Ivy had been sold off!Her daughter was sold off!She felt much more heartbroken to hear that compared to if she was told that her daughter was dead.Avery began to wonder whom Ivy was sold to after being born, but then realized that the girl would almost certainly suffer regardless of who the buyer was. It was something she could not accept!Nick was very puzzled when she saw tears rolling down like a string of broken beads."Why are you crying? Isn't it good that the child is gone? You and Elliot divorced because of her!"Avery was acting as if Ivy was someone very important to her, and Nick remembered that even Elliot never cried in front of any outsiders because of Ivy."Good? I didn't divorce Elliot because of the child. The child is innocent," Avery said between sobs. She then asked, "Didn't anyone find out where she was sold too? Whether it's in Ylore or another country?""I feel that she might have been sold to another country because we were unable to find her when we
"How has your health been recently?" Avery did not want to continue talking about something so depressing and decided to change the topic."Not well, but not terrible either. At the moment, the doctors in Ylore are still able to meet my medical needs," Nick laughed. "I heard that you've been studying for the past two years... Do you have a doctorate now?""Yes.""Would you like to spend a few more days here? I'll show you around," Nick said. "You're not going to leave after you've just arrived, right?""Sure, if it's not too troublesome for you." Avery then asked, "I'd like to visit the Gould residence.""What's so interesting about them? That house has been vacant for three years after the incident.""Then take me to visit the criminal gang's den. Are any of their people still alive?""You seem to be quite determined to find Ivy." Nick narrowed his shrewd eyes and said, "The felons in that gang are all dead, while those who committed less severe crimes are locked up in prison.
Nick became friends with Avery through Elliot, so it was only natural for Nick not to prioritize what Avery told him.If he listened to Avery rather than telling Elliot about her visit to Ylore, someone else would eventually tell Elliot about it.Nick did not want Elliot to know about it from anyone else!"You went to Bridgedale?" Elliot carried Robert downstairs.Mrs. Cooper immediately took Robert when she heard Elliot's voice.Elliot went upstairs again with his cell phone."Do you think I'd have the energy to go to Bridgedale? I just came back from a business trip, and Avery came before I even managed to get a day of rest!" Nick laughed. "I honestly thought I was dreaming when I woke up this morning and saw her at my house!"Nick deliberately exaggerated how shocked he was at the incident but did not mention a single detail of Avery's purpose for coming to him.Elliot could sense that it was a bit strange, so he lowered his ego and asked in a deep voice, "Why did she come l
Inside one of Ylore's five-star hotels, Avery had just entered the lobby after parting ways with Nick when she saw Mike sitting on the lobby sofa.Mike saw her and immediately got up."Didn't you see the message I sent you?" Mike waited for her in the lobby for three whole hours. "Let's get something to eat. I'm starving!""I was at the prison. The signal was terrible there." When Avery saw that Mike was still holding his luggage, she asked, "You haven't checked in?""Not yet. You didn't tell me your room number. I want to get a room that's next to yours," Mike said. "Or we could share a presidential suite."Avery took him to the front desk and booked a suite for him and the bodyguard."You two can stay together. I'll stay in my current one.""Are our rooms on the same floor?""Yes."After Mike checked in, he took the luggage to the room and put it there before going to the hotel restaurant for dinner."Why did you go to the prison? I don't think Ivy's in prison, is she?" Mik
Avery could not answer that question because she had never been a member of a criminal gang."You need to show sincerity if you want to join a gang, and by sincerity, I mean doing bad things and proving that you're a bad person." Mike then lowered his voice, "Those old people and women that you see in prison are far from insignificant. Besides, do you genuinely think the goings-on within the gang are kept secret from some people?"Avery could see the logic in his reasoning but seemed a little puzzled. "Why did Nick lie to me, then?""I wouldn't know.""Going by your logic, I would think that Elliot would share the same thoughts too. After all, they were the ones who destroyed the gang," Avery continued to raise her doubts."It's possible that these people are more tight-lipped and refuse to confess!" Mike then summarized, "From my experience, gangs don't keep secrets amongst themselves.""You say that as if you've been in that kind of gang before." Avery noticed that he had finis
"Oh, he must be quite old, right? Is he married? Single? Do you have a future with him? You're still young. This is the time to give your all for your career and—""I'm single, Mr. Griffith," Ben interrupted and walked over. "Lilith and I are in a serious relationship. We're going to get married."Howie looked at Lilith in disbelief when Ben said that."You should get to work! I'll go home by myself later and you don't have to pick me up!" Lilith sent Ben away.After Ben left, Lilith walked up to Howie and said, "Howie...""Stop! I don't want to hear it!" Howie did not look pleased. "Your boyfriend is rich, so does that mean you're working just to pass the time?""No. I'm in a relationship with him, but I'm not sure if we'll get married in the future! I don't know what's going to happen in the future, so I think it'd be better to depend on myself rather than relying on a man. If you get any jobs are that suitable for me, please just go ahead and arrange them for me. I'm not afrai
Ben erupted in laughter and could not resist slapping the table."I took her word for it and didn't notice anything wrong with it. I even thought to myself that I was let in on a huge secret, but now that you mention that, I realize that I was a little stupid. How rich is 'rich' for Lilith? A hundred and fifty thousand is probably an astronomical sum of money for her."Elliot could sense that Ben was in a good mood from the latter's self-deprecating laugh."You just said that Avery went to Ylore, right? What for? Do tell!" Ben remembered what he wanted to ask and sat upright. "Why did she go to Ylore for no good reason? I don't remember her having any relatives or friends in Ylore!""She wants to find Ivy." Elliot rubbed his eyebrows. "She suspects that Ivy is her child and she wants to do a maternity test.""But..." Ben had a look of disbelief on his face. "Ivy's been missing for three years! Why would she decide to look for Ivy and do a maternity test after so long? To be honest
"There's a fire," Avery said, immediately running outside with Mike. Other guests on the same floor also came out of their rooms. Due to the power outage, the elevator was unavailable, and everyone had to leave through the emergency access. Fortunately, there was no crowding. When everyone descended to the first floor in an orderly manner, they smelled a burning smell. "It's a fire on the first floor." Avery took Mike out of the hotel, and after breathing in the fresh air, she breathed a sigh of relief. "It started in the restaurant we ate in last night." Mike sighed and coughed a few times, "Fortunately, it didn't happen during our meal last night. That would've been scary!" Avery said, "If the cause of the fire wasn't arson, the fire safety protocols of the hotel would need to be questioned." "I was sleepy at first, but now I am completely awake." Mike said and looked at Avery, "Aren't these the clothes you wore last night? Didn't you take a bath last night?"
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