"I'm sorry, Dr. Sanford," Elliot said as he subdued his nerves. He had returned to his usual cold demeanor and added, "Last night was my mistake. I need some space." He left the room as he said that. Zoe was frozen. She had thought that her tears might make him sympathize with her and that Elliot would take her into his arms and comfort her. Why on earth was he still acting so cold? Why did he take off? He had not behaved that way with Avery. Zoe wiped her tears off her face. Though she was heartbroken, at least there was a silver lining. She looked at her phone and called Cole. "I've succeeded," said Zoe. "Congratulations, Dr. Sanford! Let me know if I can be of any help in the future. I'll be here for you," said Cole with a laugh.An intense sourness tinged her heart when she heard Cole say that. If only Elliot was as obedient as Cole. "Tell me, do I look like a man? Your uncle has never once batted an eye in my presence," said Zoe. "He had no reaction even when he saw
Mike coughed and said, "There's no need to get the cops involved! Avery, where are you right now? You sound exhausted."Avery stood up with the support of the pillar next to her and lied, "I'm at home.""Oh, were you still sleeping? Get back to bed! I'm fine, I just feel wronged. Chad is being unreasonable. He blames me for everything!" Mike felt better after his rant. Avery got a cab and headed home.She popped a fever pill and fell asleep in her bed. Laura did not manage to ask what happened to her.Back at the mansion, Elliot had been in the shower for longer than an hour. Usually, he would be done in about half that time. The reason why he had not yet come out of the bathroom was because he was still thinking about last night, and he could not accept that it was Zoe he had slept with. He could deal with Zoe anytime, but how could he ever face Avery? He was more certain than before that he was still very much in love with Avery.He could no longer lie to himself. It was cle
"Sorry, the number you have dialed cannot be reached, please try again later."Avery had switched off her phone. Elliot scowled. Despite being physically close to her, he felt as though they were miles apart. In the mansion, when Layla told Hayden that Elliot was outside, Hayden immediately went to his room to retrieve his drone."Hayden! What are you doing?" Layla's eyes widened as she watched him in confusion."I'm chasing him away!""Oh! Hayden, do you need my help?" Layla desperately wanted to help. Hayden brought over a soft pipe and passed it to her. …Elliot stood majestically outside the door of the mansion. He was unwavering in his determination to see Avery today. Twenty minutes later, a drone slowly flew down from the second-floor balcony. When the bodyguard saw the drone, he frowned, "What in the world?!"The bodyguard would not have picked up on it if it had been a normal drone, but this one was flying straight at them, and it had a pipe attached to it.
She simply could not find a way to change her views on Elliot.…"Mr. Foster, let's go back!" the bodyguard said. "Your clothes are wet. If we don't go home and get you changed, you will catch a cold."It was early autumn, and even with the sun above their heads, the temperature had dropped significantly. "I'm not cold," Elliot said in a steady and calm voice. Seeing how stubborn he was, the bodyguard realized that Elliot was not going to change his mind and resorted to waiting alongside him. Shortly after, a red Porsche Cayenne slowly drove toward them and stopped beside Elliot. The car window rolled down, and Mike poked his head out. "Hey, why are you here?" Mike was shocked to see Elliot drenched from head to toe. "Did it rain?"The bodyguard glared at him impatiently, "It's that brat Hayden's doing!""Oh… As expected of Big H! He always has the guts to do what I wouldn't dare to!"The bodyguard could only stare daggers at him. Mike cleared his throat and got out of
"Mike, hurry up and catch up to them!" shrieked Laura. "Ohh!" Mike snapped out of his daze and drove after them. Laura sighed in relief. "Grandma, is Mom going to be okay? I'm so worried about her!" Layla asked as her eyes grew red with tears. She grabbed onto Laura's blouse. Laura lifted her up. "Your mom is just down with a fever. It's nothing to worry about. Once she is in the hospital, the doctor will help her, and as soon as her fever comes down, she will be okay.""Oh… but why did Elliot come here?" Layla could not help but have a bad feeling about it. Laura frowned. "I'm not sure either, but I don't think he will do anything while your mom is sick." Elliot had wrapped Avery in her blanket before he carried her out of the house. Despite Laura's prejudice toward him, she could not say that he had done anything wrong. One could always tell from the smallest details as to whether a man truly cared for a woman. No matter how many women Elliot had out there, he still had
"Dr. Sanford, the boss asked me to pass this to you." The bodyguard handed a check to Zoe. Zoe accepted the cheque and glanced at the number written on it, before snorting. "How generous of him! We slept together for one night and he is giving me five million." She set the cheque on the table with a bitter smile. "Apart from this cheque, did he tell you anything else?" The bodyguard shook his head. Zoe's heart ached as she thought to herself, "Who exactly does Elliot think I am?! A prostitute? He just pays me off after sleeping with me! I suppose the only difference is that I'm getting paid way more than a prostitute would!" Zoe gritted her teeth and threw a medical book on the ground. "Does he know what it means to respect someone?""Dr. Sanford, he already gives you enough respect. Otherwise, you wouldn't even get a penny out of this," the bodyguard said expressionlessly. "That's just because I am still useful to him!" she shouted, red-eyed. "If it wasn't for that, he
Avery's eyes darted away for a brief moment, but then, she started chuckling, "Is this the first time you two slept together? It has been a long time since you went public with your relationship. How chaste."Elliot's expression darkened. "Speaking as if you have plenty of experience. Have you slept with any other men besides me?"She beamed at him, "Of course!" Hayden was a "man" too, after all. The composure on Elliot's face faded. "Avery Tate! I will be damned if I come looking for you again!" he said through gritted teeth before storming out of the room. Avery watched as he disappeared, and the smile on her face collapsed. It was good that he would not come looking for her again. That way, they could both live their separate lives, but why did she not feel happy about it at all? She held onto the blanket and took a deep breath. It still smelt like him. The door swung open, and Mike strode in. "Avery, did Elliot do anything to you? Damn that guy! I was supposed to
Chad picked up the phone. "Hello.""It's me."Chad glanced at the caller identification and responded in a cold tone, "You need anything?""Careful with your tone, or we might not be selling you the drones," Mike threatened. Chad scowled and retorted, "Get over yourselves! Who wants your drones?"Mike paused for a moment. "Your boss, of course! We received an order from your purchasing department, or is it a scam?"Chad took a deep breath. "So you are saying that my boss instructed the purchasing department to put in an order for drones?" "Yeah! Didn't you know? Haha, and here I thought your boss trusted and confided in you. Looks like you aren't worth that much," Mike said sarcastically, before hanging up. Provoked, Chad immediately went to verify the matter with Elliot. Elliot looked up from the computer screen and said, "We always distribute gifts to our employees every Autumn Festival, and for this year, it is going to be drones. Do you have a problem with it?"Chad w
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