Chapter 1628

"Avery, have you been in the bathroom this whole time?" He strode up to her and grabbed her by the arm. "Layla said she couldn't find you anywhere and was about to burst into tears." Avery realized how much he loved her once again at how worried he seemed. "My stomach felt weird. Where's Layla?" She had completely forgotten about the time in the bathroom. "She twisted her ankle while looking for you, so she is waiting in her room right now." Elliot took her to Layla's room. "What's wrong with your stomach?" "I think it's because I ate something spicy at noon and my stomach couldn't handle it." She made up an excuse and asked, "How badly did she twist her ankle?" "The doctor checked and said it's okay," he said. "Do you need some medicine?" "It's fine. I'll just have something plain for dinner." Worried about Layla, she asked, "Why didn't Layla call me if she was looking for me?" "You don't have your phone with you." Elliot took her phone out of his pocket. "She was looking around for you while holding your phone. She was nervous because you didn't have your phone with you." Avery felt horribly guilty. "I was chatting with Lilith and Adrian in the hall just now and went off to the washroom because I had a stomachache." The two arrived at the guest room, which was filled with the scent of medicine that had been used on Layla's ankle. "Layla, I didn't know that you were looking for me. Does your ankle hurt? Let me see." Avery hurried toward Layla and squatted down to inspect her injury. "It doesn't hurt that much now, Mommy." Layla's eyes were red from crying. "I thought some bad guys took you away." "Why would anyone take me away? There are so many security guards in the hall so bad people wouldn't be able to get in." Avery was relieved to see that Layla's ankle was red but not swollen. "Layla, your mom was in the washroom because she had a stomachache." Elliot's heart ached at how worried Layla appeared to be, but for some reason, he could not help but be reminded of his newborn child when he looked at Layla's face. She looked so much like a younger Layla, and that itself was enough proof to shatter his original assumption that Ruby might have photoshopped the ultrasound image. "Mom, you need to bring your phone with you no matter where you go from now on! That way, I can call you if I can't find you," Layla muttered with a frown. "Yeah, I will carry my phone with me at all times from now on. Are you sleepy? Let's go to sleep together, okay?" Avery was tired, but she was also certain that she would not fall asleep. She only wanted to lie down. Once they lay down on the bed, Elliot exited the room, and Avery gently patted Layla on the back. After a while, Layla whispered, "Mommy, I can't sleep." "Why not, Darling?" "I don't know, but I just can't fall asleep." Layla turned around to face Avery. "Mommy, I am never going to get married. Aunt Shea was staying with Daddy before but from now on, she will have to stay at Uncle Wesley's house. I don't want to stay at someone else's house." Avery could not help but chuckle. "Aunt Shea and Uncle Wesley are staying together on their own." "I don't want to leave you guys. I want to be with you forever." Layla pouted. "Of course, you are staying with us right now. Let's wait until you grow up to decide if you want to get married, shall we? Your dad and I will respect your wishes," Avery said in a gentle voice and Layla was relieved.