"I will get nervous if you two are staring at me and I'll make mistakes because of that," Layla said to the two of them."Alright... George, come with me," Leah said to the bodyguard."Who gave you permission to call me by my name?" George felt extremely uncomfortable."I heard Layla calling you 'Uncle George'. Is your name not George? How should I address you, then?" Leah led him out of the study room and into the living room. "I bought a lot of snacks that I can't finish on my own. Why don't you take some with you later? Think of it as doing me a favor.""Do you have too much money and nowhere to spend it? Why would you buy so much if you couldn't finish them?" George thought back to the snacks he had received from Layla. Though they were delicious, he still felt that it was weird for a grown man to eat snacks."I would go out whenever I'm bored, and it's not like I can just walk around shops without buying anything... I've been buying snacks every day, and now, I barely have en
"Why not? We have meat every day before this!" Confused, Layla followed Mrs. Cooper's motion and gazed outside as well."Today is the death anniversary of your grandma. Your mom proposed to go vegetarian for just one day in her memory," Mrs. Cooper explained. "Layla, do you remember your grandma?""I... Of course, I remember Grandma," Layla said when in truth, she could barely remember her grandmother's face.It had been a long time since her death, and she had been rather young at the time. Though she had cried and mourned for Laura at the time, time had slowly taken away the pain."There's no meat on the menu, but I've added some sugar. Why don't you try it?" Mrs. Cooper said. "I'll make you something nice tomorrow morning.""I'm not that crazy about meat," Layla said as she picked up the spoon. "I am fine with no meat.""Sure. What is George saying to your mom? He's acting all mysterious," Mrs. Cooper whispered."I don't know either. He didn't say anything to me. I was workin
Wanda struggled to regain her composure or bring herself to settle down. She felt as though the sky was falling upon her.Even if Avery was not the true owner of Dream Maker, she must have a deep connection to the organization.Wanda had thought that Avery would struggle to survive once Elliot was gone, and she had not expected her to find yet another powerful force to back her up.What terrified Wanda most was that Avery had said she planned to avenge her mother.Wanda felt as though someone was pointing an invisible gun at her head. She glanced around; nowhere seemed safe for her.She rushed to the windows and doors, closing and locking them. She sweated as she made sure everything was locked. She picked up a glass to pour herself some water, but it did not help the sweat on her back. She set the glass down and picked up the remote controller for the air conditioner instead, adjusting the temperature to its lowest setting. She then stepped into the bedroom and took out a set o
Wanda stared at the number with bloodshot eyes."Revenge…" she thought. "Avery is here to take revenge!"She wanted to call out for her bodyguard, but then she remembered that she only got her bodyguard to accompany her to crowded events.She knew that she had to hang up, but her fingers moved towards the 'answer' button. Once she pressed on it, it was too late for her to hang up because she heard Jack's voice."Laura, today's the best day in our lives, and also the fifth anniversary since we fell in love. I am so happy! Do you feel the same?" Jack's voice pierced through her ears, and Wanda stared at the screen dazedly."Jack, I feel the same." Laura's voice was overjoyed. "This is the first five years of our life together. We will have plenty more from now on.""Thank you, Laura! Thank you for staying by my side through thick and thin! You have always been there to comfort me and take care of me at my lowest. Without you, I wouldn't be the man that I am now. I swear in front of
He had lost his appetite."That's all you are eating? Wanda is going to die so just relax..." Mike consoled him."I miss my grandma," Hayden explained. "If she was still alive, both me and my mom would be much happier these past few years."You still remember your grandma? I thought you had forgotten—""Of course, I still remember my grandma. She was the person who cared most about me." Hayden remembered his childhood slightly better than Layla and could distinctly recall the unconditional love they had received from Laura.Avery was not home due to work most of the time, and it was Laura who had taken care of them.As Hayden and Layla were different from other children, they had not been sent off to kindergarten. Laura spent every day thinking about what she could cook them or how she could keep them entertained. Even when they were different, she had never seemed to have issues with that."You are luckier than me. You had your mom and your grandma. As far as I can remember, al
In Elliot's mansion, a few cars were parked outside the yard.Once Avery got out of her car, Tammy and Shea stepped out of the house.Avery's lips curled into a smile at the sight of them.She had been in a horrible mood the past few days and did not want to see anyone else, so the two had not visited.Sometimes, one's friends might know one better than their lovers."Avery, did you go see your mom?" Tammy approached her and beamed. "I heard that Wanda is dead. That's great news.""Yeah. When did you arrive? Why didn't you tell me?" Avery took Tammy's hand in one of hers, and Shea's hand in the other and strolled back into the house."Mike told us that Wanda is dead in the chat group so I thought you must be in a better mood now, so I asked Shea out to come and see you together." Tammy pulled Avery to the couch to take their seats.Mrs. Cooper immediately came over with a bowl of soup and handed it to Avery. "Lunch will be ready shortly.""Do you two want soup? Mrs. Cooper mak
"Avery, did you think that Jun was a great kid when he was little? According to my mother-in-law, he enjoyed fighting others when he was a kid. My parents said that I was a little princess when I was a kid..."Avery had not expected them to grow up into such different people. "My Tiffany is a combination of me and Jun, I guess! She does reason with people, but she can be a bit impatient," Tammy said while she reached for a banana and peeled it lazily. "Shea, your mother-in-law fell and hurt her back, so I don't think she can do chores anymore. You can totally send Kiara to a daycare near your place."Shea nodded. "We already did, but she cries on the way to and from daycare every single day... The teacher mentioned that she's not much of a crybaby in daycare, though.""Kids are all like that. She will get used to going there soon," Tammy consoled her."Shea, when did your mother-in-law hurt her back? Is it bad?" Avery did not have a clue that such a thing had happened."That's a
She took out her phone and saw a number from Bridgedale, so she immediately exited the room to answer the call."Am I speaking to Miss Avery Tate?""Yes. Who is this?""I am Mrs. Wanda Tate's lawyer. May I know where you are at the moment? Have you heard the news of Mrs. Tate's death?""I did. What about it?""She mentioned before her death that if she dies, it had to be you pulling the strings. I wonder if you have something to say for yourself?""How ridiculous. I don't have to be a lawyer to know that an accusation requires proof. She wanted to accuse me of murdering her, but does she have proof? Besides, she is in Bridgedale, and I'm in Aryadelle, how exactly am I supposed to kill her?""Even if you are physically in Aryadelle, you can hire someone to kill her.""If you can't provide proof that I have hired someone to kill her, then I can sue you for defamation. You have one week. If you can't provide any supporting evidence, you will be hearing from my lawyer.""Miss Tate
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