Mike cleared his throat and forcefully cough a few times before standing up from his chair. "I'm leaving…""I remembered! You told Avery that you're going to the office today. What office? A person like you can't possibly work for other people." Ben stood up too and pushed Mike back down into the chair. "Tell me! If you're not going to tell me, don't think about going to the office today."Mike said, "Bloody hell! What are you doing? Just because Elliot is ignoring you, so you're taking it out on me?""You're living with Avery. You two are as close as family. Now that Elliot is in Avery's hands, of course, I'll pay more attention to your situation!" Ben looked down at Mike from high up. "You better come clean. Don't make me…"Mike had a condescending look. "Don't make you do what?""I'll send a message to Chad right now to say that you're the one who founded Dream Maker," Ben threatened.Mike let out a snicker. "Have you suspected it for a long time?"Ben raised his eyebrow. "Wa
In Aryadelle, news of Elliot being found had spread home. The people in Elliot's mansion were filled with delight as if they were celebrating New Year's.Mrs. Cooper deliberately went to the market to shop. She planned to make a scrumptious feast that evening to celebrate Elliot being found."George, get Layla's teacher to come for dinner later. Ms. Kennedy is a great person. She became enemies with her family just to help us. Any other person would not have done this," Mrs. Cooper said to George.George nodded. He looked at the time, and it was almost half past four in the afternoon."I'll go to school to pick Layla up.""Okay, be careful." Mrs. Cooper saw George leave.That day, Mrs. Cooper acted on her own initiative and called Mrs. Scarlet to get Mrs. Scarlet to bring Shea over for dinner.After Shea had given birth, Mrs. Scarlet went over to the Brooks to help care for Shea and the child.She had suffered terrible depression when she found out that Elliot had gone missing.
Robert was instantly surprised and delighted. "My daddy is back? Daddy! Daddy!"Robert pulled Kiara along and quickly ran inside."Robert, your daddy is not back yet, but your mommy has found him. They are in Bridgedale right now." Wesley saw how excited Robert was, so he immediately said to him, "They will be back soon."Robert laughed happily. "I want to give him a video call!""We'll wait for your sister to return before calling him. Your Daddy is still sleeping over there. It's not daytime yet!" Wesley patted Robert on the head. "Robert, go play with Kiara for a while. When Layla is back, we'll eat.""Then, I'll take Kiara out to play with the flowers!" Robert pulled Kiara out into the courtyard. He said that he took Kiara to play with the flowers, but in fact, he wanted to wait in the courtyard. That way, when Layla returned, he would be able to see her immediately.At Layla's elementary school, George arrived before Layla finished school, so he went to the teacher's office
About half an hour later, Wesley, Kiara, and Robert went to Layla's school to pick her up.Layla was worried for Leah and George's safety, and she looked extremely sad. She looked like she had just stopped crying. Tears stained her face. "Layla!" Robert saw Layla from afar. He immediately called her and ran over to her.Kiara followed Robert, trying to chase after him.Layla was a little surprised that Robert and Kiara were there. In order to maintain her older sister image, she quickly collected her emotions."Why are you two here?" Layla was given a huge hug by Robert before Kiara joined in."Layla, they insisted on coming to pick you up." Wesley took Layla's bag and asked, "What happened to George?""Uncle George said that my teacher has been kidnapped, so he went to rescue her." Layla was a little sad. "I wonder if he has found her.""Your teacher has been kidnapped? He could have chosen to call the police," Wesley said in a serious manner. "He left you alone at school. Wh
"Natalie is my cousin. I was wrong to betray her. If you were to kill me, my parents would surely suspect that it was her. This would do no good to my cousin's family, so I'll kill myself. You don't need to do it," said Leah. "If I were to die on my own, my family would think that I killed myself. This matter won't blow up. This would be good for you all too."The two perpetrators were stunned by her words."How do you want to kill yourself?""Isn't there a river by the second ring road? Send me there. I'll jump down from the bridge." Leah's face was calm as if she had already welcomed death. "The last time I passed by, I had a look. One would surely die jumping from that height."The perpetrators looked at each other. There was indeed a river by the second ring road. There was also a bridge. Many chose to jump down that bridge yearly to end their lives.The people of Avonsville have seen a lot of news of people jumping into the river, so the perpetrators tacitly agreed to Leah's
"Your Daddy is still sleeping. It's only six-something in the morning right here," Avery softly replied to Layla before greeting the others. "Wesley, Shea, Kiara, and Robert. I miss all of you! I want to go back to see you all.""Avery, are you all alright?" Wesley asked, concerned."Hmm. He has returned to me for an entire day," Avery's gaze was gentle. Her tone was light too. "Don't worry about him. Especially Shea…""Mommy, I was also very worried for Daddy!" Layla grumbled a little."I know you were worried for Daddy, but your Aunt Shea has lost a lot of weight because of your daddy's incident. I feel terrible for her," Avery explained to Layla, "Of course, no matter what happened to your daddy, I hope that this won't affect your learning and your life.""It doesn't affect me. I have been studying well every day. Mommy, go wake Daddy up! All of us want to see him. If you don't want to wake him up, let us see him. I'm sure that's okay, right?" Layla tried to bargain with Avery.
Avery knew that he must be awake. Layla and Robert had yelled out for their Daddy so loudly, how could he have not heard?He went to bed early the night before. No matter what time he fell asleep, lying for so long, he should have gotten a good sleep already.He wanted to run away. He did not know how to face his children.Avery could understand him. However, running away was not a solution.Her phone screen suddenly lit up. She took her phone to have a look. It was a message from Wesley.[Avery, what happened to Elliot?]Sure enough, nothing could escape Wesley's eyes. She had asked them to give Elliot and her a little time. Wesley could sense her sadness when she said that sentence, so he suspected that Elliot might be in a more serious condition.Avery sat by the side of the bed and replied to Wesley's message.Behind her, Elliot slowly opened his eyes. When Layla called him 'Daddy' the first time, he was already awake.No. It should be the moment when Avery got out of bed
Avery immediately turned around to look at Elliot. His back was facing her, as if there was a line drawn between their two worlds.Avery was lost in thought as she looked at his strong and broad back. As she stared at him silently, she felt an inexplicable surge of courage and motivation. She gently laid down next to him and hugged him around his chest."Elliot, just stay next to me just like yesterday and I'm happy," She leaned against his back and gently muttered.He said nothing, but she knew that he heard her. She did not need a reply. She knew how miserable he was feeling. She only asked that he give her a little time to find a way to solve this.In Aryadelle, George drove to the hospital to ask the medical staff about the girl who jumped into the river."Are you a member of her family?" the nurse asked.George was stunned for a while before nodding. "I'm her friend. How is she doing right now?""She's still being resuscitated. Are you going to help her pay for her medica
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