As soon as Mike asked the question, Layla started crying even harder.

"Can't you keep that mouth of yours under control?" Avery said.

Mike immediately kept quiet.

"Alright, Layla, stop crying. It's not that big a deal," said Avery, consoling her. "Your dad told me that Ruby is carrying a test-tube baby, and she is not carrying his baby. Let's trust Daddy on this, okay?"

Layla buried her face into the crook of Mike's neck and said in a muffled voice, "I don't trust him! From now on, I'm trusting anyone but him!"

"Darling, it's okay if you don't believe him, but don't let this get to you. You were happy even without a dad, right?"

"That's because I had Hayden..."

"Your brother will be back at the end of this year," Avery said. "He'll be back soon. Even if your older brother isn't around, you have Robert!"

"Robert is so little!" Layla said in displeasure.

"But he loves you just as much as Hayden does! Didn't you see him crying with you?"

"That's because I startled him!" said La