Elliot's bodyguard waited until two in the morning, yet he still did not see Angela come out. He felt that something was strange.After all, Angela was about sixty-something years old. How could a person at that age stay up so late at night?Moreover, she had her wedding the next day. It was impossible for her to stay up late.Thus, Elliot's bodyguard went into the hotel to ask and see if Angela's celebration banquet had ended.The hotel staff told him that it had ended at midnight. It had been two hours since the banquet ended.Elliot's bodyguard did not know what went wrong. He was bewildered.Chad believed that the bodyguard did not fall asleep, but something must have gone wrong somewhere."She is either still in the hotel or she must have left from another exit," Chad calmly analyzed. "Her wedding is tomorrow. She must have returned to the Jennings.""Then I'll go there and keep an eye on her.""I'm afraid you don't have a good opportunity to kidnap her already," Chad was
Dean hung up. With the help of the servants, he washed up."Sir, Ma'am might not be up yet," the servant consoled Dean."I guess so too. She usually sleeps quite a lot." Dean felt much better thinking that.After washing up, the servants sent breakfast to Dean's room.Dean was having breakfast while accepting phone calls from his friends wishing him well.After breakfast, the bodyguard called him."Mr. Jennings, I'm outside Angela's house now. I pressed the doorbell a few times, but no one opened the door. I can't get through her phone, too. What should I do now?" The bodyguard was a little worried."No one opened the door?" Dean gasped and said without thinking, "Kick the door down! It's her wedding day! She might have overslept!"Dean did not allow anything to go wrong on the wedding that day, not even being late! Dean did not hang up, so he heard the bodyguard fire his gun. After the door had been kicked down, the bodyguard quickly entered."Ma'am!" the bodyguard yelled.
"I don't think the wedding is happening anytime soon," the bodyguard mocked as he watched the entire Jennings family erupt into chaos. "I suppose there's no point for me to stay here any longer.""Don't be so sure yet," Chad immediately said. "Dean must have his men searching for Angela already. He is more powerful than us here in Bridgedale, so you should stay here and see if they find her in the end. It's still better than going to search for Angela on your own.""You have a point, Chad," the bodyguard said, before hanging up.Chad checked the time and noticed that it was only seven in the morning.Elliot was probably still asleep.He went toward the master bedroom and opened the door slightly to look inside; as expected, Elliot was still asleep.Elliot had drunk too much the night before and Chad did not think that he would be able to wake up until noon.Chad, too, had finished a whole bottle of red wine on his own, but he felt no other discomfort apart from the mild headache
Angela was beaming at her at the time. Avery had thought that Angela was mocking her, but based on what had happened, she realized that that might not be the case."Avery, why aren't you saying anything?" Sebastian asked. "This is probably a good thing, right? With her gone, she won't be marrying my dad and so my dad's plan has gone down the gutter."Avery hummed in response. "It's good news, but where is she? Where do you think she is? Has she been living with your dad all these years?""Yeah, it's been quite long. She moved in at first to take care of my dad, and then the two said they were getting married. She isn't in that blue building she owns as well. My dad has sent out all his men to look for her, but no one knows where she is.""Why would she just disappear? If she really doesn't want to marry your dad, she could have refused him. Why would she agree to marry him, only to run from the wedding? It's like it's all just a game for her," Avery said dazedly."She's kind of cr
Amelia quieted down."What aren't you two telling me?" Avery questioned. "Do you two know each other? How? Tell me!"Amelia was confused. "Didn't you say you are together? I thought you already knew.""We didn't break up, but he's not home right now. He went out last night and said he will be back in two days," Avery explained.Amelia was not anticipating this. Elliot would be furious if he found out that she had accidentally let their secret slip to Avery and would definitely not ask for her help with the surgery."Since there's no point hiding now, I will just tell you! He asked me to perform surgery on him today to take that device out of his brain," Amelia explained after readjusting herself. "Avery, I didn't contact him. He was the one who approached me.""Is he trying to die?""Of course, not! He just doesn't want to live under someone else's control any longer, nor does he want to watch while you suffer," she said. "Now that you know, you should go and talk to him!"Aver
"Mr. Foster, go wash up. I will order breakfast for you," Chad said before swiftly stepping out of the bedroom.After ordering food, Chas messaged Mike to explain the current situation.[Damn! I'm not really surprised that Elliot would do such a thing, but I still admire his courage!] Mike replied.[Avery is furious.][Is she wrong to be furious? She's been spending every waking and sleeping moment thinking of ways to save him, and he decides to die. I would be mad, too, if I was her.][But it's not really Mr. Foster's fault. He doesn't want to cause her any trouble.][I know that! I don't blame your boss for doing what he did, but if he wanted to die, he should have gotten on with it. Now that she found out, it's only going to upset her.][F*ck off!][I just woke up and I'll be heading to Dean and Angela's wedding later.][You just woke up? Angela has gone missing. There's no wedding today.][Sh*t! How did she go missing?]Just then, Chad received a phone call from Elliot's
"Besides, my dad will be looking for Mary as well. He won't stop," Sebastian said. "Come to think of it, Angela had it all planned out right from the beginning! She has been weaving this gigantic web this whole time! She had known my dad for years, and still, she had never allowed us to meet Mary."Avery listened to him seriously while trying to figure out a way to find Mary."None of us know what she looks like, so it's difficult to find her. My dad has never paid much attention to Mary because she was adopted. Judging from the current situation, I think Angela had handed everything she had over to Mary." Sebastian came to a sudden realization. "My dad thought he outsmarted everyone, but he had lost to Angela right from the start.""Sebastian, let me know right away if your dad finds Mary." Avery paused for a moment, before continuing, "I didn't expect Angela to end her life like that. She didn't give anyone a chance to react.""You are panicking, aren't you? Now that Angela is de
"I'll go home at night." He did not want to end their relationship; he simply did not want to spend all day under her supervision as though he would not survive without her protection. It felt horrible, and he would rather die on the streets than live like this."Alright... As long as you are willing to come home. But no more drinking or getting drunk," Avery said. "I won't drink again as well.""Go!" Elliot set the glass of milk down. "I want to rest."Avery hesitated for a moment, before turning to leave.Chad was surprised to see Avery coming out this quickly. "Avery, Mr. Foster...""He said he wants to rest." She looked at Chad and said, "He's mad at me. I can't blame him because I did break our promise. Chad, keep an eye on him. He said he will come home at night, so please help send him back."Chad nodded. "I don't know what happened between you two, but make sure you talk it out.""Angela is dead, and it's over now." Avery did not want to discuss this any further. "I'll b
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