"I can fulfill your request, but I won't marry you." After Juliet thought about it for a moment, she said, "I'm not targeting you. I'm a person who doesn't want to get married. If you don't believe me, you can ask my boss.""Why are you not willing to get married?" Isaac asked as he was curious."Some people yearn to get married, but some just don't like the idea of marriage. There's no particular reason. I just don't like being tied to another person," Juliet said nonchalantly. "Besides, even if I did want to marry you, my parents would never allow me to marry someone from Aryadelle." Isaac smiled. "I have no intentions of marrying you. I'm not such an easy man either. I just like how you look. You are very beautiful, and you live up to my beauty standards." "I'm really unlucky," said Juliet, taking a dig at herself.The smile on Isaac's face disappeared. "Am I that bad for you to think so little of me?"Juliet said, "We aren't close, and I told you that I'm a person who does
"Accompany me back to my hometown for the New Year's then!" said Isaac with a smile. "Don't worry. I won't let you suffer any grievances. Since you're now my girlfriend, I certainly will do my best to treat you well."Juliet blocked out the words that came out of his mouth.The next morning, Avery called Juliet using the company's internal line and told her to come to her office. Juliet quickly entered Avery's office. Avery took out an exquisite little paper bag and handed it to her. "These are the chocolates I got when I attended the wedding rehearsal at the hotel yesterday. You can have them."Juliet accepted them while smiling. "Thank you, Miss Tate. Who gave you the chocolates?" "My husband's younger sister. She is marrying the chief financial officer from Sterling Group," said Avery with a smile."That's really a joyous occasion.""Hmm." Avery saw a red mark on Juliet's neck. "What happened to your neck? Are you allergic to something?"Juliet's skin was especially fair
"Why are you so nosy? I thought you already read through her resume?" Avery walked toward the elevator. "Wait for me at the airport. I'll head over now. We will talk later.""Sure. Drive safe. It's snowing outside!" Mike stood outside the airport and stared up at the sky.Aryadelle was warmer than Bridgedale in general, so he did not feel the cold despite standing outside.Forty minutes later, Avery arrived at the airport and saw Mike."Do you know why I asked you to pick me up instead of just taking a taxi?" Mike lifted his gigantic luggage and shoved it into the trunk.Avery stood next to him. "Because of the size of your luggage?""Yeah! These are all gifts for your kids. It's hideous for me to run around with this so I asked you to come pick me up. Isn't that the perfect solution?" Mike closed the back trunk door and walked toward her to stare at her face. "You gained weight."Avery just stared at him. Avery knew exactly what she looked like and how much she weighed. She h
"Mike, do you consider yourself young? You are just slightly younger than Elliot."Mike's grin froze."You just look young. I still have your medical reports, and you are in poorer shape than Elliot!" Avery said and Mike immediately fell into silence.Half an hour later, the two arrived at the restaurant and saw Juliet waiting there.The waiter served them the food, and Avery picked up her spoon. "I suppose you are both starving. Let's dig in!"Mike grabbed the jug of juice and poured a glass for Avery before turning to Juliet, "Ms. Sutton, would you like some juice?"Juliet could tell that Mike was an easy-going person and nodded.She noticed that he did not bother asking Avery whether she wanted a glass of juice; he just poured one for her. It meant that they must be extremely close. "Ms. Sutton, how's work so far?" Mike asked. "The beginning and end of a year are usually the busiest time and other times of the year usually aren't as demanding. Survive your probation and it
Avery flushed. "She said she doesn't plan on getting married.""Didn't Ben used to say the same thing? Look at him now! He's about to become a father," Mike mocked. "You can't possibly think whatever others say is the truth! If she met someone she truly likes, anything can happen.""Sure, but even if she really has a boyfriend, you don't have to act so shocked, right? I don't care about my employees' private lives.""Do you think I'm shocked about her? I'm shocked because you are so silly."Avery's expression darkened. "It's not that important so there's no need for me to look into it. She said it's a mosquito bite and whether or not that's the truth, I will believe her. If it's really what you think it is, it's going to be humiliating to say it out loud...""That's why I am telling you in private. I didn't say anything to her face, did I?""If you dare to say that in front of her, I would have sewed your lips together.""Hahaha! I know what I shouldn't do. I'll head back to get
With the last one being [patience].Avery was completely stunned when she saw the messages. She proceeded to randomly click on one of them and saw Ben complaining about how Lilith refused to take her medicine and that he never wanted to bother caring for her again.That was when Elliot replied with [patience].Avery was surprised at how great Elliot was with calming his friends down.Avery opened another conversation and saw Jun complaining about Tammy not returning home until late at night; he said that Tammy did not care about their child or him and that he could not stand this any longer, to which Elliot replied with [calm down]."Have you guys ever talked about me in the group?" Avery asked Mike with a smile on her face."I guess so! I don't check the group that often. I only open it whenever money is involved," he said.Avery keyed in her name in the search bar and as expected, they had talked about her before. She read through everything carefully and though the others had
"Why hasn't he come home this late at night?" Juliet calculated the time in Ylore and frowned. "You should tell the driver to check on him!""I've already called the driver. The driver said that the door to the private room is closed and there are bodyguards out there, so he can't get in," Mrs. Sutton said worriedly. "I can't sleep when your dad isn't home. I'm worried sick.""Don't worry, Mom. If something has happened, I'm sure Dad would tell you," Juliet said, because she thought that her parents had a harmonious marriage."Who knows? Your dad has a lover out there somewhere and he doesn't love me anymore," Mrs. Sutton confessed. "He's just a conservative man and he won't abandon me if I don't ask for a divorce. Juliet, your dad can't set my mind at ease, and neither can you. I just want you to come home and keep me company."Juliet had not imagined that there was a crack in her parents' marriage and asked, "Mom, why don't you divorce him, then?""Divorce him? How is that going
Tammy grinned from ear to ear. "Your baby is just a little embryo at the moment. It's hardly even for a life form yet! Technically, it's just a pile of cells."Ben froze, as he did not know much about the mechanism of a pregnancy.Lilith had been pregnant before, but they were not in love back then and Lilith went for an abortion shortly after that, so he never had the chance to research about it."What I mean is that now that Lilith wants the baby, she will be careful. So long as she is careful and takes her medicines in time, nothing will happen to the baby." Ben rephrased his sentence, before turning to Avery for reassurance. "Avery, what do you think?""Yeah. The mother's mentality is very important. I believe that the baby is going to grow healthily inside of Lilith as well."Avery's words reassured everyone in the room.Meanwhile, Isaac worked overtime for a few hours before returning to Juliet's apartment. When he opened the door, he saw rose petals all over the floor.Th
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