"It wasn't me. It's my wife." Elliot gave him Avery's account number. "This is the account, and she forgot the password. There are a lot of photos in it so please check with your technician to see if you can recover the account and the photos in it.""Alright. I am a technician myself so I will have a look right away. If I don't get back to you before midnight, don't wait up.""Thank you.""It's alright. It's our honor that your wife chose to use our platform."Once he hung up, Elliot opened the photo album on his phone to look at the ultrasound Ruby had sent him earlier. He zoomed into the face of the baby, and it indeed resembled Layla in certain ways.He could not help but head into the bathroom to turn the lights on, before looking in the mirror to stare at his reflection.Layla looked like Avery, so why would his child with Ruby look like Layla?After staring into the mirror for a while, he opened his album again to look for Layla's photos.Layla's features had become more
He opened a certain application for financial news to pass the time when suddenly, the look in his eyes darkened at the sight of a familiar name— Wonder Technologies.The news claimed that they had received a tip that suggested that Wonder Technologies would extend its market into Bridgedale soon.There was not much information on the news but if it was true, then Wanda was planning an enormous move. Both Wanda and the ones backing her were ambitious.It was hardly possible for an enterprise to move its operation from Aryadelle to Brigedale unless there was incredibly tempting capital involved.Elliot simply did not understand what prompted Wanda to do so. Did she believe that she would be able to pass the examination for being listed in a foreign country, or had she found someone powerful enough to support her, and she felt like she could ignore Elliot?Elliot did not know if the news was true, but he had to find out. So, he screenshotted the news and sent it to Ben.Ben immedia
There were over three hundred photos, including ones when Avery was pregnant and the photos of the children when they were born.Elliot had never seen any of these photos, so he started with the earliest photo of Avery and Laura when they were in the waiting area in a hospital. In the photo, Avery had one hand on her pregnant belly as she smiled gently, while Laura, too, was smiling endearingly.Tears welled up in Elliot's eyes.Whenever he tried to imagine the time when Avery was pregnant with Layla and Hayden, guilt would overwhelm him at the realization that he had failed to care for them. Having twins was much more difficult than having a single baby. Avery was not financially stable and had to keep up with her studies at the time, so he could not begin to imagine how hard she had struggled.He continued to explore and saw photos of the scenery in her school, and photos she had taken with her classmates and with Professor Hough. He scrolled to the left when suddenly a black and
Late at night, he sent her her account password.She immediately turned her head to look at his handsome face.He had stayed up late last night, which might be why he slept so deeply now.She leaned down and put a soft kiss on his face.Not long after he fell asleep, he opened his eyes abruptly after being kissed by her."Did you not sleep last night? Your eyes look bloodshot... It's okay if you can't recover the account; it's not a big deal." She thought he did not sleep well because of her account. "If I really wanted to recover my account, I could tell Mike to help me, but I don't want to go through those photos. That's because there are photos of my mom and professor James and many friends who are now distant from me."If she did not remind herself to look forward in her life, it was easy to get caught up in memories."I saw the photos of your pregnancy last night, and I felt guilty after seeing it," he said in a hoarse voice. Feeling that the topic was a bit heavy, he chang
In the evening, the doorbell rang.Ben thought Lilith had come back, so he strode to open the door.A man was standing outside the door!Ben was stunned for a moment, and the man outside the door was also stunned.The two of them had met before, so they were no strangers."What are you doing here?" the two asked in unison."Why can't I be here? This is Hayden's house." Ben stood at the door, refusing to let Peter in.Lilith had told him that her relationship with Peter was not very good and that Peter would not come to her unless he needed money. Since Peter is now at Lilith's door, did that mean he was running out of money?Ben hated parasites like him! Lilith's current salary could only support her basic living, and there was no extra money for Peter.Ben could not tolerate Peter asking Lilith for money."Hehe, I don't care whose house this is. I only know that my sister lives here! Where's she?" Peter was a little angry with Ben for being so rude to him."Why are you lo
Ben stared at her. "I don't know. I have never seen a fall in wrestling like this," Lilith sighed.Ben walked to the sofa and sat down. The medical bag on the coffee table was open. Iodophor, cotton swabs, and anti-inflammatory drugs were placed on the table."Who beat you?" Lilith sat beside him so that she could taunt him at close range. "I didn't expect you to have an enemy in Bridgedale.""Yeah! I didn't expect that I would have an enemy in Bridgedale either. And by coincidence, the enemy's surname is White." Ben packed the medicine into his bag.He had gotten into a fight with Peter.Peter would not have been able to leave as easily as he had if Ben had been ten years younger. Then again, if he were younger, he would never have been injured."What do you mean I didn't beat you up? What does it have to do with me?" Lilith frowned, puzzled."It's nothing to do with you. It's about your elder brother. Didn't he call you?""No! My elder brother has been here? He beat you up?
Lilith opened her eyes wide. The light in her eyes scattered as if her soul had gone out of her body."Ten million, ten million, ten million!"She read it three times in her mind before realizing how much money it was.Ben saw her startled expression. Afraid that she would not believe it, he found the transfer record to Peter."Lilith, I'm not as stingy as you think. You keep saying that I dislike you, but I don't dislike you. Even if the two of us have never slept together...""Don't say that!" Lilith said. "Why are you giving my brother so much money? "She had planned to work hard to make money and return the one million.However now, one million had become ten million! The debt had increased considerably, and she did not know how she was going to repay such a large debt in such a short time. Ben took a deep breath. "This money is indeed not a small amount, but if it is an engagement gift for a future wife, it is not that high. You were pregnant with my child at the time. H
He felt that he was like a dog, eager to please Lilith.However, he was not angry.Instead, he felt the entire situation was interesting.Lilith's jaw dropped in shock at his remarks.Did he not understand the meaning of being a dog, or was he too thick to understand?"By the way, I didn't come here specifically to find you. If you have training tomorrow, you can go to your training and leave me alone." Ben felt that the atmosphere was a little awkward, so he talked about something else. "Elliot sent me here.""What did Elliot ask you to do?""Some business," he said. "Can I stay here for a few days? I see Hayden's room is empty—""Don't sleep in his room. He might return in the future." Lilith got up from the sofa and took him to another room. "You can sleep in this room."Ben glanced at the room. "It's tiny.""If you dislike it, then go to a hotel. You are rich; you could just book a presidential suite," Lilith said sarcastically. "I didn't ask you to stay here.""You misu
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