"Who gave you permission to cook for him as well?" asked Lucas the moment he looked at the food. "Mr. Lucas, I only cooked the portion I usually do," she said gingerly."Send the food to my room," he commanded not wanting to give Sam the chance to eat with him.Not daring to disobey, Irene immediately placed the food onto a tray and started walking toward Lucas's room.Sam had not expected Lucas to go to such lengths to avoid him. Not only was Lucas hot-tempered and selfish, but it looked like he was not all that bright either, or he would not have caused Irene this much trouble. To top it all off, Lucas was also refusing to eat with him.After this interaction, the two siblings had become enemies.Sam stormed out, and when Irene heard the front door slam shut, she opened the door to Lucas' room. "Mr. Lucas, Mr. Sam is gone. Let's just go back to the dining room to eat, or your room is going to smell like food!" she said before hurrying back to the dining room with the food.Ir
When Robert was in Bridgedale, Hayden had taken Robert on a tour around the company and introduced Robert to his employees."The guys around Hayden aren't that old, and I recall seeing a few handsome guys, too," he said. "Sis, why don't you ask Hayden to show you their photos? Maybe you will like them."Layla did not want to continue the subject and turned to her older brother. "Hayden, do you hate women that much? You didn't have to hire only men, did you?""Don't listen to him," Hayden said not wanting to alert his parents. "I am not the one who hired them.""Then there is an issue with your HR. Why are they only hiring men? What are they plotting?" asked Layla."My HR manager is a woman," Hayden said, "don't listen to Robert."Layla turned to look at Robert. "Robert, you look slimmer, too! Is it from fixing cars?"Robert rubbed at his face and muttered, "... Maybe! But I'm certain that I didn't lose as much weight as you.""It's just because I'm tired from working." Layla re
"Even if I date Eric, you can beat him up if he mistreats me!" Layla looked up. "Hayden, there's no point in discussing this. He already has a girlfriend.""Stop crying. You are pathetic." Hayden clenched his fists at the sight of his sister crying."I'm just upset, Hayden. I didn't mind his age, yet he turned me down," she muttered before walking over to hug Hayden. "You all protected me so well as I grew up. I had everything that I asked for, and everyone heeded my every wish. no one has ever turned me down on anything, so I guess... this is the gods' way of telling me that things don't always go my way..."Her tears melted Hayden's heart. "Layla, you will eventually find someone who will cherish you for life.""Before he turned me down, I was so happy whenever I saw him or texted him, Hayden. It wasn't the same type of happiness I experience with family or friends, so I thought that it has to be love." She wiped her tears away on Hayden's shirt and sniffed. "Whatever. I don't wa
When it came she could finally remove the prosthetic scar, and she can show Lucas her true face. She had not thought of his reaction when she revealed her true face to him, but she was tired of living in shame.She was turning eighteen soon, and like all the other girls, she wanted to look beautiful. She had never hoped to look beautiful before, and no matter what she did, everyone saw her as the ugly duckling. Once she turned eighteen, a new life awaited her.Ordinary people would never understand her dream of wanting to lead an ordinary life free from all the gossip and cold looks from others about her face.Lucas studied her face for a few moments, before nodding. "What kind of birthday present do you want?"She shook her head. "I want you to spend it with me, but it's not because I want a present from you. I just want to tell you a secret.""Is it the same secret you mentioned the last time?"She nodded. "Yes. I want you to be the first to know, because..." She paused, real
Irene knew that Lucas could be very stubborn and accepted his offer with a smile."I don't know what I want yet, so let's walk around!" She took his hand and walked toward the night market where there were more people.To avoid trouble, Irene wore a face mask, leaving only her eyes visible.Lucas had gotten lost in those eyes many times, and he thought to himself, "If only she didn't have that scar on her face, maybe someone would have adopted her, and she wouldn't have to lead such a miserable life."Soon, Irene pulled Lucas into an accessory shop."Mr. Lucas, I want a hair tie for a birthday present," she said."What's a hair tie?" Lucas did not have a single clue what accessories girls used."It's something that I can use to tie my hair." She showed him a hair tie that she already had. "It's getting a little loose, and it can't hold my hair as tightly as before. Buy me a hair tie, Mr. Lucas!"Lucas had not expected her to ask for such a cheap gift."Pick whatever you want.
"Mr. Lucas, do you need a scarf?""No need.""What about gloves?""No.""What about long johns?" Irene asked Lucas seriously. "You don't have long johns. Why don't I get you one!"Lucas was speechless.The last person who had forced him to wear long johns was his mother. However, his mother was now in a new relationship, and because of that, she had given him up. She no longer cared if he put on long johns or not."No need." Lucas' expression changed. "Don't mention long johns anymore!"Irene did not expect him to get angry. She immediately nodded obediently.They finished shopping on the street and came to a fork in the road. The weather that day was pretty good. Although the temperature was low, there was still sunlight.Even if the sun did not bring much warmth, it made one feel better compared to a gloomy day."Mr. Lucas, are you hungry?""No, I'm not.""Then, let's head to the bookstore!" Irene noticed that Lucas did not seem to have any place, in particular, he wan
"Mr. Lucas, are you hungry? If you're hungry, we'll go look for a place to eat." Irene had bought her books. At that moment, she still had about 30 dollars or so."It's still too early for a meal." Lucas did not want to have an early meal before heading home. "Have you been to the amusement park before?"Irene shook her head without giving it any thought. "Those places are expensive, right? Mr. Lucas, I only have about thirty dollars or so."Lucas took her bag and placed all the books into it before carrying it and walking forward.Irene had no choice but to follow him."Mr. Lucas, have you been to an amusement park before? Is it fun?" Irene's curiosity and eagerness were piqued. "By the way, we are no longer children, right? Will they refuse us entry?""I've never been to one before," Lucas recalled his childhood. In fact, it was not any better than Irene's. His mother had to work in order to support the family.His mother was in the service industry. The pay was higher on the
At dinner, Hayden announced Layla's decision to everyone.Coincidently, all their close friends and relatives had gathered at Elliot's mansion. When they heard that Hayden was going to hook Layla up with a matchmaker. Instantly, pandemonium broke out. Everyone was shocked, especially Avery and Elliot. "Matchmaking?" Avery was a little perplexed. She looked at Layla before looking at Hayden. "You said you want to matchmake Layla? Did she agree to it?""She has made up her mind," Hayden said to Avery. "She doesn't have any men around her that she likes. A matchmaker could quickly gather the world's most brilliant boys for her to choose from."The words 'for her to choose from' made Tammy extremely envious."This is great! Avery, we must be more open-minded. We have to look at the bigger picture. If we were to introduce men to Layla, we will mainly be introducing her to people from Aryadelle. If she has the whole world to choose from, she could surely find many better men! Our Lay
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