Shea and Rose had the same innocent look in their eyes and anyone could sense how passionate they were from the way they spoke."Irene, just say yes! Rose keeps talking about you! You have always been her best friend," Shea said with a smile. "She spends most of her time with Kiara, so she doesn't have any other close friends."Irene turned to look at the girl next to Shea, who was slimmer and shorter.Kiara looked at Irene sheepishly, not daring to speak."Irene, this is my younger sister, Kiara." Seeing as how Irene did not say anything, Rose pulled Kiara to her and made the introductions.Irene nodded."It's settled then. I will call Wesley and tell him to get a room ready." Shea smiled before walking away to make the phone call.It was too late for Irene to protest, and she asked dazedly, "Who is Wesley?""That's our dad," Rose said. "Aunt Avery took me down the hill and they are the people who adopted me. They treat me like their own. Even Kiara sees me as her real sister,
Irene remained silent."Why don't you come in?" Shea asked after going inside."Mom, Irene is a little shy. I'll wait outside with her!" Rose said before turning to Kiara. "Go help Mom with the bags."Kiara immediately hurried over to her mother. Shortly after, Elliot's staff appeared with their belongings. One of them said to Shea, "Since Rose's best friend is here, it's only natural that you want to welcome her into your house. I will tell Layla later when she comes home.""I'll call Layla and tell her myself," Shea said politely. "Thank you.""You're welcome." The servant walked past Irene and glanced at her. "Is this Rose's best friend?""Yeah! Isn't she adorable? Just as cute as my Rose," Shea said. "If only she wasn't an adult, I would have adopted her as my daughter as well."Shea did not need to work, so she had more patience when it came to caring for children. "What a pretty young lady. She kind of looks like—" The servant choked on her words because the young lady
After dinner, Rose took Irene to her room. "Irene, there's so much that I want to tell you. Let's sleep together tonight"! she said.After a brief moment of hesitation, Irene nodded. "Sure!"She could tell that Rose had indeed seen her as a friend, and it brought back memories of when they were children.Once the children left, Wesley headed into his study room and Shea followed him curiously."Honey, what are you doing?""I remember that we have a camera here. Is it in the study?"Shea thought about it and nodded. "I think so. Why do you need the camera? Do you want to take some photos? You could have just used your phone! Smartphones these days are just as advanced as cameras..."Only professional photographers would use cameras, and smartphones were sufficient when it came to satisfying the needs of regular people. "Professional cameras give better results. Our daughter is going out with Irene, right? I'm going to give them the camera; they might need it," he said."How sw
It had been years, but Elliot and Avery had never quite been able to give up on Ivy.They had searched for Ivy for years but had not been able to find her. Though Wesley wanted to help them, his ability to help them was limited.Seeing Irene had given him hope that she might be Ivy.It was possible that two unrelated people could look similar, but the chances were rather slim.Meanwhile, Rose showed Irene everything that she owned to Irene, including the accessories, jewelry, and daily necessities she received as gifts from her parents or other relatives. Since they showered her with gifts, she never had to buy anything for herself."I know I'm not related to my parents by blood, and I was really scared when I first got here. I thought that they would abandon me," said Rose who was sitting on her bed. "I'm sure you understand that feeling. I didn't dare to make mistakes or act wilfully. Luckily, everyone has been really kind to me throughout the years...""I know, Rose. I can see
Wesley had not expected her to cooperate and froze."Dad, why didn't you tell me you needed grey hair? I have a head full of it. Just take mine!" Rose said."Rose, I don't need yours because your gray hair isn't formed the same way as other people's grey hair.""Alright, then!" Rose said sheepishly."Dad! What about mine?" Kiara came over.Rendered helpless, Wesley said, "I didn't remember the research until I saw the gray hair on Irene's head... I don't need that many!"Shea knew what Wesley was trying to do and immediately dragged Kiara away.Wesley untied Irene's ponytail and her hair fell to her shoulders. Despite his efforts, he could not find one. Taking a deep breath, Wesley plucked a black strand of Irene's hair. "Dad, let me see," Rose asked, curious as to how her hair would be different from Irene's.Wesley had never had such a huge panic attack before as he had never told such a blatant lie in his life. "I need it, so I will be putting away… If you want to see wh
Wesley was her senior, and even if he needed something, he would often reach out to Avery or Elliot instead.After a brief moment of silence, Wesley said, "I'll tell you once you are here.""Alright! I'm already on the way. I'll probably arrive in about twenty minutes," she said, feeling slightly hungry. "Uncle, do you have any food left at home? I'm starving.""There are some leftovers ... I will get the chef to cook for you.""It's fine. Leftovers are fine by me. I'm not picky," she said before hanging up.Twenty minutes later, Layla appeared at Wesley's door with a bouquet and a bag of fruits."Huh? Where are the girls?" Layla thought that she would be able to see Irene. "They went out." Shea took the bouquet and the bag of fruits. "You said you were hungry, so eat first!""Yeah... I prefer to know why I'm here first. Are you trying to set me up with someone?" Her eyes darted from Shea to Wesley."Of course, not. Even if we wanted to, we don't know anyone worthy of you! We
Rose shot her mother a shocked look. "Mom, can Dad edit photos?"Shea had not known that Wesley was able to edit photos as well, but she played along. "Your dad knows everything. Even if he doesn't, he is a quick learner."Rose nodded. "That's true. Dad is so talented. I know how to edit photos, too, so I could have done it myself, though. Dad needs to work, and he's busy...""Rose, if he wants to do it, just let him! Your friend is here so you should spend more time with her," Shea said as she turned to look at Irene. "It's late and you are probably tired. Go shower and rest!"Rose took Irene back to the room while Kiara ran toward the study room to look for her father.Shea entered just as Welsely was uploading the photos. Both Shea and Kiara stood next to him and studied the photos on the laptop. "They all turned out great! Kiara, did you take all these?" Shea asked.Wesley had been too focused on the screen to notice their presence and was shocked by the sound of Shea's voi
Robert nodded. "I... After I graduate, I want to work at Hayden's company..."Avery was stunned and so was Elliot.Robert's heart raced as he slowly started to inch closer to his older brother."I see!" Avery said. "Here I thought it was going to be something big! If you want to work at your brother’s company, go ahead! You haven't graduated, though, so you might change your mind once you graduate. There is no need to decide things now."Elliot felt differently and was slightly upset. "Why don't you want to work at my company?" he asked sharply.Robert immediately sat down next to Hayden, hoping to get his brother's support; to his bewilderment, Hayden stood up, refusing to have any part in this."I only got him to apprentice as a mechanic so that he would give up the idea. I don't want him working in my company after he graduates. Of course, I can't turn him down as an older brother if he begs to work for me either," Hayden said.Robert had been groomed to inherit Sterling Grou
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