They left the room and Avery pulled Elliot out of the room as well.
Layla watched as the door shut and finally, she was alone with Eric.
She took a deep breath and looked at Eric. "Look at the jacket I'm wearing. It's the one you bought. You can have it back when you
are discharged."
Eric studied the jacket she wore blankly, feeling a little tired.
If there was no one else in the room, he would close his eyes to rest as listening to his parents had drained him.
Despite that, he kept his eyes on Layla.
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"I've talked to my parents and your parents. Once you are discharged, we will get married." Layla knew that he was weak and did
not intend to drag the conversation on.
Eric's heart sank and felt chills down his spine as though he had been struck by lightning when he heard what she said.
"lI was informing you, not asking for your approval." She studied the stunned look and the frown on his face and knew that he could
not accept his, but she was determined and refused to waver. "Rest well. | wille to see you again."
With that said, she turned swiftly and left the room.
Once Layla was gone, the nurse immediately went back into the room.
"Go back and rest!" Avery said to Eric's parents. "Get ssleep ande back tomorrow."
They nodded. "Thank you, Avery. You might not be the one who operated on him, but we still appreciate how you've stayed with
him in the hospital for so long. We would be hysterical if it weren't for you."
"Without Eric, my daughter wouldn't be standing here," Avery said. "We are going to be one big family soon. You don't have to
thank me."
Eric's parents did not say anything in response.
They knew that Eric was lucky to be with Layla and though it almost cost him his life to gain the Fosters' approval, all issues had
been resolved and he would be able to live the rest of his life in peace.
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One week later, Eric felt more energized and as the the was asleep reduced, he could speak normally.
His parents woulde to his room to spend twith him every day and Layla woulde in every tthey left, but Eric would
always get her to leave by saying that he was tired.
"She is determined to marry you." Avery could tell he felt conflicted and decided to talk to him alone. "Elliot and | and our three
kids are all okay with this. If you two get married, you have our blessings!"
Avery thought that Eric rejected Layla because he thought the relationship was not supported by them.
Eric shook his head. "I'm using someone else's heart and will need to take pills for the rest of my life to fight rejection. No one
knows how long | have left and if there's one thing we can be sure of... it's that it won't be long... | can't marry her. If you all really
love her, you wouldn't let this happen either."
"Eric, I'm sure that you know her well enough to know that once she sets her mind on something, she is doing it no matter what,"
Avery said with resignation.