"What does this have to do with Eric?" Avery took some food for Elliot. "Didn't you see how Eric reacted just now? Eric doesn't have those sorts of feelings for our daughter. It's her problem.""What problem does our daughter have?" Elliot was protective of his daughter. "She is a blank canvas, and we have to properly guide her.""Oh, then you do it! I can't do it." Avery had already patiently talked things over with Layla. If Layla was a little younger, she would still be guided. However, Layla was already 25 years old. She would not follow anybody's orders or guidance. Everyone has the right to choose their own life."I'll talk to her properly tonight," Elliot said confidently."Sure! Once you're done talking, she'll come to confide in me," Avery teased.Elliot said, "You don't trust me?"Avery replied, "I just understand our daughter too well."Eric listened to them going back and forth. He did not dare interrupt. He only buried his head and ate in silence."Eric. I'm goin
Eric said, "Thank you for your concern. Other than having low blood sugar, I can't do extreme sports. Apart from that, I don't have any other major problems."…In Taronia, there were 40 days left until the exam. Every time Irene saw the countdown on the blackboard, her heart would speed up.That day, their teacher gave them something more relaxing to do. They had to write an essay about their plans after the exam. It could be plans for their future studies or work, or it could be holiday plans for the summer.Irene gripped her pen and stare at the blackboard blankly. Slowly, she began to write. 'After the exams, no matter how my results are, I want to go to Ylore. I have had a look at the flight tickets. Students have 30% off. The flight ticket after the discount is less than forty-five dollars. If I start saving now, once I'm done, not only will I have enough to go to Ylore, but I'll also have enough to go to Aryadelle. 'Everything that I can remember about Ylore is fuzzy. Th
Lucas got out of the car and saw Irene standing in the courtyard. He glanced at her."Mr. Lucas, I've already made dinner." Irene immediately went over to Lucas and asked, "How were classes today? We got back the results for our mocks today. Mine aren't bad."Lucas said, "Can you get into Turlington University?""It's a little risky," Irene said honestly. "I'm not a hundred percent confident. So, I plan to work for another month, and then I'll be resigning to focus on the exams."Irene told Lucas her plans, hoping that he would understand her decision."Mr. Lucas, once I resign, you can get Mrs. Flores to cook for you. She can cook well," Irene said.Lucas entered the living room and changed his shoes.Irene stood next to him, changing her shoes, too."I'll be going abroad in two weeks. I've already gotten my visa." Lucas told Irene his decision. "You can quit in two weeks and prepare for your exam. I can get my father to pay you a full month's wages."Irene was a little stunn
Lucas was a little stunned. Then, he turned off her screen. He showed her the print on her phone. "You never ever clean your phone screen, right?"Irene looked at the clear fingerprint on her screen. She blushed. "You're so smart. I never thought of this.""I'll install an app for you. You can then search for news overseas." Lucas unlocked her phone once more.Irene found it amazing. She immediately walked over to him to see him work.Lucas' fingers were long and slender. They looked nice.Irene looked at her phone, but she soon grew distracted by his hands. "Mr. Lucas, does that mean I don't need to go to Ylore anymore?""You can go if you want to go.""Oh… then I'll see if I want to go during the summer," Irene muttered. "If I don't go to Ylore, I'll head to Aryadelle."Lucas did not respond to that.After installing the app, he returned her phone to her."You can use this browser."Irene accepted the phone and thanked him, "Mr. Lucas, thank you! You're amazing. I didn't
There was plenty of information on Elliot.Irene tapped into the first entry; it was a page about him. In a column, there was a list of people who were related to him. Avery Tate's name and photo were placed there. Underneath, it was written, [Wife].Next to Avery's photo was their son's photo, Hayden Tate. The owner of Dream Maker.Irene casually glanced through the introduction, and she saw the rising of a business empire.Irene exited the page. When she saw Elliot's photo, tears fell. She confirmed that Elliot was her biological father. She knew this because she looked quite a bit like him.However, at the thought of the Gould family being wiped off. She could not help but feel anything but sadness and hatred!Lucas came back from his walk and saw Irene sitting by the dining table. Someone seemed to have cast a spell on her. She was not moving, but her eyes were red. She had cried.She looked extremely sad. It was as if she had gone through something devastating. "What happ
"Is that so? I'm not very sure about that. The butler was the one who hired her grandmother. Back then, one of the helpers in the kitchen had quit, and we were lacking staff, so the butler hired her. The butler told me that although her grandmother was a little older, she worked fast, and she could endure hardship so he hired her to try her out," Mr. Woods said."So, you don't know anything about their background.""She was only a helper in the kitchen. I don't need to buy insurance for her anyway…" Mr. Woods said distractedly."Weren't you afraid that she has problems?" Lucas deliberately tried to scare Mr. Woods.Mr. Woods' expression turned serious. "Lucas, what problems could they have? Don't scare me. I really don't know anything about them. Irene's grandmother spent most of her time in the kitchen, and I usually don't interact with her. If it were not for your stepmother who insisted on getting Irene to care for you, I wouldn't have interacted with Irene too…""I'm joking. W
Avery immediately replied to Layla, [You don't like Andrew?][It's not that I don't like him. He is quite nice. He treats me well, too. He is attentive to how I feel, but I don't like him that way. I look at him, and I always seem to feel like I'm looking at yet another younger brother. After all, Robert treats me that well too.][Then you select another one from the email. Find someone older than you to chat with.][… Let's take it slowly! If I look at too many men, I'll just lose interest in them.][Hahaha! If your father sees this, I'm sure he will be so frightened that he will break out in cold sweat.][All this while, with the amount of worrying Dad has done, I'm sure it will add up to 24 years.][Don't feel pressured. Parents are like this. You have to act on your feelings. Don't worry about making the wrong decision. You can afford to try.][Mom, I really love you. I still feel like a young child, and it is because all of you have been spoiling me.][You'll always be our
Irene lowered her head and said softly, "Three thousand dollars.""Oh, that's a small sum! You should have told me about it earlier. I would have helped you with that." Mr. Woods pretended to be generous. "It's also okay if Sam helps you. Since you want to resign, I'll settle your pay tomorrow.""Thank you, Mr. Woods.""Don't mention it. I will give you a little more money. This would have been your grandmother's pension for all the years of service. You can use it to pay your school fees," Mr. Woods said.Irene was extremely grateful. She immediately thanked him, "Thank you! I thank you on Grandma's behalf!""Thank you for taking care of Lucas these past few months," Mr. Woods said. "It's late. Go home!""Okay! I'll clean the kitchen and leave." Irene cleared the plates from the dining table.Mr. Woods walked to Lucas' room. Lucas did not lock his room. Mr. Woods turned the doorknob, pushed the door, and entered.When Irene had finished tidying up and was about to leave, Mr. 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