"No," Hayden responded calmly.

"Really?" Avery checked with her son repeatedly.

"No," Hayden repeated without a trace of emotion on his face.

Avery could only call the quits. If they did not take it and she continued to ask them about it, the children might think that she did not trust them.

Hayden took Layla's hand and led her back to their bedroom to store their school bags.

Once they were inside the room, Layla whispered, "Hayden, why are we lying? We shouldn't lie to Mom."

Layla h