"I'll send more men over. They will be on twenty-four hour guard duty," said the captain before changing the topic, "I hear your girlfriend is pregnant. Congratulations!"

"I don't like kids." Elliot's face darkened a little. His tone turned cold too. "If there are any updates on the case, inform me at once."

The captain nodded. "Okay. How is Miss Tate? She was not too well yesterday. I wonder how she is today."

Elliot's gaze darkened. His lips thinned into a tight line. He got up from the sofa and left. He could not answer that question.

He had been outside the operation theater the previous night, but his mother had called him, and he did not go in.

Zoe's pregnancy had become an obstacle in his mind. He could barely face it, let alone face Avery.

Avery slept the afternoon away in the ward. She slowly opened her eyes. Before grief could enter her mind, she heard Hayden say, "Mommy, I'll go to whichever school you want me to go to."

Then, she heard Layla's soft but hoarse voice,