Tears rolled down Layla's face when she heard Hayden's voice, and she felt like the world was ending.Her harmonious family was on the brink of falling apart.Though she had married Eric, she had never once stopped considering herself a part of her family and thought that she had matured after getting married; however, this sudden event had made her realize that she was not strong enough.After ending her call with Hayden, Layla accepted a piece of tissue paper from the servant."Layla, I know that you are upset, but your dad says that this baby isn't his. I don't think he is lying," the servant reiterated. "Why don't we wait for the DNA test results, hm?"Layla dried her tears and turned her attention back to the baby.Woken by the noise Layla had been making on the phone, the baby was looking around dazedly."But I think he looks just like Dad!" Layla felt increasingly upset as she studied the baby.With there being so much resemblance between him and the baby, it was obvious
At first glance, he thought that the baby looked hideous.He was certain that the baby was not his, and since the baby had brought a crisis into his marriage, he would not have bothered looking at it had he not needed a paternity test done."I just don't understand! Why would you break our family apart? Do you think that you will be free if you get a divorce?" Layla shouted. "You don't have to sneak around like that if you want freedom! Even if Mom forgives you, I will never forgive you!"Elliot was rendered speechless."Once the lawyer gets here, sign the agreement." Layla sat down on the couch gloomily. "If Mom wants to divorce you, you will leave without a penny to your name. If you try to resist, my siblings and I will all work together to make your life a living hell."Elliot remained silent."Your best option is to take your illegitimate child and leave after the divorce. Don't show your face to us again. You aren't that old and are quite strong physically, so you can inves
The legal specialist and Elliot were left alone in the living room.The specialist glanced at Elliot, wanting to say something but not knowing where to start."Just say it," Elliot said."Mr. Foster, I used to look up to you because I think you manage your business and family extremely well. You must be extremely talented to achieve that...""Just skip the compliments, and get to the point." Elliot's head was pounding.His wife was giving him the cold shoulder — and so would all of his children, once they found out.If the paternity test proved that the child was his, his family would abandon him, and that was one of the biggest fears of any man."You're a smart man, so why did you make such a foolish mistake?" the legal specialist sighed. "Your wife is a brilliant woman, and so are your children. Why did you have to go looking for excitement out there?""I didn't! Why won't any of you believe me?""Well... Why would your wife be upset with you if you didn't do anything?""Th
"If something is wrong with his brain, let him rot," Avery said."Okay! Mom, why are you locking yourself in your room? Why don't I get Dad to move out for now after he signs the agreement? This is his mistake, so you shouldn't suffer for it!" Layla wanted Avery to get some fresh air."Let's wait until your brothers and sister come home. He needs to explain himself to them," Avery said."I know, but Dad doesn’t say anything other than the baby isn't his." Layla recalled her conversation with Elliot and said, "By the way, I called Hayden, and he should be back soon."Avery nodded. "I didn't really want something like this to be known, but since Elliot wants to act shamelessly, I shouldn't have to work to preserve his pride.""Yeah. Even if we keep quiet about this, rumors will start to fly." Layla picked up the agreement. "I will go downstairs and get him to sign the agreement. If the baby turns out to be his, we need to make sure that he doesn't get anything."At four in the afte
This was her first time facing such a scenario since she had returned to her family.She could sense that something horrible had happened from the way her family was behaving."Ivy, come here," Layla said."Okay." Ivy set her bag aside and walked over to Layla obediently."I will tell her!" Elliot did not want Ivy to misunderstand the situation and wanted to explain everything in his own words in the hopes that that would stop Ivy from bursting out crying like Robert did.Elliot felt extremely guilty for causing his children pain."All right! Go on, then," Layla said coldly.Ivy took note of Layla's tone and realized that Elliot had done something wrong."Ivy, someone delivered a baby here today claiming that it's my baby. I can swear that I've not seen another woman apart from your mother, so that baby can't be mine," Elliot said.Ivy was shaken by all the information and did not know what to do for a moment.Elliot sounded sincere, but she did not know what the truth was.
Ivy's heart melted, but she instantly stopped herself from feeling sorry for the baby once she remembered that he might be Elliot's illegitimate child."He has big eyes," Ivy commented."So does Dad," Layla said.Ivy was at a loss for words.The baby looked adorable, and she could not help but wonder how wonderful it would be if he was not Elliot's child."Don't you think he looks like Dad? At least a little?" Layla asked."Maybe a little... We will still have to wait for the results, though." Ivy did not want to make assumptions simply based on the fact that the baby resembled Elliot in some way.During dinner, Avery and her three children dined in the dining room, while the servant brought Elliot his portion to eat alone in the living room.Layla was the one to arrange this—not because she was venting her anger, but because she did not want Avery to lose her appetite.Elliot understood why Layla had made such an arrangement and did not want to upset Avery any further. Nevert
At night, Elliot went to sleep in the guest room on the first floor, but he could not fall asleep.After taking a shower, he received a call from Ben.Somehow, all his friends had found out about the baby."I really didn't betray Avery! It's bad enough that my own family won't believe me. How can you, of all people, doubt me as well?" Elliot paced back and forth inside the room."How am I supposed to believe you when your wife doesn't? I'm sure Avery can tell if it's really your child with just one look, right?""I can't see any resemblance! That's not my child! This is ridiculous! Why won't any of you believe me?! Am I that untrustworthy to you all?""If the baby isn't yours, you should just wait for the DNA test results. You don't have to get all riled up.""I'm furious right now! You have no idea what I've suffered today! Avery won't talk to me, and neither will my kids. Layla's words are so hurtful, and she even said that Hayden might beat me up when he comes home!"Ben wa
"I can't hear what he is saying.""Layla, come sleep with me tonight," Ivy said. "Maybe we've misunderstood Dad.""But that baby...""He doesn't really look that much like Dad. Why don't we go have another look now?" Ivy said."Okay! Let's have another look."The two headed down the stairs.Meanwhile, in the master bedroom, Avery had calmed down after listening to what Elliot had had to say."A vasectomy can fail," she said."The doctor said that I wouldn't be able to impregnate anyone if the surgery was a success," Elliot said confidently. "Why don't we go to a hospital to check if the surgery failed?"Avery glanced at the clock and noticed that it was almost nine."We haven't taken any contraceptive measures over the years, and you didn't get pregnant, did you? What makes you think that I can impregnate another woman?" Elliot's tone grew more and more confident.He shifted Layla's pillow away and climbed into bed.Avery stared at him as his words echoed in her mind. For a