"They won't come here," Lucas said calmly. "You can go once they are inside the house.""I... I'm not scared." Irene shut the door and turned around, slightly calmer but still awkward. "Mr. Lucas, Mrs. Woods really didn't send me. Even if she wanted to do something to you, she wouldn't ask for my help. In her eyes, apart from my ugliness, the rest of me is insignificant." "No matter how hard you try to explain yourself, you still spent that money." Lucas still felt wary, but he was no longer as angry.While she had spent the money, he was the one who had eaten the food and used the medicine."I didn't spend all of it. There is around sixty dollars left." She took out the change from her purse. "I will throw it away.""What's the point of throwing it away now?" He shot her a cold look. "Don't cry."She froze, thinking that he regretted shouting at her. Just when she felt moved by his words and was about to forgive him, he continued, "You look horrible when you cry.""... Mr. Luc
"So they can just kill someone's pet and step on others' pride if they have money... What a great thing money is." Lucas clenched his fists."Just white knuckle through it, Mr. Lucas! You just need to focus on your study, and once you graduate, you may move out. Mrs. Woods won't be able to bully you anymore," Irene said as she cleaned the table."That's your plan? You can stop working for the Woods once you graduate from university." Lucas watched as she picked up the trash and changed the trash bag."That's right! Once I earn enough to pay for my tuition, I will go to college and study. After graduation, I will get a proper job." She fantasized about the future with a smile. "The future is definitely going to be better than the present."He stared at her frail frame, and his chest tightened at the thought of how helpless she was. "Did your parents die in that fire you mentioned?"Stunned, she wanted to nod, but she did not wish to lie to him."You're not eighteen yet, and with a
The scar mask was made using silicone that was molded to the shape of her face, and paint was used to add color to the scar.No one had ever discovered that the scar was fake, as no one apart from her grandmother, had ever studied her face carefully.At first glance, everyone would be caught off guard by her scar, and they would hastily look away. No one gave her a second glance. Like Mrs. Woods had said, the scar on her face would disgust anyone who saw her, and no one would repeatedly stare at something that disgusted them.Though she had encountered injustice in her life due to the scar on her face, she was still grateful for it. Her grandmother had mentioned that there were bad people looking for her and who might harm her.She had ensured to keep the prosthetic on ever since she was a child, and though everyone had called her ugly, she had not been harmed physically. After all, even bad people would be scared off by her scar.After tearing the scar off, she stared at her re
There were a few children playing in the snow nearby. Her lips curled into a smile as she watched the smile on their faces and heard the sound of their laughter.Beautiful things had always moved her easily. Encouraged, she put on a scarf and went outside.She stood a distance away from the children, and she started building a snowman. She made two snowmen, one slightly bigger than another."Big Sister, is that you? Are your mom?" asked a little girl who had come over. She was staring at the snowmen that Irene had built. Irene buried her face in the scarf around her neck, leaving only her eyes unconcealed. "It's me and my grandma.""Oh... So the big one is your grandma and the small one is you!" the little girl said.Irene shook her head. "I'm the bigger one. The smaller one is my grandma."Her grandmother had always been a petite old woman, and ever since she had fallen ill, she had only lost more weight.Her grandmother appeared like a tall tree when Irene was younger, giv
She stood up abruptly, intending to plead her case to the butler."Where are you going?" Lucas yelled."I'm going to talk to the butler.""What's the point? Do you think that my dad is going to listen to the butler?" Lucas said calmly."It's still better than not explaining myself at all, right?" Irene insisted on talking to the butler.Lucas had merely wanted to see how she would react. He had not expected her to be this nervous."I've explained the situation to my dad." He thought back to how swiftly had she run into the rain and realized that Irene could disappear in an instant if he didn't explain everything to his father. "I told him that I was the one who ordered you to buy this."She stilled before sighing a breath of relief. "And what did he say? Is he angry with me?""He didn't say anything. He left after I finished my food.""Oh. So, you intentionally mentioned that he was going to punish me to tease me. Mr. Lucas, you are horrible. I brought you food and you try to
"Do you always study until this late?" He watched as she frantically put her books away and picked up one of the books. "Your handwriting is nice."She beamed at the compliment. "Do you think I got those questions right, Mr. Lucas?"The calm mask on Lucas's face dropped as he wondered whether he looked like someone who studied.He shoved the book into her bag and changed the subject. "You don't have to send food to me tomorrow."She froze. "Is the food in the fridge enough for tomorrow?""You can come here and cook for me tomorrow," Lucas said. "My dad messaged me just now, saying that he is taking his wife and his daughter out on a trip."She beamed. "That's great! Mr. Lucas, you are free!""Whatever. It's not like I want to go outside even if I'm allowed to," he said proudly."Is it too cold for you out there? It's not that cold. Your jacket is just too thin. Do you have a down jacket?" She studied the jacket he was wearing and asked, "Your dad said that he is giving you an a
"Do you think we believe you? You either pay us back the money or give us this bag!""Sir, no, I bought this for Mr. Lucas. Sir, I'm now working for the Woods family. Mrs. Woods has said that she will double my pay. When I receive my pay next month, I'll give it all to you." Irene hid the bag behind her. "The money I used to buy this jacket was given to me by Mr. Lucas. This isn't my money. I'm not lying to you.""Who on earth in the Woods family would want you as a servant? Don't you realize how ugly you are? You don't even know how to lie!" The man walked behind her and snatched her bag."Sir, if you don't believe me, you can follow me. I've almost reached my destination. Mr. Woods has brought his son home, and Mrs. Woods doesn't like him, so she got me to serve him," Irene said. "Sir, I can't lose this job. If I lose this job, I won't have the money to pay you back.""Irene, when your grandmother died, didn't she leave you anything valuable?" the man hissed. "She had been workin
"Who hurt you?""I'm fine." Irene did not want others to be affected by her negative emotions. She took the down jacket out of the bag."Mr. Lucas, I used the remaining money to buy you a down jacket. When you head out in the future, wear this!" She passed him the jacket. "I bought it with your money. You don't have to thank me.""I'm asking you who hurt you!" Lucas furrowed his brows. He threw the down jacket on the sofa, not even bothering to look at it. "Mr. Lucas, this is a private matter. It will not affect my job." Irene placed her bag down. She had intended to place it in the shoe cupboard. "Your grandmother is dead. Now you're alone. Other than work and study, what other private matters do you have?" Lucas looked at her bag and said, "Your bag is a little dirty today."That comment undid Irene. She bent down and covered her face. She cried, "They took away the bracelet that Grandma gave me. That was the only thing she left for me… Grandma said that the bracelet is n
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