"He said he is going to teach Christopher a lesson? You told to him that I had been kidnapped?!" Avery gasped. "How could you tell him this? You know that he is short-tempered—""I didn't do it on purpose," the bodyguard immediately apologized. "He told me to tell you not to worry, and that he will look for you once he's done."Avery felt like someone had grabbed her by the throat. She began to hyperventilate. Her breath came in short ragged pants.The bodyguard heard her panting and asked worriedly, "Miss Tate, are you okay?! Is Elliot next to you right now? Are you still in the De Ligh Hotel?"After he shot all the questions at her, he heard the sound of the call being dropped.Elliot held Avery in his arms and hung up the call. "Avery! Get a grip! Hayden will be fine!"Seeing that she was about to pass out, he lifted her up and strode toward the car. Due to what happened, she had not been able to eat or sleep. She had been drained of strength, and her mind crumbled, causing he
She did not want to be so undignified, but reality had hit her hard. She could not face the pain of losing him, and before she knew it, all her pride and confidence had faded."Tell me what can I do to get you to leave." He held her hand with his broad, strong hand and tried to move her hand away, but she gripped onto his shirt and refused to let go."Do you want to get rid of me so badly? The more you want to get rid of me, the less likely I'm going to leave!" She would not let him enjoy his life without her. "I don't think that Gary and Ruby are going to allow you to keep in touch with me!""Don't you want to send Hayden back?" he said.The two of them were both saying only what they wanted to say but seemed to know what the other one was saying by heart at the same time."I will just see him off for his flight!"He stared at the stubborn look in her eyes and was completely defeated."There's nobody else around right now. Why wouldn't you tell me the truth?" She could not unde
Ruby lay in bed and waited from nine to ten, then from ten to twelve o'clock.She had slept through most of the day, so despite it being midnight, the did not feel sleepy. She had picked up her phone a few times, wanting to call Elliot, but refrained from doing so when she remembered what he said before leaving.Her father, her brother, and Elliot were all men; and all men were players by nature. Men could not possibly stay in love with one particular woman for their entire life.Since she was old enough to remember, she had seen her father dating countless women. Even now, he was still dating women. He would spoil his partner rotten every single time, but when he eventually fell out of love, he became cold immediately.Her brother was worse. He had gotten married at a young age, but that did not stop him from keeping countless mistresses throughout the years. He was worse than his father. Ruby's sister-in-law had fought Christopher a few times in the beginning, but she had soo
"I'm going to sleep in the guest bedroom." He took his pillow and started walking away."Elliot, can you please stay?" Ruby begged in a soft voice. "I won't touch you.""I'm just worried that I might bump into your wound." Seeing how lowly her tone was, he said, "We will see once you recover."Ruby was instantly satisfied by his explanation."Elliot, there's something I need to remind you of." She reached out to turn on the nightlight on her side of the bed. "I did some research on Avery today, and I finally understand why you like her. She is really brilliant, but Elliot, this is Ylore. My father doesn't like her, and for her and for your own sake, it's best that you stay away from her. You can go out and find other women if you need to. I won't get mad, but I don't want you to get into a fight with my father over Avery."Ruby finally got a clear look at the hickey on Elliot's neck."I know," he responded coldly."Then why won't you send her away?" she asked. "You managed to get
He sat on his bed in a daze, absolutely clueless.His father had sent him away two years ago to expand their business, and he has not been in touch with anyone here. "I've just come back, and already someone is trying to kill me?"Can it be Elliot?" thought Christopher. Elliot did not have any actual power yet. Gary was keeping a constant eye on his performance, and he would not give Elliot even a single shred of power if he mismanaged something. So, Elliot dared not make a move against Christopher just yet."But, who else could it be?" thought Christopher.The negotiation between the Goulds and Gary’s brothers was around the corner so those two would not do anything at this time either.Christopher tapped his head, troubled. He glanced back at his phone and tried to shut the 'death timer' off, only to realize that the screen was locked. No matter how much he tapped on it, it did not change. He could not shut the timer off, or return to the main menu, or use his phone for anyt
They managed to come across certain information."Mr. Gould, your phone got the virus at three in the morning."Christopher lifted an eyebrow. "I was f*cking sleeping at three in the morning!""Yes! We checked the time, and it was three in the morning, so it has nothing to do with whether you were asleep or awake. One thing we know for sure is that your home network has been hacked, and someone has leaked your personal information. If that information had not been leaked, the hacker would not have been able to hack into your phone.""Who the f*ck leaked my personal information?!""I don't know about that. You will need to go back and check. As for this phone, would you prefer to take it back, or you would like to leave it with us, and we could try removing the virus?" said the technician. "If we don't remove the virus, you won't be able to use your phone.""If that's the case, what's the use in me taking it back?! Who the f*ck played such a nasty prank on me?! Haha! How dare they
Elliot was about to spring up and grab Hayden when a group of men headed by Christopher walked into the restaurant.Elliot spotted Christopher the moment Christopher spotted him.It was the first time they had seen one another since the shootout, and they both still held a grudge against each other.Christopher's eyes gleamed viciously when he saw Elliot, but because of Gary and Ruby, he knew that they still had to give the appearance of calm.Hayden immediately sat back down when he saw Christopher walk in.It was his first time seeing Christopher and he thought to himself, "So this is the assh*le that bullied Mom! If it weren't for how smart Mom is, she would have suffered so much at the hands of this b*st*rd! I won't give him the chance of hurting my mom again, so he has to die now!""I thought that you were out with Uncle Nick? Why are you eating here?" Christopher asked Elliot as he glanced over at Aaron.Aaron performed the role of Elliot's bodyguard, but in truth, he was
The bodyguard hurried outside the restaurant and caught up to Hayden. "Hayden! Your folks have been looking for you! They both searched for you until two in the morning last night!"The bodyguard wanted to take Hayden to Avery, but Hayden was determined to destroy Christopher. "Let go of me!"The bodyguard was slightly afraid of Hayden, but he was also scared of Avery. "Your mom told me to take you to her once I found you, or she is firing me!""Let go, or I'll make her fire you anyway!"The bodyguard immediately released his arm. "Hayden! Big Master Hayden! Please don't go! Your parents want you to stay away from Christopher because he is a dangerous man! If he catches you—""No one can catch me! Stop looking for me! I won't leave till I destroy Christopher Gould!" Hayden roared. "Just trust me, okay?!"The bodyguard fell silent. Not only did Hayden look like Elliot, but he was also as proud and short-tempered as Elliot. The bodyguard was defeated by Hayden's confidence and do
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