**Chapter 14** In that moment, as Avery faced Elliot, his expression twisted into something monstrous, like a demon baring fangs that promised destruction. “Why?” Her voice dripped with bitterness, wounds fresh in her heart. “Even if you didn’t want kids, saying such cruel things to me is completely unnecessary!” Elliot’s gaze was as cold as ice, his words slicing through the air. “What if you were contemplating having my child, and I hadn’t made my stance clear?” Avery inhaled sharply, turning her eyes away from his piercing stare. Terror gripped her; it felt as if she was teetering on the edge of a bottomless abyss. Elliot raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued by her reaction. A smirk danced on his lips as he taunted, “You’re not actually considering having my kid, are you?” Avery glared daggers at him, brow furrowed in defiance. “Let me make myself clear: I will never bring children into this world with you. You know just how much I despise you. The only thing that matters right now is getting a divorce as quickly as possible!” The realization that the babies would not belong solely to him fueled her determination. If she were to give birth, it would be for her own sake; with every fiber of her being, she would ensure the children would never know of their father's existence. “Now isn’t the time to discuss that. Let’s revisit this once my mother’s health improves,” Elliot replied, his voice now steadier, perhaps realizing, even if just a little, that he was not the man Avery wanted. “Just don’t take too long about it,” she urged, worry knitting her brow. Time was not on her side; soon her pregnancy would become apparent, and she could not bear the thought of being forced into an abortion. With a discerning gaze, Elliot scrutinized her. “You seem in a hurry to finalize our separation. Is there something urgent you’re dealing with?” Her heart raced at his question. “No! There’s nothing urgent. I just… can’t stand being around you. Haven’t you ever been told how suffocating it is to be in your presence?” “They wouldn’t dare say it even if they thought it,” Elliot responded curtly. “Oh… is it any wonder you don’t like me?” Avery replied, her voice laced with a playful pout. “It’s stifling not being able to say what’s on my mind.” He mulled over her words, realizing that perhaps she had entirely misunderstood him. “No man would tolerate his wife dressing like a common harlot, entertaining other men,” he challenged. “Wearing a slip dress makes me a prostitute? Socializing is equivalent to escorting?” Avery fired back, her voice rising with indignation. “What about when you men engage in your ‘socializing’?” With fierce defiance, she added, “Even if you held a knife to my throat, I’d still insist that I didn’t do anything wrong last night.” It struck her how, despite sharing the same planet, they inhabited completely different worlds. “Are you saying you’d repeat your actions?” he asked, a sinister smile curling his lips. Avery instinctively recoiled, pushing herself against the wall. “I don’t even drink. There’s no way I’d ever partake in that! I would never risk the lives of the babies growing inside of me, no matter the cost!” The fury swirling within Elliot diminished slightly at her resolute response. As the car glided towards Elliot’s mansion, Avery made a bid for freedom, leaping out the moment the vehicle stilled, desperate to escape. Elliot watched her slender figure vanish, then instructed the driver, “Take me to the office.” … Avery felt a wave of relief wash over her as the car pulled away. After a brief nap, she found herself at Tate Industries by 2:30 PM, determined to begin the difficult task of selling off her father’s assets to alleviate some of the crippling debt. She needed to tackle what she could before even beginning to consider an investor. The banks were out of the question; her previous night’s antics had left a bitter taste with the managers at River City Bank and Silver Linings Bank, who had made it abundantly clear they would not extend her a loan. “Don’t blame yourself, Avery. If you had been drinking last night, they might have taken things further out of line with you,” Shaun offered solemnly. “You’re not that kind of woman, and I’d never force you to do anything like that.” Avery nodded, resolute. “I would stand firm against even the strongest coercion.” Shaun’s face flushed a muted red as he acknowledged, “I compiled a list of affluent individuals in Avonsville who could potentially save our company. If you can convince just one of them, we’ll be out of this mess.” Eagerly taking the list, Avery scanned the names, each delineated with gender, companies, estimated net worth, and contact details. Some included phone numbers, while others frustratingly lacked any form of connection. “How am I supposed to reach those with no contact information?” she questioned, anxiety creeping in. “The people without details are the ones I couldn’t find out about. We’ll just have to visit their offices in person,” Shaun explained. She perused the list again, spotting a familiar, daunting name—the second entry read “Elliot Foster.” The details stared back at her: male, Sterling Group, net worth exceeding 15 billion, and, notably, no contact information. A wave of heat flooded her cheeks as she whispered to Shaun, “Is Elliot Foster truly that wealthy?” Gulping down her nervousness, she took a sip of water to steady herself. “That’s a conservative estimate. It could easily be much higher,” Shaun assured her. “He founded Sterling Group in the early days of the internet boom. His fortune reflects its massive growth over the years.” “I see…” “It’s a pity I couldn’t find his contact information. You’ll have to go to Sterling Group on your own. I’ll accompany you when you're ready to see him.” Avery’s protests were immediate and fierce. “I won’t meet him!” Grabbing a pen, she angrily crossed out Elliot’s name from the list. He would never lend her money; facing him to ask for a loan would only lead to humiliation. On her way home that evening, she stopped by a pharmacy, intent on buying something to treat a bruise. After the pharmacist recommended several items, a sudden realization struck her. “Is this safe for use during pregnancy?” “Better to avoid it. Are you pregnant?” the pharmacist inquired gently. Avery nodded, unable to muster a verbal reply. The pharmacist’s demeanor shifted instantly, returning the initial recommendations and replacing them with a bottle of pills. “How far along are you? Your bump isn’t visible yet, so now is an ideal time for calcium supplements. This one is excellent; it absorbs well, and obstetricians frequently recommend it to expectant mothers!” Half an hour later, Avery arrived home clutching the calcium supplements tightly. The house had grown quiet after dinner, but Mrs. Cooper had left some food out for her. “What did you get, Madam?” Mrs. Cooper inquired, spotting the drugstore logo emblazoned on the bag. Quickly hiding the bag behind her back, Avery replied, “Just something for my bruise.” “We have other supplies for that here at home. We stock most common medications. Just ask if you need anything next time, and I’ll be happy to help,” Mrs. Cooper smiled warmly. “Okay, I’m going upstairs now,” Avery said, turning to retreat to her room. But fate had other plans. In her haste, she collided with Elliot, who had returned while she spoke with Mrs. Cooper. He had clearly seen her hiding the contents of the bag. “Why did you lie?” His voice, edged with danger, fell upon her like a whisper of foreboding as his gaze fixed on the calcium tablets.