Chills went down Elliot's spine when he saw the photo."Each car can only carry eight people per trip, but there were at least twenty people in the car when it fell," said the person in charge. "The cable car stopped halfway due to the overload. While the car stalled, the power went out, and we were waiting for the technical department to fix it, but they too were affected by the avalanche."After hearing what the person in charge had to say, Avery asked sternly, "Have you rescued the people on the cable car yet?!"The person shook his head. "The electricity hasn't come back yet. My supervisor said this is beyond their capability, and they needed to check with the higher-ups...""You are all useless!" Elliot roared. "Even if those tourists survived the avalanche, they would be crushed or frozen to death in that car!""Mr. Foster, we want to get them out of there as well, but we don't have enough manpower and resources to proceed with the rescue work." The person in charge bowed hi
Elliot hummed and helped Avery up."Go stay in the neighboring town. There's a signal there," Hayden said. "You can always move back here once electricity and internet come back on."Avery and Elliot had been awake for over a day since they had not been able to rest at all on the flight to Cambrode.As soon as Avery closed her eyes, she could not help but imagine all the horrible sights on the mountain and she could not keep the tears from streaming down her face.At some point, she ran out of tears to cry.When they arrived at the hotel, Elliot ordered food while Avery read the message she received from Robert.[Mom, have you and Dad arrived at Cambrode? Ivy and I are coming tomorrow morning. Call me back when you see this. I'm really worried.]Avery walked over to the balcony with her phone to call Robert back, only to find that his phone was shut off, and she assumed that he was already on the plane.She returned to the room and replied to Robert's message. [Your dad and I a
Avery felt a lump in her throat, not knowing what to say as she wondered, "Is he trying to say that Layla is likely dead?""There might be a miracle." Elliot realized that he had said the wrong thing and immediately added, "Avery, we need to believe that there will be a miracle.""Do you really think miracles would happen to us over and over again?" Avery thought that finding Ivy was the luckiest thing that could ever happen to them, and she did not know if they were worthy enough for another miracle. Though she was hopeful, she did not know what to believe.While silence fell over the two, Elliot received a message on his phone.Staff had managed to find out the exact time that Layla and Eric were on the mountain, and since the time coincided with the time of the avalanche, it was almost certain that the two were in danger, but no one could tell if they were still alive.Avery leaned against Elliot and closed her eyes after seeing the message on his phone. "I knew it... If they
...By the time Robert and Ivy arrived at Cambrode, the sky was already pitch dark, and Robert hailed a taxi and gave the driver the address Avery had given him. The closer they got, the more nervous Ivy and Robert grew."It's been almost two days. Why haven't they found Layla?" His heart sank.He desperately wanted to call Hayden but decided against it, knowing that Hayden must be running himself thin in his search for Layla.There was no update on the family chat group either, and when Avery called, Robert answered right away."Mom, Ivy, and I have landed, and we are on our way to you," he blurted out."Okay. Be safe." Avery sounded less devastated compared to how she was earlier that day because Hayden had just caught the signal of Layla's phone.Knowing how worried his mother was, Hayden informed Avery right away as soon as he located Layla's phone.Layla's phone was located seven hundred meters from sea level, which was hardly good news.The leveled ground on the mounta
When they arrived at the hotel, there was still no update from the rescue team.Avery immediately urged her children to eat, but Ivy spotted her reddened eyes and the exhaustion on her face that she could not hide. "Mom, you've been awake this whole time, haven't you? You need to take care of yourself."Avery knew that she could not lie to them and confessed, "I tried to, but I can't sleep.""But you have to." Ivy wanted to suggest that Avery take some sleeping pills, but she did not do so as she knew that there were side effects. "Mom, why don't you get some sleep after dinner? Ivy and I will go to the mountain." Robert, too, had not slept for over a day, but he was still young, and it had not affected him much."I will come along. If there are no updates, I will come back," Avery said. "I will get your dad to come back as well. He hasn't slept at all."Robert and Ivy instantly lost their appetites. Avery placed some food onto their plates. "Eat up. Don't waste food."Avery wa
Elliot grabbed the piece of bread and took a bite before turning his attention to Ivy and Robert. "It's cold out here. Go inside the tent.""Dad, we aren't cold. Is Layla on top of that mountain?" Robert gazed up at the rescue team on the mountain."Yeah, she's up there," Hayden said. "Robert, take your sister into the tent."Robert obeyed and grabbed Ivy's hand."Hayden, Dad, I'm not cold," Ivy said, wanting to see Layla as soon as she was rescued.Despite what Ivy said, Robert dragged her into the tent."Ivy, have you noticed all the gray hair on Dad's head?" Robert had a clear view when he stood next to Elliot. "He didn't use to have so much gray hair. It's as though his hair turned gray overnight after hearing what happened to Layla."Ivy had not been paying attention to her father's hair."I did notice that they seemed to have aged overnight," she said, tears welling in her eyes. "I used to think that they looked really young, and it felt like they would never age...""It
The bag in Avery's hand fell onto the ground.Hayden's voice grew even louder than before. "Is Layla there?! Layla should be with him!"The rescue team carefully moved Eric out of the way and found Layla further inside."We found her! Mr. Tate, we found your sister!" One of the members of the rescue team shouted excitedly and stretched his arm out to see if Layla was breathing.The temperature on the mountain was below zero, and though Layla's cheeks were cold, her neck remained warm, but since the rescuer's hand was trembling, he could not tell with certainty if Layla was breathing.Even if she was breathing, her breath was extremely weak."Mr. Tate... I am not sure if she's still alive!""Get them down first!" Hayden shouted, desperately wishing that he could climb up the mountain himself, but he could not.He did not love outdoor activities and was never good at them, so he simply grabbed a pair of binoculars from his assistant to monitor the situation. After a few moments,
Ivy's words ignited hope within Avery.If a doctor determined that a patient was dead, they would not make any effort to save said patient. If one lost the ability to breathe air independently, and their pupils were dilated, there was no point in treating them. Just then, Hayden's phone beeped. Mike had sent him some photos. Mike went up with the rescue team to search for Layla, and he took a few photos of the scene when they found Layla and Eric. Since Mike had headed down the mountain, he finally had the chance to send Hayden the photos.Hayden zoomed in on the first photo and saw Eric's cheeks were blue and he was wearing nothing but a thin layer of clothes. "He couldn't have gone up to the mountain wearing just that…" Hayden thought and immediately clicked on the second photo of Layla.Layla seemed to be in far better condition compared to Eric, and it looked as though she was merely asleep. She was wrapped in a male down jacket, which Hayden assumed belonged to Eric.H
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