"Elliot, I'm sorry. I know that you have half a month off, and we were only here for less than five days, but I really miss our children." Avery hugged him and apologized in a hoarse voice."It's fine. I miss the children too." Elliot patted her back and consoled her, "Once the children are older, we can take them along.""Hmm." Avery sighed as relief filled her heart.Three days later, they returned to Aryadelle. Elliot's injuries have more or less healed, but the wounds on the face were still obvious.His wedding leave was not over yet, so he decided to stay home until it was done."Are you heading out?" He saw Avery holding her bag walking to the entrance and putting on shoes."Yes, I bought something for Tammy, I'm going to give it to her now." Avery smiled. "I'll be back for dinner, but if I'm not back at night, don't wait up."Elliot furrowed his brows. "Didn't you say you miss the children? You're going to see your best friend once we touch down. It doesn't look like you
Avery picked up her cup of water and took a sip."You're the reputable Mrs. Foster right now and I'm just a lowly young master of the Fosters," Cole said self-deprecatingly, "Why are you beating around the bush with me?""I need to see Adrian. I have something to ask of him.""What is it? Although he is not that stupid, he still can't care for himself. Even if I agree to you seeing him, my father will not allow it. You are Elliot's wife. My father and Elliot don't see eye-to-eye.""What eye-to-eye? You just want Elliot's company and shares, and he wouldn't give them to you, right?" laughed Avery. "You and your father are just greedy, asking for too much. I'm sure even until now, you two don't see how over the line you are.""Avery, if this is your attitude, I'm afraid there is no point for us to continue talking." Cole smiled and said coldly, "Do you really think of yourself as the high and mighty Mrs. Foster? This is a matter between Elliot and the Fosters. It has nothing to do w
"Why don't you get someone to kidnap Adrian!" said Tammy, proposing her idea. "If you were to talk to Henry and Cole, they would surely not let go of the opportunity to extort you for money. You would rather send the bodyguard over to take Adrian!"Avery was stunned by Tammy's idea."Tammy, we are in a lawful society. Even if Henry doesn't have the money, they still have connections. Furthermore, if I were to get the bodyguard to take Adrian, Elliot would hear about this. His injuries from a week ago have not completely healed. I don't want him to be threatened by Henry because of Shea.""Okay. Then, they will surely ask you for money," Tammy warned her, "Also, the amount that they will be asking will surely be a huge one. I'm not sure you can satisfy them.""We'll talk more once I see Henry! If I can't make a deal with them, I'll find another way. Although the direct relative's match for a suitable kidney would be much higher, a stranger's kidney would have a certain chance too."
Avery shook her head without thinking twice. "I just can't stay any longer in Roburg.""Why?" Elliot asked."That day, you told me you saw Wesley. After that, every time I close my eyes, I would dream about Wesley and Shea."At that, she said bitterly, "The honeymoon should be a happy one, but every time I wake up from my dreams, I feel extremely sad."Elliot hugged her in his arms and consoled her gently, "You should have told me about it.""Telling you about it would only make you feel sad," Avery said hoarsely, "Elliot, come with me to Bridgedale to see Hayden after this! I'm a bit tired these few days.""Okay," Elliot agreed. "Call Hayden later and explain it to him.""Hmm."She had taken out the things she had bought on her shopping trip with Tammy. There were clothes for her children and some snacks.Layla glanced at the new clothes. She pulled Avery along and said excitedly, "Mommy! I have a surprise for you!"Avery quickly collected her emotions. "What is it?"Layl
"Hayden, I want to apologize to you." Avery looked at Hayden's groggy appearance and said, "I have to return to Aryadelle because of some issues.""Oh, what happened?" Hayden rubbed his eyes. There was a time difference between Bridgedale and Aryadelle. It was six in the morning at Bridgedale at that moment."Nothing too huge, don't worry. Once I'm ready, I'll head to Bridgedale to see you. Before I go over, I'll let you know," Avery said."Hmm.""Do you want to see Robert and Layla?" Avery said and panned the camera at Robert and Layla eating the banana.Layla immediately aimed the remaining banana she had in her hand at the camera, "Hayden, a banana for you!"Hayden replied, "How childish.""Hayden, Robert knows how to talk! He knows how to say Daddy, Mommy, and Layla, but he doesn't know how to say your name yet!" Layla deliberately tried to provoke him. "Will you be jealous?""Lame.""Hayden, do you miss me! If you say that you miss me, I'll head to Bridgedale to see you w
"You two seem to be really afraid of me, aren't you?" she teased as she picked up the menu to order."This is your territory, after all," Cole said, "What do you want? Just spill already! Elliot is at your place right now, right?"Cole feared Avery, but the one he feared above all was Elliot.Avery ordered a donut and a glass of milk, before turning her attention back to them— more precisely, to Henry."Henry, Adrian is your biological brother, but do you remember that you have another sister?" she asked calmly.If it was possible, she wished to resolve the issue peacefully. After all, not only was Shea important to Elliot and Avery, but she was also Henry's biological sister.Henry remained thoughtful for a few moments and said, "You are talking about Shea, right? Of course, I haven't forgotten about her, but she wasn't that close to me. Why are you bringing her up? Didn't she die trying to save your son? Mentioning her would only deepen my resentment towards you and Elliot.""What go
"It's no wonder you were looking for Adrian yesterday! So you are trying to get him to donate his kidney, after all!" Cole realized Avery's plan and said, "You asked me and my dad to give our kidneys on purpose so that we would panic, and only after you see us panicking would you mention Adrian… I have to say, Avery, you sure are smart!""Cole, don't try to undermine me with your crooked view of the world. Under normal circumstances, you are the one who's supposed to take the initiative and donate your kidney, but I know that you are too much of a coward to do so.""Speak properly! Why are you calling me a coward? Shea is my aunt, but what exactly has she done for me all these years? She hasn't even spoken to me once, and now you are asking me to donate my kidney to her? I would have to be crazy to do that!" Cole shouted furiously.Henry tapped him on the arm, signaling him to calm down."Avery, Shea is my sister and I wish for nothing but her speedy recovery, but I am too old to give
She stepped out of the dining room, and Mrs. Cooper followed her closely."Hey, where is Robert?"Mrs. Cooper noticed that Robert was missing from the living room and instantly started panicking."Don't panic. He hasn't learned to walk yet, so he's definitely in this house," said Avery reassuringly as she strode outside.Although Robert could not walk, he was great at crawling. "Could he have crawled outside?" thought Avery. The door to the yard was shut so the little one could not get out.When Avery walked out of the mansion to search the yard, Mrs. Cooper called out, "Avery! Robert is in the master bedroom!"Avery sighed a breath of relief and hurried back inside.Robert had a lot of strollers that helped him learn to walk, and he had pushed his little stroller past the open door of the master bedroom. When Elliot saw his son coming in, he immediately picked him up and played with him."Look at you, all covered in sweat. You've overestimated your son." Elliot wiped the sweat off A
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