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
"It's better you don't go. Shea is there as well, and with those two there guarding him, you are definitely going to feel provoked," Tammy said. "Elliot's isn't all that mentally stable. I had thought that maybe his company had run into trouble, but Jun said nothing has happened. I was thinking that it has something to do with you?"Avery walked back to her office chair and sat down. "You've overestimated me, Tammy. He didn't break down when I divorced him, so I don't think that I matter that much." "Then why is he acting so oddly? It can't be because of Zoe, right?" Tammy muttered in confusion. "I heard that she has been visiting the old Foster mansion frequently lately. That woman is too good at scheming!"The more she heard about Elliot and Zoe, the more composed Avery found herself becoming. Perhaps, she might be able to maintain her calm if they were to get married one day.She would no longer cross paths with Elliot again in the future, and they would only drift further and
"Chad, aren't our drones great?" Mike asked proudly as he bit into an apple. Chad glanced at the smug expression on his face and suddenly realized that Mike was not as bad as he thought he was. Chad had even started to think that he looked rather handsome. "They are alright! Don't get too proud. Your drones are not perfect, and they could do with some improvements," Chad said pridefully. "Even you guys in the Sterling Group can't claim to be the best, can you?" Mike retorted. "We have just started; it will get better from now on.""Good luck with that!""The moon tonight looks so round!" Mike sighed at the night sky. Chad looked up and hummed in agreement. "Let's not fight from now on." Mike turned abruptly to look at him. He looked serious, "What if we need to work together in the future?"Chad readjusted his spectacles and said, "You really enjoy my boss's money that you can't get enough of it, huh." "Meh! We have met sillier clients overseas before.""The drones that
'They have their birthdays on the same day? A coincident?' thought Avery. Avery took her son's hand and walked toward the door. A towering figure appeared before her. Elliot was dressed in a black trench coat that made him look cold and distant. She was not sure if it was her eyes playing tricks on her, or if he really did look thinner. After two seconds of hesitation, Avery decided to wish him a happy birthday. Just as she was about to say something, she saw Shea throwing herself at Elliot, and with her arms around him, she said, "Big Brother, here's your cake."Avery was standing right next to Elliot and heard every word Shea said. 'Big Brother?!' she thought, 'Did Shea just call Elliot big brother?'Avery scowled as she studied Shea. Shea could sense Avery's glare, and she met Avery's eyes. Perhaps it was because of the stern expression on Avery's face, but Shea felt slightly nervous. She wanted to invite Avery to share the cake, but she ended up choking on her words
They had not informed him ahead of time before visiting. Elliot did not want them over, as they were all strangers to Shea, and they would scare her very much.Rosalie stood at the very front and as soon as she saw Shea, her eyes gleamed, and she could not help but approach Shea. Elliot stood in front of Shea and said, "Mom, why did you come here without telling me first?""Today's your— I bought a cake." Rosalie lowered her gaze and mumbled, "I know I shouldn't come here unannounced, but I can't help it…"She could not resist her urge to see Shea.Shea heard Rosalie's voice and was both nervous and curious at the same time. Rosalie could see her doe like eyes peeking at her from behind Elliot. "Shea, you aren't afraid of me, are you?" Rosalie looked at her with anticipation. Shea immediately lowered her head again, her grip on Elliot's clothes tightening in response. Elliot reached his hand behind and held her hand. "Mom, go home! We've already had cakes at school," he
She sat on the bed with unconcealable joy on her face. Five years ago, her stepmother and Wanda's younger brother, James, stole three hundred million from Tate Industries. After spending most of that fortune, greed had taken over him, and he had planned on making another fortune from Tate Industries. Only this time, he would not be met with three hundred million dollars, just the cold hard hand of the law. A moment ago, Officer Boyd, the police officer who was responsible for the case, had contacted Avery and informed her that James had already boarded the flight back to the country. There was a team of officers at the airport, ready to ambush him. As soon as James landed, he would be arrested. This was something that Avery had spent years waiting for, and even after hanging up, she could not seem to calm herself down. She wanted to share the good news with her friends, but it was three in the morning, and she could not bring herself to wake them.She got out of bed and steppe
Avery heard his question. She slightly sobered her up. Did he think that she would spill the truth simply because she had a bit too much to drink? He had underestimated her. She had drunk a little too much, but it was only beer and not wine. Beer would not completely make her lose her mind. She decided to ignore him and go to sleep. Elliot knew that she had fallen asleep when he heard her breathing becoming less erratic. He stared at the screen of his phone, reluctant to hang up. She would have never called unless she was drunk.Avery jolted awake at eight in the morning. It was a nightmare that had woken her. A nightmare about the time when her father had just passed away. With his death and the company declaring bankruptcy, Avery and her mother had wandered the streets like homeless strays. She had been thirsty and dying for water, but they had not a penny to their name, so they could not buy water. Avery was drenched in sweat when she woke up. She sighed a breath of r
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