"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
"Isn't this Elliot?" Mike swallowed and passed the photos to Avery.Avery's eyes reddened instantly.She took over the photos and immediately recognized the bedridden Elliot. His eyes were shut. His face was void of color, many tubes were sticking out of him, and there was a flatline on the heart monitor. That meant that his heart had stopped beating. A non-beating heart meant that he was dead.Avery's hands were trembling furiously. Her tears fell.She held on and looked at the second photo.The second photo was… It was…Mike saw her shuddering and crying. He immediately snatched the photo."Don't look at it anymore!" Mike was afraid that if she were to continue crying, she would not be able to eat her dinner that night."Give it to me! Give me the photo!" Her eyes reddened, glimmering with tears. She glared at the photos in Mike's hands and yelled.Mike was so frightened by her yells that he did not dare to breathe and immediately returned the photos to her.Once she got
Mike headed over to the dining hall. He picked up the envelope from the floor and looked at the sender's details."What is going on? This says that it has been mailed from the trash station."Hayden walked over to Mike and looked at the information on the envelope. "The person who sent this photo to Mommy does not want her to find out who they are.""But this could mean that the photos have been sent from Bridgedale. Your Daddy was most likely taken to Bridgedale." Mike's mind was spinning quickly. "Could things have played out like your mother suspected? Could it have been done by the Jennings? But why would they want to take your dad away? And now that he is dead, they don't want to take responsibility for his death. So, they broke the news to your mom via an anonymous letter."Hayden said, "I don't know. I only know that it's useless that they sent these photos to Mommy. If Elliot was really cremated, why did they not send his ashes over?"Mike nodded. "Your Mommy will not rest
Mrs. Kennedy left in utter disappointment and anger.Natalie stood in front of Leah, looking down upon her. She said disappointedly, "Leah, you'll regret it. Your mother and father love you so much. The husband they find for you will surely not be from any ordinary family. You are their daughter. Why would they hurt you? You don't understand their sacrifice—""Natalie, when your parents urged you to get married, not once have I persuaded you to listen to them. You don't like other people interfering in your life, yet you want me to listen to my family and marry a man that I don't like?" Leah retorted.Natalie's lips moved a little before saying, "Although it's cheap talking about money, in this society, you can't do anything without money. If I were you, I would not go against my parents' orders. If you don't have the capability of earning much, then you should find a rich family where you can enjoy—""Natalie, I know I'm bad. I'm not as capable as you. I'm not cut out to earn big
"What is it?""Shares to the Sterling Group."Leah was speechless."Although it is not much, it is enough for me to be financially independent for the rest of my life." George immediately regretted his actions, and he wondered why he had offered someone he barely knew the shares. Why did he spill his secrets to her?"Why are you not saying anything?"Leah blushed unnaturally, "George, I never thought that bodyguards like you earn so much. The rich friends around me might not be doing as well as you."The Sterling Group's shares were very valuable.Apart from giving George some company shares, Elliot also paid George a considerable sum and that meant that he trusted George. In the future, if George had any trouble, he will surely help him."An ordinary bodyguard's pay is so-so. My pay is high because Mr. Foster is rich. Also, he is a very sentimental person. He pays attention to who is loyal or disloyal to him. If someone treats him nicely, he will repay them tenfold." George wa
While Leah was thinking about her next course of action Natalie was at her place. Natalie brought Mrs. Kennedy to her place to get her mother to talk to her.Mrs. Jennings held her younger sister's hand and said, "Don't be too sad. Natalie has never once listened to us when it came to marriage, too.""How could you compare them? Natalie is so great! If Leah is as great as Natalie, we would not be so worried about her. Even if she hadn't told us that she wanted to remain single for the rest of her life, we would not have cared!" Mrs. Kennedy said aggrievedly. "There seems to be something going on between her and the Fosters' bodyguard. You don't know how rough he was! He knew who I was, yet he still shoved me to the ground in public. If Leah dares marry him, I… I won't want to live anymore!""Aunt Betty, I'm not clear about the details of her relationship with the bodyguard. It might not be as serious as we think." Natalie saw how sad her aunt was, so she consoled her, "I don't thi
"What solution do you have?" Natalie raised her eyebrow. She was confused. "What is it, Mom? Are you hiding something from me?"Natalie was stunned because her mother was just an ordinary woman.After marrying her father, she had always been a housewife. She had never gone to work a single day in her life.Mrs. Jennings looked into the distance for a few seconds before nodding. "Natalie, I have indeed been hiding something from you. I only didn't tell you because you don't need to know about this, but if you're really in danger…"Natalie stopped her pacing and waited for her mother to finish her sentence."Natalie, have you heard of Dean Jennings before?" Mrs. Jennings was afraid that her daughter would not know who the man was, and she pushed on without waiting for a reply. "The owner of MediLove Pharmaceuticals."Natalie nodded and asked, "You know him? What is your relationship with him? Or… do I have a relationship with him?""Natalie, you're so smart. You immediately guesse
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