"In about half a month!" Avery said. "The equipment is here, but we don't know how to use it. The professor that invented this machine only has time to teach us how to use it next week.""Won't it be too late by then?" Elliot voiced his concerns. "The child will be big then. Will the risk and difficulty of the surgery increase?""She just got pregnant. In half a month, the child won't be big yet," Avery said. "Don't worry. Wesley and I are here. We will ensure Shea's safety as best we can.""I trust you." Elliot was relieved. "If the child could grow up healthy, that would be even better."Avery heard what he said, and she got distracted. "Elliot, you still like children a lot. Although you were terrifying when you tried to force Shea to get an abortion and when you tried to force me to get an abortion, it's not like you hate children. You're just afraid that they will inherit your sickness.""When we first got together, I did not like children, sickness or not," said Elliot. "I l
Before Wesley could ask her anything, Avery had already collected her emotions."Let's start working! Rather than waiting for Professor Simon to come over, we should try assembling it ourselves first.""Okay."Elliot returned to the office, yet he could not calm himself down. He would secretly look at Ivy's photo. He did not go to Ylore to look for Ivy, but he could not let her go either. He could not let her go because she looked a lot like Layla. He felt sorry for Avery and the children too, but he was sure that he could keep his promise to Avery if nothing happened to Ivy. In the afternoon, Shea came to the hospital."Avery, is my baby going to grow up here?" Shea bent down in front of the artificial womb. She blinked and looked at the transparent bag."Hmm, by then, we can observe its growth every day."Shea nodded and said, "I really hope that it can grow up healthy just like Wesley.""I'm sure it will." Avery knew what she was worried about. "Shea, you have to relax. T
Avery looked at the baby photo on Elliot's phone. It was as if someone had sucked her soul away.The instant she saw Ivy's photo, she almost involuntarily yelled out, "Isn't this Layla?""Avery, she looks a lot like Layla," Elliot saw her stunned expression and said, "I saved her photo on my phone because of this reason."Avery took a deep breath and returned Elliot's phone to him. She initially had many things she had wanted to say to him, but at that moment, she could barely say a single word.She finally understood why Elliot had feelings for this child.After she saw the child's photo, she fell into a daze. She quickly walked to the washroom. Elliot followed her closely.Half an hour later, Shea's surgery ended. She was transferred to a VIP ward.Wesley saw Elliot in the ward, and he said, "Shea's anesthesia needs some time to wear off. Stay here and look after her. If she comes around, immediately call the doctor. I'll head to the lab first.""Hmm," Elliot responded. He he
"Why don't you head home first? I won't send you off," Wesley said and returned to the lab.A week flew by in the blink of an eye.The doors to the lab were pushed open and Avery exited the lab.Wesley took her luggage, following her.Elliot stood outside the door. Seeing her coming out of the lab, he immediately walked over to her and stretched his long arm out. He took over her luggage from Wesley."How is the child?" he asked Avery."Everything is normal for now." Avery sounded calm. It was as though they had not been fighting. Elliot took her luggage with one hand and held her hand with the other, leading her out of the hospital.On the way home, Elliot secretly snuck glances at her."What are you looking at me for? Just say what you want to say," said Avery, breaking the silence."Avery, I'm sorry." After a moment of silence, he said, "I have thought about it for a very long time. No matter how I think about it, I don't understand why Ivy looks so much like Layla. I lo
Robert saw Elliot taking Avery away. He furrowed his brows, looking lost."Mommy…" Robert pointed at where Avery had vanished to. He pursed his lips and said to Mrs. Cooper, "I want to play with Mommy…""Your mommy has been working hard for the past few days. She needs to get some good sleep right now. Let's not bother her." Mrs. Cooper took Robert to the living area. "Once your mommy has had some good sleep, she will surely come and play with you."In the bedroom, after everything had resumed peacefully, Avery slept soundly.For the past few days, she had not rested well. Her issue with Elliot had made it hard for her to sleep, but apart from that, she also found it hard to sleep because she was worried about Shea's child. Shifting the child into the artificial womb had been her idea. If anything were to happen, she would surely blame herself.Elliot's eyes were open. He had no urge to sleep. He was not thinking about anything because Avery had already forgiven him.As long as
"Avery, if you really want to make me happy, then you'll pray that my daughter is a beauty. I know Jun too well! Even if he used up the luck of his future, he will not be greater than your husband in this life!" Tammy smiled sweetly and said, "Now that I have a daughter, I no longer fuss so much about Jun.""That's good too. You won't place so much pressure on Jun.""Hmm. I wanted to see Shea's baby a few days ago, but my mom didn't let me. She thinks that the artificial womb is not going to work. She said that after the transfer to the artificial womb, the child won't last a week…" Tammy took a jab at her mother, "My mother's values are too old-fashioned.""Her worries are not without reason, because we are not too confident about the artificial womb. Compared to aborting the child, at least now it has a chance of surviving.""Hmm. You have been in the hospital for a week. Did Elliot say anything?" Tammy asked.Avery blushed a little. "What can he say? I'm not playing hide and se
Ben's words worried Elliot even more. He was worried for Ivy too. He initially thought that Ruby would take proper care of Ivy, seeing how Ivy was her biological daughter.If Ruby actually used Ivy to set him up, he would surely find a way to take Ivy away from Ylore.But if Ruby was dead… He could not afford to assume things.Ruby could die, but Ivy could not! "Elliot, do you want to hear our conversation recording?" Ben was apprehensive. "I plan to find someone to process the recording of my conversation with Ruby. I want to find out what's the sound in the background."Elliot looked up at him. "Do it!""Mm." Ben walked to the side and made a call.Elliot looked at the time. It would take half an hour to get from Nick's place to Ruby's; only five minutes had passed.Ben made the call, took a glass, and poured himself some water. He gulped it down.The atmosphere in the office was eerily quiet. They both said nothing, waiting for replies.About ten minutes later, Ben fina
What was going on at Ruby's?"She's not picking up your calls either. I think something fishy is going on." Ben furrowed his brows. A bad feeling rose in his heart. "Let's wait! We'll soon have news from Nick."Ten minutes later, Nick called."Elliot, the man I sent to check on Ruby said that her gate was shut. They did not find anything strange." Nick yawned. "Do you know what time is it over here? Why are you calling at this hour? Everyone is asleep!"Elliot said, "Nick, an hour ago, Ruby called, asking for help. I heard the recording of the conversation. I heard a gunshot."Nick was instantly serious. "But the man I sent there has returned. He said that he didn't find anything strange. You know as well that the Goulds have bodyguards. My bodyguards won't even dare to disturb them unless I head over there myself.""Then, please, head over there!" Elliot said. "I am sure I heard a gunshot.""Tomorrow morning! I'm out now. I drank too much while socializing tonight. My head hurt