"Why do you seem a little unhappy about that?" Elliot asked with a smile. "Hayden is still on your side!""I'm not unhappy. Wouldn't I be less worried if you had a good relationship with the children? When they have holidays, you can be the one who takes care of them, while I just do nothing but comment on all of you." Avery could not help but smile. "Since you like to take care of the children so much, I will have to give you an award at the end of the year. Award of The Best Daddy!""Thank you! I don't need the award. The children are mine. Caring for them is my responsibility and obligation." Elliot looked relaxed. "The children also won't need us for much longer. Hayden doesn't need us at all anymore. We need him, in fact. Layla also doesn't need us that much. If we weren't so strict with her, don't you think that she would run out and play the moment she had a holiday? Didn't she keep asking for Eric to stay at our place to play with her during our honeymoon? If it weren't for h
"Hmm… I know Layla is mature. She is no longer a child, which was why I was a little worried that she would have those sort of feelings for Eric," Avery said, voicing her concerns.This made Mrs. Cooper grow worried, too."Truth be told, I've never thought about it that way. But your worries are not illogical. Layla has truly grown up. Children nowadays are exposed to the internet earlier. It makes sense that they would mature much earlier than people in the past. If you're worried about it, you could talk to Layla," Mrs. Cooper said."I don't know how to bring it up. Eric is such a great person. Many girls like him, including me. I admire him a lot. I'm just afraid that Layla, at her age, doesn't know how to differentiate the many types of 'like'…""Why don't you talk to Eric? I think Eric has set his boundaries. Even if Layla confesses to him, he will reject her." Mrs. Cooper felt relieved when she said that. "You are Eric's savior. He won't mess about with Layla.""I'm not worr
"He hasn't found a suitable one yet, right? Let's wait until he finds a girlfriend!" Layla's gaze returned to her papers. "Mommy, you're suddenly so serious!""Am I?" Avery was afraid that her attitude would scare Layla, so she immediately started to laugh. "I'm only worried because Uncle Eric doesn't have that many holidays. If you spend all your winter and summer breaks with him, he won't have time to find a girlfriend. This would affect him quite badly."Layla pouted."You also know that Uncle Eric's parents are forcing him to go on blind dates. They really hope that he will quickly find a girlfriend and start a family. After all, he is not young anymore." Avery subtly implied the age gap Layla and Eric had between them."Mommy, why do you think the same way everyone else does? Uncle Eric is not old at all. If he doesn't want to find a girlfriend and doesn't want to get married, you can't force him." Layla looked at Avery once more, feeling injured on Eric's behalf.Avery smile
"I know. You need to be of legal age to get married. You were the one who asked me about this, which was why I told you that!" Layla continued her homework."Layla, have you mentioned any of this to Eric?" Avery was a little worried. She did not know how to face Eric in the future."I don't think so. I can't remember if I have said it in the past or not, but I'm sure I haven't said it this year." Layla smiled widely. "I've never thought so much about this before!""You shouldn't think about it anyway! If Uncle Eric finds a girlfriend in the future, you are not allowed to call on him anymore," Avery said seriously. "If you were Aunt Shea's age right now, I wouldn't stop you from doing anything. We should do things according to our age. Right now, your main mission is to study.""Mommy, I know. Study. Study and do well! If I am in the top three for this final exam, let me go and have fun!" Layla pleaded, grabbing Avery's hand."Okay. If you want to play with Uncle Eric, I will get t
There were a dozen resumes.They were all applying for the position of Elliot's assistant.Avery casually opened one of the resumes to have a look. The candidate's education and work experience were excellent.If this person were to hand in their resume to her, they would undoubtedly be able to continue straight to the interview.She opened another resume. After going through it, her feelings were the same as when she had looked through the first one.This candidate was as exceptional a lady as the first. If she wanted to be Avery's assistant, Avery would have barely had a reason to refuse.Avery guessed that the rest of the dozen resumes were also excellent. If they were not, Elliot would not have sent them to her.She was suddenly in a situation where she did not know whom to pick.She let her mind go blank for a while, then realized that she still could not sleep. She unlocked her phone and continued looking at the resumes.After going through the dozen resumes, her eyes we
By the time Avery fell asleep, Elliot was no longer sleepy.He turned around, picked up his phone, and unlocked it.He went through the resumes he had sent to Avery. He wanted to help her filter through the candidates once, to narrow down the list of possibilities.In fact, before he had sent her the resumes, he had already gone through them once, but not in detail.Of all the resumes, the one most memorable to him was the one who had the lowest education level.It was because her education level was the lowest that he had even remembered her name – Juliet Sutton.The requirements for the position of his assistant were written clearly. The first mandatory requirement was that their education level had to be beyond that of a bachelor's degree.However, Juliet only had a bachelor's degree. Also, she was a fresh graduate that was only graduating that year. She did not have any work experience at all. How did she have the confidence to send in her resume?The human resources depart
"It's only nine. You stayed up late last night, didn't you? You're not usually one to sleep in." Avery placed the cup of coffee down. "I drank your new coffee. While I was eating breakfast, someone sent it to you, so I got Mrs. Cooper to make me a cup.""I thought you didn't like coffee?" Elliot pulled back the sheets and slid out of bed. "Be careful. You might not be able to sleep tonight.""My head hurts a little. Especially after seeing the resumes that you sent me. I find them all excellent!" Avery said while sipping her coffee."Isn't there a candidate that is graduating with a bachelor's degree this year?" Elliot said. "She's a Ylorean. When the HR manager passed me her resume, he said that, if you hired her, she could make tea for you in the future."Avery could not help but smile. "I don't like drinking tea. Won't drinking tea affect my sleep too?""There are many types of tea. Not all tea will make you lose sleep, but I've never really studied the details before." Elliot
"Just decide on what you want and order first. When you're hungry, I'll send it over." Elliot had been busy the entire morning. He was already hungry."Okay, let me think," Avery said, then immediately felt too lazy to do so. "I'll have what you're having. Our taste is mostly the same.""You're just too lazy to think, right? What are you doing?" Judging by her tone, Elliot could tell that she was a little distracted.Avery picked up her cup of water and drank some to soothe her throat. "I didn't do much this morning. I was checking up on the tea culture of Ylore. I have never heard about it before. The tea culture in Ylore is quite famous.""Yes. The tea culture in Ylore is not only about drinking tea. There are tea performances, too. I've seen the performances, but I can't differentiate the tea." Elliot has seen a tea performance at Ylore before, but he had no interest in tea.Avery heard what he said and replied curtly, "You fooled around quite a lot back in the day, right?"El
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