weight of their accusations battering against her resolve, yet her heart was too heavy for confrontation. She hadn’t come to engage in a battle of words. She simply wanted to check on Elliot’s well-being. And now that she had confirmed he was resting, that was enough solace for her. “Just go back to him. I’m leaving!” Avery muttered, pushing past Chelsea and descending the stairs, each step weighted with a heavy finality. In the living room, a small gathering led by Ben hung on to the muted sounds of the upstairs altercation, eager for any sign of resolution. When Avery emerged, visibly defeated, a mixture of pity and judgment rippled through the group. Some exchanged knowing glances, while others frowned in discomfort. But beneath it all was a collective understanding: what truly mattered was Elliot’s state, and he lay unaware, trapped in a slumber that left him oblivious to the chaos brewing around him. “Miss Tate, I noticed you came by taxi. Would you like a ride back?” Chad offered with an air of misplaced generosity. “I’ll manage on my own,” Avery replied curtly, determination in her tone as she made her way toward the door. Just then, Mrs. Cooper appeared, her heart aching at the sight of Avery’s defeated silhouette. “Madam, you forgot your laptop!” she called after her, an urgency tinged with concern. Avery snapped back to the present, realization dawning upon her. With a sigh, she turned on her heel and made her way back into the room she had briefly invaded. “I really wish I could just wake up Elliot,” Ben lamented, a glimmer of worry in his eyes. “If Avery leaves now, I fear that she may never return.” “Then just go upstairs and shout! I’ll stand by from here, ready to support you!” Chad encouraged, mischief dancing in his eyes. Ben shot him an incredulous glare. “With Madam Rosalie here? I wouldn’t dare.” Moments later, Avery reemerged from her room, dragging her suitcase behind her as if it were a weight tied to her very soul. She had claimed she was just retrieving her laptop, but deep down, she knew that a part of her was prepared to leave for good. If Elliot had awakened and they had a chance to talk, perhaps the outcome would be altogether different. Mrs. Cooper felt the sting of regret settling over her. Her initial encouragement had been well-meaning, but what if fate had conspired to keep Avery from seeing Elliot one last time? What chaos was this if Avery was denied closure? “Madam, wouldn’t it be wiser to wait until Master Elliot awakens? Inform him of your departure then,” Mrs. Cooper suggested, her voice laced with concern. Avery shook her head, resolute. “No need for that,” she stated firmly. With that, she stepped resolutely into the frigid night, the crisp air biting at her skin. Rosalie followed her down, furious. “Avery! Don’t even think about coming back!” Ben could only sigh internally, helplessness gnawing at him. She was only digging her own grave deeper. Stubbornness had always been Avery’s hallmark, and today, with the added flare of unresolved issues hanging over her like a storm cloud, Rosalie’s provocations pushed her to the brink. How much more could she endure? Avery ignored Rosalie’s enraged calls and swiftly faded into the night, the door closing behind her with a finality that echoed throughout the room. “You all saw it! I didn’t even bully her! She left of her own choice!” Rosalie towered above the assembled onlookers, her irritation surfacing as she shot daggers with her glare. And so, the night pressed on, full of unresolved tensions and fading hopes, leaving everyone trapped in a silence that screamed for resolution.