She was of the opinion that Hayden not marrying was not the worst thing in life. As long as that was what he wanted, she did not find any fault with his choice. "Dad, I don't understand why parents always want their kids to get married," Ivy said."I don't know about other parents, but I want you all to get married because marrying your mom gave me great happiness. I'm happier married to her than I ever was when I was single. My family has made my life so meaningful, so naturally, I want all of you to find a partner to support you, to listen to you when you need to vent, and to take care of you when you are sick. Humans are social creatures, after all."Ivy realized something. "Don't force Hayden to get married if he doesn't want to, though. I don't want you to fight." She could not imagine what would happen if Hayden and Elliot fought.Elliot smiled bitterly. "I'm just telling you what I think. I would never say these things to him.""Are you drunk as well, Dad?" Ivy could smell
It was ten at night, and when Avery saw the medical reports, she started shivering in excitement."This is by far the best match we can find for Eric Santos. Though it's not an exact match, there's a high chance of success," the doctor said.Avery swiftly regained her composure. "If success is not guaranteed, I'm worried about the complications." "Ms. Tat— Never mind, I should call you Dr. Tate! Even if it is a perfect match, there is always the risk of complications. You know Eric's condition and dragging this on won't do him any good. He's already the patient who has been on the ECMO the longest time, and no one knows what will happen if he continues to be on it."Avery fell silent at the doctor's words."I will need to talk to his parents.""Call them and tell them to come here. We need their signatures to start the operation, anyway," the doctor said.Avery nodded.She walked out of the hospital and went into her car when she received a call from Hayden.Hayden had been s
She then heard Mrs. Santos' voice."Did they find a matching heart for our son? Can he undergo the surgery now?""Yes! Dr. Tate said they found one!" Mr. Santos said."Oh, I'm so glad! I'll start packing right away. Let's go to Bridgedale!" Mrs. Santos said.Avery overheard their conversation and could understand why they were excited."Mr. Santos, Eric's doctor told me that there's a ninety percent chance that the surgery will succeed," Avery said. "The heart is not a perfect match. Considering Eric's current condition, we can't postpone the surgery any longer. The doctor recommends that we start the surgery as soon as possible as we can't afford to wait any longer, but there are risks. I need to explain everything to you, and it's up to you to decide what to do."Mr. Santos immediately froze. "That's not what you said before... You said that he will get back to normal once you find a matching heart..." He found it difficult to accept what Avery had said."I'm sorry, but I lied
"Layla, the success rate is ninety percent, and I want you to remain calm about this," Avery said."That’s pretty high, right?" Layla said thoughtfully."Yes, it's considered very high, and everything should be fine.""I know that it will be a success," Layla said confidently. "I believe in him.""Come to Bridgedale with his parents.""Sure."Layla hung up and immediately headed out of the office to return home and pack. On her way back, she called Elliot."Dad, I'm going to Bridgedale. Eric can undergo the operation now! There's a matching donor!" Layla blurted excitedly.Avery had informed Elliot about the surgery as well."I will come with you!" Elliot wanted to see if the surgery would succeed, and he wanted to see Avery.It was the longest they had been apart from one another. They had stayed together since they had remarried, and even when one of them needed to go on a business trip, the longest they had been apart was three days. "If you come along, Ivy and Robert wi
Robert sent Ivy a text message, and Ivy replied right away.[Dad and Layla messaged me as well. I would have gone with them if I didn't have classes.][I could have taken some days off from school, but I guess I will pass! I want to stay home with you!] Robert replied.[Did Dad tell you to?][I'm staying because I want to and because it's my responsibility.][Haha. Thanks, Robert. You can go if you want to, though. I will be fine. I'm a grownup, and our driver drives me around every day, so I'm perfectly safe.][Nah. If I go, Hayden and our parents will chase me out.][Haha.][Do you have any classes today? If you are free, we can go out.]Ivy had no classes in the evening and was going to go home to practice her breathing and pronunciation, but she did not tell Robert that. Ever since she heard about the operation, she had been in a great mood. [Where are we going?][Where do you want to go? I can take you anywhere!]Ivy scratched her head, feeling lost.She had been wit
Robert thought about it and said, "Why don't we eat at the canteen in Dad's office? I heard the food there is great, but I've never been there before.""Sure! Will they let us in?"He chuckled. "I'm just going to let them have a good look at me." "Do they all know you?"He giggled. "Of course, not. I mean I'm going to use the face recognition system to get in. Dad's security system has face recognition, and Dad entered us all into the system.""Oh! I thought all of Dad's employees know you!" She sighed a breath of relief."Do you know how many employees work for him? Thousands!" he said. "Only a few of the managers have seen me because Dad is quite protective of us. Search online and you will only find that Hayden is listed as Dad's son. You can't find anything on Layla and I." "I tried." Ivy did so in Taronia and could only find Hayden. "But since Layla uploaded that advert, I'm pretty sure everyone knows who she is." "That’s because she's working, and it doesn’t matter if
The lights inside the building remained lit.Ivy had thought that the office would be empty as people often returned home right away after office hours ended at six."Robert, when does office hours end in Dad's company?" Ivy asked innocently. "Dad usually comes home at six, doesn't he?""Dad is the boss and he gets to get off work anytime he wants, but his employees can't do the same. There are two shifts here: from nine to five, and from ten to seven. The lights are still on inside because there are still a lot of employees working inside," Robert explained.Ivy followed Robert to the entrance of Sterling Group obediently.She had seen this building before when she was on a road trip with her family during her summer holidays.Ivy would have never dared to come here on her own without Robert as she did not want to let others know about her connection to Elliot, nor did she think that it would be appropriate for her to take a tour in a workplace; on top of that, Elliot did not wo
Dean knew that Elliot was on his way to Bridgedale, so he had not informed Elliot about it right away.He waited outside Elliot's office for a while and when Robert did not show up, he called Elliot's assistant."Do you have Robert's number? Give it to me if you do," Dean said. "I heard that Robert is in the office, but he's nowhere to be found. I have no clue as to why he is here."The assistant immediately located Robert’s number and sent it to Dean. "Are you sure that he is in the office?""The administration manager said so, so I suppose so!" Dean said. "I heard that he is here with his girlfriend, too. I haven't even heard that he was dating. Do you know about this?""No! The last time Mr. Foster talked about Robert, he was saying how Robert doesn't know how to handle his personal life. I heard that some girl went to Layla to get to Robert and Layla was really mad about it.""Robert is a gentleman, so it's natural that girls like him. I guess he is in a serious relationship
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