Isaac had been calling and sending Juliet messages for the past two days, but she had not replied.Could Juliet have told Avery and Elliot?If she had not, even if Elliot had known about the scars on Juliet's wrist, he would not have brought them up."You don't need to know how I guessed it," Elliot said. "Why is Natalie looking for someone with scars on their wrists? Do you really not know anything about it?""Mr. Foster, I am not close with Natalie. I really do not know what she is trying to achieve." Isaac immediately distanced himself from Natalie. "Go and question Natalie. I’m sure she will tell you. If she really was not afraid of death as you say, she would not have hidden herself away, not daring to leave the house at all.""Isaac, from tomorrow onward, you don't have to come to work," Elliot said. "Until I find Natalie and get to the bottom of this, you will stay at home. If you try to run, well… you'll see what happens."Isaac was astounded that he had been fired. He sa
In her apartment, Natalie was sitting on the sofa, scrolling through her phone to pass the time.She had slept during the day, so she was not tired at all.She had followed a few of the staff at Tate Industries, so she was browsing their social media. That night was Tate Industries' annual dinner, held at the city's largest exhibition center.Many staff posted photos on their personal social media.Natalie looked at the liveliness of the photos, then thought about how alone she was at that moment. She felt a little sad.Some of the staff had even taken photos of Elliot giving a speech on stage. Elliot, in these photos, looked tall, slender, and authoritative. He was exactly as she remembered him: the emperor who controlled everything.Natalie's eyes grew sore. She thought of the foolish things she had done and the fantasies she had had of being with him in the past.Ring! The doorbell pulled her back to reality. She rose from the sofa and walked toward the door. From the con
Natalie shook her head. "I rarely leave the house nowadays. I got Isaac to help me keep an eye on things, but not only did he not help me, he also sold me out… I only know this much. I'm really not trying to go up against you all."Elliot got up from the sofa and left.Natalie should not have had any more information concealed. If she did, she would not have sought Isaac's help to look for the person with scars on their wrist.Something had happened to Juliet when she returned to Ylore. Ylore had major problems.After Elliot and the bodyguard left, Natalie breathed a heavy sigh of relief. A moment later, she picked up her phone and found Isaac's number."Elliot came looking for me just now. Isaac, did you sell me out?!" Natalie yelled angrily, "You're a useless person!""Natalie, I was just about to ask you that! Just because I know things, I've been fired! You bring bad fortune! How could I have possibly let Elliot know about this?" Isaac was in his house at that moment, dialing
Avery, I have to make a trip to Ylore." Elliot told Avery his thoughts. "Stay here and care for the children."Avery was a little baffled by his firm decision. "Are you going to look for Juliet?""Juliet is dead. She was forced to commit suicide. I suspect the person who killed her is the murderer that wiped out the Gould family back then." Elliot swallowed his saliva. "Right now, I don't care whether I can locate Ivy or not, I have to find this murderer."If the Gould family had not been wiped out, they would have long gotten Ivy back."If the murderer is in Ylore and is a Ylorean, don't you know how much danger you are in?" Avery was disassociated from the lively atmosphere she was in. "If you insist on going, I'll come with you.""Someone needs to take care of the family.""Hayden and Layla don't need anyone to care for them anymore. Robert needs someone to care for him, but he has the nanny and his siblings. He won't stick to me.""Avery, there are too many uncertainties on
"You guys have been to Ylore many times because of Ivy, right? You guys can't investigate this, could it be because the murderer has the power to cover it up?" Mike speculated. "If this were to happen in Aryadelle, the truth would have long been out.""Ylore is indeed much more complicated than Aryadelle. Without proof, it's hard to say who the murderer is. It could be anyone." When Avery said that, she could not help but shudder. "He insists on going. I can only let him go.""Don't worry. Doesn't he know people in Ylore? As long as he doesn't go up against the powerful people there, they would not hurt him too. No one would do anything without benefits."Mike's consolation made Avery nod. "You're right. He would surely know to act properly.""Then, don't pull such a long face. The children would worry if they see you like that.""Hmm."At ten at night, the annual dinner ended. Avery and the children were in the car on the way back home.Usually, at that time, Robert would alrea
Mrs. Sutton's nights after her daughter's death were filled with nightmares. The only one in the Sutton family that Mrs. Sutton could think of sacrificing had been her daughter, but that did not mean that she was not sad. Once they entered the room, Elliot said, "I don't have your daughter's belongings. I needed to talk to you alone because I want to know who killed your daughter. If you only forced her into marriage, I'm sure she would not have felt the need to die. I'm sure there must be some other reason.""Mr. Foster, do you think I, as a housewife, would know anything? We're an extremely ordinary family by Ylorean standards. We had been doing fine as a family of five, and then, this happened. We were initially doing alright as a family of five, yet this happened. Mr. Foster, you can't imagine how much pain I am in.""You're not the only family in pain. You just need to tell me who is behind it!""Are you going to give them hell once you know who it is? Do you think my famil
Once Mrs. Sutton got the phone, she pressed the home button and was immediately met with the password prompt."Do you know your sister's passcode?" Mrs. Sutton asked."Her birthday," Jane said.Mrs. Sutton successfully unlocked the phone and handed the phone to Elliot. "Mr. Foster, the passcode is zero four one six."Elliot accepted the phone."There isn't a sim card inside," Jane said timidly.Elliot looked at her and asked, "Where is it?""My brother gave it to me without the sim. I don't know where the sim card is," Jane said carefully. She knew that her brother had thrown the card away, but she could not tell Elliot that. Her sister was dead. She could not let anything happen to her brother, too.Elliot held the phone and thought for a moment before saying to Mrs. Sutton, "I would like to speak to your daughter alone."Mrs. Sutton's expression changed dramatically. "Mr. Foster, my daughter is still in high school. She goes to school every day. She knows nothing about the
Elliot saw Jane crying, and he pitied her."If you're not lying, you don't have to be afraid. I won't do anything to the innocent."Jane said, "I'm not lying…"Elliot turned around and walked toward the door. He opened the door. Jane's parents were standing by the door with anxious expressions."Walter, it's your turn." Elliot looked at Walter coldly.According to Mrs. Sutton's and Jane's statements, they did not know where Ivy was.Since he could not locate Ivy, he had to find Juliet's killer. Walter sighed. "Let's go to the living area and talk! I have nothing to hide from my wife and daughter.""You two go and talk! I'll stay with Jane for a while." Jane's face, streaked with tears, broke Mrs. Sutton's heart. She entered Jane's room. Elliot and Walter headed to the sofa and sat down in the living room. The servant served them tea and left."Mr. Foster, you have spent nearly the entire day here, and I'm guessing that you won't leave till you get something out of me," Walt
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