In Bridgedale, Natalie waited in the restaurant for almost half an hour before Violet appeared.Violet did not mean to be late."The traffic was terrible! I forgot to tell you that the restaurant you picked is just so-so. It might look like it's popular, but that's only because it has a good location. Even if you opened a street food stall here, business will be great," Violet said as she took her seat. "I lived nearby, so I picked this restaurant," said Natalie with a smile. "Violet, Dean is dead. Has Sebastian contacted you yet?"Violet's expression froze. "Who told you that he is dead? I thought that they hadn't found his body yet. Sebastian has not asked for me. After all, Dad's body hasn't been found yet…""Hahaha! Sebastian knows that Dean is dead, and he has known it for a long time," said Natalie, howling with laughter. "Looks like he did not tell you anything." Violet's expression instantly changed. Anger rose in her. "How do you know that Dad is dead? Also, how do you
Violet barely hesitated. "If you could find a way to get some of the inheritance from Sebastian, I will surely be on your side." "Let me be clear, I'm not helping you because I have nothing to do. I could help you fight for more of the inheritance, but the inheritance we get, we split in half.""You're also Dean's daughter, I'm sure you can fight for some of the inheritance, too, right?" Violet asked her question."Yes, but I would surely not get much. After all, I didn't live close to Dean.""I understand. If that's the case, I can appeal on my own. I don't need your help…""Hahaha! Do you think Sebastian is a rookie? You could hire your lawyer, but won't he also hire his? Sebastian has inherited a huge fortune. He could hire the best lawyer in the world. Are you sure that by relying on your brain you can win the lawsuit? If you're that great, would you really have spent all that time under Sebastian?" said Natalie, mocking her heartlessly. "If you want to fight alone, be my gue
"Where? I only know about this church." Avery was shocked by the crowd in front of her."I looked at the map before we left. The other church is about ten kilometers away from here. It'll be quick by car," said Elliot, discussing the matter with her. "Why don't we go to the other church to have a look!""Hmm! There are too many people here. I’m guessing there will be more up the hill." Avery re-buckled her seatbelt and asked, "What is the name of the church you mentioned? I want to look it up on the phone.""It's called Hightide Church.""I think I've heard of this church before." Avery unlocked her phone and entered the church's name in her browser.Elliot said, "I think it's a nunnery."He had checked up on the church before. The Hightide Church has a history of more than a hundred years. In the beginning, the church was as famous as the one on the hill, but it slowly fell out of favor and got converted into a nunnery. Also, the Hightide Church only welcomed female guests, wh
Elliot pulled him back. "I was mocking you just now. I didn't say I wanted to go up the hill."His bodyguard sat down looking embarrassed. "I thought that you really wanted to go with them.""I do, but the church doesn't welcome male visitors, so even if I went up the hill, I can't follow Avery. I would rather wait here," Elliot said calmly. "Even if I could enter the church, if Avery saw me there, she would surely be angry. I finally get to get out of the house; I don't want to make her mad."The bodyguard said, "Mr. Foster, why are you afraid of her? She's only a woman—""Do you not want to work anymore?" Elliot gave his bodyguard a sharp look. "You have been working for me for a long time.""Mr. Foster, I… I want to work! I was wrong! You have to listen to Miss Tate! She is doing this all for your own good!" The bodyguard immediately repented."Is she Miss Tate?" Elliot used a gentle yet stern look."M-Mrs. Foster!" The bodyguard corrected himself."In the future, not only d
The staff hesitated for a while. At that moment, the other visitors also said, "Sister, take us to see the children! They might welcome our presence! We want to help them, too. They surely won't hate us.""Alright! I'll take you to see them."The nun took them to a building behind the church.Once they were near, they could hear the voices of little girls playing."A portion of the girls have gone down the hill to go to school. Right now, the ones remaining in the church are either not healthy enough or they haven't reached the schooling age." The nun led the group and introduced them to the girls. "The children have to go down the hill on their own to get to school every day?" Avery asked."Yes. We would take turns sending them down, but they need to hike up and down the hill. They have it tougher than the kids who live down the hill. It's winter now, and they have to get up before the sun rises to go down the hill," the nun explained.Avery had only hiked up the hill and al
She wanted to go in and listen, but her grandmother pulled her back, forbidding her to enter."Grandma, what is that lady saying to Rose?" The girl was called Irene.She was older than three, but she, too, did not go to kindergarten. "I can't hear them. Just ask Rose about it later." The old woman was in her sixties. Her hair was white, but she was still spritely and spirited."That lady wants to take Rose down the hill. She wants to adopt Rose," said a visitor who was standing next to them. The visitor had followed Avery. Irene was filled with sadness when she heard that. She did not want Rose to leave this place.If Rose left, she would no longer have such a good playmate. Other than missing Rose, Irene was a little envious of her, too.The lady talking to Rose in the room looked very gentle. If Rose were to leave with her, she would surely treat Rose well, right?At that thought, Irene's eyes grew wet. She reached out and rubbed her eyes."Little girl, what's your name? Y
"Maybe Irene isn't here?" Avery felt sorry for Rose when she saw how hard she was yelling. "Maybe she has gone somewhere else."Rose pouted in confusion. "We only ever play here. We don't go anywhere.""Maybe she's taking a nap?" Avery said."I don't know..." Rose tugged at her clothes anxiously and headed toward the dorm. "I need to tell her before I leave, or she's going to cry if she can't find me.""Yeah, I will go with you." Avery followed Rose patiently and arrived at the girl's dorm.It was a spacious room with plenty of beds.Avery glanced inside and noticed that the beds looked clean and organized. There was no one sleeping inside the room, and Irene was nowhere to be found."Where is Irene?" Rose mumbled and ran outside.A nun stood outside the door and stopped Rose."Rose, you should leave now since you've decided that you will leave with Miss Tate here! Irene already knows that you are leaving. She’s upset and her grandmother took her away, so you don't have to loo
"I don't know the details of the will. The lawyer only offered his condolences. He did not show me the will.""Oh... He must have at least informed you about how much you are getting, right?" Violet said bitterly. "I'm sure it's a lot. Sebastian, I only want to know one thing... Did Dad leave me anything at all?"Sebastian did not want to answer that question. "I don't know, Sis. You will find out when the will is read.""Haha! Sebastian, did Dad leave you everything?" Violet asked. "Do you know who told me that?"Sebastian remained quiet. He did not know who had told his sister this, but he could sense how angry Violet was."Whatever. We will see what happens tomorrow when we meet with the lawyer!" Violet hung up.She had decided to work with Natalie rather than rely on Sebastian. At the very least, Natalie had been honest with her, whilst Sebastian was clearly hiding something from her.Meanwhile, in Aryadelle, Elliot had been waiting for almost two hours in the restaurant and
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