Avery did not give Elliot any time to react. She immediately asked, [Why are you looking for me? I'm in room V03. If you want to see me, just come over.]Of course, she had guessed that him looking for her was just an excuse.She calculated the time. Gary should be done with his checkup and sent to the inpatient unit for treatment.Gary's trusted aide was clearly not to be messed with. Although he was not Gary's son, he did not hold a low rank. If not, he would not have dared wield his power before Elliot. Elliot replied to her after a while. [Someone told me that you were in the neurosurgery department, and I wanted to know why you lied to me.]Avery teased, [If you didn't care about me, you wouldn't have cared why I lied.]Elliot did not reply because she was too direct.Up till that point, he had not remembered anything of their lives. All he knew, he had heard from others, but even then, she still affected his judgment.He could analyze logically and be objective with anyo
Elliot entered the doctor's office. He asked the doctor on duty about Gary's condition. Once he was done, he left the office and headed straight for the nearby elevator. After walking in, he pressed the number for the floor below him.The elevator reached his destination in no time, and he walked out.Instead of going directly to ward V03, he went to the neurosurgeon's office.The doctor was stunned to see Elliot.He sat down opposite the doctor and said, "I want to know how Avery is doing.""This... This involves the patient's privacy. I am unable to tell you anything." The doctor looked nervous. Elliot had clearly put him in a tight spot. "You could speak to her if you know her.""She said it is a minor operation. I want to know if it's a minor operation or not." He changed his phrasing.The doctor pushed his spectacles higher up his nose and considered Elliot's request. Finally, he said, "She doesn't trust Ylore's doctors, and a doctor from Bridgedale is performing the oper
When the last word had left the bodyguard's lips, Elliot strode to ward V03.He did not bother knocking. He barged into the room. The lights were on, and Avery was lying in bed. Her eyes were closed, but she had yet to fall asleep.The sudden movement caused her to immediately open her eyes.She had thought that it was her bodyguard, back after his shower, so she was shocked to see Elliot, standing in the ward.Avery immediately sat up after seeing him."Lie down!" He walked to the side of the hospital bed and gazed down at her. "You have a tumor in your brain?"She had just lain down when she heard his question. Her body suddenly became hot and restless as she asked, "Did you ask around?""Your bodyguard told me." He sat down in the nearby chair. "Why didn't you take good care of yourself when you knew you were sick? I'll recover my memory when the time comes.""I'm worried that you would have fallen in love with Ruby, adapted to life here, and never return to Aryadelle agai
"Oh... So you married Ruby for the Goulds' assets.""It wasn't as if Gary got them legitimately." He scoffed and said, "Here, the rule of the game is to eat or be eaten.""Do you genuinely like this kind of life, Elliot?" She hated the life he had just described to her, and she wanted him to realize what a horrible life it was. "Now that Christopher is dead, everything Gary has will be yours in the future as long as you spend a good life with Ruby.""Gary doesn't share that view," he said. "He is forcing me to have a child with Ruby so that he can leave everything to that child. That child must take the Gould surname."Avery could not help but laugh. "But our children take my surname.""The situation is different. One is voluntary while the other is forced.""Will you be able to give up your current plans for the sake of me and our children?" She thought about the matter for a while, before she said, "We can have all the money we want, but we'll never be able to spend all of it d
"Did you enter the wrong ward?" Avery asked.It was seven in the morning, and she had just woken up."Nope. I came here specifically to see you." Ruby placed the container on the bedside table. "I heard that you were also in this hospital, so I asked my nanny to prepare some breakfast for you, too." "Why would you do that?" "Because you're the woman Elliot likes. I did this because I wanted to show you that I'm not jealous of you. I don't mind that he still wants this relationship with you. You and I can coexist in peace as long as he doesn't abandon me and continues to recognize me as his wife," said Ruby generously.Avery studied the expression on Ruby's face and realized that she was not acting."I'm can't say the same for myself, though. I've known Elliot for almost ten years, and my relationship with him goes far deeper than mere love. Besides, I can't accept the existence of a third person in my relationship." Avery made her stance clear.Ruby frowned slightly. "But he p
"She told my boss that she was willing to allow my boss to continue her relationship with you, but my boss wouldn't agree to it," said the bodyguard.Elliot's expression froze. "I'll warn her not to disturb you again."He was saying that to Avery."Okay. You should go back and rest!" Avery could see that he was not feeling very well, and it was probably because he had not slept much the previous night.Elliot nodded. "Let me know when you are planning to have your surgery." "Okay."After Elliot and Aaron left, Avery ate a few bites of food and set her utensils down. "Why aren't you eating?" The bodyguard saw that she had not eaten much porridge. "I don't have an appetite." She touched her stomach. "Maybe I'm a little nervous because I'm about to go under the knife.""It's fine." Jed gave her some milk. "You'll be better once the operation is over.""Okay. What other tests are going to be done today?" She took a sip of milk.Jed explained the different tests that he would
"Of course! I'll treat him as my own," Ruby replied without hesitation."If the child finds out about his parents and wants to return to Avery in the future, will you promise to respect their wishes?" asked Jed.Ruby hesitated."Miss Gould, if you restrict your child's freedom, the child will only drift further and further away from you. In fact, the only people we can control are ourselves. Don't you agree?" Jed tried reasoning with her when heard her silence. "Going by what you said, do you think Elliot will also drift further away from me?" Ruby was not too pleased with his logic."We're talking about the child now. I don't want to express my opinion on you and Elliot, because frankly, it's none of my business."Ruby was afraid that he might back out of the procedure, and she immediately said, "If the child finds out about Avery and wants to return to her, it just shows I haven't been a good mother. I promise you that if the child wants to return to Avery or has his own life,
"Get away from him? You make it sound easy." Nick sipped some tea. "Don't even bother entertaining the thought of getting away from him unless he's dead.""You're right, and I gathered you all here today specifically to discuss this." Elliot looked at them. "Gary took all of Mickey and Julian's assets which he'll later hand to all of you. You can all take whatever you want other than Midas Enterprises, which he founded."The three men stared blankly at Elliot. "Are you sure?""Yes. Midas Enterprises is Gary's, and he'll leave it to Ruby." Elliot took a cup of tea and drank it all in one gulp. "You will control this entire place once everything is settled. I, on the other hand, will return to Aryadelle.""Have you really thought it through, Elliot?" Nick patted him on the shoulder. "You might have succeeded in Aryadelle, but Gary's existing wealth in Ylore is on par with yours in Aryadelle. As long as you spend your days with Ruby and make her happy, everything Gary owns will be you
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