Chapter 18 Chapter 18 Caught in a slip of the tongue , Elliot went stiff . After a long silence , he finally slumped back against the pillow and quietly explained everything that had happened over the past few months . When Henry and Helen found out that Elliot had gone to have a child with Claire just before his wedding , they were at a loss for words . Their expressions shifted from disbelief to disappointment before they finally shook the heads . " Elliot , you've always been so sensible . How could you do something so absurd ? " Elliot didn't answer . He just covered his face with his hands , and a low , broken sob escaped him . He couldn't explain why he'd done it , either . Maybe he just believed that as long as Nora loved him , she'd never really leave . Seeing Elliot so devastated , Helen's heart ached for him , but she couldn't help feeling some resentment toward Nora . " Sure , you made a mistake , but you only got hurt because you went to see her . Isn't she being a bit too heartless toward you ? " Elliot wanted to argue , but the words caught in his throat . A part of him couldn't help but think the same . How could Nora not even come to see him after the accident ? Meanwhile , Claire felt a sharp pain in her abdomen . She grabbed Helen's sleeve , her eyes wide . with fear . " My baby . Mrs. Ward , my baby ! " Her words stunned everyone . Elliot's mind went blank , and the question flew out before he could even think . " What baby ? " He hadn't been left Claire's side for more than a moment in weeks . How could she be pregnant ? " Half a month ago , I went to see a fertility doctor for IVF , " Claire whispered , her face as pale as a sheet . " They used what you left at the hospital , and I went through with it . Elliot , I just wanted to have your child … " The shock on Henry's and Helen's faces quickly turned to panic as they suddenly recalled how Elliot had pushed Claire earlier . They rushed to help her find a doctor , leaving Elliot lying in bed , his mind in turmoil . Was Claire really pregnant with his child ? If she had this baby , would Nora ever forgive him ? A dark shadow crossed his face as he came to a decision - he couldn't let this child be born . But things never seemed to go the way he planned . Not only did he fail to end Claire's pregnancy . but he couldn't even get her to leave . " Dad , Mom , I'm not marrying her , " Elliot said , his eyes tightly shut as he ignored their attempts to persuade him to accept Claire . Henry and Helen felt a bit powerless to convince Elliot to change his mind . " Why are you being so stubborn ? Claire is carrying your baby . In your condition , you need someone to take care of you . Are you still hoping Nora will come back ? She's already married to someone else . What are you waiting for ? " He understood all their reasons , but he just couldn't accept them . For the longest time , Elliot thought the feelings he had for Nora existed only because he was used to having her around . It wasn't until she left and married someone else that the pain in his heart finally told him the truth - he loved her , and he couldn't live without her . But just like Henry said , Nora was married now . Waiting for her was pointless . Elliot clenched his fists tightly , unable to bring himself to agree to marrying Claire . How could he just give up ? He had been so close to marrying Nora . How did everything end up like this ?