"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
He didn't want his determination to waver if he heard her voice."Let's settle this as soon as possible!" He looked at Wesley. "Also, don't tell my kids about this."Wesley exited the room in despair.His head was pounding in pain because no matter what he did, he would either wrong Elliot or Avery in the process."Why do I have to be the bad guy here?" he thought to himself."Wesley, what did my brother say?" Shea walked up to him and asked."He still insists on doing it." He scowled. "Shea, you do know that if we do as he says, Avery will no longer be our friend when she finds out."Shea's expression darkened. "But what else can I do? If only I could take all the pain in my brother's place.""Don't say that, Shea!" Wesley's heart ached at the agony in her expression. "You need to live even if he dies. You have Kiara and me. He doesn't actually want to die, you know? He's just in too much pain and there's no other option...""I know, Wesley. He told me," she said, before pull
She called and Oliver answered after a few moments."Hello, Mr. Raven. I am Avery Tate." She cut to the chase and said, "May I know when you will be free? I would love to meet you in person."He was taken by surprise for a moment. "Miss Tate, how did you get my number? I don't think we have any mutual friends.""We don't, but it's not that hard to find out. The medical field is a small circle and the friends of my friends might very well be your acquaintances.""Oh... Miss Tate, is there something you need?" Oliver already knew what she wanted but did not point it out."I need to talk to you about something important, and I think it's best that we meet in person. Are you free this afternoon?" She wanted to meet with him as soon as possible."I'm busy this noon and this evening... Miss Tate, I won't be free this weekend either." Oliver thought about the bodyguard that Dean had assigned to him. Dean said that it was to protect him, but he knew that the bodyguard was there to superv
After Oliver left, Nadia came out of her room."Mom, what are you quarreling with Dad about?""Do you know Avery Tate? She offered ten times your father's pay to get him to work for her. I feel your father is glowing with money right now!" Mrs. Raven sighed."I told you not to force Dad to sign the contract with Dean Jennings! Now we can only watch this good opportunity pass us by." Although Nadia had never met Avery, she had done an internet search on her. Avery was not only pretty, but she was also exceptional. She was generally known in the medical field as a person with brains and beauty.If Nadia could pick one, she would surely hope that her father would be on Avery's side."You're just saying this after this has happened. Who would have predicted previously that Avery would look for your father today? Also, if your father didn't sign the contract with Dean, perhaps, Avery would not even look for him!" Mrs. Raven snapped."By the way, your aunt called your father early th
"I do not have E's number, but I can ask his mother. You have no idea how much E's mother likes Nadia. She even wanted to head over to Bridgedale to see her in person! I told her not to frighten Nadia, only then did she give up on it," Nadia's aunt chuckled and said, "Wait for me. I'll go ask for E's number right now."Five minutes later, Nadia's aunt sent Eric's number to Mrs. Raven.After Mrs. Raven received his number, she went to first take a cup of water. While drinking water, she saved his number in her contacts.After she saved it, she called him.When Eric saw that it was a foreign number, he ignored it without thinking.Mrs. Raven's enthusiasm was crushed. She hesitated whether to continue calling or wait for a while more calling dialing again.At that moment, Eric's phone rang again. This time, it was his mother.When he saw his mother's call, he immediately answered it."Eric, Nadia's mother asked for your phone number. She might be calling you…""Mom, how could you
After her ramble, Mrs. Raven hung the phone up.Eric had a look of disbelief plastered on his face. That woman was too aggressive. She did not even hear his opinion and forced him to meet up with her. Was that wise?Since Mrs. Raven hung up, the call with his mother resumed."Eric, why are you not talking?""Mom, a call came in just now," Eric explained."Oh, was it Nadia's mother?" His mother guessed it immediately. She was rather excited, "What did she say to you? Did she ask to meet with you? Eric, if she wants to meet you, go get dressed and meet with her.""Mom, aren't you afraid that this blind date fails, and someone exposes me on the internet?" Eric did not want his personal life to be the hot topic of the internet."If this blind date fails and this matter gets exposed, you won't lose out. Your fans will surely think that Nadia is at fault. They will surely protect you!""Okay, Mom, stop talking. I'll go, but only this one time. This is the last time. In the future, do
Mrs. Raven looked at Eric and measured him up from head to toe.Eric wanted her to see his dirty sneakers. His assistant told him that every time he wore dirty sneakers in front of his mother, his mother would be furious and ask him to change his shoes, so his assistant had specially bought this pair of dirty sneakers for him.Who would have thought that after Mrs. Raven measured him up, she smiled at him pleasantly?"Not bad! Your body is not bad!" Then, Mrs. Raven reached out and patted his leg. "You have long legs!"Eric was speechless. He had not expected his assistant's suggestions not to work.To prevent Mrs. Raven from touching him any further, he immediately walked over to the sofa opposite her and sat down."E! Just now they were playing a song in the cafe. The singer's voice sounds so much like yours!" Mrs. Raven said while calling the waiter over to order.Eric immediately pinched his throat and cleared his throat a few times."I'll take a latte without ice," Mrs. Ra
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