Three hours later, Fred returned to see Eric."It's a shame that he's really a guy! No kidding. You can't fake that Adam's Apple," Fred said regretfully."Why did you spend so much time with him when you already know that he is a guy?" Eric glanced at the time. "Did you two really go for a spa treatment after grabbing food?"Fred shook his head. "No. I did get to see his muscles, though. He got hot while we were eating and he took off his jacket, so I saw everything...""And? What did you two do?" Eric asked in confusion.Meanwhile, Nico showed his sister the screen of his phone."He was playing games with me and helped me get past the difficult levels! He isn't all that good-looking and is a bit chubby, but he is kind of nice. He didn't even swear when our teammates screwed up. I can tell that he is a decent guy," Nico said.Nadia shoved his hand aside. "So? Did you two plan your next gaming session before saying goodbye?""Yeah! I asked him to help me out!" Nico hit his siste
"Hahaha! He is a nice kid with big, puppy eyes. He kept calling me Big Brother and it felt good. I have a younger brother who is nothing like him," Fred explained awkwardly. "Mr. Santos, you won't feel that appalled as long as you stop considering him as someone they tried to set you up with.""I'm not disgusted by him, but by the person who introduced him to me." Eric picked up his glass to pour himself some cold water. "My parents definitely told her about my sexual orientation and she still introduced me to a man. The worst thing is that she even tried to fool me with a woman's photo." Eric paused for a moment and turned to look at Fred. "You said he looked exactly like the girl in the photo?""Not exactly the same, since he is still a guy, but they have really similar features!" Fred said in excitement. "He compared me to your photo when he first saw me and was literally screaming. Hahaha!"Eric had completely lost his interest in this person now that he knew it was a man."Mr.
"Elliot is in Aryadelle right now. We won't know even if it actually works," Sebastian said despite remaining silent the entire time."Haha. If it works, Elliot would be in horrible pain. Don't you think Elliot's men would inform Avery? Once Avery finds out that something is wrong with Elliot, she will naturally try to figure something out. Hahaha!" Dean was overjoyed at the idea.Stanley was shocked. "Dean, we should just focus on earning money. There's no need for us to make Elliot Foster our enemy, right?"Stanley did not know about the fact that Elliot had scammed 2.1 billion out of Dean, and Dean wasn't going to admit to being fooled, so he could only make up an excuse."Elliot and I have a past. Avery and Elliot were the ones who released that scandal about me," Dean said with a dark look. "Stanley, you can't be that timid, can you? If we can control Elliot, both Elliot and Avery are at our command. Their money and connection are all ours to do as we please. When we are riche
He clenched his jaw to keep himself from screaming in pain.The children were already asleep and the mansion was surrounded by silence.There was no point in seeking the help of a medical professional in his condition, so he could only wait for the pain to pass.Elliot had thought that it would eventually fade with time... but half an hour later, it was still as excruciating.He fell to his knees and leaned against the wall. His mind began to stray and his body shivered like a leaf, yet still, he gritted his teeth and managed to not make a sound.He didn't care if he died; at least Avery would be free, then."Mr. Jennings, if we keep stimulating his brain, his life might be threatened if this goes on too long." Liam had been keeping an eye on the time and reminded Dean once it had been half an hour.Dean glanced at his phone. He had yet to receive any call from Avery."Dad, why don't I call Avery and ask her about this?" Concerned that they might accidentally kill Elliot, Sebas
Mrs. Cooper hurried over to try and help Elliot up, but he was too heavy for her to carry on her own, so she ran downstairs to get the bodyguard to help her."Why did Mr. Foster pass out? Did he fall sick? Have you called an ambulance?" The bodyguard hurried upstairs.Suddenly remembering that she was still on the phone, Mrs. Cooper glanced down at the screen on her phone and said, "Avery, Mr. Foster passed out! I need to call an ambulance first! I will call you back later!"Mrs. Cooper hung up and immediately called the emergency line.Shortly after, Elliot was rushed to the hospital.Avery was not in Aryadelle so she couldn't do anything other than worry about him.She called Wesley and asked him to go check on Elliot at the hospital, before calling Sebastian back."You all have crossed the line!" She trembled in rage. "Sebastian, if something happens to Elliot, I will kill you all! I mean it!""What happened?" Sebastian could sense from her tone that something went wrong."
After sending his father home, Sebastian went to see Avery.Avery had already received a call from Wesley, where he informed her that Elliot had regained consciousness.She did not wish for the same thing to happen again, which was why she presented a card to Sebastian as soon as she saw him."There are 2.1 billion in there. You can go to the bank to check," she said with a dark expression.He accepted the card with pursed lips and felt like he was at a crossroads."What’s wrong?" Sensing that something was wrong, Sebastian asked, "Did your dad ask for something else?"Avery knew that Dean would not give up so easily. "Does he want our companies or...""He wanted money." Sebastian gazed up and met her eyes. "He wants 3 billion."She gasped and paled in an instant. "Where am I going to get that much money? Did he really think that Elliot would agree to such nonsense?! He must be daydreaming or something!""I know Elliot wouldn't, but I can't talk my dad out of this either. If I
"I know that person. He used to work at one of the hospitals in Ark Ville. There was some issue with the hospital management and he quit after that," a contact told Avery."Do you know his number?" she asked."No. I don't know him in person but we have a mutual friend. I can try to see if I can ask about it. What do you want with him, though?""There's something I need his help with. Please help me check with that mutual friend of yours.""Sure. I'll keep you posted."...Meanwhile, in Aryadelle, Elliot had regained consciousness and stared dazed at the ceiling. All his memories came rushing back to him from the moment he opened his eyes.Life seemed to have resumed to normal in the past days, giving him an illusion that everything was going to be alright; but the headache last night had burst his bubble.He knew that Dean was behind it. He had scammed a fortune out of Dean and so Dean had been doing everything he could to gain control over Elliot.Elliot did not doubt that Av
Seeing the tears that fell from her eyes, he lifted a hand to wipe away her tears."I will be in unimaginable pain if we don't take it out. Shea, you wouldn't leave me in pain, would you?"She nodded frantically."I would definitely keep trying if there was another way, but there isn't. I don't want to drag Avery down with me. She's had enough and because of me, she has been working day and night without rest. Shea, you would be sad too if you were me, right?"She nodded again."Robert was ill when he was born and you gave him your blood without letting anyone know, even if it meant you would die. You weren't afraid, then, so why should I be?"Her tears rolled down her cheeks at his words.An hour later, Wesley returned with breakfast for them and Shea immediately dragged him out of the room."Shea, why are your eyes all red? Have you been crying? What's wrong? Your brother is awake now?" Wesley glanced at her reddened eye and patted her on the head."Help my brother take that
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