Layla had told him that she intended to be away for a month and a half. He had told her the max she could be away for was half a month.

He had not yelled at her. He had only informed her of how long he was comfortable letting her out of his sight. Layla had cried endlessly and thrown many tantrums.

After sending Shea back to the Brooks, Elliot drove home.

When he reached home, the snow had stopped. The courtyard was covered in a layer of white, adding some brightness to the night.

Avery liked building snowmen. If she was here, she would surely pull him out to the courtyard to build snowmen.

This thought suddenly came to him, unbidden. Elliot could not help but furrow his brows.

Entering the mansion, he stood by the door to change his shoes.

Mrs. Cooper walked over and said, "Master Elliot, Layla has left. Eric came to pick her up an hour ago."

"Did the bodyguard go with her?"

"Yes," Mrs. Cooper said. "I'm worried that if Layla is allowed to be away for so long, she will just g