"Do you think you can't get a boyfriend because you are living with us?" Avery asked.
"Mom, can you not say that out loud? I will only stay at my apartment on the weekdays, alright? If you aren't going to agree to this, I'm going to enlist Ivy's help to convince you otherwise." "Do you really think that I would be this stubborn? If you insist on moving out, I won't stop you. I'm just worried about you... Why don't you bring a servant along? You also need a bodyguard..." "Don't... If I bring anyone with me, Dad is definitely going to sneak around behind my back, asking about my personal life. I bought skitchen utensils, and I can cook. If I don't feel like cooking, I can order food." "What about your safety?" Avery voiced her concern.
"The bodyguard can cto pickup every day, alright?" "Okay. Why didn't you tellbefore buying the apartment? You've been planning this all along, haven't you?" Avery started feeling slightly upset. "You even went as far as to do it before telling me! Did you think that I would object? Is that what you think of your own mother?" Layla wrapped her arms around Avery's neck and pouted. "It's not like that. I've just been wavering on whether I should do this. I want to be independent, but I want to stay with you guys too. So, I decided to get the apartment first before telling you my plan!" Avery felt slightly better after hearing Layla's explanation.
"Why didn't you tell your dad? You don't expectto talk to him about this, do you?" "I am scared that he might not agree! He is definitely going to argue that it's not safe out there..." "Your dad worries about you because he loves you, so you need to understand him," Avery said. "Talk to him later. If he disapproves, I can talk to him afterward. He is going to be devastated if you don't talk tell him about it in person." Layla nodded, "I'll talk to him afterlunch, then. Ivy accompaniedwhile I was out shopping for an apartment and household appliances. Letshow you." She unlocked her phone to show Avery the photos of the apartment and all the things she bought the day before. Avery went through all the photos and asked, "Does your sister want to move out?" Relieved, Avery said, "Layla, it's fine that you want to move out, but you need to behave! Don't mingle with the wrong crowd-" "Mom, I'm not a child anymore. Are you really still going to worry abouthanging about with the wrong crowd?" "Of course, I am worried! And I always will, no matter how old you are." "Don't worry! I don't like meeting new people... and even if I do, I will tell you guys right away," Layla promised. Avery sighed a breath of relief.
"Mom, why didn't you invite Eric over?" Layla asked, pretending not to care. "We normally invite him when something happens, right?" "We didn't want you to feel awkward! Won't you feel awkward when you see him?" Layla blushed. "Why would I? I won't. I'm not that charming, and it's normal for someone to turndown!" Avery sighed. "You are so strong, my darling, but your dad doesn't like him. So for the sake of my peace of mind, we didn't invite him." "Mom, I don't want you to hate him because of me. I would feel really bad if you start hating him." Layla felt that they were all stuck in strange positions. "I don't resent Eric at all." .