Avery sat in the lobby. Her eyes were in a daze. She was shuddering. She seemed to be in despair. She did not know what to do.She did not want to tell Elliot because if she told him, he would really kill Henry and Cole. She did not want him to become a murderer! However, if she did not tell Elliot about it, she would have to see Adrian and Shea die.No matter what she thought, she only came to one solution. She sat in the hospital for a while before dialing Cole."Have you thought it through?" Cole answered her call, waiting for her reply."Let's meet and talk!" Avery came out of the hospital. "I'll send you the location. Come as soon as possible.""Are you setting me up? Avery, let me tell you, Adrian is in our hands. If you're up to any tricks, Adrian will surely die!" Cole said nervously."I know," Avery said and hung up.40 minutes later, they met in a private room of a restaurant near the hospital.Cole carefully scanned the room."We're only meeting up, why do you hav
Cole's eyes were reddened and bloodshot."Dad! Don't give her Adrian! I would rather die than give in to them!" Cole yelled.Henry choked up, "Cole, where are you? I'll come to rescue you…""No! Don't come! Just look after Adrian! If they don't give us money, we won't give them Adrian!" Because Cole was moving about so much, the dagger pierced into his neck.Blood oozed out of his wound.Avery looked at the blood oozing out of him. She relaxed her grip on the dagger quite a bit.Would she really dare to kill Cole? Would she really dare to do so? She asked herself countless times.She lost it once she had the answer in her heart. She might say harsh words, but she did not dare to kill a person!As a doctor, she knew which part would easily kill Cole, but she did not have the courage to do so! "Avery, if you dare to do it, kill me! If you really kill me, you and Elliot the devil are a true match! Hahaha!" Cole laughed maniacally.Avery's hand with the dagger trembled nonstop.
Avery's vision turned blurry. Her heart constricted tightly. She pursed her lips and persisted through the sadness."Avery, why are you not saying anything?" Wesley heard her heavy breathing. He immediately said, "If you can't, it's fine. Shea still doesn't know that you found me. She also doesn't know that she isn't Elliot's sister, nor that Adrian is her brother. I don't want her to know all these.""Wesley, I want to save Shea, I really do, but Adrian has been taken away." Avery wiped away her tears. She said in a hoarse voice, "I'll try to find a way.""Did they take Adrian away because they wanted to ask you for money?" Wesley could immediately pinpoint the problem astutely. "How much are they asking for?"If Wesley could get this amount of money, he would offer to pay."They don't want my money. Even if I gave them all my belongings, they don't want it either," Avery choked up and said, "They want Elliot's money." When Wesley heard what she said, he immediately said, "Then
Cole slapped Avery hard. If she did not cover the bruise on her face, she did not dare to return home, because if Elliot saw that she was bullied, he would surely get to the bottom of it and avenge her.At that moment, Adrian was still with Henry and Cole. She could not worsen the conflict between them.After dinner, Elliot brought the children to the courtyard to play.Mike and Avery were slowly walking behind them."Have you thought about what I said to you during the day?" Mike asked softly, "I have already contacted a professional assassin. I have been to Henry and Cole's house the last time. All I need is a nod, and this issue will be solved tonight."Avery was stunned. She asked, "I don't know where Adrian is being hidden. If you kill Henry and Cole, how are you going to look for Adrian?"Mike had not thought about this question, but he did not find this to be a huge problem. "When we kill Henry and Cole, we'll get Elliot to use his powers and send men and sweep the city. I
However, Elliot would not lose his temper and question her as he did in the past.Since she was not telling him, there was nothing he could do."Babe, don't be afraid." Avery planned to let Robert's hand go. "Walk over to Layla. Try it and see. You can do it."Robert's face was filled with fear, but he still bravely opened his arms and step forward little by little, fumbling toward Layla.Although his walk was still rather staggering as if he could fall at any moment, he was brave.When he walked to Layla, Layla hugged him tightly."Robert, you're amazing! Walk toward Mommy!" Layla turned him around so that he could walk toward Avery.This time, he was much braver than before.He seemed to know that he would not fall, so he was soon by Avery."Elliot! Did you see it? Our son can walk!" Avery was engrossed in that moment of happiness. "Come walk with Robert. I want to capture this moment."Elliot immediately came over and bent down where she was a moment ago. He got Robert to
The next day, Avery got up early. She covered the bruise on her face with concealer.Elliot's hoarse voice suddenly came from the bed. "Avery, why are you up so early? Did you lose sleep?""I slept early last night, so I woke up earlier today." Avery looked at the time. It was not even seven in the morning yet. "Elliot, sleep a little longer. It's still early."Elliot looked at her made-up face. He said in confusion, "Are you heading out today?""I'm planning to go to work starting today. I can't stay home any longer." Avery smiled. "You were saying that I was thinking nonsense previously. If I were to go to work, I wouldn't be like that anymore.""Even if you're going to work, you don't have to get up so early. Come sleep with me a while longer." Elliot reached his hand out.Avery found it hard to refuse him, so she walked over to the bed and sat down.His deep-set eyes were looking at her face closely."I have never seen you make up for work before." He knew that she did not
The last time Avery felt so terrible was when she stabbed Elliot.She never liked to run away from anything, but at that moment, she was so aggravated that she lost it all. She did not want to listen to Cole's voice. She felt her heart constrict whenever she heard his voice. She was in so much pain she was about to die.On the other end of the line, Cole only heard a crashing sound, followed by nothing else.He looked at the screen, the call was not disconnected. He guessed that Avery smashed her phone in exasperation. He smiled sinisterly.He wondered how long Avery could last. He hung up and said to Henry, "I'm guessing Avery won't last long.""Cole, let's change houses!" Henry furrowed his brows. "I dreamt that Elliot was coming after us last night. I'm afraid that we might get killed even before getting the money.""I have thought about this problem. When we get Avery to give us Elliot's shares, we'll immediately leave the country. Then, let's see if we keep the shares to get
Avery placed her phone down and slumped onto her desk, sobbing.Someone knocked and entered. When they saw her crying on her desk, they were stunned and immediately left the room!The person that knocked on the door was the Head of the R&D Department. He only wanted to come to talk to Avery about their new product, but when he saw her crying, he instantly panicked. He felt awkward too. He did not know what to do, so he could only pretend that he did not see her.He took his phone out and called Mike. He explained the situation to Mike and got him to go check up on Avery later.If he were to go to her office to check up on her at that moment, she would surely be in a terrible state.Half an hour later, Mike could no longer take it, so he pushed and entered her office.Avery was no longer crying. She was looking at her computer screen in focus. If he did not go closer to her, he would not be able to see what was wrong with her.Once he was close, he could see her reddened and puff
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