"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
Sebastian stared at the trembling wrinkles on Dean's face and asked, "Dad, did Aunt Angela really not say anything to you before she died?""Nothing at all! Do you really think I would let the wedding go on if she had told me about this? I can't take the humiliation!" Dean's blood pressure was about to rise again."Don't get mad, Dad. Angela is already dead. You need to take care of yourself," Sebastian said. "Just stay in the hospital until you recover. I've sent someone over to the wedding venue to take care of things. We will just treat it as your birthday celebration for this year.""Sebastian, are you laughing at me?" Dean forcefully suppressed his anger. He had always been proud, and he knew just how discomfited he looked more than anyone. He did not want anyone to see him like this."Why would I laugh at you, Dad? I am a member of the Jennings family, and I wish for nothing more but for our family to grow more powerful, just like you.""Hahaha! Angela had a sweet tongue, to
After Avery got into the car, Wilson did not bother asking where she wanted to go and sent her home straight away."Miss Tate, you look so tired. You should rest at home!"Avery touched her face and mumbled, "It's all happening too fast. I've never expected things to turn out this way. It's just strange, but I can't seem to put my finger on which part of it didn't make sense.""It is strange. I have been checking the news and all the netizens have gone crazy over this." Wilson glanced at the clock and said, "You should go take a nap. You said that Elliot will be home at night, right? When he comes home, you two will have to have a long talk and you can't talk to him if you are exhausted.""Do you think I was wrong, Wilson?" she asked."No, you are not, Miss Tate, but neither is Elliot. Fate just loves to torture people is all," Wilson consoled her. "If I know that you are at fault here, Elliot should know that as well."Avery felt the urge to chuckle at the clumsy consolation.I
"Hayden! How could you say something like that to your dad?!" Avery's blood ran cold, stricken by the shock that her son would say such a thing to Elliot."I don't want someone like this to be my father!" Hayden shouted. "You've never given up on him, so what gave him the right to give up? What else can he do apart from causing you trouble?! He's a good-for-nothing!"Slap!Unable to contain her rage, Avery slapped Hayden on the face.It was the first time she had ever hit her children. Her palm felt numb, and her heart twitched with pain.Tears welled up in her eyes as she saw the look of disbelief on Hayden's face.She wanted to apologize right away, but Hayden beat her to it and turned to run away."Hayden!" Avery wanted to go after her, but the nanny came and stopped her."Avery, you've just slapped him. He probably hates you for it right now. Just let the bodyguard go after him," the nanny said. "Hayden is your son. He won't be mad at you for long. It'll be fine once he fig
"You don't understand me enough. I can bear with the suffering, but I can't let you marry some other guy for my sake. Never," he said in a determined tone. "If something like that happens again, I will still do something that disappoints you two.""I get it. I won't do it again.""Eat! We can talk after you finish your dinner."Avery had no appetite, but because Elliot was staring at her, she had to force the food down.She came to realize how Elliot must have felt from her forcing her will on him recently after finishing her dinner."Let's go out for a walk!" she suggested."Okay.""It's a bit cold outside. I'll go grab the jacket." She glanced at the sky outside, before going to take two thick jackets.She handed Elliot his jacket and put on her own.The two stepped out of the house and strolled toward the center of the residential area."I went to the hospital to look at Angela's body earlier today." She grabbed onto his hand and felt how hot his palm was. "Dean's men were
"If you call her now, she might just run away," Elliot joked.Chad could not help but chuckle. "You know her well.""If I still don't know her despite everything that has happened, I would be a fool.""What are you going to do, Mr. Foster? Dean has lost Angela and poses no threat to you, so we don't have to hold back.""I won't go easy on him, of course." The look in Elliot's eyes darkened. "Even if he is still a threat to me, I'm not afraid of him. I'd rather handle all these people before I die instead of just surviving."Chad frowned; his heart dropped from the word 'die'. "I thought Avery talked to you last night.""I talked to her, and she promised to not do anything that will enrage me again," Elliot said casually. "I will give her another chance."Chad had thought that Avery would lecture Elliot so that he would not throw away his life, but to his surprise, it was Avery who was lectured.In the mansion, Avery was supposed to meet with the five experts she had hired befor
"Alright. Go to work!""Yeah." Avery grabbed her purse and jacket and headed out.The temperature in Bridgedale had dropped drastically as though they had skipped autumn and went straight into winter.She went into the car and gave Wilson the address of her destination."Miss Tate, have you made peace with Hayden?""Not yet. I was out of line and if I was him, I would still be mad as well," Avery said casually. "He likes chestnuts so let's buy some on our way back in the evening.""Yeah. Last night, he was the one who said he wanted to go to the drug store," Wilson said. "I didn't realize it last night but after thinking about it, I realized that he went to the drug store not because his cheek hurt, but because he didn't want you to feel overly guilty if it gets swollen."Avery felt even worse when Wilson said."Miss Tate, I know you didn't mean to hit him. It's just too hard for you to be stuck between Elliot and Hayden. No one on earth can handle their career and family affai
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