?Chapter 199:


    Thement pierced Sadie’s heart with a sharp pain.


    She enveloped Averi in a warm embrace, whispering reassurance.


    “Ignore what they say, sweetheart.”


    Averi nestled his head against her, his shoulders shaking gently. Embracing him closely, Sadie felt a surge of protectiveness mixed with a sense of helplessness.


    She stroked his back tenderly, each pat meant tofort and calm him. Averi’s tears slowly subsided, though he still let out a sniffle now and then.


    “Why don’t we head home and cook something tasty?” Sadie suggested. Nodding, Averi pulled away from her hug, his eyes still brimming with tears.


    Together, they left the kindergarten, Sadie holding Averi’s tiny hand.


    Once at home, Sadie donned an apron and started on dinner. The kitchen came alive with the sounds of cooking, and delicious smells began to waft through the air.


    Averi, seated on the living room sofa, toyed listlessly with a Transformer, his attention drifting.


    asionally, he looked towards the kitchen, his expression tinged with sadness.


    The hurtful words from his ssmates earlier that day lingered in his mind, causing his heart to feel heavy.


    Deep down, he felt a profound longing for his dad.


    Averi quietly approached Sadie’s bag and searched it for her phone.


    He was trying to reach Alex.


    To Averi, Alex had always been kind, filling the role of the father he yearned for.


    As he attempted to make the call, Averi’s small finger identally hit a number from the recent calls.


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    The call connected.


    Averi anxiously waited.


    “Hello?” A low, steady voice with a cool edge came through the line.


    It was Noah.


    At the other end, Noah paused, mistaking the caller for Sadie, suspecting she wanted toe back to him.


    His eyebrows knitted together slightly. “Sadie, what do you need?” After a brief pause, the sound of quiet crying filled the silence.


    “It’s Averi…” came a small, muffled voice. “I really miss you.”


    Noah was taken aback.


    He realized then that it wasn’t Sadie, but a child on the line. He quickly stood up from his office chair.


    “Time to wash up, Averi. Dinner is on the table.” Sadie’s voice floated softly from the kitchen.


    “Alright!”


    Averi’s cheerful reply came, but he stayed where he was instead of moving toward the living room.


    Confused, Sadie shut off the stove and stepped out of the kitchen. There, she spotted Averi by the sofa, quietly speaking into the phone. A sinking feeling gripped her heart.


    Approaching quickly, she glimpsed the name on the phone screen—Noah.


    Why was he on the line?


    Her expression shifted suddenly. She swiftly snatched the phone from Averi’s hand and disconnected the call.


    Standing there, Averi looked up, hisrge eyes clouded with confusion. “Mom… what did I do wrong?” he asked in a small voice.


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