**Chapter 24** Elliot's brow furrowed deeply, casting a shadow over his sharp features. The atmosphere in the dimly lit room crackled with tension. If he hadn't witnessed Avery fill in that list with his own eyes, he might have almost given credence to Cole's desperate words. “Avery claims the child is yours? Then it is yours!” barked the bodyguard, voice laden with contempt. “How dare you commit such an atrocity! Not even nine lives would suffice to repay this offense!” From the ground, Cole's voice echoed with anguish, his face twisted in panic. “Avery is lying! Uncle, you must listen! The reason we broke up was that she refused me! I ended things with her—she’s just out for revenge now! No matter whose child it is, it cannot be mine!” Elliot’s gaze hardened as he scrutinized the man sprawled before him, dripping with fear. A chilling realization dawned upon him. This was the man Avery had once held dear. This coward, this spineless creature, was capable of abandoning her at the first sign of adversity. “Remove him from my sight,” Elliot ordered, his voice an icy blade cutting through the air. “But do not take his life.” He wanted to savor the slow unraveling of Cole, to witness his destruction piece by piece in the presence of Avery. Meanwhile, Laura gently led Avery back to the sanctuary of her rented house. The weight of the world seemed to press down upon them as they crossed the threshold. Once inside, Laura assisted Avery in settling onto the bed, her hands trembling slightly. “Avery, please, hold back your tears. This is not the time to cry… you need to gather your strength after everything…” Avery stared vacantly at the ceiling, her words drifting like whispers in the dark. “Mom, my child is still with me. It hasn’t left.” Laura’s heart sank, confusion etched across her features. "Avery, what do you mean? Didn’t Elliot force you to go through with the abortion?” Avery’s voice was frostbitten, devoid of warmth as she recounted her resolve. “I told the doctor that if she dared to lay a hand on me, I would ensure neither of us would leave that operating room alive.” Despite the child being safe, her heart felt as though it had been reduced to ashes—she felt as if she had died that day. ‘I may have escaped this time, but what about the next?’ Avery thought grimly. Just being near Elliot was a constant threat to the child’s well-being. A shrill ring broke the somber silence enveloping them, reverberating through the heavy air. Avery glanced at her phone, the screen illuminating the name of the vice president. “Hello?” she answered, her voice laced with hesitance. “Avery!” came the vice president’s voice, slurred but vibrant. “I just woke up from a drunken stupor! Did Mr. Z reach out to you today?” Avery felt a flicker of surprise. “No. Who were you drinking with last night?” “Mr. Z! He goes by Jun Hertz. I can't find anything about him online, but he’s quite young and seems to come from a wealthy family. He mentioned looking for investment projects. I couldn’t tell you how he’ll proceed after our discussion.” Her heartbeat quickened, curiosity intertwining with caution. “Does he have any ties to Elliot?” “Hmm, I'm not entirely sure! But he mentioned knowing Ben. Apparently, Ben is his senior—a big deal as the financial president of Sterling Group and Elliot’s right-hand man. So, yes, he should be familiar with Elliot.” “Avery, why did you suddenly bring up Elliot? Do you know him?” The vice president's question hung in the air, inquisitive. “No, I don't,” Avery replied, her tone swimming in ice. At the mere mention of his name, pain sliced through her heart. After the call ended, she placed the phone down, feeling as though the air had been sucked from the room. Laura settled beside her on the bed, her voice filled with a mix of concern and relief. “Avery, I found a job,” she shared, hesitance lingering in her words. "I didn’t tell you before because I was unsure about my abilities.” “What kind of work?” Avery asked, suppressing the weight of her sorrow beneath a veil of curiosity.