He wanted to vent his anger, but he was not sure how he was going to go about doing that. "What have I done? I should have never let her move in here! Now it's difficult to send her away!" he thought.Back in Starry River Villa, Avery was struggling to fall asleep.After Elliot had fallen asleep, she unlocked her phone and sent a message to Wesley enquiring about Shea. [She probably wouldn't last that long. She's made it long enough, though. I've traveled to many countries in the past year, looking for a compatible kidney, but I've yet to come across one.]Tears welled up in Avery's eyes as she stared at Wesley's message.The two had struggled in silence for a long time, and they still had nothing to show for it. "Even if they continued looking, would the gods show them mercy?" thought Avery. Avery instinctively knew that Adrian's kidney had a high possibility of being compatible with Shea's body because they were twins that shared the same blood, so this was Shea's last hope.Henr
Avery finished her breakfast and stepped out of the restaurant, only to run directly into Elliot.He was wearing the light gray casual wear she bought for him and a black face mask, showing only his eagle-like eyes.He was alone, so there was no doubt that he had come looking for her. At that very moment, she was overwhelmed by emotions. She felt both touched and scared at the same time.Henry and Cole were standing right behind Avery, and as they followed the direction of her gaze, they saw Elliot.Though Elliot was not in official attire and was wearing a mask, they still recognized him right away.Cole reacted swiftly and dragged his father along as he ran towards the car.Avery strode towards Elliot, but he continued to stare at Cole and Henry coldly.'Why are they here? Why was Avery meeting with them? What did they talk about?' He could barely remain calm and started walking towards Henry before Avery could reach him."Elliot!" Avery hurried over to stop him. "Don't be re
"What do you think is better for me not to know? I want to know whatever you know." He took her hand and tightened his grip."I told you already, I didn't mean to hide anything from you. You weren't even awake when I headed out!" She forced a smile and continued, "I couldn't just wake you up, now could I?""Yeah."In the car, Henry went through the financial report of Tate Industries from the year before. After that, Henry said in disgust, "Avery's company is profiting, but it's far from Sterling Group.""But we aren't getting the entire Sterling Group either, Dad! I think Tate Industries isn't bad. The others say that this company is the number one in the drone industry. I think that we can consider it." Cole was pleased at the thought of the reward awaiting them.Henry snorted. "Are you sure that you can manage a technological firm like that? This type of company relies completely on its core technology. If the following development can't catch up, your competitors could easily
All the reluctance she had about moving had instantly faded at his words."You are right. If you are close to another woman, I probably won't let you off easy." She said, "Being a perfect husband is your only option.""When have you seen me being close to another woman? Let me think... Tammy? Or our daughter?""You seem to have a lot of free time on your hands. Come pack with me!" She dragged him towards the bedroom."Wait, let me bring Robert over, otherwise he would feel lonely in the living room. We can't neglect his feelings simply because he is young; we need to be more caring precisely because he is young.""Take him with you to work from now on then!" Avery said sarcastically, "Or quit your job to take care of the kids at home. I can give you an allowance every month."Elliot brought Robert to the bedroom from the living room and said, "Aren't you worried that I might spoil them? I'm against staying home to take care of the kids, so long as you stay out of how I educate th
Once they were in the room, Mrs. Schaffer grabbed Ben's hand with both of her hands and deadpanned, "Ben, this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance! How amazing it is that she's Elliot's sister! If you marry her, you would become even closer to Elliot."Ben felt as though he had been struck by lightning. "Mom! Have you gone mad? Me and her... I... I feel nothing but contempt for her!""Why would you look down on a young lady like that? She's just twenty years old, what an amazing age!""She's only graduated from high school and has not gone to college. She's uneducated!" Ben graduated from an Ivy league college, and could not stand to have a wife who was undereducated, so Lilith failed on the very first requirement he had for a partner."So what if she hasn't gone to college? Didn't you mention that she is Elliot's sister? What kind of sister? Cousin?" Mrs. Schaffer's heart sank slightly at Lilith's education level."She's his sister of a different mother!" Ben said."Oh my! That means
By the time she woke up, in deep sorrow, it was already dusk and the sky looked like it was on fire.She picked up her phone and took a look at the time, only to realize that it was already half-past five in the evening and Elliot was no longer in the room.She took a deep breath and sent a message to Cole.'Have you taken Adrian for the tests?'The door to the bedroom was pushed open once she sent the message and Layla's face appeared before her."Mom, are you awake? Why have you been asleep for so long?" Layla immediately went into the room when she saw that her mother was awake. "I am here to tell you that dinner is ready."Avery set her phone down and lifted the blanket to get out of bed and put on her shoes. "Layla, how are you getting used to Daddy's house? We still have a lot of our things back home, so if you are having a hard time getting used to this place, we can move back anytime you want.""It's a bit hard to get used to it! Dad's house is so big, like a maze." Layl
"I am telling Layla's teacher that you will be going to the parents' meeting tomorrow. I left the information about the father empty when I filled in the background form, so I'm worried that her teacher might not know who Layla's father is."Elliot felt as though he had been stabbed in the heart. "News of us getting married had gone onto the headlines a few days ago, do you really think that the teacher would not know?""Us getting married is one thing. How would the teacher know who Layla's father is? Us marrying doesn't mean that my kids are yours!" She continued to tease him."Fine, carry on and explain to the teacher then," Elliot said bitterly. He knew that the teacher knew about his relationship with Layla because he had informed the principal of the school when school first started; he was simply slightly hurt at Avery's behavior.Did she plan on giving birth to another man's child?After dinner, Elliot proposed that they all go shopping."Is the sun going to rise from the
She checked the message over and over again to make sure that she hadn't read it wrong, before finally sighing a breath of relief at the realization that there was a way for Shea to survive.She immediately sent Cole a message. 'Adrian's kidney is a match for Shea. Let's meet again tomorrow and discuss the details about transferring the ownership of my company.''Avery, after discussing with my dad, we decided to stand our ground on our initial request.'Avery was stunned for a moment when she saw his reply and thought, 'Initial request? Their initial request was one-third of Elliot's company shares!'Her blood ran cold and her body began to shiver.They refused to accept her company and insisted on obtaining Elliot's shares.'How hateful!' She thought as she stepped outside.Mrs. Cooper spotted her on her way out and asked, "Avery, where are you going this late at night?""I am just heading out for a phone call," Avery concealed any trace of emotion from her face and explained
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