ECMO stood for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and it was a machine that was designed to be used on patients suffering from severe dysfunction of their hearts and lungs.When the patient's lungs and heart could no longer function independently, the doctor would use an ECMO machine to help the patient circulate their blood and air. The machine was meant to take the place of the heart and lungs. It helps keep the patient alive, but since it is an extremely expensive procedure, ordinary people would never be able to afford it.Though Eric did not have to worry about the cost of such treatment, the treatment itself would be a challenging ordeal. The machine could be used to ensure the patient stayed alive, but he would not be able to open his eyes or talk like a living person if he were to rely on that machine. Eric would be no better than a copse, and if Layla had known that, she would definitely have broken down. Ivy looked up the term and fell silent after reading the descr
Layla turned to Ivy. "Ivy, go home! You've already wasted a lot of time staying by my side.""I can always get a tutor afterward, Layla. I want to stay with you.""I'm better now," Layla said and glanced at Robert. "Robert, take Ivy back. The two of you need to go back to school.""Let us stay with you for a few more days!" Robert said."I'm fine. Besides, I have Mom, Dad, and Hayden with me.""Fine!" Robert said in resignation. "But we are still coming to Bridgedale with you because I want to see Uncle Eric."Layla did not argue further.The four boarded a private jet and arrived at Bridgedale ten hours later.Once they arrived at Avery's house, she grabbed Layla by the arm and studied her up and down."Mom, I'm really fine. I felt weak at first, but they dripped me for three days in a row, so I'm much better now," Layla said. "How is Eric doing, Mom?"Knowing that Layla would ask about Eric, Avery had already prepared her answer ahead of time. "He needs a new heart and lung
"You and Ivy are going back on the private jet, and I'm staying here with Layla. Remember to keep an eye on Ivy once you get home. I don't know when I can come back," Elliot said.Ivy was standing next to them as Elliot spoke to Robert."I will take good care of Ivy," Robert promised."Go to sleep and head back tomorrow!" Considering how long they had spent on the plane, Elliot said, "Call me if anything happens. Do not make the call without consulting me.""I know, Dad."Elliot then turned to Ivy and said, "Ivy, don't worry about a thing and focus on your studies. Once things start to look up over here, we will come home."Ivy nodded and said, "Did the doctor tell us to hire a psychologist for Layla?""We will talk to Layla about this. Your mom will talk to her."Ivy nodded. "Dad, you have gray hair." Ivy was standing close to Elliot and could see everything.Elliot knew it but did not mind.Avery walked over and ran her fingers through his hair. "I will buy hair dye tomorro
Mike burst out laughing. "It's probably the same concept as polishing a shoe.""Dyeing someone's hair is definitely going to be more difficult than that," Chad said. "But Avery is a smart woman so she should be alright as long as she followed the instructions."Elliot shuddered."Mom, why don't you just take Dad to a salon? Your hands might get dirty," Hayden suggested.Hayden had always been skillful with his words when he wanted to be. He was concerned that Avery would fail but simply said that he did not want Avery to get her hands dirty."Your mom wants to do it for your dad. Don't you know what this is?" Mike threw his arm around Hayden's shoulders and said, "It's called 'spicing things up'. You don't have a girlfriend, so you won't understand."Hayden responded to his sarcasm with silence."It's getting late, so Chad and I will leave now," Mike blurted out before Hayden had the chance to retort.Avery saw them out the door and returned to the house before asking Hayden, "
"Layla, Uncle Eric won't be mad at you when he wakes up. He is going to be over the moon when he sees that you are doing perfectly fine." Ivy wanted Layla to remember how Eric felt about her when he saved her life.Layla smiled when Ivy said that Eric would wake up. "I will wait for him to open his eyes."After taking a shower, the two went back to the living room and saw Avery dyeing Elliot's hair, while Robert assisted her."Are you nervous, Dad?" Ivy walked over and watched Avery.Elliot had been nervous, but he decided to abandon his fear after a while. Avery did not have any experience when it came to dying hair, but once she figured it out, she would know what to do. "Dye it black. Even if she fails, it won't be that bad," Elliot said. "When we grow old and have gray hair, your mom will still have to dye it for me again anyway. She will become an expert soon."Ivy was moved by his answer."And what if Mom has gray hair? Will you dye it for Mom?""I'm fine with it if yo
Avery tapped Layla on the shoulder. "Let's go out!"Layla remained frozen in place and could not hear a word that she was saying, so Avery took her hand and pulled her out of the intensive care ward before helping Layla remove her protective equipment. "Don't cry, Layla. He will get better," Avery said. "This is just temporary. Once he gets the surgery he needs, he won't have to rely on the machines."Layla threw herself into her mother's arms and broke down in tears. "Mom, you have to save him... There's still so much that I need to say to him...""I know." Avery ran her hand down Layla's back. "He has done our family a great favor, and we are all grateful, so we are doing whatever it takes to find a matching donor... Once we find one, Eric will get better.""How can we speed up the process, Mom?" Layla desperately wanted to help, no matter the cost."Layla, I know that you are anxious. So am I, but you don't come across a matching donor with just money. We are already searchin
"My aunt used to be the host of a TV show, but she quit after she fell ill. She works as a tutor now, but she is quite picky with who she teaches. I majored in broadcasting because of her. I've always looked up to her," the girl said."I picked this major because of my respect for a certain broadcaster as well," Ivy said."Oh? Who is it?"Ivy did not know what to say because the broadcaster she respected was from Taronia.All the shows she had watched and the news she had consumed had come from Taronia, so she did not know much about broadcasters or television hosts in Aryadelle."I don't know her name," Ivy lied."Ivy, you never join any gatherings. Do you not like going to gatherings, or does your family forbid you from going? It is quite a lot to stay in the residences near our campus, so your family must be quite rich!""No, my family doesn't care about that. I just don't like gatherings. I would join if those activities hold credits, though.""Hahaha! You are so funny. The
Ivy was surprised as she did not know that Elliot and Layla were coming home. She held onto her phone and turned to the girl next to her, "I'm sorry! I need to go home now. I will buy you dinner next time!""Go ahead! I'll just have dinner on my own," the girl said."Okay," Ivy said before hurrying out of the canteen."Who were you talking to, Ivy?" Robert overheard Ivy through the phone."A schoolmate. She's not from my class," she said. "Where are you right now, Robert?""I'm almost reaching," Robert said casually. "Have you gotten yourself a new friend?""No. It's quite a coincidence, actually. I asked my lecturer to refer me to a tutor, and he did. It turns out that my new tutor is that girl's aunt," Ivy explained briefly. "She seems nice and doesn't look like the kind of person who would run her mouth."Robert was famous at his university as everyone knew who his family was, so he had never faced similar concerns. He tried his best to stand in Ivy's shoes and said, "Just be
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