Layla shook her head. "No! Dad never told me to bring my brother to find you. My brother didn't want to come with me to visit you. My brother is a little shy." After receiving Layla's answer, Avery had mixed feelings. Before returning to Aryadelle, she always thought it was Elliot who prevented Robert from coming to Bridgedale to find her, but she didn't expect the main reason to be Robert. "Mom, although Dad is very annoying, he listens to me often." Layla didn't mean to speak for her Dad, but the meaning of her words was evident. Avery knew that Elliot was very fond of children. No matter how their relationship changed, the child was his. How could he not love the child? "Layla, since you don't hate your father so much, why did you say that in front of him just now?" Avery remembered the sadness on Elliot's face when Layla said that she hated her father the most. "I just wanted to piss him off." Layla frowned and breathed, "Mom, maybe my rebellious teenage years are her
"Layla, do you want a sister?" Layla asked, "What's the matter? Are you going to give me a sister? Or is dad going to give me a sister?" "If you had a sister who looks a lot like you, would you like her?" Avery continued to ask. "Oh, are you talking about Ivy?" Layla had seen Ivy's photo. If someone put Ivy's photo beside her newborn photo, they probably wouldn't be able to tell them apart. "Layla, Ivy is your sister." Avery told her daughter the truth after hesitating, "Mom came back to Aryadelle this time to find her." "Mom!" Layla turned her head and looked at Avery in shock, "Isn't she the child of my dad and Ruby? I won't acknowledge the existence of this sister!" "Layla, if Ivy was Ruby's daughter, do you think Ivy would look the same as you?" Avery said softly, "She is your father's and my child. There were some misunderstandings. She is not Ruby's daughter." "Ahhh! Ivy is yours and father's child?!" Layla jumped out of her chair and shouted excitedly in the room
Ivy was his and Avery's daughter. He deduced that from Avery's reaction last night. If he knew the truth back then, he and Avery would never have reached the point of divorce. His heart, which hadn't hurt for a long time, had hurt all night because of this misunderstanding. When Chad came in to report his work, he glanced at the coffee cup on his table and looked at his complexion. "Boss, did you rest last night?" Chad saw his eyes were bloodshot and said, "I could take you back to rest!" "I don't want to go back." He muttered. As long as he went back, he would start to reminisce about the time he used to be with Avery. It was like mental torture to him. "Chad, Ivy is mine and Avery's daughter." He explained the reason that had bothered him all night, "Avery returned to Aryadelle this time to look for Ivy." Chad was so shocked that his speech was almost incoherent. "How could this be? Mike didn't tell me... I thought Avery returned to Aryadelle because she
Even Chad once thought his boss was a scumbag. But for more than two years, the boss had been taking care of children in addition to work and did not look like one, so Chad was starting to doubt himself. "Why would you want to listen to my recordings?" Elliot didn't want to share such private things with him. "I want to know, I have always believed in you, and my intuition has always been correct." Chad knew it would be difficult for him to hand over such private things. Still, the words had already been said, and there was no way to take them back, "I don't believe that you betrayed Avery." "But Avery thinks I'm that kind of a person." Whenever Elliot thought of Avery's cold expression on the day of the divorce, he felt sad. "Even you can trust me. Why can't she?" "Maybe she did tell you that she had an accident with her eyes... She wouldn't deliberately accuse you of something you didn't do. After all, she gave up custody of Layla and Robert, and she must be heartbroke
At night, Chad passed by the winery and bought a bottle of expensive wine to go home. When he got home, he called Mike and told him to come back early for a drink. Mike was addicted to alcohol, and as long as he invited him to drink, he would never refuse. Half an hour later, Mike came to Chad's house. "What's the matter today? Why the invitation?" Mike was in high spirits. Usually, he was the one who always took the initiative to call Chad to drink, but Chad hardly ever volunteered. "I'm having a good day, but the same cannot be said for you." Chad sat him down and went straight to the point. "Didn't you always say that my boss was a scumbag? I was almost persuaded by you, and I thought the same. But today, my boss showed me proof!" "What proof?" The smile on Mike's face disappeared. He looked at him solemnly and reached out to him. "Show me." "Let's do some quick revision." Chad sat down in the dining chair and poured him a glass of wine, "Didn't you tell me b
He knew that Chad had a tendency to praise Elliot even if he didn't deserve it. Chad turned on his phone and turned on the recording. "Why is there no sound from Avery at the end?" Mike finished listening to the recording and asked questions. "I felt strange when I listened to this recording. I asked my boss, and he said that Avery might not have been listening to her mobile phone at the time." "You can't just believe what he says. You send me the recording, I'll show it to Avery later, and I'll ask her if the recording has been revised." Mike said. Chad hesitated. "I secretly copied the recording. My boss doesn't want people to hear this recording." Mike teased him, "If the recording is fine, why is he feeling guilty? Suppose the recording is genuine, and he didn't manually delete what Avery said later. In that case, Avery couldn't possibly hate him so much." Mike's words made Chad indignant. He sent the recording to Mike. "You take it to Avery when you feel
"Hahaha! I am laughing so hard!" Mike sincerely thought it was funny, so he slapped the table and wiped his nose. "Tate Industries' new building in Bridgedale is just across the street from where Alpha Technologies previously was!" Chad sweated a little. "I know. Natalie chose three buildings, and finally everyone voted for the current building. That place had the best location." "That's enough trouble for Avery. Instead of worrying about her, you might as well worry about your boss." Mike teased. "What do I have to worry about?" Chad couldn't understand Mike, but he remembered that when he saw Avery last night, Avery looked peaceful and content, and it seemed that she was not affected by the divorce, " Avery's mental state looks pretty good." "That's right! So instead of worrying about her, it would be better to worry about your boss." Mike took a sip of his wine and started to get into the mood. "Let's not talk about my boss. Let's talk about you!" Chad said, "You don't pla
She hadn't eaten dinner yet, so it was no wonder there was a cramp in her stomach. She came out of the room clutching her stomach when she heard the doorbell ring. She walked to the door and opened it. Tammy had brought her baby daughter Tiffany to visit her. Robert was here too! "Avery, I immediately brought the two children to see you once I heard you were back!" After Tammy brought the two children into the house, she looked at Avery. "How do you manage to keep your slim figure? I envy your physique! Is your hair color the one I recommended to you last time?" "It's not quite the same hair color you recommended, but it's not very different." Avery was happy, and the pain in her stomach was relieved. "Your hair color is more beautiful," Tammy said, and then she remembered the two children. "Mrs. Cooper knew I was going to bring Robert to your place, but she didn't say anything." "I met Elliot last night." Avery looked at Robert and Tiffany with a gentle smile, "If I knew
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