A voice in his head screamed, "You are not Eason Foster's son! You are not the chosen one! You are not a high-born boy... That creep Nathan White is your real father! There's evil blood flowing in your veins; that's why you are cruel, cold, and vicious! It won't end well for you! Even if you change now, you are still going to have to pay for your father's sins! He will drag you down to hell, and you will stay alongside him for all eternity!"His stomach twisted and turned with nausea, and he raced toward the garage. He vomited the breakfast he had just consumed. Luckily, the garage was located on the right side of the mansion and no one saw him lose his composure.He stared blankly at his vomit, and tears welled up in his eyes when he realized that his background was as filthy as the vomit on the ground.It was not that he could not accept that he was not a son of the Foster family; he simply could not accept the fact that Nathan was his father. Furthermore, he had suffered too
"All those years ago, I was the one who carried you through the doors of the Fosters' mansion. Without me, you wouldn't have such a glorious life!" Nathan said arrogantly, as though he was the one who had given Elliot everything he owned.Elliot glared at him coldly and asked with an even colder tone, "Why didn't you send your eldest son instead?"An evil smile appeared on Nathan's face. "Your brother is older and wasn't an appropriate candidate! Besides, the lady took a liking to you right away. She said that not only do you look handsome, but you look witty and smart as well. She had good eyes! Indeed, you've turned out much better than your brother!"Elliot immediately imagined the scene where he had been picked out like a commodity. Though disgusted, he realized that if he had not been sent to the Foster family, and did not have access to the lavish lifestyle and well-established education, he would have ended up exactly like Peter White."Nathan, give up already. I won't acknowled
In Tate Industries, Avery went straight to Mike's office upon arriving at the company's building.Mike was discussing the details of products with the department manager and immediately walked toward Avery when he spotted her."Why are you here out of the blue? You scared me." Mike entered his office and said, "I thought that you would be at home counting your jewelry!"Avery ignored his teasing and told him the idea she came up with on the way there. "We can use the drones to locate Adrian!"Mike's blue eyes lit up."I talked to Adrian on the phone just now. He is being imprisoned right now and can't get out, but he can talk on the phone," Avery blurted out in excitement. "I told him to place a red object by the window, and if I send the Seeker Series drones to search—""That's one way, but it wastes too much time and effort," thought Mike as he crossed his arms. "Why don't you just get the address from his family?" said Mike, offering his own suggestion. "I wouldn't have come up wit
At noon, Avery had finished work and drove to meet up with Tammy.It was the second time Tammy had an appointment for a therapy session and she appeared to be much more relaxed compared to the last time."Maybe it's because Chelsea is dead now that I don't feel as much resentment within me," Tammy said casually as she sipped on her coffee, "My psychiatrist told me not to feel inferior because guilt is something that the person who committed wrong should feel.""Of course. Did you mention that you want a manicure? Let's go to a nail salon later! I want to get my nails painted." Avery switched to a more casual topic.Tammy scanned her up and down and asked, "Since when have you started caring so much about your appearance? You are even wearing a necklace today. I dare say you are not wearing it for me, right? Do you have a date with Elliot later?"Avery couldn't help her smile. "He's so busy that he barely has the time to eat these days. How could he possibly make time for a date? I
Elliot was not like the other Fosters, because he wasn't a Foster.She couldn't tell Tammy that; because Elliot couldn't accept it, so she intended to keep this secret for him."What amazed me most is that Hayden is so smart that he is known as a genius in this country!" Tammy suddenly raised her voice, "Though Layla is rather ordinary when it comes to IQ, she is a genius in art as well! Also... Robert might not be able to walk yet, but I heard that he's learnt to bark like a dog. That kid is going to be accomplished in the future!""..."Avery was quite proud when Tammy was complementing Hayden and Layla, but why did it sound so different when she was talking about Robert? When did learning to bark like a dog mean that someone was going to be accomplished?After lunch, the two went to a nail salon."Elliot has a lot of single friends so it's easy for him to pick the best man." Avery scowled. "Most of my good friends are married.""Choose amongst your relatives then!""I might
"Nathan White, let's meet!" Avery had to meet with him to find out his true intention for coming to Aryadelle, or he would soon become a ticking time-bomb."Sure, but you are not to tell Elliot that we are meeting!" Nathan chuckled evilly, "Or he is the one who's going to suffer!""You said that you didn't know Elliot!" Avery shouted, "I asked you if you knew him before and you said you didn't know him!""I wasn't lying. I didn't know him before, and I've come to know him since I came to Aryadelle." Nathan's voice was both devious and casual. "Why are you getting so worked up? Is it weird that I know Elliot? Or is it that you think of him as some kind of high mighty god that ordinary people like us aren't meant to come into contact with? Hahaha!"Avery suppressed the disgust she felt towards the man and said, "Let's just talk when we meet! Where are you right now? I'll go find you!""There's no need! Give me an address and I will go find you."Avery cursed inwardly and thought, '
By the time Mrs. Cooper arrived upstairs, she spotted Layla struggling to drag an enormous box out of the room."Layla, what are you doing?" She hurried over and squatted down to Layla's eye level.Layla's eyes reddened and tears started rolling down her face as soon as she started talking. "Hayden is angry. He shouted at me!""Don't cry, don't cry! Hayden will calm down soon, so stop crying now or your eyes will start hurting." Mrs. Cooper frantically wiped away Layla's tears and asked, "Why are you moving this box outside?""Hayden doesn't like it..." Layla murmured sadly and cried even harder.Hayden felt even more irritated when he heard Layla crying. Following a 'baam!', Hayden slammed the door shut and locked it from the inside.Mrs. Cooper was alarmed by the locked door. Though Hayden was a quiet boy who wasn't good at communicating with others, he had always been very understanding and had never acted out like this before.She lowered her gaze at the box and immediately
Nathan's eyes glammed, he was both surprised and pleased that Avery cut to the chase."I told Elliot to give me 15 million...""15 million?" Desperate to end the torture, she interrupted him and said, "I'll pay you!"Nathan burst out laughing. "You are so short-tempered! Do you hate me this much? If the two of you act like you hate me, it's hard for me to leave."Avery flushed and threatened, "Stay and see if Elliot would kill you!"She knew that when facing shameless men like Nathan, the only way to control them was to be more vicious than they were; besides, it was not entirely a threat. If he overstepped the boundaries, there was a high chance that Elliot would kill him.The smile faded from Nathan's face.It was bad enough to be threatened by Elliot, but to be threatened by his soon-to-be daughter-in-law was humiliating."Tell him to come kill me then! If he kills me, my eldest son will make sure that everyone in this country knows what a barbaric beast Elliot Foster is!" N
Three years later…Ivy and Robert stood at the airport in Aryadelle, anxiously waiting."It's been three years! Your boyfriend is finally here to see you!" Robert exclaimed before shifting the conversation. "He's not here to break up with you, is he? After all, you haven't seen each other in three years. A lot can change."Ivy sighed, "Robert, can you not jinx it? Although we haven't met in three years, we talk on the phone and video call every day!"Robert quipped, "Digital romance.""Anyway, he promised me that he's going to settle down in Aryadelle this time, and we won't be apart again," Ivy said. Robert smirked. "He's got a strong sense of pride. When he meets Dad later, they might not hit it off, and he'll buy a ticket to leave tonight!"Feeling helpless, Ivy was at a loss for words. Just then, a familiar voice called out, "Ivy!"Ivy immediately looked over to the source of the voice and saw Lucas stepping out of the exit, dragging his suitcase behind him. A smile sp
Mr. Woods did not expect Hayden to be so direct, and he found himself momentarily caught off guard. He had come to ask Hayden for money, but he had not thought about exactly how much he wanted. After all, Hayden's family was extremely wealthy, and he did not want to ask for too little and feel shortchanged, nor did he want to risk asking for too much and having Hayden refuse. It was a tough decision. After a brief internal struggle, Mr. Woods turned to Hayden and said, "I know your family is one of the wealthiest in Aryadelle, so why don't you name the price? I trust you won't mistreat my son and our family." Hayden furrowed his brows slightly. Shelly, noticing his hesitation, quickly chimed in, "Uncle, why don't you make an offer? We're not very familiar with this process. If you insist on us naming a price, we might need to consult my father-in-law." "Elliot Foster, you mean?" Mr. Woods asked. Shelly nodded. "Yes. My father-in-law isn't as easygoing as my husband. After a
"All right. Let's find a place nearby to sit and talk." Mr. Woods breathed a sigh of relief. "Good! Our house is actually nearby. Would you like to visit? Ivy has been with us for many years, and our staff has a close relationship with her." Hayden glanced at Shelly and asked, "Should we go?" "Sure!" Shelly said. Mr. Woods immediately invited Hayden and Shelly into his car and drove them to the Woods' mansion. Upon arriving, Mr. Woods instructed the servants to serve tea and refreshments. He pointed to the butler and said to Hayden, "This is our butler. He hired Ivy's grandmother." Hayden nodded. Mr. Woods then introduced Hayden: "This is Irene's older brother, the renowned businessman Mr. Hayden Tate." "Hello, Mr. Tate. Irene was a wonderful young lady," the butler said. "We all liked her very much. When we heard of her passing, we were truly saddened. Fortunately, she didn't actually pass away! Ivy is a very sensible and resilient girl, one of the strongest I've eve
Ivy's eyes were red as she said, "Hayden, Lucas' mother has passed away, so I won't be able to spend time with you for a few days." "It's okay. Given what has happened, we're not in the mood for fun either. After we attend his mother's funeral, Shelly and I will return," Hayden said. Ivy nodded. "How are funerals handled here?" Hayden asked. Given Lucas' relationship with Ivy, his younger sister, he felt a sense of duty to help Lucas with the funeral arrangements. "It's similar to how it's done back at home. Wealthy people can have elaborate funerals, and those with less money can opt for simpler ceremonies. Those who can't afford much at all can forgo the ceremony and opt for a simple burial," Ivy said. "What if someone wants a more elaborate funeral?" "Hayden, do you want to help with his mother's funeral? He doesn't have any close relatives here, so there's no need for an elaborate ceremony," she explained. "I see. Go and talk to him about it. I'll help with whatever I
Lucas hung up, tears welling in his eyes. Ivy stood by his side and asked, "What's wrong, Lucas?" "My mom has passed away. You should keep your brother company! I need to head back to the hospital." "I will come along! Aunty seemed fine just now, so why did she suddenly pass away?" The two hurried toward the car, completely forgetting about Hayden and Shelly. Hayden and Shelly watched as they left awkwardly, and Shelly said, "Honey, let's go to the hospital. I think Lucas' mother has passed away." "Sure." The two caught a taxi and hurried after Lucas. Meanwhile, in the hospital, Lucas arrived to first encounter the doctor and then his father. Mr. Woods tried ingratiating himself with his son, saying, "Lucas, I came to the hospital to see your mother, but when I arrived, she had already passed away. What a shame!" "Are you sure she had already passed away before you came? I was here earlier today, and when I saw her, she was still alive!" Lucas said. Mr. Woods reto
Mr. Woods sneered, "What do you mean? Are you looking down on me? Although the Woods family has fallen on hard times, we're still a prominent family in Taronia! Lucas may be foolish, but are you any wiser? If it weren't for me backing Lucas, would the Fosters even look at him?" "Shut up! The Foster family isn't narrow-minded like you! Ivy's family doesn't dislike Lucas, so don't go causing trouble! They don't want to see you at all!" Lucas' mother retorted. Mr. Woods scoffed. "Is that so? Do you really think they don't look down on him? Why wouldn't they? Are they planning to make Lucas marry into their family instead of the other way round?" "It's none of your business! You never cared about Lucas, and now that he's independent, he doesn't need you anymore! You wouldn't have come to me repeatedly if Ivy wasn't Elliot Foster's daughter and if she wasn't interested in Lucas. Do you really think I have no idea what you are plotting?" Mr. Woods countered, "What nonsense are you ta
Ivy did not hesitate, immediately shaking her head. "I'm not leaving. Don't worry about me; just focus on yourself." "Staying here is just a waste of time." "I've been studying and interning so hard for so long. What's wrong with taking a break now?" Ivy argued. Before long, Hayden and Shelly had finished their shopping, and Ivy and Lucas immediately joined them to go to the hospital. Lucas' mother had no idea that Ivy's brother and sister-in-law were coming to visit her, so she appeared a bit uncomfortable when they arrived. She tried to sit up, but her body failed her. Ivy raised the head of the hospital bed. "Aunty, my big brother and sister-in-law came over to Taronia for a visit. They wanted to see Lucas and you." "Oh, this is really embarrassing. It's a blessing for my son to know Ivy..." Lucas' mother muttered sheepishly. Shelly reassured, "Aunty, don't say that. Lucas is outstanding. Otherwise, Ivy wouldn't have fallen for him." Lucas' mother continued, "I've
Throughout the meal, Ivy found it hard to enjoy her food. Lucas and Hayden discussed everything that mattered, and the conversation went smoother than anyone had anticipated. Hayden was not upset, nor was Lucas. It was a better scenario than what Ivy had hoped for, but she still felt depressed. "Lucas, my husband and I would like to pay your mother a visit. Would that be okay?" Shelly asked after finishing her food. "Sure," Lucas said. "Don't we need to ask your mom first?" Ivy asked. "It's fine. We can just head over right away and introduce them once we arrive." Lucas' mother grew weaker every day and had stopped using her phone altogether, so it was her nurse, whom Lucas had hired, who reported his mother's condition to him daily. "You restarted your business and have to take care of your mother simultaneously; you're really strong. Most people would crumble under the pressure," Shelly commented. "Ivy had a tougher life before. She didn't crumble, so I won't eith
After what Ivy said, Lucas added, "I want to focus on my career for now. Marriage is secondary until I become more successful." Hayden sneered. "Running a business isn't as simple as it seems. What if you fail or never achieve anything out of the ordinary?" "If that happens, I won't drag Ivy down," Lucas said. "At least you know your place." Ivy felt as though her cheeks were on fire. "Hayden, even if Lucas fails, I won't give up on him. I won't let him go just because of his financial state." Shelly grabbed Hayden's hand again, signaling to him to control his temper; he could be rude to others, but he could not be so demanding with Ivy. Ivy sensed that she was slightly out of line, and her tone eased. "Hayden, we shouldn’t judge people based on their wealth. Our family is rich enough, and there really aren't that many people out there who can compare to our financial state, so why does it matter how wealthy my partner is?" "Ivy is right. Love matters most. Even if we man