It was dinner time at Starry River Villa."Avery, Wesley came by to see you this afternoon," Laura said with bright eyes. "He told me that he was going to settle down here in Aryadelle…"Avery figured out what her mother was thinking from the grin on her face."Mom, I know you're hoping I'll find someone to get married to soon, but please don't pull that face while we are in public. Otherwise, people would think I'm desperate for marriage!" Avery pleaded. "I'm still in my twenties. I'm still young! This is the time I should be focusing on my career. Once I'm successful, men will be lining up to marry me."The smile on Laura's face vanished."I'm not pestering you… I just really think that Wesley's a great man. He took care of you the whole time you were abroad! Don't you see how well he treats you?""Am I supposed to marry anyone who's good to me? In that case, Professor Hough was good to me, too!""Fine! Keep acting blind! Wesley really is a good man. You might never find someo
That afternoon, Ben showed Elliot a photo of Avery and Wesley together."Avery's new boyfriend."Elliot glanced at the picture, and his eyes darkened as he asked, "Isn't that Professor Hough's assistant?"He took Ben's phone from his hand and zoomed in."Do you know this man?" Ben asked as his interest rose. "Rumor has it that Avery took him around Tate Industries all afternoon. They were walking side by side, chatting and laughing with each other. They looked especially close to each other!"Elliot passed the phone back to Ben and said, "I know him.""Oh. I think they look pretty good together," Ben said deliberately when he saw Elliot's expressionless face. "One has a gentle aura, while the other is elegant—"Elliot looked up and shot a cold look at Ben."You never have anything nice to say, do you?""I'm innocent! It's just that, looking at the jewel you picked for Avery makes me think you still have some love for her," Ben teased. "You didn't want to give her a necklace, e
Zoe's words left Avery frozen in shock."If I'm right, the children are yours and Elliot's," Zoe said as her wicked laughter traveled through the phone.Avery could not help but feel a chill run through her body."Adoption papers are private and confidential!" she retorted as she clenched her fists tightly."Of course! Adoption papers wouldn't typically be disclosed, but my father isn't just your average Joe," Zoe said as she let out an arrogant, maniacal cackle. "My father's connections in Bridgedale confirmed that you lied! I heard Elliot hates children and had always been determined not to have them. I wonder what he'd do if he finds out that your children are his!""Zoe Sanford! You're going too far!" Avery snapped furiously."Am I the one going too far, or are you?! Elliot is my boyfriend now! You're his ex-wife! You're divorced! Why do you keep getting in between us?" Zoe shrieked in a much sharper voice than Avery."I'll keep your secret on the condition that you never me
Zoe's body trembled uncontrollably."You! You—"Her head was buzzing as she turned blue in the face."I was also at Elizabeth Hospital that day, and accidentally caught a glimpse of the person who operated on Shea," Avery said sternly as she watched the fear and anxiety on Zoe's face. "If you want to threaten me, then you must first properly consider if you can handle being discarded!"At that moment, the drinks and desserts arrived.Avery casually began to enjoy her afternoon tea."I underestimated you, Avery Tate!"Zoe went from having the winning ticket in her grasp to being completely helpless in a matter of minutes."We're even! Let's just pretend like nothing happened! I won't tell Elliot about your secret, so I hope you can keep your lips sealed, too!""Weren't you pretty cocky just now?" Avery mocked. "All you had was a tiny bit of leverage, and you decided to act so conceitedly. How could you be in research with that attitude? Even after ten years, you won't be able t
Since Avery booked the largest ballroom at the hotel, Elliot went ahead and booked the smaller ballroom right next to it.He wanted to see for himself exactly how grand Avery's birthday party would be.…That weekend, everyone who received an invitation to the party gathered in the largest ballroom— Astor Hall— at the Oasis Hotel."Why isn't Avery here yet?" Tammy asked Mike the moment she stepped into the banquet hall. "She hasn't even replied to my text from last night."Mike shrugged, then explained, "She's been busy lately. I don't know what she's busy with, but I already sent her the address, and she promised to be here.""Okay… Isn't she busy with stuff at the company?" Tammy asked."She isn't! I really don't know what she's been so busy with. Everyone has the right to their own personal space. We might be close like sisters… I mean, brother and sister… I won't force her to tell me anything she doesn't want me to know about.""I see… Since she's been busy, who's the one w
Wesley noticed the fight as he left the hall.When he rushed over, he realized that things were not as simple as they seemed.Mike was getting beaten up by two men, and one of those men was Avery's ex-husband, Elliot Foster.Wesley quickly yanked Mike to his side, then asked Elliot, "Why are you hitting Mike?"Elliot had arrived three minutes ago.When he saw Mike pinning Chad down and beating him up, his blood pressure shot up like a launching rocket, and he kicked Mike without another word. Once he had leveled the playing field, the fight became a two-against-one brawl. "He was hitting my assistant, Mr. Brook," Elliot explained as he dusted himself down. "Chad's weak and can't handle a fight."Wesley noticed Chad's broken glasses, then shot a glare at Mike."Avery's phone's turned off. We don't know if something's happened to her," he said. "I'm going to look for her now. You can either go back to the hall and entertain the guests, or you can come with me to search for her
Avery's car doors were locked!There was only a piece of glass between them, and Elliot had no way of getting to her.The bodyguard rushed over with an emergency hammer, smashed the windshield open, and jumped into the car.Once he was in, the bodyguard unlocked the doors.Elliot opened the door to the driver's seat and took Avery in his arms.She had no visible injuries, but her breathing was shallow!She looked as if she was in a coma.Otherwise, she would have been startled awake when the bodyguard broke the windshield.At the hospital, after giving Avery a thorough examination, the doctor said, "She fainted from lack of oxygen. You sent her here just in time, so she's not in any danger. All she needs is some rest. She'll be fine when she wakes up.""How did she end up with a lack of oxygen? Did her test results show that something was wrong?" Elliot asked."Her blood tests showed that all of her vitals are fine… Apart from some low blood sugar, there weren't any issues,"
"We're friends," Wesley answered."Professor Hough had plenty of female students. You're not this close to Zoe Sanford, are you?" Elliot said mockingly. "Do you have feelings for Avery?"Wesley felt a strong sense of hostility from him."Isn't Avery allowed to start a brand new relationship?" Wesley asked with a gentle smile. "Mr. Foster, has Avery ever said anything about your relationship with Miss Sanford?"Elliot's eyes filled with a frosty chill as he said, "That's one thing I find strange. When I asked you to help me find the student that the professor mentioned before he died, you gave me a list of names. Why didn't you just tell me that it was Zoe? She said she knew you. You probably know her, too, right?"Wesley was surprised to find that Elliot was not as clueless as he had thought."Of course, I know her. However, it's been many years since she graduated, so I can't comment on her skills now. Which is why I gave you the list for you to find out for yourself."Elliot w
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