"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
"Mom..." Robert immediately walked in front of Avery, raised his head, and glared at Tiffany with his big black, shiny eyes, "This is my mother, not yours!" "When your mother talked to you just now, you hid behind Tiffany!" Tammy came over and laughed, "Since you won't let your mother hug Tiffany, you can't hide behind her." Tammy was afraid of making Robert cry, so she took her daughter from Avery's arms. Avery didn't expect Robert to be so jealous. It was evident that he didn't seem to want her to hug someone else. "Robert, can mother hug you?" Avery squatted in front of her son and looked at him tenderly, "Mom wants to hug you. Just like how Tiffany's mother hugged her." Robert didn't know what to do. He finally looked up at Avery and stretched out his little arms. Seeing this, Avery immediately picked up her son. At this moment, Avery felt as if she owned the whole world. Today was the second time the mother and son had met since she returned to Aryadelle. Unexp
"What if your father doesn't welcome your mother to your house for dinner?" Tammy burst into laughter, "You are not afraid of your father spanking you for this, are you?" "No!" Robert's face wrinkled, and his voice was clear. "Dad won't hit me!" "But your father doesn't want you to take your mother home for dinner." "Dad does!" Robert felt that he knew exactly what his father wanted. He talked to his father yesterday, and his father had already allowed his mother to go to their house to sleep. Eating a meal there was out of question. Tammy turned back and forth with a smile and looked at Avery. "Avery, do you want to accept your son's invitation to go to your ex-husband's house for dinner? If you want to go, I can cancel the takeout." Avery shook her head gently without thinking. "Robert, thank you very much for inviting your mother to dinner at your house, but Tammy has already helped me to buy food." She explained to Robert patiently. Robert lowered his eyes, thought fo
"Who is it?" Tammy saw that Avery was looking at her phone, so she immediately leaned in front of her and glanced at her phone screen. After seeing the words 'Elliot', Tammy sighed. "Didn't you two cut off contact with each other? Did you start contacting each other again after you returned to Aryadelle?" "To be exact, I contacted him just now." "Hahaha, I didn't expect to be caught up in the scene. Could you show me what he sent you?" Tammy didn't consider herself an outsider. Avery didn't treat her as an outsider either. Tammy took her mobile phone and was stunned when she saw the two text messages sent by Elliot. "Why does he suddenly want to pay you alimony? Did you two meet yesterday to discuss this?" Avery shook her head. "No. We met yesterday because Layla had a little problem with her work. Apart from that, we didn't talk about anything else." "Was he suddenly feeling kind? Or does he think you look shabby?" Tammy looked at Avery. Avery wore home clothes and h
The takeaway that Tammy ordered for her had arrived, but she hadn't had time to eat because of everything that had happened. She was starving. She walked to the dining room with the takeaway and ate it happily. She knew that when she was too hungry, she could not eat too hastily, otherwise it would hurt her stomach. She still did anyway. She was probably too hungry, and her head was dizzy, so she gulped down several mouthfuls of food in rapid succession. If it weren't for the discomfort in her stomach, she would have gone on. She put a hand on her stomach and got some water to drink. After a while, her phone rang. She returned to the dining room, put down her water glass, and picked up her phone. The call was from Tammy. "Avery, Jun sent me a picture just now. It's about Elliot. Look! I think it would be horrible if he did this!" Tammy was excited as if Elliot had done some nasty stuff. After hanging up, Avery clicked on the picture sent by Tammy. The picture was
The two of them were drinking together tonight. Did Mike tell Chad something after he got drunk? Why would Mike do that? Avery was puzzled! She didn't want to expose Chad and blame him for telling a white lie. "I had a sum of money from selling the company before..." Avery took a deep breath and planned to retort. Even if Elliot had given some thought to it, he would have known that it was nearly impossible for Avery to go broke. She was once the head of a company, and she was unlikely to go broke with the money she got from selling her company. She could go to work to make money if her life was tough. She didn't need to rely on his alimony to live. "Didn't you say the money was saved for Hayden's marriage in a few years?" Elliot asked tightly, "Did Hayden fall in love early?" Based on the words 'marrying a wife' and 'a huge expense' in the text message sent by Chad, Elliot judged that Hayden might have fallen in love early. If he hadn't fallen in love early, how coul
After saying this, she worried that he would really go to Bridgedale to find Hayden. Hayden would definitely annoy him even more. "I was joking with you! Hayden isn't in love, I'm sure." She immediately reassured him, "I don't need your alimony for the time being." "The alimony is not for you, but for Hayden." Elliot corrected her. "Hayden doesn't need it either!" Avery was annoyed by him, "As long as I'm still alive, I don't need you to pay Hayden alimony!" He frowned at her angry voice. He didn't want to quarrel with her. He wanted to communicate with her about her and Hayden's current living situation. If their life was not good, he was willing to help them. His thoughts changed when he reached Avery. She had strong self-esteem, and even if her life was not very good, she would still not receive his help. Avery quickly calmed down after listening to his breathing on the phone. She was so annoyed just now. There was no need to be angry. "If 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