Instantly, silence fell over the table."Lilith, we are here today to celebrate you. We don't need to talk about anything else," Avery said calmly. Elliot had mentioned that he would destroy Alpha Technologies before and giving money to Natalie was only the beginning of his plan.Mike, too, remained composed as he had already ripped into Elliot over this. He no longer wanted to waste any more time on Elliot."Don't look so grim, y'all, it's not like the world is ending! Do you have so little trust in me and Avery?" Mike raised his glass. "C'mon. Let's cheer and wish Lilith success in becoming a supermodel soon! Buy us dinner at a more expensive place next time!"Lilith flushed. "Even if I become a supermodel, I wouldn't know where to take you. I don't know any place that's more luxurious than this restaurant.""It's fine, I will book the place. You just worry about the bill," Mike teased and urged the others to drink.The mood instantly lightened up."Avery, don't take this the
The two spoke at the same time and stopped as the car moved forward."You go first," Mike said."Hayden is busy, and I don't think he can take it any longer. He's still a child, after all." Avery had wanted to ask Hayden to join them for dinner, but Hayden had told her that he could not make it at the last minute."Just talk to him while he is on break, and set a curfew for him." Mike agreed that Hayden had been working himself to the ground recently, and he knew why. Hayden had witnessed all the things Elliot had been doing to Avery and he held a grudge against Elliot.Hayden had a strong and proud personality and was definitely planning to counter Elliot's move."Yeah," Avery agreed and asked, "What were you going to say?"Mike shook his head. "Nothing much. I just think that it's a good thing that all cards are on the table with Elliot. I don't want to waste my time yelling at him anymore."Avery glanced at the neon lights on the street outside the window. "We don't really
Half an hour later, Tammy and Jun arrived at Avery's mansion.Avery welcomed them enthusiastically.It was Avery's first time meeting Tiffany, so she had prepared an envelope filled with money for the child."She is still so little, what use would she have for the money?" Unable to refuse Avery's gift, Tammy accepted it with resignation. "My daughter looks dazed all the time, and she's either eating or sleeping through the day. She isn't scared of strangers at this age so you can hold her!"Avery wanted to hold Tiffany but was concerned that she might accidentally drop her as her eyesight had not fully recovered, but when she saw Tiffany's adorable face, Avery could not contain herself any longer and accepted the baby from Tammy's hands."New-borns are all like this. As she grows, she will need less and less sleep." Avery sat down on the couch with Tiffany in her arms while playing with her chubby cheeks with a smile. "Tiffany, have you gone and played with Layla and Robert?""Bo
Indeed, Jun was the perfect father, skilled in changing diapers for the baby along with feeding and bathing her as well."You are that great, huh?" Avery was impressed."This is my only daughter, so of course, I need to take great care of her." Jun took Tiffany from Avery's arms and said, "You two can go out right now if you want to. Just bring me something to eat at night."Avery was fine with it but was concerned that Tammy might still be jetlagged. "Do you need to rest for a bit? We can go out tomorrow."Tammy pulled at Avery's arm excitedly and dragged her toward the door. "I want to shop for clothes. It's been almost a year since I was halfway through my pregnancy, and I haven't bought any normal clothing since. It's driving me crazy!""You could have bought some in Aryadelle! It's more troublesome to take them back with you if you shop here." Avery grabbed her coat and phone, before heading out with Tammy.Avery had recovered seventy percent of her eyesight after the remova
"Oh my god! Why are you awake so soon? Are you hungry? Daddy will make your milk right away... What's that in your hand, let Daddy see."Jun carefully took the piece of paper out of Tiffany's hand, and though it was crumpled, he could still read the words on it.The smile on Jun's face faded as he read the content.He scanned the room once again and found a black hair-tie on the nightstand next to the bed.This was not Mike's room.To confirm his theory, he strode toward the closet and opened it. He gasped when he found female clothing as far as he could see. There was a brief introduction concerning the companies, followed by a series of numbers next to the words 'estimated price'.The more he thought about it, the more confused he became."Is Avery planning on selling Alpha Technologies? Why else would she have a price estimation form under her pillow?" he thought.Without hesitation, he picked Tiffany up from the bed and hurried out of the room.Had he known that it was Ave
"That's not what I'm saying! Your daughter is the one restricting my freedom. I am someone who enjoys going out, and because of our daughter, I can't go anywhere.""With your mom and the nanny taking care of her, you are free to go anywhere you want," Jun argued."But I don't want to leave her!" Tammy shrugged with resignation. "I've never known how great mothers are until I actually have a child of my own. I can feel my old self peeling away as I transform into a completely different person.""That's the love of a mother." Avery joked around with Jun, "Tammy said she missed Tiffany while we were out shopping, and that is why we returned so early. By the way, which of these are you mailing back? I will find a box for them and call the delivery service to come to pick them up later.""Just sit down and rest! We can do that later." Tammy took a sip from her glass of water and suddenly remembered what Jun had said. "You said you couldn't tell that it was Avery's room when you walked i
"You are still speaking of him so highly!" Tammy glared at him and asked sharply, "I thought you said that you haven't contacted him?!"Jun flushed a deep red. "We've fallen out only because he has been ignoring me, actually.""Haha, he has been ignoring you, and you are still acting like his little fan!""C'mon, Tammy. It's best not to burn all bridges, you know? We don't have to cut ties with Elliot simply because they got a divorce. What if they get back together? If that really happens, it's going to be really awkward for us!" Jun said. "It's not like this hasn't happened before."Tammy could not help but chuckle. "You really think they can still get back together? What an imagination you have there! What Elliot's doing right now is like he is pointing a knife at Avery's throat…"Jun cleared his throat. "I remember that Avery had stabbed Elliot once and sent him straight into ICU. Didn't they get back together after that anyway?"Tammy blinked blankly as the memories began to
Elliot replied.She lifted her phone and spotted Elliot's reply, before shoving it into Jun's face."Elliot ignored you but he replied to my message. This means you simply can't be too compromising with him!" Tammy said and pressed her phone's video call button.Elliot had responded with a message that contained two question marks."If he saw my message and replied, it means he is going to answer my call as well, right?" Tammy thought to herself.Jun gaped at Tammy's action and was going to snatch her phone from her once Elliot answered to apologize, but Tammy was far too swift.As soon as Elliot answered the call, she immediately opened the car door and got out.Unable to stop her, Jun remained inside the car and waited. He reached into his pocket, hoping to find a cigarette, only to remember that he had quit smoking since the birth of his daughter.Within five minutes, Tammy got back into the car.Jun studied her face and asked, "Why are you so calm? You two didn't fight?"
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