Mike was stunned. According to his research, there was no relation between Natalie and Dean, but it did seem to be a coincidence that they both shared the same family name."Maybe I'm just overthinking it," Avery said. "There are a lot of people who have the surname Jennings. They can't all be related.""Forget it and eat up! Weren't you the one who told me that thinking too much when you're eating would cause digestive issues?" Mike said while studying the frown between her brows."Yeah."After dinner, Avery returned to the room to wash up.She could not sleep at all on the plane no matter how hard she tried, so she was exhausted.After showering, she lay on the bed and spotted the big pile of documents Mike had gathered before closing her eyes. She wanted to reach out for it but her arms refused to move. Shortly after, she drifted off to sleep.The next day, the sun shone bright and Mike went to knock on Avery's door.She immediately opened the door."I thought you were stil
"Hello, Miss Tate," said the lawyer, greeting Avery. "I've already met with Wanda Tate's lawyer yesterday and was told that the evidence they hold is a recording of the phone conversation you had with Wanda before her death. They said that you admitted to wanting to kill her at the time.""How ridiculous. I know what I said. I did say that I was going to avenge my mother, but I did not say anything about revenge on Wanda unless she admitted to killing my mother!" She switched on her phone and said, "I recorded the conversation as well. You can listen to it."She found the recording and played it."What... What on earth are you talking about?! Your father is long gone! I watched them cremate him! You designed the robot to look exactly like your father. It was your father's dying wish, and now along comes Dream Maker. That's why you are using his face. This way he is fulfilling his dream! What a great daughter you are!""Wanda, since you've already found out this much, I can only adm
In Aryadelle, Ben had returned but had not gone home to rest immediately. He saw Chad's message as soon as he turned on his phone and called Chad right away. Once Chad explained the situation, Ben instantly told the driver to take him to Tate Industries.Natalie was slightly surprised when she saw Ben."Mr. Schaffer, to what do I owe the pleasure?" She set her work aside and stepped out of her desk. "Do you want something to drink?""Nothing." A cold smile appeared on his face. "Natalie, you should know why I'm here, right?"She watched as the smile faded from his face and realized that there was no point for her to fake ignorance."I can guess." Natalie led him to the couch to sit. "This is about last night, right? I can explain.""Sure. Explain away." Ben sat down casually and stared at her.She lowered her gaze thoughtfully for a few moments and said, "My cousin came to Aryadelle to work after graduating. My aunt reminded me over and over again to look after her. I reminded h
She did not want to look at the face of her moronic cousin again....Avery arrived at the restaurant and saw Sebastian, who she had not seen for a long while.They were not close in the past, so she had already forgotten what he looked like. Seeing him today gave her a feeling that they had never been classmates before. She scowled at the unfamiliar feeling like they were strangers that had never met before."What's that look on your face? Do you think I'm ugly?" Sebastian took out his phone to check his face through the front camera. "I'm quite handsome, I think!""I just feel like I've never known you at all. I can't even be sure if you were really my classmate," Avery confessed."Pfft!" Sebastian came close to spitting out his breakfast. "Avery Tate, that's so rude! I am the second son of the famous Jennings family and you claim to not know me?""MediLove Pharmaceutical is run by your father and your two uncles, so I know what your father and uncles look like. When you final
"I have analyzed it seriously before." Sebastian was afraid that Avery would not believe him, so he said in a low and mysterious voice, "My father is seventy years old this year. When he found a new girlfriend, they would spend all day together. He only had eyes for her, and even when he went to Ylore he took her along."Avery listened attentively, not interrupting him."My father is addicted to women. Although he was also quite ambitious, the foundation of MediLove Pharmaceutical was set by my two uncles. Perhaps because my father doesn't work much, so his body is still in a good condition, whereas my two uncles' health was ruined," Sebastian said. "I'm only telling you this. Don't tell anyone else."Avery blinked. "All these things that you told me are completely useless to me.""How is it useless? I'm trying to eliminate the possibilities. My father surely did not kidnap Elliot. He doesn't like men. He even hates them." Sebastian thought that the information that he provided was
Some of the students yelled and escaped. The bolder ones stood by the side to watch it unfold.Leah's head snapped to the side from the force of the blow, and Layla saw all of this. She did not think and made to rush over.The bodyguard saw that Layla was about to go over, and he immediately stopped her and made his way to Leah."Shut up and follow me!" Leah's mother reprimanded her daughter in public. "I have had enough of you! If I let you continue to be so wild, you might not even know who you are anymore!"Leah clutched her burning cheek. She saw the children surrounding her from the corner of her eyes.As a schoolteacher, at that moment, she was completely embarrassed."What identity?" Leah looked at her mother with teary eyes. "I'm my own person.""Leah, what do you mean by this? Are you going up against me?" Mrs. Kennedy was disappointed when she noticed her daughter disobeying her. "Tell me now, in front of everyone. Tell me, are you going up against me!"Her yells attr
"Your Ms. Kennedy is not missing her mother, she is missing her family's money," George said to Layla.Leah looked up and glared at him before hurrying out of the school gates."Uncle George, you've crossed a line," Layla said and followed Leah. "Let's send Ms. Kennedy home!""Layla, let's not interfere. If we follow her, we might affect her ability to reconcile with her mother." George was angry at Mrs. Kennedy for what she had said about him a moment ago. "Her mother twists facts and has a dirty mouth. I'm afraid if I see her again, I will attack her."Layla replied, "Okay, then! I only feel bad for her. She looked so sad with how she was crying. If I was beaten by my mother—""How could your mother possibly beat you? Don't compare your mother to her mother. They are different." George brought Layla out of school and sent her to the car."Uncle George, after you send me home, go see Ms. Kennedy! If you don't want to go, why don't you call her and ask her if she is alright?"Ge
"Don't compare Avery to other women! You don't know how brilliant Avery is. I know her. She might even be able to cure my brother's sickness." Sebastian got in the car and his assistant followed him closely."Since Avery could cure your brother's sickness, why didn't Old Mr. Jennings hire her to cure him? Wasn't your brother his favorite child?" Sebastian's assistant asked.Sebastian smiled but said nothing.When Avery returned home, she had initially planned to take a nap in her bedroom. However, the moment she entered her room and saw the stack of information on the Jennings by her bed, she was instantly spirited.She took the stack to the window, and she sat down in her chair and started reading through the stack with the sunlight streaming through the window. Her meeting with Sebastian that day had piqued her interest in the Jennings family.Sebastian had said that his father disliked men, implying that his father could not have been the one to have taken Elliot. Avery still
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