"How old is she?" "33." "Oh...isn't she older than Avery? She seems like an old woman to me." Lilith was very rude because she resented this woman. "Haha..." Ben laughed. "Why are you laughing? Why were you talking with Elliot about this woman?" "She called Elliot for more than an hour. It's late at night in Aryadelle." Ben asked her, "A woman calls a man late at night to report her work. Do you think she is dedicated to her work, or do you think she has other intentions?" "She wants to hook up with Elliot; it's pretty obvious." Lilith said suddenly, "Although I haven't seen the woman you mentioned, I hope the two of them will get together. Avery will be completely free!" Ben was speechless. In the evening, the professor from the School of Mechanical Engineering brought Hayden to the hospital to visit Avery. After the professor and Avery greeted each other politely, Mike immediately took Hayden out of the ward. When the ward door was closed, Avery said to
Avery stilled."Well, that might not be the case. She will recover if the surgery is a success. Men are born to be unfaithful and cruel, especially men who are wealthy," the other person said. "It might not be that bad that Avery divorced him! Maybe true happiness awaits her ahead."Avery turned her heels and headed back to the ward."Doctor, can she go home to rest?" Mike asked."Yes, but you will have to be careful. She can't be moving around independently. She probably can't see all that well right now, so you will need to hire a nurse to look after her," the doctor reminded him. "Remember to get in touch with me the moment she shows any signs of discomfort.""Okay.""Also, we placed three stitches inside her eyes so remember to come back in three months to have them removed.""Okay. Anything else we need to pay attention to?""Keep her eyes clean, make sure her mood remains stable, and no crying," the doctor said. "Bear with it for a while and everything will be much easier
"The ocean here is turquoise. Can you see it? It looks beautiful."Avery struggled to see the world before her.Her eyesight was poorer than when she had just removed the bandage, so she did not respond to Mike's question.She could faintly see blue before her, but she could not see the turquoise Mike was describing.Mike decided to change the subject. "I told Hayden that we are coming here. It is far from his school, so I told him to stay with Lilith on the weekdays, and he can come over on the weekends." "Okay." Avery wanted to rest her eyes. "I think I saw a lounge chair over there.""Yeah, there's one on the balcony. Do you want to lie down for a while?""Yes."Mike helped her to the chair and she closed her eyes, indulging in the new environment.Time flew by, and soon, the summer holidays were coming to an end.It was the first of September and the weather was wonderful. Mike video called Layla in the morning, it would be night in Aryadelle. Layla told him that both
"Ms. Jennings, you mean to say that she is plotting in the dark?""Haha, whatever she plots to do will not interfere with my plan," Natalie said. "Sooner or later, I will have Alpha Technologies beneath my feet. Starting a branch in Bridgedale is only the beginning of this game!""Of course! With Mr. Foster's support and your ambition, Alpha Technologies will soon be defeated.""Yeah! Mr. Foster appreciates you so much that he has put you in charge of all matters concerning Tate Industries. He trusts you!" another man said in a flattering manner. "Everyone in the office is guessing that he is pursuing you!"Natalie chuckled smugly. "He does place a lot of trust in me, but I'm in no rush with regard to romance. We can wait until I accomplish my goal. I promised him I would." Avery stood in the distance and heard every single word they said.Natalie had come to Bidgedale with her team with the sole intention of destroying Alpha Technologies. On top of that, Elliot had handed the m
The security guard recognized him and took the initiative to chat with him. "You are the husband of Miss Tate, the owner of house 13, right? I remember you."Elliot's eyes darkened awkwardly. "We divorced.""Oh... No wonder we don't see Miss Tate around lately," the guard said as he retrieved the visitor form. "Are you going in?""She isn't staying here?" Elliot accepted the form but did not fill it in right away."Her door is always closed during my morning round, but I can't say for sure. Maybe she is just resting at home. I think she got sick and is probably recovering from it."Elliot immediately proceeded to fill in his information at the guard's words and tried to sound as casual as possible when he asked, "When did you hear of her falling sick?" "About two months ago! She hired a new nanny, and I've spoken to that person a couple of times. She is a nurse, and she was hired to care for Miss Tate," said the guard as he studied the information Elliot had written down, before
Avery froze.Her ex-husband had been here looking for her? Was it Elliot?Mike pushed open the door to the mansion and helped Avery inside. He called Chad. "Why didn't you tell me that your boss was coming to Bridgedale?"Mike suspected that there was an ulterior motive for Elliot's visit.Shocked, Chad blurted out, "My boss is in Bridgedale?! I didn't know that! He just said that he needed a few days off. He didn't say anything about going to Bridgedale!""Crap! What's that old b*st*rd planning on doing now?!""If he hasn't told anyone about this, it means that this is a personal trip. With that said, he can't have any plans apart from seeing Avery, right?""He showed up at our door. It's a good thing that we were staying in a resort and haven't been home for some time.""Damn, you have been at a resort? Why didn't you tell me?" Chad was shocked."What if you told your boss about it?""Do you really have that little faith in me?" Furious, Chad said, "If that's the case, don'
"It's fine." Avery reached out and took the papers back. "I will look through them myself, later." "Sure. You can also wait until your eyes get better to read them." Mike handed the papers to her. "Elliot probably brought these here so that you know what's going on with the kids! Why is he playing nice, though?""I don't know." Avery, too, could not guess what was on Elliot’s mind, and she did not know why he was being considerate.Avery had not taken her afternoon nap and was feeling light-headed, so she returned to her room with Layla's diary.Mike picked up his phone and noticed that the call was still ongoing, so he placed it back to his ear. "Did you hear everything?""Yeah." Chad's heart was heavy. "How are Avery's eyes?""She can see if it's within a meter. The objects get blurrier the further away it is from her." "Oh... That's not bad. She is probably going to slowly recover from now on right?""Yeah.""Once her eyes recover, will she be able to come back to Aryadel
Mike was shocked by the question."What makes him think he has the right to ask about this? Avery's eyes are finally close to being fully recovered and now he wants to come and pretend like he cares about her? Doesn't he have any shame at all?! Has he heard from someone that Avery's eyes are almost fully recovered and has come here because of that? He must have known that Avery came close to being blind and maybe that's why he dares to treat her with such cruelty, thinking that she won't be able to see again?"All sorts of thoughts swirled in Mike's mind."Do you care about her? How laughable," he said sarcastically. "If you really care about her, you should hand over custody of Layla and Robert! Give Tate Industries back to her! You can call me again if you manage to do all that!"Elliot was enraged by the unreasonable request. "I didn't think you would be so unreasonable.""Who are you calling unreasonable? Did I beg you to call me? Did I ask you to come to Avery's house?" snarl
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