Elliot pursed his lips tightly. Avery's voice made him slowly come to his senses. He let his hand go and Hayden immediately ran upstairs!

Avery did not let go of Elliot's arm. "Elliot, what were you doing! You said you wouldn't force the children! What were you doing there then?"

Elliot swallowed his saliva. His voice was hoarse. He enunciated, "I-I only wanted to apologize to him."

"The way you're doing it is not right. He is a child, not an adult. You were too forceful." Avery pulled him along and pressed him down on the sofa.

"Elliot, you were badly affected by your family. The trauma is still there now. Why did you think Hayden would reconcile with you so quickly?"

Elliot lifted his head and looked at her closely.

"I'm not blaming you." Avery inhaled rather helplessly. "Don't be so impulsive in the future. You made Robert cry. Layla was surely frightened too."

"I'm sorry." Elliot looked in the direction of the children, self-reproaching.

Mrs. Cooper was carrying Robert.