A sad smile touched Elias's lips . " Don't worry , Kristin . I'm not here to ask you to come back . It's just ... " He looked down at Pearl . Her sunken eyes were fixed on me . She reached out her small hands , wanting me to hold her . When I didn't move , her lower lip " 17 49 11.49 Chapter 2 began to tremble . No sound came out , but tears started to roll down her cheeks . Each tear felt like a blow , shattering the wall I had built around my heart . I immediately took her from him , my voice soft as I soothed her . " I'm not asking you to come back to the house , " Elias said , his voice heavy . " I want to enroll Pearl in your lab's research program . You study autism . There couldn't be a more suitable test subject . You've known her since she was small . No one knows her better than you . It would be beneficial for your dissertation as well . " I looked up at him , stunned . I couldn't believe he would go this far . " Do you know what it means to be a test subject ? " He nodded grimly . " I do . But I also trust you . I know you would never do anything to harm her .