Ivy hummed in response."Haha! Maybe you will change your mind when you find someone you like, but that's for another time. You will be interning at a TV station soon. I'm so proud of you."Ivy wavered slightly at the nurse's words, but she no longer felt as nervous after what Layla said to her.Two hours later, Layla returned with Eric.The nurse went to the kitchen to cook while Ivy went to help.Layla helped Eric down on the couch and told Ivy to come out of the kitchen."Ivy, do you want to go to the broadcasting room to try rehearsing?" Layla asked. "Eric knows someone from a different TV station, and they can give you a tour when the room isn't being used..."Ivy shook her head without hesitation. "Mr. Gardner said that he will take me around the station ahead of time, so I don't need to trouble you, Big Brother Eric."The air between them instantly froze.Layla was holding back her laughter, while Eric blushed as he had not expected Ivy to change the way she addressed h
"Eric is okay with that?" Robert asked."He didn't exactly agree, but he didn't say no to it either. Layla has already moved in with him, and even if they don't share a room, they are together in the eyes of others," Ivy said with a smile. "Eric has liked Layla all along. She once showed me his iPad, and it's filled with photos and videos of Layla."Robert was stunned. "He hides his feelings well! I never knew that he felt this way about Layla.""Layla is pretty, talented, and smart, so it's normal for Eric to like her! If I were a guy, I would like her as well," Ivy said earnestly. "I think she is far more beautiful than I am.""You don't have to lower yourself to build her up." Robert shot her a look. "You just don't have a habit of putting makeup on. Once you start dressing up, you will look just as beautiful as Layla.""I just think she is better-looking than me.""Alright. She is prettier." Robert did not argue with her. "Ivy, the winter holiday is approaching, so I can drop
"Your dad is depressed and didn't want to help Layla move, so I had to stay home with him..." Avery said worriedly. "I don't want your sister to overthink things.""She didn't, Mom. Layla isn't the kind of person who would hold a grudge over something like this. She is already content that you and Dad are not opposed to her marrying Big Brother Eric.""Is that what you are calling him now?" Avery chuckled."They are living together, so I will have to change the way I address him eventually! He didn't say no to it.""Haha, anything goes, I suppose. Your sister is dead set on being with him." Avery sighed a breath of relief. "Mr. Gardner came over this morning and said that he happened to be in the area. He told you to contact him when you are free and he will take you to the station so that you can familiarize yourself with the environment."Ivy nodded. "Sure. I need to prepare for the exams and won't be free until later.""Send him a message and tell him about it, then." Avery pu
If she returned to the classroom, her classmates would ambush her with questions about the internship.As she hurried toward the entrance, she heard someone calling out to her from behind.It was Meredith.Ivy stopped and waited for Meredith to catch up."Ivy, how did you do on the exam? We share the same exam hall for the next exam, so let's get lunch together!""I planned on ordering delivery.""Oh. Are you going home?" Meredith was shocked. "I thought you would eat outside and wanted to have lunch with you!"Ivy felt slightly awkward and said, "Let's have lunch outside, then!""Haha. It's my treat. Don't worry, I won't ask about the internship because I've already asked my aunt about it."Ivy blushed at her words. "What did your aunt say?""She asked around but her friend in the TV station didn't know much. Someone else told her later on that the normal procedures were followed for the selection of the interns and that you were selected because they were impressed by your
"Do you know why I've given you the three am slot?" Harry asked."The show at three lasts for half an hour. I'm new with no experience, and I'm not as educated as my senior in the second year, so a half-hour show could be quite challenging already," Ivy said.Harry had not expected her to be so perceptive and said, "Indeed. If you do well in this show, it will be quite the accomplishment for someone your age.""I will work hard, Mr. Gardner.""By the way, come to the station alone tomorrow. It's fine if your parents want to drop you off, but it's best that they don't come inside. I know you keep a low profile and that's a good thing when you are still learning. Once people find out who you are, you will be swarmed by all their opinions and comments.""You are right. I won't let them drop me off.""See you tomorrow, then.""Yes. See you tomorrow."The next day at ten in the morning, Ivy arrived alone by taxi.After verifying her identity at the reception, they told her to take
Even if Harry had not told her that, that was precisely what Ivy intended to do."Come here. I will teach you a few tricks." He pulled out a pen from his pocket and said, "Memorize all the important nouns and numbers, and practice the words that you find difficult to pronounce..."Ivy knew all that Harry was teaching her at the moment because it was written on the material Harry had given her in the past."Most importantly, be mindful of your image in front of the camera. Our images come from the way we wear our hair, the way we dress, and our expressions. You must relax. My trick of relaxing is to imagine the camera as my best friend."Ivy nodded intently."Go ahead and practice your script, then! Let me or the staff know once you are done." Harry smiled. "Just be your usual self and you will be just as good as your senior."Ivy nodded with a smile. "Okay. I should let you get back to work!"Once he left, Ivy started memorizing the script.Andrea had signed her contract and wa
Shortly after, Harry walked into the room and Ivy immediately beamed at him as she flashed him an 'okay' sign.Harry nodded wordlessly. Ivy put on the headphones and heard the director's instructions."Hello, Ivy. I'm starting the countdown now. Five, four, three, two, one, action..."The script Ivy had on her table was displayed on the teleprompter before her, and it was also attached to the screen. All she needed to do was look ahead and read the script with precision."Hello. Today is the thirteenth of January, Tuesday. Welcome to the Thirty-minute News Summary..."It was a test session, and a simpler script was used to help students acclimatize to the work as fast as possible. The testing session meant more to Ivy than it did to Andrea, as second-year students had the chance the practice in the broadcasting room on campus.Ten minutes later, Ivy heard the voice of the director coming from her headphones. "Cut. Good job!"Ivy sighed a breath of relief and took the headphone
Harry took Ivy to the meeting room, where Ivy's contract was on the table."Mr. Gardner, has everyone else signed their contracts?"Harry nodded. "Yeah. The others have begun working."Ivy picked the contract up and read through it."I've already sent your dad a copy." He handed her a pen. "All you need to do is sign."Ivy accepted the pen but insisted on reading the contract. "This is the first time I'm signing a contract for work. I'm excited and want to see what's written."Ivy was paid when she worked as a servant for the Woods, but she did not get to sign any contract at the time."What's your plan for the future?" Harry asked. "Do you plan on working in this field in the long run?"Ivy signed her name on the contract and said, "I don't want to lie to you, Mr. Gardner. I haven't planned that much ahead, actually. All I know is that I want to be a TV host right now. I don't know if I will change my mind after I graduate."Harry chuckled. "I can understand. Your family woul
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