"I've been to Edelweiss a few years ago," Layla said.Ivy's ears immediately perked up. "Layla, was it fun? What does Edelweiss look like?""I was also there to see the aurora, but I was not that lucky. I couldn't see them," Layla said, "I only went to its most northern city. I went there just to see the aurora. The night that I left, the aurora appeared. I was infuriated to death."Ivy could not help but smile."I don't have much of an impression on Edelweiss, because I was there for not very long. I have traveled to many countries before. Basically, I rarely have any situation where I can't adapt to the place. Unfortunately, that time when I went to Edelweiss, I had a high fever of almost forty degrees. I could barely eat anything." Layla thought about that encounter and she still felt chills running down her back.She was in good health from a young age. She rarely had a fever. That time in Edelweiss, it must be because of the food there. First, she vomited, and after that, s
"That's because you two rarely meet later on."Ivy looked at her parents bickering, she spoke up at the right time, "Daddy, I think you're extremely nice. If you don't want to suffer, then don't do it! This is the way! Everyone has people that they like and don't like. I won't dislike you just because you don't like Uncle Mike.""I don't dislike Uncle Mike. If I really don't like him, why would I let him get close to you all? Many years ago, he was very close to your mother, so there was a time when I didn't like him, but later on, I rarely quarrel with him anymore," Elliot explained to Ivy."Daddy, even if you don't explain it to me, I still like you," Ivy made Elliot swallow whatever he wanted to say next.He blushed rather embarrassingly.Ivy was so direct in expressing her feelings. It caught him a little off guard, yet he was secretly delighted."See, I told you. Your daughter won't despise you. Everyone has some issues!" Avery folded the clothes that Ivy was going to take w
She picked up her spoon, scooped up a chunk of meat, and took a bite. She instantly choked on the spice.She tossed the spoon and hastily poured herself a glass of water."Why is this so spicy? Did I put in too much pepper?" she mumbled to herself.The stew smelled perfect, but it was far too spicy for Layla's liking.She was used to the lighter flavors of meals at home, and though she would occasionally dine out with her friends, she could only tolerate food that was mildly spicy.After finishing her water, she sat back down in her chair and thought of ways to get rid of the spice. Finally, she placed a bowl of water next to her and submerged the meat in the water to wash off some of the spices, so that she would not choke again, before taking another bite.Just then, her phone started ringing.It was a video call from Avery, and Layla immediately answered it."Darling, I saw the photos you posted. Are you having stew tonight?" Avery asked."Yeah, Mom! Let me show it to you."
Ivy replied immediately. [Make less next time, Layla. You have to be mindful of the portion. If you cook a smaller portion, it will not be as tiring.][I think I'm just going to order food tomorrow.] Layla replied.Ivy replied with a laughing emoji.[Mom video called me just now and already I feel homesick. I want to go home! But I can't! I've already bought the apartment, and I can't just go home!] Layla typed.[Layla, just watch a movie or something. You will get used to it.][Yeah, you are way more independent than I am. Are you departing tomorrow?][Yeah, my plane takes off tomorrow morning. I need to go to sleep earlier than usual tonight.][Rest well, then! Remember to let me know once you arrive in Edelweiss.][Of course!]Layla lay on the couch for a while before dragging her feet to the bathroom for a shower, fully intending to follow her sister's advice and watch a movie later.At eleven, when Layla was halfway through the movie, her stomach began to twist and knot.
She had never been so embarrassed in her life. That evening she had been bragging to her family about her cooking, and at that moment, she was grateful that she had not told any of her friends about her first attempt at cooking, but if she had told them, she would never have admitted to the food poisoning part of her cooking endeavor."Where are you right now?" Eric asked hastily, not understanding how her family was unaware of Layla's state if she was living with them."I moved out..." Layla mumbled before gagging."Send me the location. I will bring a doctor over right away." Hearing her gagging over the phone, Eric immediately hurried out of the bedroom.Layla hung up and sent him the location of her apartment. All she could think of was that she needed to recover as soon as possible; she had promised her father that she would go home this Friday, and if she failed to make a full recovery by then, she would not be able to go home. She did not want her family to know because th
Eric sighed in resignation. He was not trying to lecture her and had only hoped that she would prioritize her health. However, he understood that she was not in the mood for a lecture since she was feeling unwell.He took the empty glass from her and set it down on the nightstand.The doctor returned with the IV bag, and when Eric realized that there was nothing in the room that could be used to hang the IV bag, he exited her room to see if there was anything around her apartment that could be used. Unfortunately, he could not find anything suitable."Mr. Santos, why don't you hold the IV bag? I will go back to the hospital and get an IV stand," the doctor said.Eric immediately accepted the IV bag from the doctor and nodded.Layla lay in bed with her eyes open, unable to sleep."I feel like I just keep messing things up," she thought to herself."Doctor, will she vomit again?" Eric asked as the doctor was about to leave."I can't say. Maybe," the doctor said. "If she wants to
Eric stilled at the question."Did something happen?"Eric had not cut ties with them on purpose, but ever since Layla had asked him out, he had gotten the feeling that neither Elliot nor Avery wanted to see him. So, he took it upon himself to stay out of their sight."Yeah! Something big happened," Layla said. "You should ask Mom!""I won't pry if your mom didn't tell me about it.""And that's why I'm saying that you didn't keep in touch. Is it because of your girlfriend? It's like you don't care about what happens to us anymore."Eric was rendered speechless."Wait, it was probably inappropriate for me to ask you to come here, isn't it? Is your girlfriend living with you?" Layla came to a sudden realization. "Why don't you give me the IV bag and go home?""She doesn't stay with me." Eric refused to move. "It's late. Just go to sleep and stop overthinking things.""What about you?""I will wait until the IV bag is empty.""What then? If I fall asleep, are you just going to
Seeing that Layla was already asleep, the doctor whispered, "Your arm must be numb by now.""I'm fine."The two exited the room."Does she still need to be dripped tomorrow?" Eric asked as he flexed his wrist."Depends on her condition tomorrow. If the vomiting stops by tomorrow, she won't need to be dripped and will just need to finish her medication," the doctor said. "It's crucial that she does not consume any rich food. She should recover by next week.""It will take a week?""Yeah. It's best that she rests and only consume food that is easy on the stomach, like soup, till she gets better."Eric fell silent. Layla had told him that she will be going home this Friday. Taking the doctor's advice into consideration, she might not be able to go home.The next morning, Layla woke up starving. She pushed away the blankets and left the bed in search of water. The room swayed when she stood up, and she leaned against the wall for support. Supporting herself against the wall, she
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