"It's only six o'clock in the morning where your mother is. You can call her in another hour," Mrs. Cooper said reassuringly. "Your mother is out on a job and she'll come back once she finishes it.""What's going to happen with Robert and if mommy doesn't come back?" Layla felt frustrated all of a sudden.Robert immediately burst into tears.Mrs. Cooper picked Robert up and tried to check why he was crying.A car pulled up outside the courtyard.Layla saw it and went outside immediately.Mike got out of the car and came up to them."Uncle Mike!" Layla cried and ran over!Mike frowned, walked up to Layla, and picked her up. "Don't cry, Layla! What's the matter?""I miss Mommy and Daddy." She reached up to rub her eyes."Isn't your dad at home?" Mike remembered seeing Elliot when he came over the previous night.However, the two men did not speak much because Mike did not say anything to him."He's gone, and we can't reach his phone either." Layla pouted. "Mrs. Cooper said my
"In that case, just be frank with him!" said Mike raising his voice. "Tell him that Shea is still alive, let him worry and suffer! It's better than letting him hate you!""I can't get through to him. I haven't been able to get through to him since last night. I've been calling him until now. He probably won't use this number again." She spoke in a hoarse and nasal voice without trying to hide her helplessness and grief. "Mike, I feel like my heart is dead.""Like hell it is! Even if he is your life, you still have three children!" Mike snapped. "When is Shea's surgery? Is it scheduled yet?""Tomorrow, if all goes well." She took a deep breath and said, "I talked to Shea last night. She's just as innocent and kind as she always was. She misses Elliot dearly, and I promised her I'd bring her to meet him if her operation is successful. But I can't contact Elliot anymore...""You might not be able to contact him, but perhaps someone else can. In the meantime, take a deep breath and cal
"Yes. Telling him the truth is better than allowing Avery to bear the burden by herself.""Why the hell didn't you tell me earlier!" Chad smashed the glass onto the ground and roared, "You knew all along, didn't you? Why didn't you tell me earlier? You son of a—!"Mike's face turned red after he was yelled at. "Avery has her reasons, and I'll always follow them—""Get out!" Chad was extremely angry and clenched his fists tightly.Did none of them feel that it was too late to be telling the truth?"Why are you blowing up at me? You can contact Elliot, right? If you can't get through to his phone, you can always send him an email... He couldn't have just stopped using all his social accounts." Mike tried to calm Chad down without sounding angry or annoyed."What is he supposed to do if we tell him about Shea?! He's already transferred the shares! You and Avery are both idiots!" Chad could bear it any longer and swung his fist at Mike's face!"Jeez, why did you hit me for that?! Yo
When Avery came to the hospital in the morning, Wesley saw that her eyes were swollen and chatted with her for a moment.Adrian could clearly hear their conversation.Avery immediately shook her head. "No. I broke up with Elliot because I didn't tell him that I found Shea. He didn't know why I brought you here, so he got angry.""Then how can I make him not angry?" Adrian asked.His question was simple and direct, but it was enough to move Avery.She had no answer to the question of what should be done to make Elliot not angry."Adrian, you must not transfer the shares he gave you to Henry and Cole." She sat beside the hospital bed and said to him, "The shares are worth a lot of money, and those two men won't treat you any better even if you gave it to them. They might even use the money to do bad things."Adrian nodded after listening to her words. "Then will it be okay if I transfer it to you?"Avery shook her head. "We'll talk about it after the operation. I can only hope th
"She neither remembered her male partner, nor the four little monkeys she gave birth to, least of all the female monkey. After the treatment, she made new friends, got along well with other monkeys, and even gained a lot of weight."Gary's eyes were glowing, "We plan to promote this kind of treatment to the masses. Of course, the cost will be very high, and it's only for the rich. After all, this technology was developed by our team after a lot of research.""Why are you telling me this?" Elliot raised an eyebrow at him. "Are you trying to insult me by comparing me to monkeys?"Gary smiled and shook his head. "Look at you. How could you suspect me of having such intentions? I brought you here to tell you about this new accomplishment of mine!""I don't think your new achievement is going to make a lot of money," said Elliot, offering his opinion. "The rich cherish their lives tremendously. Who would want to gamble with their memories? Don't you think it'd be ridiculous if the treat
The floodgates opened, and tears streamed down Avery's face as she looked at her son's stern and serious face. Wesley immediately pulled Hayden aside."That's no way to be speaking to your mother, Hayden," Wesley whispered, "Don't you want Shea to survive?""Of course I do, but that has nothing to do with Elliot! I hate him, but I don't want to see him reduced to this!" Hayden's eyes were slightly red. "My goal is to defeat him. How am I supposed to achieve that now that he's lost everything!"Wesley hugged Hayden after understanding what the boy's thoughts were."I understand how you feel, but don't blame your mother for this. She's been feeling sadder than anyone else these past couple of days," Wesley said hoarsely. "She never forced your father into giving up everything. She'll never do something like that. Your dad made this decision because he felt provoked. There's a whole lot of stuff that is beyond our control. You're still young, so you may not understand that."Avery
"I don't know. I'll ask Chad later, and I'll let you know once I get the lawyer's contact information." Mike calmed her down immediately. "Don't get so emotional in front of the children.""Why didn't you say that earlier?" Avery sniffled and said bitterly, "I can't keep calm and think about others like I used to."She had lost herself when Elliot left, and the most unforgettable pain she had ever experienced was when she had lost him."Do you regret it?" Mike asked. "If you'd told him the truth earlier, maybe—""If I told him the truth earlier, things would go another way," Avery said. "But what if it ended up getting even worse? Finding him is better than just sitting here regretting everything.""You haven't slept for a few days now, right? Just look at how exhausted you look. If this goes on, Elliot might not recognize you even if you do manage to find him," Mike teased."Why wouldn't he? Even if he doesn't remember my face, he'll still remember my voice?" she said stubbornly
The call did not take long to connect.Avery asked in horror, "Are you sure you're not playing a prank on me, Lilith?""This isn't something to joke about." Lilith sounded downcast over the phone. "Should I get an abortion?""All you did was do a home test, right? Have you been to the hospital for an examination?""No." Lilith took a deep breath and said in a voice filled with agitation, "I went to the pharmacy to buy some flu meds today and decided to buy a box of early pregnancy test strips. The result was two bars. Didn't expect to hit the jackpot right away!""Who's the father?" Avery was a little unhappy when she heard the way Lilith downplayed everything."How could Lilith treat herself with such little care?" thought Avery. "I don't want to bring it up," Lilith said firmly."Lilith, you probably saw the news about Elliot, right?" Avery said earnestly. "He's no longer in Aryadelle, and he might not care about you in the future. He might no longer support you as well. Tha
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