Chapter 1 Chapter 1

Inside the Tates' living room, Wanda Tate gave an ultimatum to her stepdaughter, Avery Tate. "You can see your father on the condition that you either marry Elliot Foster or fork out one and a half million dollars. The choice is yours." Avery smiled coldly after hearing that. "You're pushing me to marry a man who is in a persistent vegetative state because you can't bear the thought of your daughter doing the same? And you're doing that just because you want the money? Well, keep dreaming if you think you can threaten me like that!""So, you're not going to make a choice then?" Wanda raised her voice and pointed at Avery. "Then I'll just end your father's treatment. Our family doesn't have much money left, so I might as well save it for your sister's dowry rather than spend it on a dying man. I'm still his wife, remember? I have the authority to stop his treatment at any time.” "How dare you!" "Tch! If you want to save him, then do as I say and marry Elliot." Avery's expression turned cold and she left without saying another word. Wanda was a sinister and vicious woman who never made empty threats. Avery had to find a way to raise money as soon as possible. She took out her cell phone and called her boyfriend, Cole, because she felt that he would be able to help her. After all, Cole was one of the Fosters, and he was also Elliot's nephew. However, his familiar ringtone somehow blared from a nearby bedroom. Avery thought that she misheard because Cole could not have been at her home, much less in her sister's room. Avery was still doubting herself when her sister Cassandra's voice said, "It's a call from my sister. Aren't you going to answer it, Cole? What if it's something urgent?" "Who cares about that btch? She's never let me fcked her in the three years that we were together, so I bet she has some sort of illness down there. But with you… Oh my, I can't get enough of you! My uncle is a vegetable now, and he doesn't have much longer to live. When she marries him and ends up being a widow, I'll coax her so that all the Fosters' assets will be ours. Then I'm going to have lots of fun with you." "You're so naughty!"' Avery felt as if a thunderbolt had just struck her. Her head was buzzing, and whatever hopes she had of turning her situation around evaporated in an instant. Her boyfriend who frequently declared his love for her turned out to have been cheating on her, and the woman who had an affair with him was none other than her sister. Avery closed her eyes tightly as the loud and lustful echoes of passion intensified from inside the room. Alas, she was unable to stop her tears from sliding down her cheeks. The Fosters were one of the wealthiest families in Avonsville, and Elliot—the head of the family—had unfortunately been in a persistent vegetative state after an accident six months ago. The doctor had already made it clear that he would not be able to survive until the end of the year. His mother, Rosalie, did not want him to die unmarried, so she promised a sky-high betrothal gift to anyone who would be willing to marry him. The Fosters were wealthy, and since Elliot was the head of the family, his mother would not even consider poorer households even though Elliot was in a persistent vegetative state. That being said, none of the upper-class young ladies would be willing to marry a dying person. Coincidentally, her father was admitted to hospital with a sudden illness when his company went under. Money was required for his medical expenses, so Wanda decided to use his illness to threaten Avery after hearing the news that the Fosters were seeking a wife for Elliot. Avery wiped her tears aggressively. She then opened her tightly shut eyes to reveal an icy cold stare. She had been too naive. For years, she endured bullying from her stepmother and stepsister for her father's sake. She even believed every single lie that came out of her sweet-talking boyfriend's mouth. At that moment, she decided that she would no longer let herself be taken for a fool! Avery took out her cell phone and made a call. "I'll marry Elliot." The wedding ceremony was held three days later. Avery was alone at the wedding, and she walked down the aisle with a white veil over her face and a bouquet in her hand. From then on, she was Mrs. Foster, and she was untouchable.

Chapter 2 Chapter 2

That night, Avery was sent to Elliot's mansion. It was located in the heart of the city's affluent district and cost over 150 million dollars. Before Avery could properly take in the mansion's layout, Mrs. Cooper had dragged her to the master bedroom. Her eyes were immediately drawn to the man on the large bed. She slowly walked over and carefully watched his face. Elliot's deep-set features stood out on his chiseled face, and he exuded a majestic aura of nobility. His skin was unusually pale from spending all that time indoors, but his handsome face made one unable to take their eyes off of him. If he were not sick, Avery would have never become his wife. Before he had been bedridden from the car crash, Elliot was a powerful figure in the country of Aryadelle. Sterling Group, which he headed, was one of the country's top ten corporations. He was rumored to be ruthless and tyrannical and had a legal business as well as deals with the underworld. Anyone who crossed him was bound to pay a hefty price. Avery never thought that she would marry a man like Elliot. The bedroom door opened while she was lost in thought. It was Cole! "I'm sorry, Avery! I was too busy today and just managed to come to see you," said Cole as he approached Avery with feigned sincerity on his face. "I just married your uncle," Avery snapped coldly. "Do I need to teach you how to address me?""I know you're mad. I didn't elope with you because I didn't want you to suffer a difficult life. Uncle Elliot is practically a dead man, so you don't have to lift a finger while married to him. Once he's dead, I'll get a good lawyer and make sure you get his whole estate!" Cole eagerly grabbed Avery's hands and said, "When that happens, everything he has will be ours!" Avery recalled the earlier scene she had witnessed between Cole and Cassandra, and she felt a surge of disgust. "Let go!" she yelled as she violently shook his hands off. Her sudden cry took Cole by surprise. Was this the Avery he knew? Avery was always gentle and kind, and she would never raise her voice at him. Could she have found out about something? Cole felt a hint of guilt and moved closer to Avery in hopes of explaining things to her. The next moment, his eyes shifted to something behind Avery. His eyes widened in disbelief as if he had just seen a ghost. "He… He…" Cole stammered. Elliot, who was lying still in bed, began to slowly open his eyes. Under the lights of the crystal chandelier, Elliot's obsidian black eyes were deep, magnetic, and dangerous. As always, it was a gaze that sent a chill down one's spine. The color disappeared from Cole's face as he stumbled a few steps back. 'Elliot is awake?! Wasn't he supposed to be dying soon?' A wave of terror washed over her, and she could not help but back away, and she ran toward the stairs. "Mrs. Cooper! Elliot's awake! He opened his eyes!" Avery cried. Mrs. Cooper rushed up the stairs upon hearing Avery's voice. "Master Elliot opens his eyes every day, Madam, but it doesn't mean he's awake. Look, he's not responding to anything we're saying right now," Mrs. Cooper said. She then sighed and added, "The doctors said that there's a very low probability for someone in a vegetative state to wake up." Avery still felt a lingering uneasiness as she saw Mrs. Cooper out of the room. She sat stiffly next to Elliot and watched his striking features. She stretched her hand out and waved it in front of his eyes. "What's on your mind, Elliot?" she asked, but there was no response. Avery felt a sudden pang of sadness. Her suffering was nothing compared to what he had to go through. "I hope you wake up soon, Elliot. If that scumbag Cole gets his cold sleazy hands on all your money, you won't be able to die in peace." Elliot closed his eyes slowly after that.

Chapter 3 Chapter 3

At eight the next morning, Mrs. Cooper took Avery to the old mansion to visit Elliot's mother, Rosalie Foster. The entire Foster family was in the living room when Avery arrived, and she proceeded to greet and serve tea to each family member. Rosalie looked pleased with Avery's manners. An obedient child would be easier to control. "How did you sleep last night, Avery?" asked Rosalie. Avery's cheeks flushed as she said, "Quite well.""I have something for you, Avery," Rosalie said as she opened up a purple gift box and passed it to Avery. "This bracelet complements your skin tone. Do you like it?" Avery did not dare to reject the old woman in front of the whole family and immediately accepted her gift. "I do. Thank you.""I know things are hard for you, Avery. With Elliot the way he is now, he can't treat you well. However, there's a way for you to benefit from all of this," said Rosalie as she began to reveal her plan. "Elliot is running out of time. He was always busy with work and never had the time to date. He didn't even have the chance to have a child of his own…" Avery stiffened upon hearing Rosalie's words. A child of his own? Was Rosalie thinking of having her give birth to Elliot's child? "I'd like you to give Elliot a child and continue his bloodline," Rosalie finished. Avery was stunned to hear that, and everyone else in the room had an equally shocked expression too. "Mother, Elliot has been sick for a while. He may be infertile," said Elliot's eldest brother, Henry Foster. Elliot was not dead yet, but everyone already had their eyes on his estate. Rosalie chuckled and said, "I have a trick or two up my sleeve with the doctors, of course. With Elliot's vast estate, how could he not have an heir? I'll have Avery give Elliot a child. Even a daughter will do." At that moment, everyone's eyes immediately fell on Avery. "You're still in school, right, Avery? Your studies will be affected if you get pregnant now," said Henry's wife. Henry immediately agreed and said, "That's right! Avery is still young. I doubt she's willing to give up on her studies and raise a child at home!" Rosalie knew what her son and daughter-in-law were thinking. This was also the reason why she was adamant about ensuring Elliot had an heir. "Are you willing to have Elliot's child, Avery?" Rosalie asked Avery. She did not hold back. "You should know that you and the child will inherit all of Elliot's estate in the future. It's a fortune large enough for you and the child to live a comfortable life." Elliot might still be alive, but everyone was already coveting his property. For that reason, she felt some sympathy for Elliot and Rosalie. Having an heir would also be the perfect revenge on Cole because that would prevent him from getting a single dime of Elliot's money. She was therefore willing to give it a try. Besides, even if she was unwilling, the Fosters were powerful enough to compel her into doing it. "I'll do it," Avery responded without hesitation. Once tea was over, Avery walked out of the old mansion and prepared to return home. Cole stopped her before she could leave. The morning sun was shining, and the cicadas were chirping. Avery felt sick to her stomach at the sight of Cole's face. "Please take the gifts home first, Mrs. Cooper," Avery said. Mrs. Cooper nodded, then walked off with the gifts. Cole made sure no one was around, then said, "You're breaking my heart, Avery! You never let me touch you the entire time we were dating, but now you've agreed to give birth to Uncle Elliot's kid!""Giving him a child means getting his estate. Why wouldn't I do it?" Avery snickered as she deliberately chose words that would hurt him. Sure enough, Cole became agitated. "It's not a bad idea, but you can have my kid instead and say it's Uncle Elliot's. It would still be a Foster. Even if my grandmother gets angry, she would never make you abort it." The sneer on Avery's face instantly vanished. "It's good to be ambitious, Cole, but ambition without brains can be a dangerous thing," Avery warned. "I heard that the people by Elliot's side are a ruthless bunch. As long as he's breathing, his minions will be waiting for him to wake up. Do you really think they'll let you go if they find out that I got pregnant with your child?" Avery's words were like a wave of ice-cold water, chilling Cole to his core. He knew better than anyone else that each one of his uncle's people was more ruthless than the last. The fact that they had kept a low profile after Elliot's accident was not an indication that they were not around anymore. Avery chuckled mockingly and said, "I'm off. Your grandmother has arranged for a doctor to pick me up back at your uncle's place."

Chapter 4 Chapter 4

When Avery returned to Elliot's mansion, she was immediately taken to the hospital for a medical checkup by two doctors. If she was ovulating, they would extract the eggs from her body. Otherwise, they would give her a shot to stimulate ovulation. "There's no need to worry, Mrs. Foster. This might hurt a little, but once you give birth to Mr. Foster's child, your position in the Fosters will be secure," consoled one of the female doctors. Avery lay on the bed as her heartbeat quickened. "How long will it take to make that happen?""It's hard to say. If we're lucky, it would take three to four months. Otherwise, it might take forever," said the doctor. She then paused before adding, "You're young, so I'm sure this will go smoothly." Once everything was over, Avery returned to Elliot's mansion. As soon as she reached home, the first thing she did was check up on Elliot. He was lying motionlessly on the bed as usual, and she watched as a servant changed his clothes. The high-end bespoke pieces he wore looked more like burial clothes because of how pale his complexion was. "When will you wake up?" Avery sighed. Elliot's eyelashes twitched slightly and he acted as if nothing had happened. That evening, Avery emerged from the bathroom after a shower. She sat by the bed, took out the new face cream she had bought that day, and massaged it onto her skin. "Hey, Elliot, do you want me to put some of this on you? The weather has been dry lately," Avery said as she walked over to Elliot's side. She sat on the edge of the bed, then spread the cream on Elliot's face with her fingers. Elliot's eyes suddenly shot open. His eyes were a deep shade of amber, and they shone like gemstones. The sparkle in his gaze shocked Avery so much that her breathing turned heavy. Her fingers continued to massage his cheeks gently as she mumbled to herself. "I read online that the reason you've never had a girlfriend before is because of your body… But I don't think you're that bad! You have strong arms…and these muscular legs…" Once she was done putting the cream on him, she patted her hands on Elliot's arms and legs. Her touch was light enough that it would not hurt him. However, Elliot's response made her eyes widen instantly because she thought she heard the sound of a man's voice. "Was that you, Elliot? Did you say something just now?" Avery exclaimed as she sprung off the bed. Her almond-shaped eyes stared intensely at him. Elliot stared back at her too. There was something different about his gaze. When he used to open his eyes before, they were lifeless and empty. This time, the eyes staring at Avery had emotion in them, even if those emotions bore a hint of anger, hatred, and suspicion. "Mrs. Cooper!" Avery cried as she rushed downstairs like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. "Mrs. Cooper, Elliot's awake! He just spoke! He's really awake!" Her cheeks were flushed, her heartbeat was irregular, and her chest rose and fell rapidly. Elliot was awake. Avery was sure that he was awake, because he had spoken to her in addition to opening his eyes. Even though his voice was husky and he spoke slowly, it was threatening. Elliot had asked her, "Who are you?" Avery's mind went blank at that moment. Everyone around her had told her that he was going to die soon, so she had never thought about what she would do if he ever woke up. Mrs. Cooper, the doctor, and the bodyguard rushed over upon hearing Avery's cry. The mansion was filled with people half an hour later. Everyone was in shock. None of them thought that Elliot would ever wake up. "I knew you would wake up, Elliot!" Rosalie exclaimed through tears of happiness. "It's good that you're awake now, Elliot," said Henry. "You have no idea how worried all of us were, especially Mother. She was so upset that all of her hair turned gray." After the doctor was done checking on Elliot's condition, he turned to Rosalie and said, "This truly is a miracle! There were no signs of recovery when I checked on him last time. Now that Mr. Foster can speak, we just have to follow up with rehabilitation treatment, and he will be back to normal in no time." The good news came so suddenly that Rosalie could not bear it. Her legs buckled, and she fainted from shock. Henry caught his mother and carried her out of the room. The doctor, Mrs. Cooper, and the bodyguard remained in the room while Avery stood at the door in stunned silence. She was too afraid to enter. The chilling aura that Elliot exuded upon regaining consciousness was terrifying. He sat up with his back against the headboard, and his sharp eyes shot an icy glare at Avery. "Who is she?" he said in a powerful, deep, and scornful voice. The doctor was so scared that he did not dare to breathe too heavily. Mrs. Cooper bowed her head and explained, "Master Elliot, she is the wife that Madam Rosalie arranged for you while you were sick. Her name is—" Elliot's thin lips parted slightly, and his voice was dull and indifferent as he spoke, "Get her out of here!"

Chapter 5 Chapter 5

Avery was so startled that she could not help but take a few steps back. Elliot was like a savage beast that had awakened from a deep slumber. There was nothing scary about him when he was asleep. When he was awake, however, there was a menacing air of danger around him. Mrs. Cooper walked out of the room and shut the door. She saw Avery—who looked like a deer caught in headlights—and said gently, "Don't be afraid, Madam. Master Elliot just woke up, so he might not be able to accept the news yet. Let's get you to the guest room for tonight, and we'll talk in the morning. Madam Rosalie loves you, so she might just be on your side." Avery's mind was in a frenzy. She had thought about how Elliot might die any day, but she never thought about the possibility that he might regain consciousness. "Mrs. Cooper, my things are still in the room…" Avery said as she glanced at the door of the master bedroom, hoping to enter and take all of her belongings. Judging by the vicious glare that Elliot had aimed at her earlier, she had a strong feeling that he was not going to accept her as his wife. She needed to be ready to leave the mansion at any time. Mrs. Cooper let out a sigh and said, "Let's leave it there for now if it's nothing too important. I'll get it for you tomorrow.""Okay," Avery responded, then asked, "Are you afraid of him?""I've worked for him for a long time," said Mrs. Cooper. "He may look scary, but he has not made things difficult for me." Avery grunted in response, then spoke no further. She might be his wife, but strictly speaking, this was their first meeting. It was understandable that he might act hostile toward her. Avery did not sleep well that night. Her mind was filled with a million chaotic thoughts. Elliot's recovery had completely disrupted the pace of her life. … At eight in the morning the next day, Mrs. Cooper retrieved all of Avery's belongings from the master bedroom and sent them to the guest room she was in. "It's time for breakfast, Madam," said Mrs. Cooper. "Master Elliot is already in the dining room. You should go there too! Talk to him and get to know each other a little.""I don't think he wants to get to know me," Avery grimaced. "You still need to have breakfast. Come on, now! He didn't even get mad when I told him that Madam Rosalie likes you! His attitude might be a little better today," said Mrs. Cooper. When Avery arrived at the dining room, her eyes fell on the wheelchair-bound Elliot. He was able to move his arms thanks to routine muscle training. He sat up straight despite being in a wheelchair. He would surely be tall and strapping if he stood up. Filled with uneasiness, Avery sat herself down at the dining table as Mrs. Cooper set up a place for her. Elliot did not say a word even as Avery picked up her fork. She could not help but sneak a peek at him, which immediately garnered Elliot's attention. His eyes were like bottomless black holes that could swallow a person whole. "Hey… I'm… I'm Avery Tate…" Avery stammered anxiously. Elliot picked up his cup of coffee and leisurely sipped at it. His voice was dull and indifferent as he said, "I heard that you might be pregnant with my child." Avery's heart tightened, and she immediately lost her appetite. "Do you prefer a surgical or medical abortion?" His tone was calm as he said those cruel words. Color disappeared from Avery's face, and her mind went blank. Mrs. Cooper felt that the topic was too eerie, so she forwent etiquette and said, "Master Elliot, the child was Madam Rosalie's idea. It had nothing to do with Madam Avery.""Don't use my mother to pressure me," Elliot snapped as he shot a glare at Mrs. Cooper, causing her to lower her head and shut her mouth. "Elliot—" Avery began to speak but was cut off by Elliot. "Who gave you permission to say my name?" Avery was taken aback, then said, "What should I call you otherwise? Should I call you 'Honey'?" Elliot pursed his thin lips and rage seeped into his eyes. Before he could lose his temper, Avery quickly tried to calm him down. "I'm not pregnant. I got my period. Ask the cleaning lady, Mrs. Wilson, if you don't believe me. I asked her for a tampon this morning." Elliot remained silent. He picked up his cup of coffee and took a sip. Avery felt her stomach ache and began to eat her breakfast without a second thought. She finished her meal hurriedly, then got up to go get her bag from the room so she could get out of the house. Being under the same roof as Elliot made her uncomfortable. "Get your documents ready. We'll be divorced soon," Elliot said coldly. Avery stopped in her tracks, but she was not surprised. "Are we going right now?""In a couple of days," Elliot replied. Rosalie was so shocked by Elliot the night before that she had to be admitted to the hospital for hypertension. Elliot wanted to wait until his mother's condition stabilized before discussing the divorce. "Okay, just let me know when," Avery said before she rushed back to her room. She reemerged with her bag about five minutes later. Unexpectedly, she saw a familiar silhouette in the living room. It was Cole. He looked like a scared dog with its tail tucked between its legs as he stood respectfully by Elliot's wheelchair. "Uncle Elliot, my parents are visiting Grandma at the hospital, so Dad had me come see you," Cole said as he placed a box of supplements on the coffee table. Elliot shot a look at the bodyguard next to him. The man understood his employer's signal. He picked up the goods from the table and tossed them out. "Uncle Elliot!" Cole cried in a panic. "These are the best supplements and vitamins, but I can get you something else if you don't like them… Please don't be mad!" As Cole finished his sentence, another bodyguard kicked the back of his knees and sent him kneeling on the ground. Avery was so petrified that she held back her breath. She did not know what was going on, and why Elliot was treating his own nephew with such violence. "My dear nephew, you must be disappointed that I'm awake now," Elliot said as he held a cigarette between his fingers. The bodyguard pulled out a lighter and lit it for him. Avery was dumbfounded! He had just woken up the night before, but he was already drinking coffee and smoking cigarettes the next morning. Did he think he was invincible? Cole's knees were in intense pain. He began to sob and said, "Of course, I'm happy that you're awake… I always hoped that you would—""Are you contradicting me?" Elliot said as he raised his thick brows. His tone might seem nonchalant, but every single word was filled with murderous intent. "Aren't you going to admit to bribing my lawyer?" He deliberately flicked the ash of his cigarette onto Cole's face. He then snapped coldly, "Leave! If you p*ss me off again, I'll feed you to the dogs!" Cole was a panic-stricken mess as he stumbled out of the house. Avery could not settle down after witnessing the scene. She was scared. She was terrified of Elliot. Even a man as despicable as Cole looked like a buffoon next to him. Avery did not dare get on Elliot's bad side, and she did not want to attract his attention either. She clutched her bag and hurried out of the house. She was going to the hospital for a checkup that day. Her period had arrived late, and it was an unusually small amount of blood. It was the first time this had happened to her. Avery arrived at the hospital and explained the situation to the doctor who then arranged an ultrasound for her. She received the results of her ultrasound about an hour later. The scan showed no signs of bleeding in her womb. It also showed that there was a gestational sac inside of her… She was pregnant!

Chapter 6 Chapter 6

Measures had to be taken to save the baby because of the bleeding. The news hit Avery like a ton of bricks. She was in a panicked frenzy. "Doctor, what if I don't want to keep the baby?" She was about to be divorced from Elliot, so that was not the time for her to be pregnant with his child. The doctor looked thoughtfully at Avery, then said, "Why don't you want it? Do you have any idea how many people can't have babies even if they wanted to?" Avery lowered her gaze as she fell silent. "Why didn't your husband come with you?" asked the doctor. "Even if you don't want the baby, you should discuss it with him first." Avery's brows furrowed. Seeing her reaction, the doctor picked up her medical records. The doctor looked at Avery and said, "You're only 21? You're not married, then?""I… I might as well not be!" Avery said. They were about to get a divorce anyway. "Surgical abortion isn't a simple procedure. Even if you want to go through with it, I can't fit you in today. Go home and really think about it. Whatever your relationship with your boyfriend is, the child is innocent." The doctor passed Avery's medical records to her, then said, "Now that you're showing signs of bleeding, if we don't do something about it, it's hard to say if we'll be able to keep the baby anyway." Avery's heart softened. "What do we have to do to save it?" she asked. "Didn't you want an abortion? Have you changed your mind?" said the doctor. "You're a pretty girl, so your child is bound to be a beautiful baby. If you want to keep the baby, I'll prescribe some medication for you. You'll need bedrest for a week, then come for a follow-up after that." … The blazing sun made it difficult for Avery to keep her eyes open as she walked out of the hospital. Her back was drenched in a cold sweat, and her legs felt heavy. She felt lost. She did not know where to go, nor did she know who to talk to. The only thing she was certain about was that Elliot could not find out about this. Otherwise, he would make his bodyguards drag her to the operating table. She had not made up her mind about keeping the baby. Her mind was a mess, and she wanted to make a decision after she calmed down. She hailed a cab and made her way to her uncle’s—Uncle Ron— house. Since her parents' divorce, Avery's mother, Laura Jensen, had moved into her brother's home. Ron Jensen's family was not as wealthy as the Tates, but they were still considered well-off. "Avery! Did you come alone?" asked Ron's wife, Miranda Jensen. Her expression instantly turned cold when she noticed Avery arrived empty-handed. "I heard that you brought a whole bunch of high-end gifts the last time you visited your father's home. I suppose etiquette isn't important when it's not your own home that you're visiting." Miranda had planned to properly entertain Avery when she had arrived, but seeing her guest show up empty-handed made her turn frosty. Avery was taken aback. "I'm so sorry, Aunt Miranda. I didn't mean to. I'll make sure to prepare something the next time I come over," said Avery. "Forget it! From the looks of it, you've pretty much been kicked out of the Foster house," Miranda said mockingly. "I heard that Elliot Foster is awake. If he cared about you at all, you wouldn't be running over here crying for your mommy, would you?" Avery's cheeks flushed as she was chastised. Seeing her daughter getting bullied, Laura immediately said, "Even if my daughter was kicked out of the Foster family, you should not mock her for it.""I was just speaking the truth! Do you really need to be so touchy, Laura?" Miranda snapped. "Don't forget whose house you're living in. Go ahead and move out if you have what it takes!" Laura was livid, but she knew she could not win against Miranda. Avery's heart twisted in her chest as she watched the scene before her. She knew that Uncle Ron's home was not as ideal for her mother as living at the Tate house, but she figured it probably was not too bad. She had no idea that things were so unpleasant between Laura and Miranda. "Maybe you should move out and rent a place somewhere, Mom? I have some money on me…" Avery insisted earnestly. Laura nodded, then said, "Okay, I'll go pack my things now." Avery and Laura emerged from Ron's house in under half an hour and got into a cab. "Don't worry about me, Avery," Laura said with a bitter smile. "I managed to save up some money over the years. I only stayed there because your grandmother was sick and wanted me to take care of her. If it weren't for her, I would have moved out a long time ago." Avery lowered her gaze, then said after a moment's pondering, "Aunt Miranda wasn't wrong, you know? I'll be getting a divorce from Elliot in a couple of days." Laura was stunned, then she immediately began to console her daughter. "It's okay. You haven't graduated yet. Now, you can properly prepare for graduation after the divorce.""Yeah," Avery responded as she rested her head against Laura's shoulder. "I won't go back to the Tate house after the divorce. Let's live together, Mom!" She had no plans to tell her mother about her pregnancy. Laura would be worried sick if she found out. When Avery returned to the Foster mansion that night, the large living room was engulfed in pin drop silence. Mrs. Cooper suddenly appeared out of nowhere and scared Avery into a cold sweat. "Have you had dinner, Madam? I left some food for you. I also got you some tampons.""Thanks, Mrs. Cooper. I already ate. Why is the house so quiet? Is he not home?" Avery asked before walking into her room. "Master Elliot hasn't returned. The doctor told him to rest at home but he wouldn't listen," Mrs. Cooper sighed. "He's always had a mind of his own. No one can order him around." Avery nodded slightly. She had a deep impression of Elliot despite the few encounters they had shared. He was rebellious, ruthless, and insufferably arrogant. The small iota of sympathy that she felt for him when he was sick vanished completely after he regained consciousness. Avery tossed and turned in bed that night. She thought of the child growing inside of her. Not only did she not feel calmer than she felt at the hospital earlier, but she was feeling even more restless. The next morning arrived in the blink of an eye. Avery did not want to bump into Elliot, so she did not leave her room for a while. Mrs. Cooper knocked on her door at 9.30 a.m. and said, "Master Elliot has just left, Madam. You can come have breakfast now." Avery did not expect Mrs. Cooper to know exactly what she was thinking, and her cheeks turned red. She received a phone call after breakfast. It was a classmate from college who was offering her a job translating a manu. "I know you're busy with your graduation thesis right now, but this manu should be a piece of cake for you. The pay is really good, but they need it done before noon today." Avery was short on money, so she agreed after only a moment's contemplation. She finished translating the manu by 11.30 a.m. and was about to send the file to her classmate after checking it twice and making sure there were no mistakes. Suddenly, her laptop screen began to flicker. Avery stared in horror as the screen turned blue, then black… Her laptop completely crashed! It was a good thing she had saved the file on a USB drive. She sighed in relief before she pulled the USB drive out of the laptop. She needed to find another computer to send the file on the USB drive to her classmate. "Mrs. Cooper, there's something wrong with my laptop, but I'm in a hurry. Is there another computer in the house? I just need to send a file.""There is, but it's Master Elliot's." Avery felt her heart freeze. She would not dare use Elliot's computer. "It's just one file. That shouldn't take long, right?" When Mrs. Cooper saw how anxious Avery looked, she said, "Master Elliot might be scary, but he's not all bad. Since you're in a rush, I doubt he'll blame you." Avery looked at the time. It was already 11.50 a.m., and she had to have the file sent out before noon. Elliot's study was located on the second floor of the mansion. The whole time that he had been bed-ridden, apart from the cleaning ladies, no one else entered his study. Avery was terrified of getting caught by Elliot, but at the same time, she really wanted to get that easy money. She needed the cash. If she decided to get an abortion, she needed to save up enough for the surgery. The child was not hers alone. It also belonged to Elliot, so borrowing his computer could be counted as his contribution to the medical fees. Avery entered the study, walked straight to the desk, and turned on the computer. Just as she was wondering what to do if the computer was password protected, the screen lit up in a flash.

Chapter 7 Chapter 7

The computer was not password protected, and it started up in no time. It was so quick that Avery's heart skipped a couple of beats. She took a deep breath, plugged in the USB drive, then logged into her email. Once she was logged in, she quickly sent the file to her classmate. It was strange how smoothly everything went. She managed to successfully send off the file before noon. Avery did not dare linger another moment in the study. While she was about to shut down the computer, her hand trembled and she accidentally opened up a file. The file suddenly popped up on the screen, and she stared curiously at the contents with wide eyes. … Avery emerged from the study five minutes later. Mrs. Cooper let out a sigh of relief and said, "See? Didn't I tell you that Master Elliot wouldn't be back anytime soon?" Avery was a mess of emotions. It felt like she had discovered Elliot's dark secret. She should not have used his computer in the first place. "Are there surveillance cameras in the study, Mrs. Cooper?" Avery asked. "There's one outside the study," replied Mrs. Cooper. Avery's face turned pale. "Then he's sure to find out that I was in his study.""Just tell him about it yourself when he gets back later. You took less than ten minutes. I don't think he'll be mad," consoled Mrs. Cooper. Avery's phone beeped, and she pulled it out to see a notification for a wire transfer. Her classmate banked in three hundred and twenty dollars to her account. She did not expect the pay to be that high. It only took her two hours, and she already made three hundred and twenty dollars! The money instantly calmed the anxiety. She did not want to use Elliot's computer, and she did not mean to see what she saw on it. She should explain everything to him when he got home and prayed that he would not be angry. She already agreed to the divorce, anyway. Once that was over, their paths would never cross again. Whatever secrets he had would have nothing to do with her. Avery returned to her room after lunch and shut the door. She sat in front of her vanity, glanced down at her flat belly, and whispered softly, "I don't want to get rid of you either, little one, but your life will be much more difficult than mine is right now if I keep you…" Perhaps it was due to the drowsiness that came with the pregnancy, before long she had fallen asleep at the table. Frantic footsteps outside the room jolted Avery up from her sleep that afternoon. Before she could pull herself together, the room door burst open. "Madam," Mrs. Cooper said with a fearful expression on her face, "Did you touch something on Master Elliot's computer?" Avery's heart was in her mouth. "Is… Is he home? Did he find out?" Mrs. Cooper was a nervous wreck as she said, "Didn't you say you were just sending a file? Master Elliot said you touched something else. He's throwing a fit in the study right now! I really don't know how I can get you out of this, Madam!" Avery was so anxious that her heart thumped violently in her chest. There was only one thought on her mind at that moment: She was dead! At this rate, she might not even need the divorce because Elliot was probably going to kill her. Avery's eyes welled up with tears. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Cooper. I didn't mean to mess with his stuff. My hands were shaking when I tried to shut it down, and I accidentally opened it up. I swear, I only took one look then shut it down…" Mrs. Cooper believed her, but there was nothing she could do. "He blew up at me just now. I might not even be able to keep this job for much longer." Avery's heart was racing. She was willing to accept her punishment, but she could not drag Mrs. Cooper down with her. She walked out of the room and decided to explain herself to Elliot. At that moment, the elevator doors opened on the first floor, and a bodyguard pushed Elliot's wheelchair out. The mansion only had three floors, but they had an elevator installed. Avery cautiously watched the wheelchair-bound Elliot. His expression was dark and terrifying, and there was a raging fire in his eyes. She had guessed that he would be mad about what happened, but she had not expected him to be this furious. "I'm sorry, Elliot," Avery said through the lump in her throat. "My laptop stopped working this morning, so I used your computer without permission. This had nothing to do with Mrs. Cooper. She tried to stop me, but I didn't listen to her." She put all of the blame on herself. The bodyguard stopped pushing Elliot's chair when they reached the living room, and Avery raised her gaze to look at him. Elliot's eyes were slightly reddened. It looked like she really ticked him off. Avery's voice was nasally when she spoke again, "I'm sorry.""You saw everything, didn't you," Elliot said in a low and deep voice that chilled her to the bone. His hands were clasped together, seemingly relaxed, but his knuckles had turned white. If he were not stuck to the wheelchair at that moment, he might just break her neck. This stupidly reckless woman! Did she really think she was the mistress of the house? How dare she enter his study and touch his things? D*mn her! Avery nodded before violently shaking her head and saying, "I barely remember any of it now. I only took one look then shut it down! I honestly didn't mean to breach your privacy. I was just so nervous at the time. I don't know how I somehow opened the file—""Shut up!" Elliot scowled. Hearing her excuses disgusted him even more. "Go to your room! Don't take one step out of there until the divorce!" Avery swallowed the explanations she was about to give. She turned and quickly returned to her room. She could clearly feel the loathing that Elliot felt for her. Once Avery's door was shut, Elliot's adam's apple rolled in his throat. "No meals for her," he said to Mrs. Cooper. Was he putting her on house arrest and starving her to death while he was at it? Mrs. Cooper felt bad for Avery but did not dare disobey. At Elliot’s mansion, his word was the law of the land. … Two days later, Rosalie's blood pressure was stable, and she was allowed to be discharged from the hospital. She immediately made her way to Elliot's mansion. "How're you feeling, Elliot? What did the doctor say? When will you be able to stand up again?" Rosalie chirped in high spirits as she smiled gently at her son. "The doctor said I'm recovering quite well," Elliot replied. "There's something I'd like to discuss with you, Mother." The smile on Rosalie's face died a bit as she asked, "Is this about your marriage? I was the one who arranged it. Avery is a lovely girl, and I like her quite a lot… That's right, where is she? You didn't chase her out, did you?""I didn't," Elliot said, then signaled Mrs. Cooper. Mrs. Cooper instantly headed in the direction of Avery's room. It had been two days since she had had anything to eat or drink. Mrs. Cooper wondered how she was doing.

Chapter 8 Chapter 8

Rosalie stood looking into the room from the opened door. Avery was curled up in a ball with her arms around her knees as she leaned against the wall. Her hair was down, and it was a mess. She looked up in a daze when she heard the commotion at the door. "Avery! What happened to you?" Rosalie exclaimed. When she saw Avery's face, which was white as a sheet of paper, her blood pressure instantly shot up. "How did you become like this? Was it… Was it Elliot? Is he abusing you?" At this point, there was a slight tremble in Rosalie's voice. Avery had lost a lot of weight. Her face was void of any color, and there were faint cracks on her dry lips. Her chest rose and fell unsteadily. She wanted to speak, but she could not find her voice. Mrs. Cooper walked over with a glass of warm milk and passed it to Avery. "Have a glass of milk first, Madam. Don't be afraid. Now that Madam Rosalie is here, you can eat." Rosalie's brows furrowed furiously as she said, "What's that? Elliot isn't letting Avery eat? How did she get so skinny? Is he trying to starve her to death?" The incident shocked Rosalie to the core. She stormed over to the living room and stood before her son. "Elliot, Avery is the wife that I arranged for you. What would you have me think if you tormented her this way?""She should be punished for her mistakes. If it weren't for your sake, do you think I would have allowed her to stay until now?" Elliot said in a cold, nonchalant voice. The way he saw it, starving her for two days was a lot more merciful than breaking her arm. She touched something she was not supposed to. She crossed his line. How could he easily forgive her? "Mistake? What did Avery do?" asked Rosalie. In her eyes, Avery was a sensible, well-behaved, and observant girl. She would never be stupid enough to deliberately anger Elliot. Elliot pursed his lips and did not answer his mother. "I know… I know why you never wanted to get married and have children," said Rosalie. "Elliot, it's because I know too well exactly what you're thinking that I can't allow you to do this. Avery is a good girl. It's fine if you don't love her. You just have to stay together, even if you're only husband and wife in name!" At this point, Rosalie's eyes welled up with tears of agony. She became even more worked up the more she spoke, and her eyes turned bloodshot. Elliot was about to retaliate when he noticed his mother's condition. He signaled to his bodyguard to hold on to her. "As long as I'm sure, you can't chase Avery out! Divorce isn't out of the question… You just have to find a girl you like. I won’t allow you to spend the rest of your life alone!" Rosalie said as the bodyguard helped her to the couch. Her head was spinning even more. She could feel herself running out of breath as she said those words. Thirty seconds later, Rosalie's head tilted and she fell back onto the couch. The old woman, who just had been discharged that morning, was then rushed back to the hospital. Elliot did not expect his mother to be so stubborn. He also did not expect her to be so furious. He had thought that the matter with Avery could be settled quickly, but it seemed that there were some obstacles. He did not only hate Avery, but he also refused all women. It was impossible that he would find another woman for the sake of divorcing Avery. … In the guest bedroom, Avery sipped on the glass of milk as her condition improved slightly. She heard everything that was happening outside the room. Elliot did not say much, but he still managed to provoke his mother to the point of fainting. Mrs. Cooper brought Avery a bowl of oatmeal. She then picked up a brush and began combing through Avery's disheveled hair. "Did you hear that, Madam? As long as Madam Rosalie is around, Master Elliot won't kick you out," consoled Mrs. Cooper. Avery had starved for two days. She was tired and out of energy, but there was one thing she was certain about. "I want a divorce," she said in a husky voice, but each of her words was clear. "Whether he wants to or not, I will absolutely divorce him." She did not want to linger in this hell hole for another second! She never wanted to see that devil, Elliot Foster, ever again! "Don't be upset, Madam," Mrs. Cooper said awkwardly. "Have some oatmeal. I'll go and take a look at what's going on." When Mrs. Cooper arrived at the door, she saw the bodyguard pushing Elliot over in his wheelchair and immediately said, "Madam's condition isn't stable right now, Master Elliot." Elliot's expression was no different than usual, but his eyes were as cold as ice. When Mrs. Cooper moved aside, the bodyguard pushed Elliot to the room's entrance. Avery's head shot up suddenly, and her eyes met his. It was as if there was the crackling of sparks in the air. "Let's get a divorce, Elliot!" Avery said as she put down the bowl of oatmeal. She picked up her luggage and walked over to him. She had packed her things two nights ago and was prepared to leave the place at any moment. "Go marry someone you actually like!" she said in a much tougher tone. Elliot's eyes narrowed as he said, "You hate me that much. Do you not think you were wrong?""I was wrong. I shouldn't have used your computer," Avery said as she tried to control her breathing. "I've already gotten my punishment, so we should be even. Do you have the divorce papers with you? If not, I can go get them made right now…" Seeing the way she could not wait to distance herself from him, Elliot drawled, "Did I say that your punishment was over?" Avery was stunned. It was as if she just took a blow to the head. "Since it's so agonizing for you to stay by my side, you'll continue to be Mrs. Foster!" Elliot's tone showed that the matter was not up for discussion. It was an order. "We will get divorced, just not right now," he added before his bodyguard pushed him away. Avery watched his back as she gritted her teeth in distaste. Who was he to tell her whether to go through with the divorce or not? Did he think that just because he would not, she would not find a way? Avery was hit by a sudden dizziness. Her ankles went weak, and it felt like all the energy was sucked out of her. She immediately went to lie down on the bed. Once she was lying down, she slowly began to calm down. It was not like Elliot said he would not divorce her. His mother was not well, so he was just holding back for now. If that were the case, she just needed to be patient and wait. Avery recovered a week later. She went to the hospital for a checkup after breakfast. She had a strong feeling that she had lost the baby. Elliot had starved her for two days. She did not have a bite to eat and only had tap water to drink when she was thirsty. Under those circumstances, she could only try to survive. The child in her womb was sure to have starved to death by then. When she arrived at the hospital, the doctor ordered an ultrasound scan for Avery. She was dejected during the ultrasound examination. "Doctor, is my child gone?""What makes you say that?" the doctor asked. "I didn't eat anything for two days… The baby's condition was already not great…""Oh, not eating for two days is fine. Some pregnant mothers have such awful vomiting spells that they don't really eat for a whole month," responded the doctor. Avery's heart tightened. "So, my baby…""Congratulations! There are two gestational sacs in your womb. You're having twins."

Chapter 9 Chapter 9

There was no sign of two gestational sacs during the last checkup. Avery could not believe that there were two babies inside of her a short week later. She held the ultrasound scan in her hands as she sat in a quiet daze on one of the benches in the hospital corridor. The doctor told her that the probability of being pregnant with twins was extremely low. If she had an abortion now, she might never be able to have twins again. Avery chuckled bitterly. All of this was the work of the Fosters' private doctors. When they had implanted the fertilized eggs into her, they had not mentioned that she was going to have twins. Perhaps in their eyes, she was nothing but a birthing tool for the Fosters from the beginning. When she began to bleed the week before, she thought that her period had arrived. When the Fosters' doctors found out, they thought that the procedure had failed. When Elliot said that he would divorce her after he had woken up, the doctors had never seen her again. The decision to give birth or not was now solely on her shoulders. Avery's phone rang in her bag. She had been in the hospital for over an hour. She pulled out her phone, stood up, and walked toward the hospital's exit. "Avery, your father's dying! Come home right away!" Her mother's hoarse voice came from the other side of the line. Avery was stunned. Dad was dying? How could this be? She knew that her father had been hospitalized after his company got in trouble. He could not even attend her wedding. She did not know that his condition was this serious. Avery's mind was a mess. She did not have a good relationship with her father. She could never forgive him for having an affair. However, her heart stung painfully upon suddenly hearing the news of his serious illness. … The living room of the Tate house was a chaotic mess when Avery arrived. Laura took her straight to the master bedroom. Jack Tate was lying on the bed. His breathing was shallow and his eyes were barely open. When he saw Avery, he raised his arm in her direction. "Dad, why didn't you go to the hospital if you're this sick?" Avery said as she held her father's cold hand. Tears welled up in her eyes. "That's easy for you to say! Where would we get the money to take your father to the hospital?" Wanda snapped frostily. Avery's head shot up as she said, "Didn't you get a large sum of money from the Fosters? Why didn't you use that to help Dad?" Wanda pouted and said, "We used that money to pay off the debts! Do you know how much money your father's company owes? Don't look at me like I ate your money up, Avery! Besides, your father's illness can't be cured! He's better off dead!" After saying such cruel words, Wanda heartlessly stormed out of the room. Cassandra did not leave with her. At the end of the day, Jack was still her father. He had always loved her, and she did not want to lose her father. "Don't be mad at her, Dad. It's not that she didn't want to get you treated, but the family really doesn't have much money," Cassandra sniffled as she stood crying by the bed. "Dad, I really hope you get through this…" Jack turned a deaf ear to Cassandra's words. Instead, he looked at Avery with eyes filled with tears. His lips trembled and his voice was low as he said, "Avery… My darling girl… I've failed you… I've failed your mother… I'll make it up to both of you in the next life…" The large hand holding hers suddenly let go. A shrill cry tore through the house. Avery's heart throbbed in pain. Overnight, her world underwent an earth-shattering change. She was married and pregnant, and her father was gone. She felt that she was still far too young—a child at heart, even—but life swept her up and pushed her into a lonely, hopeless corner. The day of the funeral was a gloomy and rainy one. Not many people attended the funeral as the Tates began to fall. After the service, Wanda went to a hotel with the guests. The crowd scattered like a flock of wild birds. Before long, Avery and Laura were the only ones left at the cemetery. Their moods were as dark as the gray skies. "Do you hate Dad, Mom?" Avery asked as she stared at her father's gravestone through teary eyes. Laura lowered her gaze and said in a dull voice, "I do. Even if he's dead, I will never forgive him." Avery did not understand. "Then, why are you crying?" she asked. "Because I loved him," Laura sighed. "Relationships are complicated, Avery. It isn't just a matter of love or hate. It could also be a love-hate relationship." That night, Avery dragged her worn out body back to Elliot's mansion. From the day of Jack's death to the end of the funeral, the process had taken three days. She did not return to the mansion at all during the three days. Nobody from the Foster family contacted her either. She did not tell anyone in the Foster house about her father's passing. Her relationship with Elliot was colder than ice and frostier than snow. When Avery stepped into the courtyard, she noticed the mansion's lights were lit, and the living room was filled with guests. Everyone was dressed to the nines and chatting away merrily with wine glasses in their hands. Avery paused in her tracks. "Madam!" Mrs. Cooper noticed her and rushed over. Perhaps it was because Avery's cold and pitiful expression stood in stark contrast to the liveliness of the living room, but the smile on Mrs. Cooper's face tensed as she hesitated. "It's raining outside. Come on in!" Mrs. Cooper said as she held Avery's arm and pulled her into the living room. Avery was dressed in a black trench coat with her slender, fair calves peeping out from underneath the hem. On her feet were a pair of black, low-heeled leather shoes. Her aura was chilly, which was different from her usual demeanor. Mrs. Cooper brought her a pair of pink, plush house slippers. Avery changed into the slippers and inadvertently glanced at the living room. Elliot's guests were evaluating her with meaningful eyes as if she was an animal in a zoo's enclosure. Their eyes were bold and disrespectful. Avery used the same gaze to look at Elliot, who was sitting at the center of the couch. He was holding a lit cigarette between his fingers, and he was surrounded by smoke. Behind the veil of smoke, his stone-cold face looked almost like a dream. The reason she looked at him was because there was a woman sitting next to him. The woman had a beautiful head of long, black hair. She was dressed in a body-hugging white dress with a face of exquisite makeup. She looked gorgeous without being vulgar. The upper half of her body was stuck closely to Elliot as she held a cigarette between her fingers. It was obvious that this woman's relationship with Elliot was anything but ordinary. A few seconds after Avery's gaze fell on the woman, her brows furrowed slightly. "You're Avery Tate, right?" the woman said as she got up from the couch and provocatively walked over to Avery. "I heard that you were the wife that Madam Rosalie picked for Elliot. She has pretty good taste. You're quite pretty, just a little small… Oh, I didn't mean your age. I was talking about your body…" Avery pursed her lips and said, "You're beautiful, and you have curves. Everything about you is better than me… So, when is Elliot marrying you?" Her nonchalant tone drove the woman into a furious rage. "How dare you talk to me like that? Do you know how long I've been by Elliot's side? Even if you're his wife, if I slap you in the face right now, he wouldn't even bat an eye!" Just as the woman finished speaking, she raised her arm. The sound of glass smashing filled the air. Avery had picked up an expensive bottle of wine and smashed it against the coffee table! Bright red liquid splashed and trickled down the edge of the table, dripping onto the carpet underneath. Avery's eyes were bloodshot as she clenched her fingers tightly around the bottle, pointing the jagged edge at the arrogant woman. "You want to hit me? Come on! If you dare touch me, I'll kill you!" she yelled as she approached the woman with the broken bottle. Everyone in the room was dumbfounded. It was said that the eldest daughter of the Tate family was a low-profile introvert, but it turned out… She was insane! Elliot's hawk-like eyes narrowed as smoke escaped his thin lips. His fiery gaze was fixed on Avery's pained but ruthless little face.

Chapter 10 Chapter 10

The living room instantly fell so silent that one could hear the sound of a beating heart. Avery stormed back to her room and violently slammed the door shut. The loud bang rumbled through the entire mansion. This woman dared slam a door in Elliot Foster's house. She must not fear death. Everyone turned their gaze to Elliot. He looked calm and composed as if he was not angry at all. Normally, if anyone made a sound louder than 60 decibels in front of him, he would definitely frown. The sound of Avery's slamming door was at least 90 decibels, so why was he not upset? More importantly, the bottle of wine that Avery had smashed was nearly three hundred thousand dollars. They had not even had the chance to drink it yet. She broke it without even batting an eyelid. "D*mn, I heard that Miss Tate's father passed away a few days ago. Seeing as she showed up in black, she must have just returned from the funeral!" Someone had mustered up the courage to break the silence. The woman in the white dress was a senior manager at Sterling Group's PR department, Chelsea Tierney. She invited Elliot’s friends to drink at his house, not only to celebrate her birthday but also to celebrate his recovery. Her earlier altercation with Avery was a huge blow to her pride. Chelsea noticed Elliot's unbothered expression, but she knew him well enough to know that he could blow up at any moment. She returned to his side and apologized cautiously, "I'm sorry, Elliot. I didn't know her father had passed away." Elliot snuffed out his cigarette in the ashtray. He smoothly picked up his wine glass with his long, slender fingers and downed its contents in one swift gulp. He placed the empty glass back on the table, then said in a low, sensual voice, "Happy birthday." Chelsea's ears turned red as she responded, "Thank you.""Also, Avery Tate isn't someone you can touch," Elliot said as he adjusted the collar of his shirt. His voice carried a hint of warning. "Even if she were just a pet in the Foster household, I'm the only one who can push her around." Chelsea panicked. "But you're about to divorce her, so she would be even less than a pet by then!" Elliot's gaze instantly turned ice cold. "Even if I am going to divorce her, I still won't watch as someone puts her down." At that moment, Mrs. Cooper walked in to clean up the shattered wine bottle and take away the dirtied carpet. Someone filled up Elliot's wine glass. "Don't be mad, Elliot. Chelsea didn't mean to do that. She won't actually lay her hand on Miss Tate," the man sitting on the other side of Elliot said as he tried to lighten the mood. "That's right! Chelsea, hurry up and take three shots as punishment! You may be the birthday girl, but you did go a little too far!" Chelsea picked up her glass and prepared to take three shots. Elliot glanced to the side at his bodyguard who immediately walked over and helped him up. "You guys go ahead!" Elliot said before he left. Chelsea watched Elliot's back with reddened eyes as he left the room. She gulped down three shots of wine and walked away in her stilettos. "D*mn! Both the stars of the night left. Do we keep drinking?""Of course! It would be good for Chelsea to give up, too. Otherwise, she keeps thinking she'll become Mrs. Foster one day!""I doubt what happened tonight would make her give up! Elliot is still planning to divorce Miss Tate, anyway.""Speaking of Avery Tate, she's quite beautiful, but she has a bad temper. How does Elliot put up with it?" … In the guest room, Avery held her knees in her arms as tears quietly streamed down her face. The dam that had held her tears for the past three days collapsed completely. Her father's apology before his death constantly echoed in her head. All of the hatred that she had felt for him vanished without a trace. She sobbed until she fell into a deep slumber. When she woke up the next morning, her eyes were swollen and aching. Avery changed into a clean nightgown and walked out of the room. She had not eaten well the past few days, and now she was so hungry that her stomach ached. When she arrived at the entrance of the dining room, she saw Elliot's back and stopped. Mrs. Cooper saw her and immediately greeted her, "Breakfast is ready, Madam! Come over and have some!" In the past, Avery had avoided Elliot like the plague. She had been scared of offending him and suffering the consequences. Now, the thought of him delaying the divorce gave her a boost of courage. She chose the seat furthest from him and sat down. Mrs. Cooper placed her breakfast in front of her, and she was about to eat when Elliot spoke. "That bottle of wine last night costs two hundred and eighty thousand dollars." His voice was indifferent. Avery's hand tightened around her fork as her mind went blank. Two hundred and eighty thousand dollars for a bottle of wine? What kind of wine was that expensive? Was he expecting her to pay for it? Did he think she looked like she could afford it? She felt a pang of pain in her stomach. Her back was drenched in a cold sweat, and she had lost her appetite. Elliot glanced at Avery's tired and pale face and said, "This is a warning. If you break something in my house again, you'll pay for it to the penny!" Avery's stomach stopped hurting upon hearing this, and her appetite returned. Many women would have side effects during the early stages of pregnancy, ranging from vomiting to being bed-ridden, but Avery had yet to throw up apart from the occasional bout of nausea. However, when she saw the pieces of meat on her plate, she suddenly felt uneasy and picked them out. "Is it not good, Madam?" Mrs. Cooper said anxiously when she saw Avery's behavior. Avery shook her head and said, "I've been feeling like having vegetarian meals recently.""Alright, I'll keep that in mind," responded Mrs. Cooper quickly. After breakfast, Avery returned to her room and changed her clothes. Jack's lawyer had made an appointment to see her today. He did not say what it was about, but she had an inkling. Once she was changed, she grabbed her purse and walked out of the room. Coincidentally, Elliot was also about to head out. He had a bodyguard to escort him and a chauffeur to drive him. Avery glanced at the time. She had agreed to meet the lawyer at 10 a.m., and now it was already close to nine in the morning. She took long strides as she walked out. It was about a ten minute walk from the mansion to where she could hail a cab. The rain the day before caused the temperature to drop by a few degrees. Perhaps it was the cold wind, but Avery felt a surge of nausea after walking a short while. A silver Bentley drove out of the neighborhood and was about to speed up when the driver noticed Avery. "It looks like Madam Avery," said the driver as he slowed down the car. The driver had seen Avery walk out of the house, so he remembered what she was wearing. Elliot had his eyes shut but suddenly opened them up upon hearing the driver's words. "It looks like Madam's throwing up, Mr. Foster," said the driver who had a better view from the driver's seat. When Avery had her breakfast just now, she was secretly glad that her morning sickness was not severe. She did not expect herself to be vomiting uncontrollably now. She held onto the trash can. After she had done puking, she planned to head home to wash up. She was faced with Elliot's car when she turned around. The luxury sedan sparkled under the bright sun. The driver had stopped the car next to her and rolled down the back seat window. Avery saw Elliot's deep, cold eyes staring at her. Her cheeks flushed a crimson red. Could he suspect something? She frowned, then walked to the back seat window and said, "I think I ate too much at breakfast."

Chapter 11 Chapter 11

Elliot reached his arm out through the car window. Clipped between his slender fingers was a pack of tissue. Avery was stunned. She was about to decline but ended up uncharacteristically accepting it. "Thanks." The warmth of his palm still lingered on the tissues. Elliot quickly averted his gaze from her face and rolled up the window as the car sped off. It was ten in the morning at Tate Industries, and all of its employees were working away at their respective stations. It had been a month since the company had paid wages. However, Tate Industries was an old player in the industry. Even if all kinds of negative news were circulating on the internet, its employees refused to give up until the very last moment. If she had not known about the company's many debts, Avery could not imagine that the calm atmosphere in front of her was an illusion. She entered the meeting room with the company's vice president, Shaun Locklyn. The lawyer went straight to the point when he saw Avery and said, "I'm very sorry for your loss, Miss Tate. Your father entrusted me to announce his will, which I will do now." Avery nodded lightly. The lawyer opened up a file and said firmly, "Your father had six pieces of real estate which are respectively located in… Here is the file. Please go through it." Avery took the document and examined it thoroughly. "Your father also had three parking lots," said the lawyer as he passed another document to her, "as well as eight shop lots, and twelve vehicles." Avery knew nothing about the family's fortune. First of all, she had no interest in it. Second of all, her father had never explained it to her. Now that the lawyer was describing her father's fortune to her, she could not help but feel a sense of unease. She had no idea that her father was this wealthy. Since he had all these fixed assets, why did he not sell them and use the money to treat his illness? "Apart from the aforementioned assets, there is also the company in which we are sitting right now," said the lawyer. Then, after a brief pause, he added, "Your father planned to leave the company to you, but the company is currently operating at a loss." Avery glanced at the lawyer and said, "By how much?" Shaun adjusted his glasses and chimed in, "The current deficit is a hundred and twenty-five million. If you take over your father's company, you would also inherit his debt. You may have to sell off all of the properties and cars that were mentioned just now in order to make up for the loss." Avery was stunned. A hundred and twenty-five million! Even if she sold off all of her father's assets, it still would not cover a hundred and twenty-five million! "You can choose not to accept this, Avery. That way, your father's debt would not fall on you," Shaun said with a sullen expression. "However, I hope you will seriously consider this. This company is your father's life's work. Do you really have the heart to watch it shut down?""What about Wanda and Cassandra?" Avery asked after taking a deep breath. "Don't even mention your stepmother! It's partly her fault that the company is in dire straits. She arranged for her brother to join our finance department a few years ago. He embezzled a lot of money from the company through the years. We don't even know where he's run off to now," sighed Shaun. Avery placed her hands on her forehead, and her voice trembled as she said, "I don't want to see my father's company fall either, but where am I supposed to find all of that money—""Borrow it!" said Shaun. "We've reached the end of our new product research and development. If we manage to get a loan, once we launch the new product, we'll be able to alleviate our financial troubles quite a bit.""Who would we ask for a loan from? Who would be able to give me that much?" Avery said as she raised her eyes in disbelief. "The banks," Shaun replied. "If the banks won't give it to you, we can find another investor. We have to try. If we manage, then great. If we don't, then you can give up. What do you think?" … At the president's office on the top floor of Sterling Group, the sun was shining through the spotless floor-to-ceiling windows. With his back facing the sun, Elliot's chiseled features looked extraordinary. He was holding a document that his assistant, Chad Rayner, brought to him. "Mr. Foster, Tate industries are currently facing a debt of a hundred and twenty-five million dollars. Jack Tate's wife and youngest daughter took an early flight out of the country this morning. It doesn't look like they will be returning before the company's troubles are settled. I think Miss Tate will most likely give up on Tate Industries. A hundred and twenty-five million is an impossible amount for her," Chad explained. Elliot had asked him for information on Tate Industries, so he figured that his boss was interested in the matter. "Let's make a bet, Chad!" Sterling Group's chief financial officer, Ben Schaffer, was stirring his cup of coffee as his eyes narrowed like a sly fox. "I bet Avery Tate will come to Elliot to ask for a loan. She's in a favorable position to enjoy certain benefits. If she asks Elliot for the money, I'm guessing he'll at least lend some of it to her." Chad shook his head and said, "I doubt she has the guts to do that." Ben took a sip of coffee and chuckled, "You didn't see her last night. She smashed a bottle of wine from 1947 in front of our faces and went up against Chelsea. She might look gentle, but she's even more feisty than Chelsea.""Alright, then. I'll make a bet with you!" Chad responded. "What should we bet on?""If I lose, I'll buy you coffee for a month. If you lose, you have to buy coffee for everyone in the president's department for a month. How's that?""Okay." …… That afternoon, Avery called up every major bank. Things were not as simple as Shaun made it sound. She called eight banks, two of which the company still owed money to. Of course, the other two banks did not dare give her a loan either. "Avery, here's a detailed introduction to our new product. It's a very promising product. I'll think of a way to set up a meeting with the managers of the other two banks. Go and put on something nice, then have a proper meeting with them," said Shaun as he handed Avery a thick file. "Why do I need to dress up? Can't I just go like this?" Avery asked. "You don't have makeup on, so you don't look your best. It can come across as disrespectful in the business world," Shaun replied. "Let me take a look at the product profile first," Avery said. "Alright. I'll contact the bank managers. I'll let you know once I set it up," said Shaun. Chad received some information at six in the evening. "It looks like we both lost the best, Mr. Schaffer," Chad said. "Surprisingly, Avery Tate didn't give up on Tate Industries. Also, she's meeting the managers of River City Bank and Silver Linings Bank for dinner tonight." Ben was disappointed. "Those two old geezers are infamous for being promiscuous! She's walking right into a lion's den! I suppose she doesn't know of society's dangers since she hasn't graduated college yet. I can't figure out why she wouldn't just go to Elliot? He's her husband even if only in name. Does she think he's less than those two old sleazebags?" Chad snuck a glance at Elliot's face. It was eerily dark. At the end of the day, Avery was still Elliot's wife in name. If she went to meet those two old men that night, it would be a blow to Elliot's pride. Chad felt suffocated at the thought of his boss being played for a fool. With Elliot's temper, if Avery really cheated on him, she would meet an ugly end. "Should I give Miss Tate a call, Mr. Foster?" Chad said after thinking for a moment. Elliot clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white. "Don't contact her!" he snapped in a hoarse voice. He wanted to see if Avery would really act so recklessly behind his back. Ben coughed lightly, then said, "Do you want to have a drink with us? My treat!" Elliot's expression turned malicious. He shut his laptop, then rolled away in his wheelchair. His bodyguard followed closely behind and escorted him out.

Chapter 12 Chapter 12

It was nine at night. Dry leaves rustled on the ground in the fall wind. Avery emerged from a cab and winced at the sudden chill. She clutched her purse and quickly rushed toward the front door of the Foster mansion. In the dark of night, she donned a strappy red dress which was sexy yet enchanting. When she left the house that morning, she was wearing a t-shirt and casual pants. The thought that she had deliberately dressed that way to entertain other men made Elliot clench his fists. Avery only noticed Elliot sitting in the living room couch when she was changing her shoes in the foyer. He was wearing a black shirt, which made him appear even more gloomy and cold. The expression on his face was as indifferent as ever, so she did not look at him for long. Once she had changed her shoes, she hesitated. She did not know whether she should greet him or not. He did give her that pack of tissues that morning. Avery walked uneasily into the living room and looked at Elliot. The atmosphere was different that night. Mrs. Cooper would usually come out to greet her when she arrived home. Was Mrs. Cooper out? She took a deep breath as her heart thumped in her chest. She decided to avoid him. "Come here," Elliot said icily. Since they were the only ones in the living room, she could not pretend like she did not hear him. "What is it?" Avery said as she stopped and glanced at him. "I said, come here," Elliot said in a terrifyingly forceful voice. Avery's heart tightened, and she involuntarily walked over to him. She did not dare disobey him even if he was in a wheelchair and did not pose as big of a threat to her. She walked to his side, looked at his handsome but stern face, and took a deep breath. "What is it? Is it time for us to get divorced?" Elliot's brows furrowed upon hearing her words. He smelled the faint smell of alcohol emanating from her hair. She had drunk wine. Elliot suddenly looked up as he no longer tried to hide the disgust in his eyes. His large hand gripped her slender wrist as he snarled, "Did you drink with someone? Did you have a good time?" Avery felt like Elliot was about to break her wrist. She wanted to pull her hand back but could not move a muscle. "Let go! You're hurting me!" she cried as her eyes welled up with tears. The more she struggled, the harder his grip became. It was as if he was deliberately trying to hurt her and make her cry. "I asked if you had a good time. Answer me!" Elliot snapped. Seeing her face twist in agony further angered him. "What good time? I don't know what you're talking about!" Avery gave up struggling. By the time she registered the first question, streams of hot tears ran down her cheeks. "I didn't drink, Elliot! I didn't!" she said with eyes filled with tears and fear. Elliot's adam's apple bobbed up and down his throat. The next second, he yanked her into his arms. She said that she had not drunk, but he clearly smelled alcohol on her. The cold tip of his nose landed on the crook of her neck. Avery's soft and delicate skin carried a warm, milky scent. It was odd. He could not smell alcohol on her body. Avery stayed completely still as she felt Elliot's nose on her skin, gently tickling her. She leaned against his wide chest. She was so nervous that she forgot to breathe, and her heart forgot to beat. It was a good thing that he stopped treating her violently. He had let go of her wrist, but the pain was still there. The thought of being abused by him angered Avery. She knew that his legs had not fully recovered, and he might not have any feeling in them yet. She placed her hand on his trousers and gave him a hard pinch. The reason she was brave enough to do this was because she was prepared to deal with the consequences. However, Elliot did not seem to realize that she had pinched him. When he lifted his head from her neck, his dark eyes looked puzzled. "Your clothes smell like another man's alcohol. Are you going to take it off, or should I?" Elliot said in a hoarse voice that carried a seemingly unstoppable force. Avery froze in stunned silence. Did she smell like another man's alcohol? Hold on… He wanted her to take her clothes off? Right now? When she snapped back to reality, she pushed her hands against his chest and tried to escape. Elliot did not give her a chance to get away and tightened his arms around her. He picked Avery up and violently tore the back of her dress in half. "Ah!" Without the protection of her dress, Avery felt a sudden chill on her back. The blood in her body boiled as she scowled, "Elliot Foster! You maniac!" Elliot tossed her on the couch and stared coldly at her exposed shoulders and back. "Remember your place, Mrs. Foster!" Avery held on to the high-end dress that Elliot had just ripped and held back her tears. Shaun was the one who had arranged the meeting that night. The dress had also been Shaun's idea. It was true that the two bank managers tried to get her drunk, and they would not let her go even when she tried to come up with excuses. She ended up turning them down and left the bar. She was pregnant, so she could not drink. There was no way that she would be out drinking with other men. "I don't care about being Mrs. Foster! Don't pin your ridiculous standards on me!" Avery pushed her disheveled hair behind her ears and rose from the couch as she held onto her dress. "I hate you!" she cried. Under normal circumstances, she would never tear into other people like this. It was Elliot's persistent bullying that had made her lose all control. She returned to her room and slammed the door shut. A glimmer of emotion flashed by in Elliot's stone-cold face. He had lost control of his emotions earlier. He had waited all afternoon thinking that Avery would ask him for help, but she had not. Not only did she not go to him, but she also went out and drank with other men. All the anger that he had accumulated that day exploded at that moment. Even if she had not said out loud that she hated him, he knew that. He knew that he was more terrifying to Avery than the Devil himself. Elliot's phone screen lit up. He picked it up and read Chad's message. [Mr. Foster, did Miss Tate get home safely? I was out drinking with Ben when we bumped into her. She got into a riff with the two old geezers and left before dinner even started.] A wave of gloom washed over Elliot. Even if Avery had not drunk with the two sleazebags, to him, she had been in the wrong to attend the meeting in the first place. She also should not have dressed so provocatively. … Avery opened her door when she heard a knock from the other side. "Madam, Master Elliot asked me to bring you something to eat. I didn't know what you wanted, so I made you a bowl of soup," Mrs. Cooper said as she placed a tray on the desk in the room. Avery had taken a shower to force herself to forget everything that bstrd Elliot had done to her that night. "What does he mean by this?" she said as she stared cautiously at the bowl of soup. She was hungry, but she did not dare eat. "Master Elliot must feel bad for being so cruel to you earlier. His mood has been quite bad ever since you went to your room," Mrs. Cooper said. She picked up the red dress on the bed and added, "Do you need me to get this mended?""It's fine. I borrowed it. Take the tag to him," Avery said. "Oh…" responded Mrs. Cooper. Avery took a deep breath, then sat on a chair and said hoarsely, "I can't afford to pay for it.""Alright," Mrs. Cooper said. "Get some rest after you're done with the soup. Madam Rosalie is being discharged tomorrow, so Master Elliot will be taking you to the old mansion with him."

Chapter 13 Chapter 13

In the bathroom of the master bedroom, the nurse was carefully drying the water droplets off of Elliot's body with a dry towel. His legs were still weak and he was only able to stand up if someone was holding on to him, so he needed the help of the nurse. This nurse had been taking care of him ever since he met with the accident. He was a middle aged man who was meticulous and careful with his work. "You have a bruise on your thigh, Mr. Foster," said the nurse as he put on Elliot's bathrobe and helped him out of the bathroom. "I'll go get some ointment for you." Elliot sat on the edge of the bed and opened up the bathrobe to look at the bruise when the nurse walked out of the room. It was not like he had no feeling in his legs, but when Avery had pinched him, he held back and pretended like he had felt nothing. For some reason, he kept recalling Avery's crying face. Also, the unique fragrance of her body continued to linger in his mind. Elliot had never felt this way about a woman in all of his years. There was never a woman who was able to make him feel such strange emotions. Something about Avery Tate somehow managed to arouse something inside of him. Was it necessary for him to feel this way towards a woman whom he was about to divorce? It was a feeling that was completely strange and absurd to him. If he had a chance to go through it again, however, he would still lose his temper and rip her dress apart. … At 7 a.m. the next morning, Avery deliberately woke up early to avoid Elliot and have her breakfast. She emerged from her bedroom and headed towards the dining room. "Madam! You woke up early today, too! Breakfast is ready," Mrs. Cooper greeted her with a smile. The word "too" was said with a strong emphasis. Since Elliot was there, she should just return to her room. "I made some vegetarian ravioli for you this morning. I made it especially for you since you mentioned not wanting to eat meat yesterday. I hope it suits your taste," Mrs. Cooper said warmly as she escorted Avery to her seat at the table. Avery looked like she was sitting on pins and needles with a face of uneasiness. She might as well have the words "I don't want to see you, Elliot Foster" written on her face. Elliot did not look straight at her, but he felt the resistance emanating from her. "We're going to see my mother after breakfast. You should know yourself what to say and what not to say," he said indifferently. "When did you plan on giving me the money for that dress last night?" Avery asked sternly. It was fine if he wanted her to cooperate and go see Rosalie, but he had to settle his debt first. "There isn't much cash at home," Elliot said as he took a sip of milk, "I can wire it over to you if you're in a rush.""That works. Here's my account number!" Avery said as she pulled out her phone, opened up her account number and passed it over to Elliot. "How much was it?" Elliot asked as he set down his glass of milk and pulled out his phone. "Five thousand," Avery responded. Elliot lifted his eyes and glared at her. She felt no guilt at all. "Didn't it say $4,500 on the tag?""Why did you bother asking me, then?" Avery retorted, then raised her right hand and added, "The extra $500 is for medical expenses." The wrist that Elliot had grabbed yesterday was deeply bruised, so she planned to stop by the drugstore when she had the time. She did not feel bad for asking for the extra $500 for that. Elliot glanced at Avery's wrist and his lips pursed slightly. He wired the $5,000 over to her. A third of Avery's anger simmered down after getting the money. "Don't think I'll forgive you just because you paid me the money. I wouldn't forgive you even if you gave me another $5,000," Avery said. Elliot did not respond to her cruel words, but quietly rolled off in his wheelchair instead. His silence extinguished another third of her anger. … At 9 a.m. that morning, the Foster family was gathered at the old mansion to visit the newly discharged Rosalie. Rosalie was discharged from the ICU this time, which meant that her condition was a lot more serious than the last time she was admitted for hypertension. "How have you been feeling, Elliot?" Rosalie asked. She did not have the heart to blame her son once she saw him, but worried about his health instead. "Pretty good," Elliot replied. Seeing his mother's face which had turned old and frail, he held back some of the words he wanted to say. "That's good to hear," Rosalie said as she shifted her gaze to Avery, then asked, "What about you, Avery? Is Elliot still giving you a hard time? You have to tell me if he is." Avery shook her head and said, "He's not. You, on the other hand, need to take care of yourself.""I'll be fine as long as you and Elliot are fine," said Rosalie. "Avery, Elliot has never dated or gone after a girl before. He might not be that gentle or romantic, but I hope you can forgive him. He's a man after all. His career would come first. Don't you think so?" She was trying to convince Avery. Avery, however, felt extremely uneasy. Elliot never dated? He'd never gone after a girl? How was that possible? It looked like Rosalie did not know her own son very well. "Avery, I heard that your father's company is facing some problems and is about to go bankrupt," Rosalie said. She had just left the hospital but was already concerning herself with all kinds of troubles. "I've asked the lawyers. This has nothing to do with you, so your father's debt can't be placed on your head. All you need to do is stay by Elliot's side and be his wife." Avery knew very well that Rosalie had always treated her like a pawn, but there was no way she was going to live her life according to the old woman's ideals. "My father's gone now, but he wouldn't want to see the company fall if he were still around. So, I'll do the best I can to try to win this losing battle," Avery said in a tone that was neither humble nor overbearing. "Oh, Avery!" exclaimed Elliot's sister-in-law, Olivia. "Your father didn't spend much on you even when his company was making money, did he? Now that he's gone, you're holding on to a failing company and won't let go. What is it? Were you thinking of having Elliot cough up the money to help you out?""I heard that your father owed 125 million!" said Elliot's brother, Henry Foster, "That isn't a small amount. A typical person wouldn't lend you that amount, and they wouldn't be able to cough up that much… Were you thinking of getting it from our family?" Avery had never considered asking Elliot to help her out with the money, so she was immensely unhappy with the family's remarks. All eyes were on her as they awaited her response. "All of you think too highly of me. Even if I asked to borrow the money from Elliot, he would never give it to me," Avery said wryly. "I know my own circumstances. I'll figure something out." Her words relieved the Foster family members. She was right. Elliot had been insisting on divorcing her ever since he woke up, so why would he ever give her the money? Everyone's emotions relaxed quite a bit after some morning tea. Rosalie held Avery's hand and said, "It's not impossible for you to help your father's company, Avery. All you have to do is have Elliot's child, then he will definitely lend you the money." Avery caressed her belly and glanced at Elliot. He was sipping his tea and looked completely calm, as if he did not hear the words his mother said to her. Avery and Elliot left the old mansion after lunch. As they sat in the backseat of the car on the way home, he was deep in thought, and she was looking out the window. The atmosphere in the car was eerily quiet. "If you were pregnant with my child," Elliot said suddenly in a chilling voice, "I would kill it with my own hands." A chill shot through Avery's body. Her lips parted, as if wanting to speak, but not a sound came out.

Chapter 14 Chapter 14

In Avery's eyes, Elliot's face had turned into that of a demon baring its sharp fangs at her. "Why?" she asked bitterly. "Even if you didn't want kids, there's no need for you to say such cruel words!" Elliot's deep eyes were cold as he said, "What if you decided to take the chance if I didn't make myself clear?" Avery took a deep breath and shifted her gaze from him. She was terrified. It felt like she was about to fall into a bottomless pit. Her reaction piqued Elliot's curiosity. His lips curled up as he mocked, "You're not really thinking of having my kid, are you?" Avery glared at him. "I suggest you take my warning seriously. You know the kind of person I am. My actions will be much more severe than my words. Don't test me if you want to live," Elliot said, then turned to look out the window. Avery clenched her fists and huffed, "Don't worry, I will never give you children. You know how much I despise you. The most urgent matter right now is to quickly get a divorce!" The babies did not belong to him alone. If she gave birth, she would be doing it for herself. Once the kids were grown, she would tell them that their father was dead! "Now isn't the time. We'll talk about it again once my mother's get better," Elliot said. His tone was calmer. Perhaps her words were effective. It made him realize that he was not the man she wanted. "Don't drag it out for too long, then," Avery said. She furrowed her brows and was a little anxious. Her pregnancy would begin to show if they delayed things further. She would not be able to keep it from him by then, and would definitely be forced to get an abortion. "You're in a hurry to divorce me. Is there some urgent matter you need to attend to?" Elliot asked as his cold eyes fell on her, trying to see through her. Avery's heart suddenly skipped a bit. "Nope! There's nothing urgent. I just… I just don't want to stay with you. Has nobody ever told you how suffocating it is to be by your side?""They wouldn't dare say it even if they thought it," Elliot replied dryly. "Oh… It's no wonder you don't like me," Avery said with a pout. "But it's stifling to not say what I want to say." Elliot pondered to himself, and thought she had misunderstood something in the end. "No man could tolerate his wife dressing up like a prostitute to escort other men.""Wearing a slip dress makes me a prostitute? Socializing is escorting other men? What about when you men socialize?" Avery retorted. "Even if you hold a knife to my neck right now, I would still insist that I wasn't wrong last night." It was like they were both from different planets. Other than the fact that they were both human, they were complete opposites in every other aspect. "Are you saying you'd do it again?" Elliot said. His lips were slightly curled upwards in a sinister manner. Avery pursed her lips and pushed herself into the corner out of instinct. "I don't even drink, how could I possibly drink with others. I wouldn't drink even if the sky falls." She would never take the lives of the babies in her womb lightly. Even if her father's company goes bankrupt, she would never sell herself out for money. Avery's answer extinguished the raging fury inside of Elliot. The driver drove the car towards Elliot's mansion. Avery jumped out of the car just as it came to halt, as if trying to escape. Elliot watched her slender back, then said to the driver, "To the office." … Avery let out a heavy sigh of relief after the car drove off. After she took an afternoon nap, she arrived at Tate Industries at 2.30 p.m. She decided to sell off her father's assets to pay off some of the debt. She wanted to deal with what she could and pay off what she could before thinking about looking for an investor. The banks were out of the question. She had completely offended the managers of River City Bank and Silver Linings Bank the night before. Both managers made it clear that they would never give her a loan. "Don't blame yourself, Avery. If you drank last night, they probably would have acted out of line with you," Shaun said with a frown. "You're not that kind of woman, and I would never force you to do something like that." Avery nodded and said, "I wouldn't do it even if you forced me." Shaun's cheeks flushed as he nodded. "I arranged a list last night of the few affluent individuals in Avonsville. All of them have the ability to produce the funds to save our company. You just need to convince one of them, and we'll be saved." Avery took the list and quickly looked it over. On the list were names, genders, company names, current net worth and contact information. Some of them had phone numbers, while some did not. "How am I supposed to contact the ones without contact information?" Avery asked. "The ones without contact information are the ones I couldn't get my hands on. We'll just have to meet those ones at their companies," Shaun replied. Avery browsed the list once again. This time, she discovered a key point. The second name on the list clearly printed out "Elliot Foster". Elliot Foster, male, Sterling Group, net worth over 15 billion. Contact information: none. Avery's face flushed as she asked sheepishly, "Is Elliot Foster that rich?" She picked up a glass of water from the table and took a sip to hide her anxiety. "That's just a safe estimate. His net worth should be a lot higher than that," Shaun answered assuredly. "He founded Sterling Group when the internet was just starting. However popular the internet is now is how much he's worth.""I see…""It's a shame I couldn't find his contact information. You'll just have to go to Sterling Group to meet him. I'll come with you when you decide to go see him." Avery shook her head violently and said, "I won't meet him." She picked up a pen and crossed Elliot's name out on the list. He would never lend her the money. If she went to him to ask for a loan, she would just be asking to be humiliated. Avery stopped by the drugstore on her way home that evening. She walked into the store and wanted to buy something for her bruise. After the pharmacist recommended a few products to her, she suddenly thought of a question. "Is this safe to use during pregnancy?""It's better to avoid it. Are you pregnant?" asked the pharmacist. Avery nodded in silence. The pharmacist immediately took back the products she recommended before and passed her a bottle of pills. "How far along are you? Your bump isn't showing yet, so now's a good time for calcium supplements. This one's great and absorbs well. Obstetricians are always recommending this one to pregnant mothers!" Avery arrived home with the calcium supplements half an hour later. It was past dinner time, but Mrs. Cooper left some food out for her. "What did you get, Madam?" Mrs. Cooper asked when she saw the drugstore logo on the bag Avery was holding. Avery hid the bag behind her back and said, "Just something for my bruise.""We have something for that at home. We have most common medications here. Just let me know if you need anything next time and I'll get it for you," Mrs. Cooper said with a smile. "Okay, I'm going up now," Avery said, then turned and made her way back to her room. She was caught off guard and bumped into Elliot. He arrived when she was talking to Mrs. Cooper earlier. He clearly saw the contents of the bag Avery hid behind her back. "Why did you lie?" he asked as his dangerous eyes fell on the bag of calcium tablets.