Avery pondered for a few seconds and decided to tell her son frankly, "Hayden, mother's situation is more complicated. Before your father accidentally hurt me, something was already wrong with me.""Since something was wrong with you, why didn't you go to the doctor?""Mom was planning to go for the checkup after the New Year; otherwise, if the doctor said that I had to be hospitalized, I would have to stay in the hospital for the New Year. I'm okay with that, but you're probably not." Avery expressed her difficulties, "And the New Year was only seven days away." Hayden lowered his head gloomily. His mother said the word 'hospitalize', and it seemed to him that her illness was rather severe.After the waiter had served the dishes, Avery filled Hayden's plate with food."Hayden, I want to discuss something with you.""Mother, you don't need to discuss it with me." Hayden took the chopsticks and said dully, "I will do whatever you want me to do.""Hayden, mom will be fine. Mother
Hanging up the phone, Avery laughed, "Your father is jealous. He was going to have dinner, but he heard that Layla was having a good time with uncle Eric's cousin, so he took Layla home immediately."Hayden: "Mom, I don't think he cares about you at all.""Hayden, why do you say that?""He didn't even take you to the hospital for an examination." Hayden questioned, "You are so seriously injured. Is he blind?"Avery knew that her son felt terrible for her, but she didn't want him to view Elliot as a bad person."Your father wanted to take me to the hospital, but I insisted on not going there. I said I was the doctor and knew more than he did, so he gave up."Driving home, he saw Ben sitting in the living room making tea and drinking it."Ben, when did you come?" Avery put the car keys in the drawer and asked.Ben: "It's only been a while. I'm here to pick you up to come to my house tomorrow.""Did you tell Lilith?" She sat down on the sofa."She hasn't woken up yet," Ben asked
Avery answered the phone, and Tammy's voice boomed happily through the speakers. "Avery, you can bring your children to my house tomorrow to play! I have rejected all my relatives!"Avery glanced at Ben and Lilith and agreed immediately."Tomorrow, we'll go to Tammy's house and let Lilith go to Ben's." She discussed with Elliot, "Ben's parents want to see Lilith."Elliot listened to her arrangements."Didn't you say you had an injury on your head and didn't want to go out?""It doesn't hurt that much today. Tammy's house is fine." She said and told him to go to the dining room for dinner.After he left, she walked up to Ben and Lilith and discussed with them: "Tammy called me just now and asked me to take the children to her house tomorrow. So...""Avery, I can go to Tammy's house with you tomorrow!" Lilith interrupted, "Otherwise, I would have to go to Ben's house alone. That's going to be embarrassing!"Avery pulled her aside."He told me just now that his parents want to se
"You didn't beat me that seriously! I'm fine now, as you can see." She listened to him blame himself, looked at his guilty eyes, and became more and more afraid to tell him about her illness."Don't throw yourself in front of other men in the future. No one deserves this except children.""I know." She did regret it.She didn't think that much when she blocked Mike's fist.It was merely impulsive; she wouldn't have done it if she remembered she had undergone surgery.After turning off the lights, she lay in bed, unable to sleep.Elliot fell asleep quickly.He had played poker at his uncle's house for a day today. He said he was very sleepy at the time and kept his spirits high.The people from his uncle's side were like strangers to him.Besides, he didn't like playing poker at all.He could play with people he knew for a while, but it was boring to play with unfamiliar people.She opened her eyes and looked into the dimly lit room, replaying what happened in the hospital to
"Lilith, you are so beautiful now! I suddenly feel that my son is not worthy of you." Mrs. Schaffer complimented.Ben coughed sharply.Did she have to belittle her own son?"Mrs. Schaffer, you must be joking; we were destined to be together," Lilith said politely."Lilith, what you said was great. I think you and my son will have a good relationship." Mrs. Schaffer said with a wily attitude.Lilith had a calm smile on her face, "Mrs. Schaffer, when do you think I will be popular?"Mrs. Schaffer didn't know what to say.Mr. Schaffer whispered to his wife, "Don't talk nonsense; I think she doesn't really want to marry our son."Lilith clearly heard Mr. Schaffer's words and decided to ease the embarrassment, "No, Mr. Schaffer. I would never look down on Ben. Ben is amazing; he's not just rich, but also..." Thethree members of the Schaffer family stared at Lilith simultaneously, waiting for her to continue complimenting.Her brain suddenly short-circuited. Apart from his wealth,
Just like that, The atmosphere between the father and son intensified.Hayden felt it didn't matter; he had always been ruthless when speaking to Elliot.Elliot was a little embarrassed.His son being so disrespectful towards him in front of outsiders... After all, his son had always been like that; he'll just need to get used to it.Seeing Elliot's embarrassment, Mr. Lynch comforted him, "That happens in every family with a son. It'll be fine when he's older." After a pause, he continued, "My in-laws told me that Jun was always naughty when he was a child; father and sons don't get along very well. The two often fought, But now they're on excellent terms!"Before Elliot could speak, Mr. Lynch added, "But I still think my daughter is good! Our little sweetie has been our family's bundle of joy since she was a child. She doesn't make us angry. She's a perfect child!"Elliot, "My daughter Layla is also perfect.""I can see it. Your daughter is not only good but also knows many ski
Avery was so happy that she was dizzy.At lunch, Jun returned from his New Year's greetings."I said there were distinguished guests at my house today, and they didn't dare to keep me, hahaha!" Jun sat beside Tammy, with an expression of 'how witty I am' on his face."Tell two people to accompany Elliot to play poker later." Tammy said, "I count as one, he is the other, and I will find two more players."Jun, "Are you sure you can play for a long time? Let me play!""If you go, you are going to deliberately lose to him. I won't let you do that! I want to win his money!""Tammy, Brother Elliot is a guest today...""Avery and the three children are the guests; he's not; he was brought by Avery."Jun closed his mouth.If he went on, he feared it would embarrass Elliot more.After lunch, Jun called for two people to play cards with Elliot.Elliot knew Avery approved of playing, so he happily went to the poker table.Avery watched him play for a while by his side and found tha
Jun laughed, "If your mother heard your answer, she would be heartbroken!"Robert didn't know what he was talking about, so he stared at him blankly. With a startled look, he grabbed the small biscuits and ate them.After a while, Avery came upstairs.Jun told Avery what happened just now, and Avery explained with a smile, "He still doesn't understand such a complicated question. He can only understand simple questions such as whether to eat or drink. ""I see. No wonder he looked at me like I was a fool when I was laughing just now." Jun blushed."Hahaha, he can't think so much yet!" Avery put away the biscuits in Robert's hand and then picked up her son, "Let's go down and play!"Avery went downstairs, and Elliot immediately looked at her, "Avery, why don't you come and play! I'll take the child."Tammy laughed, "Avery said you want to sleep when you play cards. Is playing cards that hypnotic?""Actually, I don't dare take a win over you. What if you get angry at me when 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