The smile on Ivy's face froze and thought to herself, "Eric Santos is Mom's friend? Did he borrow my book today because he recognized me?"She immediately opened her bag and took out her music textbook before flipping it open and tapping herself on the hand.Eric had left a message for her on one of the pages. He wanted to meet her, and there was a number next to his message. She assumed that it was his. "Please stop the car," Ivy immediately said to the driver.The car had just left the campus and had not gone far. Ivy got out of the car and dialed the number written in her textbook.Soon, the call was answered and Eric said, "Hello.""Mr. Santos, I'm sorry, but I just saw your message in my textbook," she said sheepishly."Are you still on campus?" Eric asked with amusement."Yeah. I'm in front of the university entrance.""Okay. I will come to you, then. I'll be there in about ten minutes," Eric said after checking the time."Okay." Once she hung up, she saw the driver wa
"I've just told your mom.""Yeah, I heard," Ivy said sweetly. "Mr. Santos, are you a full-time lecturer now?"He smiled and said, "I've already retired and teaching is just an interest of mine. I don't lecture much though." "Oh. What a coincidence!" Had Ivy not selected music, or had the lecturer not called in sick, she would not have gotten the chance to meet Eric. "Indeed. It's a shocking coincidence. I thought I was dreaming when I saw your name written on the inside flap of your textbook," Eric said. "When did you get home?""This summer.""How are you getting along with everyone?""Great. They are all very kind and caring toward me.""What about your relationship with your siblings?""Hayden came home from Bridgedale specifically to see me, and he even stayed home for a period of time! Robert and Layla are great as well. Everyone has been great!""That's good to hear. Your parents must be over the moon! They have been looking for you for years and have never given up o
Without skipping a beat, Ivy said, "Why don't you come over now? We haven't started yet! I can send you the location.""It's fine! It's not like I was invited."Sensing the frustration in Layla's tone, Eric asked Ivy for her phone, and Ivy handed it to him without hesitation."I'm having dinner with Ivy near her university. It's quite far for you so I didn't ask you along," he explained patiently."Why are you buying my sister dinner?" Layla asked. "She doesn't even know you and doesn't know what happened between us..."An amused look appeared on Ivy's face as she thought to herself, "Did something happen between Layla and Eric?""I'm just buying her dinner. I didn't say anything that I shouldn't say." Eric blushed and changed the subject immediately. "Have you eaten?""I haven't! But I'm about to, so bye!" Layla hung up.Eric gave the phone back to Ivy and she accepted it calmly, feeling off."Your sister and I... It's not like that... I pretty much watched her as she grew up
Ivy had not imagined the situation to be so complicated and asked, "Why would Layla be in love with you, then?"If Eric truly had been her father's enemy, it would not make sense for Layla to fall in love with him."I told you. They had fought all the time. Even when Hayden and Layla were children, they fought. During their school holidays, Mike would take care of Hayden while I looked after Layla." Eric smiled as he recalled the past. "Your parents made up in the end, and I stopped viewing your dad as the enemy."Ivy nodded. "You've been with Layla for a long time, which means that she has been in love with you for a while. What about you? Do you like her?""Of course, I do, just not romantically. Your sister is a beautiful young lady, and anyone, no matter their age, would like her the moment they laid eyes on her."Ivy agreed. "Not only is Layla pretty, but she is also really kind, too. I would like her if I was a man.""Yeah," Eric muttered as he focused on the food."Mr. Sa
Avery saved a lot of people in the past and helping Eric did not mean much to her. Eric, however, saw Avery as his savior. In the yard, Layla had said goodbye to Eric, and he was about to leave when Avery came over and invited him inside. "Eric, since you are already here, why don't you come inside?"Eric hesitated."My mom is inviting you in. Why are you still standing here?" Layla teased before opening the car door for him.Eric stepped out of his car and followed them into the mansion. Once they entered the living room, Layla pulled Ivy to the dining room and started digging into the barbeque ribs Ivy brought home.Ivy glanced into the living room. "Layla, aren't you worried that it would be awkward for them to be alone?" Ivy felt awkward when she tried to put herself in Eric's shoes."Eric is extremely scared of our parents, so he's probably dying from nerves right about now!" Layla giggled."Oh, you are doing this on purpose!""He is too timid. It's a good chance for him
"What are you talking about?" Avery walked over to Elliot."Nothing much," he said. "I need some time alone with Layla.""Oh, are you asking me to leave?" Avery asked sarcastically. "You want to talk to her about Eric, right? Did you really think I wouldn't know what you were thinking? You are trying to get me to leave as if I couldn't figure out what you guys were talking about."Hearing his pride shatter, Elliot blushed."Mom, show Dad some mercy!" Layla said calmly.Avery hummed and turned to look at Elliot, "Come to the bedroom once you are done talking to Layla. I need to talk to you as well."Elliot felt uneasy, sensing that he was about to be lectured by his wife.After Avery left, Layla suppressed her laughter as she looked at Elliot, "What were you trying to ask me, Dad?"Elliot took a sip of water to regain his composure before saying, "Eric has a girlfriend now, so I trust that you won't do anything out of line, will you? There are plenty of good men out there, and a
"Layla won't do such a thing!" Avery interrupted him. "We raised our daughter. Don't you know what kind of a person she is? Don't you trust her?""Of course, I trust her. I am just worried that Eric might put her under his spell.""Eric isn't that kind of a man.""Avery, do you know Eric that well? We didn't raise him, and we aren't even that familiar with what kind of a man he is.""How can you say that? He is our friend, and we ought to trust our friends. We only came to know Jun, Tammy, and Ben later in our lives, so why can we trust them but not Eric?""Don't get so worked up. I will be more careful next time I see him." Elliot did not wish to fight with Avery over this.It had been a while since they had a fight, and he was not used to having an argument."I'm not worked up. You are the one who is out of line here. If Eric really is the kind of man you think he is, do you really think that Layla would still be here? She would have taken off with Eric a long time ago," Avery
Lucas' face appeared in Ivy's mind.She knew that she might be in love with Lucas, or she would not have gone all the way to Edelweiss just to see his university. She had felt happy despite not being able to see him. "Layla... I..." Ivy did not want to tell Layla about Lucas as she knew that the chances of her meeting Lucas again were slim."Why are you blushing? Are you shy? You haven't found anyone you like, or are you too shy to tell me about the guy you like?" Layla studied the look on Ivy's face. "It's fine. You will find someone even better. I'm sure there are plenty of brilliant boys in your university."Ivy nodded. "I guess, but I don't know them, nor do I want to get to know them. I just want to focus on my studies.""Do you like studying that much?"Ivy nodded again. "I like what I'm studying, and since I fall short in a lot of aspects, I want to be better.""You are so ambitious! I could never be like you." Layla realized that she had never been so dedicated to anyth
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