When His Eyes Opened By Simple Silence

Mike buried his face in his hands and burst into tears.

“I regret it! Why did I say those cruel words to her last night?!”

Elliot’s eyes welled up in tears at the thought of what happened the night before.

“She was helpless and scared. Even if we couldn’t go save her right away, I shouldn’t have said that! She must have felt so hopeless after hearing what I said…” Mike was racked with guilt and could not control his emotions.

Elliot’s Adam’s apple bobbed in his throat and he said hoarsely, “Stop crying! Are you done cracking the system?”

Mike wiped his tears away, then glanced at the progress bar on his computer screen.

“Almost … It’ll be done before noon. My head hurts. What would I do if Avery’s really dead?”

Elliot did not have the courage to think of that possibility.

“How about you go home and take a shower?” Mike saw the stubble growing on Elliot’s chin and figured that he was probably hurting more than himself.

It was because Avery was still carrying his child.

stood still in a daze as if he did not hear

back and check on Shea and the kids,” Mike said in a louder

finally reacted and

to the door, Mike sighed and said, “Are you thinking of bringing that gun back with you? Avery’s definitely alive! She’s strong,

the gun down on the table, then walked

house in Bridgedale was located in the city center's

was not to show off her wealth,

entrance. He called Mike, and

and Layla arrived at the entrance hand in

emotions turned complicated. If Avery was dead…

course he was willing to raise them himself, but they might

Hayden!” Layla said softly as she saw

Did Elliot look like this because something had happened to their

seen Wesley’s horrible condition at the hospital yesterday, but Shea described it to them when she

had a nightmare that Avery

had the same dream, and the siblings ended up crying in each other’s