Natalie was furious. She wanted to smash her phone to pieces, but she held back.She took a deep breath and asked, "How is Holly's arrangement? She cannot appear in public in the future! Let alone in front of Elliot and Avery! If she gives me up, I'm finished!""Miss Jennings, don't worry. She promised me that she would never appear in front of anyone. If she does not hide away this time, she will surely be put to death.""Why is Avery so lucky?" Natalie gritted her teeth. "She has been starved for six days and yet she lives!""I, too, did not think that she would be able to survive! Looking at how skinny she is, I thought she would not be able to survive long! I wonder where Elliot is… maybe Avery knows about it.""Pay close attention to Avery's situation. See if you can bribe the medical staff in the hospital," Natalie instructed. "If you can find out where Elliot is, I will surely pay you handsomely!"At the hospital, when Avery woke up once more, the doctor immediately rushed
Avery did not heed the doctor's advice. The only thing she heard was that they had only rescued her and that they had not found Elliot.How did this happen? Elliot was trapped together with her. How did they only rescue her but not Elliot?After she was transferred to the normal ward, Ben and Chad stood by the side of the bed, looking at her hopefully.Her bodyguard suddenly knelt by the side of the bed with a thud."Miss Tate! I'm sorry! I didn't protect you well! Almost letting you die!" The bodyguard started crying.Ben and Chad looked at the bodyguard in astonishment.Avery turned her attention to him."Miss Tate! Thank goodness you're not dead! Thank goodness you survived! If not, I will die too!" The bodyguard wept and wiped away his tears.Chad glanced at Avery before reprimanding the bodyguard, "She just came out from the intensive care unit. She's barely awake, and yet you're so noisy. Aren't you afraid that you'll scare her until she passes out?"Ben's head hurt. "
"I'm not going home. I'm not going anywhere." Avery rejected Hayden's arrangement without hesitation. "I'm going to look for your father. I'm going to get him back!"Avery's voice was hoarse. She had lost control of her emotions.Ben patted Hayden on the shoulder. "Hayden, go back to the hotel and rest. We'll talk to Avery."Hayden did not want to leave Avery. He was afraid that he would lose her if he left her."Listen to me. Your mother must remain calm right now, but she has gotten all worked up after she found out that Elliot is missing. No matter what she says right now, we have to follow her." Ben pulled Hayden outside the ward and said in a low voice, "Go back with the bodyguard to the hotel and rest. Chad and I will surely convince her to get some rest.""I want to take Mommy back to Bridgedale to get treated," Hayden said, explaining his own intentions."Hayden, Aryadelle is Avery's home. Even if you wanted to get Avery treated, you will have to go to Aryadelle. Layla an
Avery's mind was filled with Elliot. She could barely think about anything else."Avery, did you clear your misunderstandings between each other in the underground cellar?" Ben looked at Elliot's shirt in her hand and asked."He said that he has always loved me…" Tears fell once more. Her voice was trembling. "Me too. Me too!"Ben's words were stuck in his throat. He wanted to say something else but felt it was unnecessary.At that moment, Elliot was nowhere to be found. No one knew if he was dead or alive. If he were to let her know that Elliot's love for her has never once wavered, it would only make her suffer more.Avery sobbed for a while and passed out due to her body still being weak.Ben and Chad came out from the ward. They took deep breaths."Ben, what should we do?" Chad was heartbroken. "If we can't find Mr. Foster, I don't think Avery would be able to recover from this.""I don't know what to do either," Ben's head hurt terribly. "I think that Elliot is not in Ylor
Avery grabbed Hayden's arm with one hand, trying to get up from the wheelchair."Mommy, do you want to head down?" Hayden helped Avery up with both hands, carefully helping her up from the wheelchair. "The underground cellar has been dug up. We can see the entire cellar from here."Avery stretched her neck forward to look as far as she could."Over here is the first entrance. The well is over there." Hayden pointed the directions to Avery. "Mommy, even before we found you, Elliot was not there.""Where did he go? When did he leave me? Who took him away?" Avery looked at Hayden and asked him a series of questions."I don't know, but the one thing I do know is that they must have taken him from the front entrance, as the well was still welded shut when we got here.""Have you found Holly Blanche yet?" Avery held her tears back. "That liar! If I see her again, I'll kill her with my own hands!""Mommy, she did not head back to her hometown. Perhaps, she might not even be in Ylore."
On the way back, Mike rubbed his palms together. After a moment of hesitation, he said to Avery, "I haven't told Layla yet, but she has already guessed that something has happened to you. I wanted her to come and pick you up together with me, but she refused."Avery's lips quivered, but she could not make a sound.Even if they were to hide this from the children, one day, they would surely hear this from someone else or see it on the news.At Elliot's mansion, Mrs. Cooper had made a feast. She was waiting by the entrance.Layla and Robert were waiting in the living room. They did not play with their toys or eat anything.Robert wanted to head to the courtyard, but Layla held his hand, not letting him go. She was feeling terrible and wanted someone to stay with her.For the past few days, she had been secretly calling Avery and Elliot but neither of them had answered their phones. She had asked Mike why she could not get through to them. Mike had been evasive and avoided talking
"Layla, what is it?" Robert saw Layla weeping. He immediately grabbed her hand and shook her."Daddy is missing! He might be dead!" Layla sobbed and flung Robert's hand away, running inside.Robert wailed and cried, startled.Mike immediately picked Robert up and said to Hayden, "Go coax Layla."Hayden strode into the house.Chad pushed Avery along, following them. When they entered the living area, the children had been consoled.Hayden told Layla that Avery had almost died, and she was rescued from the brink of death with much difficulty. He hoped that Layla would be more understanding and not cry in front of Avery.When Layla heard this, she kept herself from crying. When Robert saw that Layla had stopped crying, he too stopped crying. However, his mouth was still twitching. He looked extremely pitiful.Mrs. Cooper bore through the heartbreak and called everyone to the dining hall for dinner.Avery did not have an appetite, but she did not want to stop the others from hav
Mrs. Cooper immediately picked Robert up and left the dining hall.Avery placed the bowl down. She had finished her porridge. The moment she put down her utensils another servant came over."Avery, let me send you back to your room!"Although Hayden was a good child, Avery had to be washed. It was inconvenient for Hayden to do it.A week later, Leah came to Natalie's place for a meal. Natalie was the one who had taken the initiative to invite Leah over.Leah had overheard her conversation the last time she had come over. Although Leah had claimed that she had forgotten the conversation, Natalie still worried about it."Leah, how are you feeling with school?" Natalie had ordered food to be sent to her place earlier. At that moment, the table was filled with dishes, and it smelled amazing."The first week is great. I'm still building relations with the students." Leah looked at the feast on the table. She said, stunned, "Natalie, you have ordered so much food. We surely won't be a
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