Ben's mind snapped back from the shock. "Ruby, Layla looks like Avery, not Elliot.""I saw Layla's photo before, and I think she looks like Elliot as well," Ruby argued. "How else would you explain why my daughter looks like Layla?"Ben was rendered speechless. He did not know what to say or how he could begin to explain the situation."The doctor says that she might grow up to look more and more like me," Ruby continued. "I don't really want that, though. I want her to look more like Elliot.""Ruby, about the name I gave this baby... Why don't you change it up a bit?" Ben glanced at Ruby. "I came here to see the baby and also to tell you what Elliot thinks."Ruby waited quietly for what he was about to say."Elliot will not acknowledge this baby as his child, nor does he want her to have the Foster name, so you should name her Gould instead!" Ben stared directly at her. "Ivy Gould sounds great, too."Ruby's eyes reddened. "Do I have to change it?""I advise that you do. Trust

Mike was moved by her words. "I get it. As long as you are truly happy, I can learn to be less petty.""I am happy. Elliot has been great with me and the kids." Avery's lips curled into a smile as she recalled all the things that had happened between her and Elliot. "But I am keeping my visit to Susan a secret for now. I don't want to upset him.""Yeah. It isn't that big a deal."After lunch, Avery drove to the prison, and Susan was slightly surprised to see her."Did Elliot send you?" With cuffs on her wrist, Susan's eyes glittered with hope.Avery shook her head. "He's a bit busy lately, Auntie. Once he's free, I'll take him here to see you.""I know that he's busy. He doesn't have to come see me. I know that he doesn't want to. Even my own child considers me a humiliation and is reluctant to pay me a visit," Susan muttered bitterly. "It's my own fault. I deserve it."Avery was not sure what to say. "Auntie, there's still a chance for you to be commuted. If you manage to short

"Without regret... Good for you! You will die without regret, but what about me?!" The expression on Elliot's face only grew fiercer.Avery knew that she should be helping Shea, but she could not say a thing. Shea was only taking her own feelings into consideration and had completely neglected Elliot's feelings. He had worked so hard to protect her up till now and watching her kill herself would feel just as painful as getting stabbed in the heart."Big Brother, I think I can give birth. Look at me! I'm fine. I'm just like anyone else." Shea wanted to gamble. What she did not have the courage to confess was that she was not gambling because of how much she wanted a child, but rather because, Wesley's mother had asked for her to give birth to Wesley's child, and Shea had agreed to it. She had to fulfill her promise to others or her conscience would not allow her to rest."How are you just like anyone else? You are far from that!" Elliot never had the heart to be too harsh with her, b

"Ivy, look! It's Daddy!" Ruby carried Ivy out of the crib and turned the camera so that it faced her and Ivy. "Ivy, remember what your Daddy looks like! Daddy is a really brilliant man..."Elliot did not hear a word she said and focused on the child in her arms.Ivy was too young to know anything at all, but it was precisely her innocent face that broke the defenses he had put around his heart.He had never seen Layla as a baby, but he could distinctly see the resemblance Ivy had with Layla."Elliot, our daughter is a wonderful child. She came down with pneumonia when she was born because she was weak. For about a week, the doctors wouldn't even let me visit her, but they told me that she was wonderful and that she rarely cries, so she had a speedy recovery."Ruby sobbed. "She's really great... Elliot, I know that you can't come to see her, but can you video call me from time to time so that Ivy gets to see you?""No," Elliot rejected her request without a moment of hesitation.

Elliot was impressed by his imagination. "What's in that brain of yours? Does Ben seem that desperate to you?"Chad scratched his head. "I've never met Ruby before, but my instinct tells me that she's a formidable enemy. She managed to find a way to create a child in secret after getting married to you. After that, she killed her own father. That's not what ordinary people do, so she's definitely someone who will do anything to get what she wants.'"Are you concerned that she will bribe Ben into going against me?""Not to go against you but to seduce you," Chad said. "She has never been discreet about wanting you for herself."Elliot took a sip of coffee. "Ben won't betray me.""True. I'm worrying over nothing. I just keep getting worried, probably because Ruby has your child right now. If only we can get custody of that child. I know it's difficult for you, though. You definitely don't want that kid."Before today, Elliot had thought and believed whole-heartedly that he would no