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
Jed froze. If he listened to Ruby and took Avery away from Ylore by force, Avery would be furious when she woke up, and she might even end their friendship. If he did not take her away, Avery might be exposed to grave danger by continuing to stay in Ylore. After some consideration, he decided to accept the tickets and medicine."I knew you would accept these. You must love Avery, so you must understand how miserable I am right now." Ruby picked up the glass and took a sip of water."Ms. Gould, people are born differently. I can only know the pain my friend is suffering, and I can't understand yours. You have misjudged the relationship that Avery and I share," he said, correcting her assumption. He had not been in contact with Avery for years. They had only recently made contact, and there was no way he would fall in love with her in such a short period of time. However, their bonds as classmates would never change."Oh, let's just say that I've misjudged you, then! So long as yo
"Look at how thin you are right now. It's my treat tonight, and you can just buy me dinner tomorrow," he said guiltily."Alright!" Avery sat down.Jed immediately picked up the jug to pour Avery a glass of juice.The bodyguard opened a can of beer, and Jed, on the other hand, avoided both the beer and the juice, picking up a box of coconut milk instead. Avery was starving and dug in. "Let's eat. I want to walk around the area later after dinner.""You've been walking the entire afternoon, are you not tired?" the bodyguard teased."I'm fine. If you are tired, I can go by myself—""Have you forgotten about the kidnapping?" The bodyguard was impressed by her courage and said, "Just eat first! We'll see later.""Okay." Avery took a bite of her food.Just then, Jed raised his glass and said, "A toast! Hopefully, everything will proceed smoothly from now on!"Avery raised her juice and clinked glasses with him. "Is it your birthday tonight, Jed? I feel like you are acting weird."
It became clear that Jed and Avery's bodyguard did not want him there, and it was clear that they did not want him to drink the juice. The juice was average juice, and so the reason they did not want him to drink it could not be because it was some kind of precious or expensive juice.Suspecting that something was wrong, Elliot raised the glass and pretended to drink it."Hey! Don't drink that!" Jed said and snatched the glass out of Elliot's hand.Avery's expression instantly darkened."Why can't he drink it?" She glanced at the glass of juice in her hand. "Is there something wrong with the juice?"As soon as those words were out, the entire table fell silent. Both Jed and the bodyguard lowered their heads, uncertain of what to say.Arron picked up the spoon and said, "There might be something wrong with the juice, but the food is fine, right? I'm starving! Can I eat?""The food is fine so go ahead!" Jed said."'The food is fine', so you are admitting that something is wrong w
"By the way, didn't you mention that Elliot pays you every month? Is he still doing so?"The bodyguard hesitated for a moment and said, "I don't know! My wife manages my bank account.""Whatever. It's not that important. I should give you a bonus once we get back." Avery realized that her bodyguard had not rested and had even sacrificed his time with his family. She decided that she was going to reward him with a big bonus once they got back."Now that I know that, I won't dare force you to return to Aryadelle," the bodyguard teased."Let's just eat! Once we find Hayden, I will consider going back to Aryadelle with him."Though their plans had upset Avery, she was greatly inspired by them. She was not in great danger at the moment, and she did not want to endanger herself in the future. She could not drag her bodyguard and Jed down with her.At the same time, Christopher was having dinner at home. His new phone was working just fine earlier, but by the time he was done, he picked
Elliot looked at her quietly and waited for her to explain."I want Avery to leave Ylore, but it's not only because I'm afraid that you'll fall in love with her again! I'm worried that if she stays, she will affect your career," said Ruby. "Elliot, you are my husband now. You are the most important person to me, but my brother doesn't see you the way I do. He sees you as his enemy. If I have to choose between you and my brother, I will definitely choose you. You have lost everything in Aryadelle, so I want you to get back on your feet here. My father trusts you, so can you refrain from enraging him before he actually hands his power over to you?"Ruby's words changed the way Elliot viewed her."I actually wanted your plan to work, because I want her to leave, too," he said.Ruby was relieved. "I thought that you would be angry with me for doing what I wanted...""You overstepped your boundaries; you should have told me ahead of time.""I will tell you before I do anything next ti
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