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
Over on the other end of the line, Elliot fell into silence. Chad handed the phone over to Avery awkwardly, and she set it on the table after putting it on speaker. "Hello, Mr. Foster."Mike tried to suppress his laughter at the formal way in which Avery addressed Elliot, while Chad did not say a word. On the other end, Elliot greeted her with a more formal tone, "Hello, Miss. Tate." Avery was stunned. Mike picked up his glass to take a sip of water; Chad did the same but realized his glass was already empty. "I feel the need to explain to you that we are not trying to give you a hard time," Avery readjusted her emotions and explained the situation in a steady tone. "We have already established our factories not too long ago, but we don't have sufficient equipment and manpower. According to the current situation, it is true that we won't be able to fulfill your order. However, we can assure you that we can have a number of drones shipped over from abroad, but our products
"Mr. Foster, we chanced upon a piece of information suggesting that Miss Zoe Sanford is also looking for a doctor," said the private investigator that Elliot hired from overseas. Elliot had hired him to look for a doctor who could cure Shea. "Miss Sanford is looking for a middle-aged man around 1.7 meters tall." Elliot scowled. "Why is she looking for this doctor?""She's probably trying to get him to treat Shea," said the private investigator. Hope emerged in Elliot's eyes as he said, "We're going to find that doctor before she does!""Okay. I've found something else. Before Professor Hough's passing, he seemed to have accepted a secret student. Any information about this student is confidential. It appears that he had worked in Professor Hough's lab." "Can this student be the doctor Zoe is looking for?""Yes, that's what I'm thinking as well."At five in the evening, Elliot went to Angela Special Needs Academy to pick Shea up. When Elliot met Shea and they headed to the par
The box had been in the same spot for the past twenty years, and no one had ever touched it before. Now, it was gone!When he noticed that the box was gone, he immediately took all the books down from the third rack. As the shelf was attached to the wall, there was no possibility that the box could have ended up between the bookshelf and the wall due to how narrow that space was.After a while, he moved all the books from the bookshelf to the ground. Once that was done, he searched the pile once again but was still unable to find the box.'Who is it?' he thought. His vision grew red with a dense surge of murderous intent. "Who came into my study and took what's mine?!"He vaguely remembered seeing the box about a month ago. He immediately made a call to the surveillance room. "Pull all the footage from the recent month! Someone has been in my study!"The bodyguard was terrified. "Yes! I will have the footage pulled immediately!""Gather all available personnel to comb through t
Along with Mike's name, he crossed Hayden's name off as well. Hayden had been to his house twice, but he had remained in the living room during both visits. Layla, on the other hand, did go upstairs, where she had later been discovered by the others. However, the girl did not seem all that bright, or she would not have broken down crying at the time. He did not cross Layla's name off the list, but he turned his attention to Zoe. Could it be Zoe?There were people around every time Zoe visited, and she would not have had the opportunity to take something from the study. Since there were no other possible suspects, all he could do was wait for the surveillance footage. Elliot had spent the entire night in the surveillance room, combing through the footage. He did not rest for a moment. The day he had taken Avery home, the surveillance cameras had been hacked, and there was a three-hour gap. All he had do now to get to the bottom of it was ascertain whether the cameras were
Laura was at Starry River Villa, and she was shocked to see Avery hurry in. "Avery, have you had dinner?""Mom, have you seen a red box in our house?" Avery tossed her purse to the couch and walked toward the children's room. "A red box?" Laura followed her and said, "I don't think so. Why?""Elliot lost a box like that," blurted Avery. "He checked the surveillance footage and didn't find anything out of the ordinary, but Hayden had hacked his surveillance cameras when he went to Elliot's a while back, and Elliot suspects that something had happened during that time."Laura scowled. "He thinks Hayden took it?"Avery looked at her and said, "Mom, I know that you don't think that Hayden would do such a thing, and neither do I; but how many things has Hayden done that have been out of line so far?"Laura sighed heavily but did not argue. "A red box, right? Is there something important inside?" she asked as she began searching. "He said it's important," responded Avery with a he
"No," Hayden responded calmly. "Really?" Avery checked with her son repeatedly. "No," Hayden repeated without a trace of emotion on his face. Avery could only call the quits. If they did not take it and she continued to ask them about it, the children might think that she did not trust them. Hayden took Layla's hand and led her back to their bedroom to store their school bags. Once they were inside the room, Layla whispered, "Hayden, why are we lying? We shouldn't lie to Mom."Layla had only managed to keep it a secret because Avery was not aware; but now that she was asking her about it, Layla did not dare lie. "Elliot must be going nuts now that he realizes the box is gone," said Hayden coldly. "If we return it now, he will just blame us for taking it. We are not returning it. Let him worry.""Oh… Okay!" agreed Layla. Between their dirtbag dad and her brother, she would definitely side with her brother. He had originally kept the box under his bed, but they had moved
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