A HAPPY FAMILY.

CHAPTER THREE

"by the way, what happened to your faces?" Avery asked as Xavier stared intently at her- Avery gulped while fiddling with her fingers since she was only met with silence "I mean-"

"I'm home!" Mrs. Linda announced interrupting Avery "oh my, can't believe you kids are eating without your mother"

"Mom... You're back," lilly said.

"Welcome back Mrs. Gonzalez" Avery stood up helping Mrs. Linda with the grocery bags, then walked into the kitchen dropping them on a counter.

"Thank you dear," Mrs. Linda said as Avery nodded, walking past her when she grabbed her wrist. Avery turned to face Mrs. Linda in a swift as Linda frowned "did you enter the basement?"

Avery blinked. "No, since you told me not to"

"Great," Mrs. Linda nodded "Mr. Gonzalez is coming back from a business trip at night, so you must make sure you're on your best behaviour and the house is organized" Avery nodded. Vicky's brows shot up in surprise as Xavier's eyes widened.

"Dad's... Coming back... Tonight?" He raised his brows as his mother nodded while glaring at Avery.

Xavier glanced over at Avery who looked at him confused to why he kept staring at her.

"Avery...?" Avery glanced at Mrs. Linda who played with a strand of Avery's hair "you look... Really distracting"

"Sorry, distracting?" She raised a brow as Linda nodded.

"Your face, your hair, you look really pretty" she complimented as Avery nodded.

"Why thank you madame,"

"Do you often get praised?" Avery shook her head as Mrs. Linda frowned then mumbled to herself.

"Anyways, I'll be in my room if anyone needs me" Linda glanced at Vicky who flinched back, then with a heartwarming smile Linda walked out of the dining room. What was that?

"If you know what's good for you, please, stay away from my dad and avoid him at all cost when he's back..." Xavier grabbed Avery's wrist and whispered closely to her. With one last glance, he let her go then walked out of the room.

Of course she searched through Lilly's eyes for an explanation but she just shrugged, stood up, patted Avery's back and whispered.

"My brother may seem like a total creep and weirdo, but if I were you I'd listen to him" then she walked out of the room following behind her brother. Avery raised her brows then glanced at Vicky who was lost in thoughts, then with a sigh, she packed the dishes and entered the kitchen to wash them.

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"Welcome back darling," Mrs. Linda beamed at Mr. Gonzalez who had just entered the living room. Xavier, lilly, Vicky and Avery stood in a corner, lilly with her usual numb expression, Xavier with his serious expression and Vicky lost in thoughts had no idea what was happening. Mr. Gonzalez had had the other workers drop his bags in his room as he curiously stared at his children.

"really? Not even a hug from at least one of my kids?" Lilly spat a glare, Xavier rolled his eyes as Vicky flinched back in fear and avoided eye contact "wow,"

"C'mon kids, hug daddy for me hmm? We should be a happy family" she beamed as Xavier flinched back at the word.

As Mr. Gonzalez observed his children, his eyes landed on Avery who was looking at the ground puzzled, with a frown, he pulled Linda roughly towards him.

"What the fuck happened to Tessa?" He glared at her as she smirked.

"We don't need her anymore, change is a good thing, now meet Avery" Linda shrugged as he dragged her roughly.