After ending the call, Mr. Woods paced back and forth in the living room."Butler!" he roared.The butler hurried over. "Yes, Sir. What do you need?""Hurry! Tell the kitchen that we have an important guest visiting. Tell them to prepare. I don't know what Ms. Bennett likes to eat... Go ask my wife!""Understood! Is Ms. Bennett coming?" the butler asked."Yes! She has unique tastes! She saw the video of Lucas getting into a fight and is now interested in him! I really don't understand youngsters these days! I'm happy about it regardless! Hahaha! I should go see Lucas now," Mr. Woods said before heading toward the South Block.When the bodyguards guarding the South Block saw Mr. Woods, they immediately opened the door.Mrs. Flores quickly approached Mr. Woods. "Mr. Woods, Mr. Lucas has not eaten in two days! No matter how hard I've tried to get him to eat, he just won't eat. He locked his door, and I can't deliver his food. Even if he's strong, he can't survive without food!"Mr
Mr. Woods had not expected his son to make such a request."Why are you so nice to her, Lucas? Are you into her?" Mr. Woods asked. "Forget the fact that she's an orphan, but just looks alone... Are you sure...""Why would you insult her?" Lucas suppressed his anger. "You slept with one woman after another out there. Considering how messed up your personal life is, who are you to ask me who I like?!""Why you!" Mr. Woods would have beaten him once again had Kasey not requested to see him. "I can leave you alone, but you are not to cross Ms. Bennett in any way! I will send someone to bring Irene back! Satisfied?""I don't care about what you say or promise. I will believe it when I see her," Lucas said before hopping out of bed.Mr. Woods was annoyed by Lucas' thug-like behavior, but he turned his focus on the blood stains on Lucas' shirt and said, "Have you put ointment on your back? Why don't I help you with that?""I told you to save it. Did you not understand me? Do as I say an
At half past six in the evening, the Bennett car stopped before the Woods' mansion.Irene stood in the yard of the South Block. She was staring at the Main Block. She spotted a silver car. A tall, elegant lady stepped out of the car.Despite the distance, Irene could tell that Kasey was beautiful. Her curly, long, soft hair rested on her white fur coat. The woman looked young, but she was dressed in the most fashionable and mature manner. She wore a tight red dress that winked beneath the white coat. She wore knee-high black leather boots, and her purse sparkled underneath the street lights.Irene felt a lump in her throat.She felt so envious of the beautiful clothes Kasey was wearing, the expensive purse she was carrying, and the phone she was holding; even the phone case Kasey used looked sophisticated.The one thing that Irene truly felt envious of was the freedom Kasey had to tell the people under her who she liked, and how, by using her family's connections, they were ab
"Oh... Lucas, which university are you aiming for? Why don't you go to Turlington University? That way, we will be studying at the same university!" Kasey suggested enthusiastically."Did you get in by your own merit?"Irene had told him the academic requirements required to be accepted into Turling University were extremely high. Kasey's smile froze in place, and Mr. Woods' heart threatened to give out when he heard Lucas' question. He desperately wished that Lucas could just remain quiet if he did not know what to say."No. I am really bad at studying. My dad donated a library to Turlington University, and I got an offer as a result," she said before picking up her glass to take a sip. "What about you? How are your studies?""Same as you. I can't get into Turlington University. Our family isn't as wealthy and can't donate a library."Kasey burst into laughter. "Your family isn't wealthy? Seriously?""Hahaha! Lucas has just returned home to us, and he doesn't really know much
An hour later, Lucas saw Kasey out of the house. The silver car disappeared into the distance as soon as she got inside the car, and Lucas returned to the South Block, halting when he spotted Irene standing dazedly in the yard.The snow was brief and light, but there was already a thin layer of snow on Irene's head and shoulders."What are you doing?!" He reached out to clear the snow on her head. "Isn't it cold out here?"She sobered and said, "Mr. Lucas, I saw Ms. Bennett. She is so pretty.""Did you stand here the entire time because you wanted to see her?" He dragged her back into the house."Not entirely... You are having dinner in the main block tonight, so I didn't have to make dinner. I got bored!" Her face and nose were red from the cold, and her skin began to itch once they went indoors."You are so stupid!" He studied her face and cursed, immediately regretting his words as soon as they left his lips. "If you catch a cold, who is going to take care of me?"She grinned
As soon as Irene left, Mr. Woods came inside and Lucas's brow twitched at the sight of his father."Lucas, I heard every word you said to Irene just now. I was being narrow," Mr. Woods said. "Your stepmother poisoned your dog, so you transferred all the feelings you had for that dog to Irene. Don't worry. I won't chase her out again.""What about the tutor?""I will ask the tutor to continue giving her lessons, but you will need to befriend Kasey. She really likes you, and if you get to date her—""She just wants to have fun. She won't marry me. I thought you knew that," Lucas sneered. "You know her family is out of our league, and they know it, too.""Haha! That's fine! Just get close to her and others will never bully you. That way, I won't have to apologize to the Shaw family as well." Mr. Woods studied his son's face. "You aren't good with studying, and that's fine by me, but you need to utilize your advantage and that should guarantee you a great wife in the future.""My adv
At four in the afternoon, the show started.The stadium could hold twenty thousand people, and almost every single seat was occupied. Everyone was holding red neon boards.Though Eric's agency did not announce that this would be the last live show of Eric's career, a small group of people still caught the news.After Eric finished performing his first song on stage, the audience erupted into deafening cheers, and Elliot felt as though his eardrums were about to break.He glanced at his family sheepishly, and Avery, who knew that he was afraid of noises, immediately pulled out sound-canceling earmuffs from her purse and put them on Elliot."You are the best, Honey." Elliot felt more at ease."I shouldn't have brought you along," Avery said in resignation."This is just right, Avery. I can hear very little with these.""You are definitely the first person to ever wear sound-canceling earmuffs to a concert." She chuckled."I wanted to be here with you and Layla. Besides, I'm kind
"Throughout the years you've known me, I've always been absorbed in my work and so has she... Oh, I guess I can tell you that she's a doctor," Eric said, before turning his head to signal the staff to start the music.Instantly, the prelude of 'Goodbye' began, and Avery stole a nervous glance at Layla.Layla was shaken and simply stared at the stage in confusion with a frown on her face."Honey, who's Eric's girlfriend?" Elliot had never heard of any mention of Eric's girlfriend."I don't know! He didn't say anything to me.""Oh... Layla, what's wrong?" Elliot noticed the odd look on his daughter's face."Don't ask," Avery said before taking Layla's hands. "Layla, why don't we head home?"Despite the piercing pain in her heart, Layla knew exactly where she was. Not only were her parents next to her, their family friends, and others were around as well. If she lost control, she would embarrass herself and her parents."I'm fine, Mom. It's the last song. Let's listen to it." Layl
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