"It's fine, Mom. Mr. Gardner talked to me about it before, and I was the one who decided to work that day," Ivy said calmly. "I'm the youngest amongst the interns this year, and I should be the one to take that shift."That shift required her to leave home by ten. It meant she would be counting down the end of the year at the station. It was the first New Year's that Ivy would be spending with her family, and even Avery, who did not care much about details, struggled to accept that her daughter would be spending New Year's Eve alone."Hayden hates companies that value seniority." Avery knew that she could not change Ivy's mind but still wanted to discuss the matter. "Willingness to compromise might give others the license to bully you. Sometimes, it's easier to be more demanding and selfish."Ivy nodded and noted Avery's advice."Mom, I guess I'm just used to it." Ivy had told herself that she could not be picky because she only managed to get the opportunity with Harry's help, a
[I didn't tell him. He is still recovering, and I don't want him to stay up.] Layla typed.[I see.] Robert replied.Just then, Hayden came out of nowhere and joined the conversation. [Don't stay up next time. You can always wait for the recording of Ivy's show.][It must be nice to be you, Hayden. You don't even need to stay up to watch Ivy's show.] Layla replied.[Have you seen the poll for the most popular intern broadcaster on the official website of the station?] Hayden asked.[A poll? I didn't see it! Ivy didn't mention anything about it!] Layla exclaimed.[Ivy didn't say anything to me either!] Robert agreed.Hayden sent a screenshot of the website. [It hasn't started. The poll won't be accepting votes until tomorrow.][Oh. I guess it's starting after Ivy's show tonight. But no one would stay up until this time to see Ivy's show!] Layla replied.[There are recordings on the TV station's official application because the time for the other interns is unfavorable as well.]
"Oh. I didn't even know that we could wear a watch!" Ivy smiled."You can wear anything that's appropriate. We will let you know if it's something you can't wear on the show," the staff explained. "You can wear earrings, necklaces, or things like that as long as they aren't extravagant."Andrea nodded and turned her attention back to Ivy. "Her watch must have cost a fortune.""I'm not sure, but a first-year university student wouldn't have the money for luxury brand products," the staff said."She might not have the money for it, but someone else could have bought it for her... Ivy is quite the social butterfly," Andrea said innocently."Well, our manager likes her. Actually, we all do. We like all the interns equally, in fact. Students nowadays are so talented!""Ivy is far more talented than me," Andrea said with a smile. "She used to have an accent when the semester started! Listen to her now! She is doing great! It's only been half a year. Not only is she hard-working, but she
After expressing her gratitude, Ivy went to the dressing room to change and found Andrea there.Recalling what the staff said earlier, Ivy could not help but take the initiative to talk to Andrea. "Why haven't you gone home, Andrea?""There isn’t any public transport at this time." Andrea smiled gently. "Ivy, I've misunderstood you. All my classmates told me that you managed to get into the internship program through connections, and I believed that for some time. Now that I've watched your show, I have changed my opinion of you."Though Ivy no longer cared about how others saw her, she was still overjoyed to hear what Andrea said. "You were great as well, Andrea. I watched your show tonight.""Hahaha. Weren't you supposed to be memorizing your script at that time? You weren't paying attention?" Andrea teased."I arrived at the station at ten, and by the time your show started, I'd memorized most of the script." Ivy unbuttoned her jacket to change."Ivy, I heard that you live nea
"I didn't see that coming either. After your show, our parents rushed out of their room and came downstairs for supper," Robert said in awe. "I guess they were excited.""It's just an internship. Why would they be so excited?" Ivy asked."I guess they are glad to see you all grown up! You are brilliant and can easily make it on your own without their support. They are proud of you.""I see! Robert, you should go to sleep! Stop playing with your phone." Ivy took his hand and pushed him toward the stairs."I'm not playing with my phone. I'm researching sales positions." Robert showed her the screen on his phone. "Dad told me to work my way up, and I can't embarrass him.""How could you ever embarrass him? You are great," Ivy said. "Robert, you are absolutely awesome and can do anything.""Thank you. I got a fake ID anyway. I don't want others to know that I'm a Foster," Robert said."Sure! No one will know who you really are, then.""Yeah! If you can rely on yourself, so can I."
"Ivy, have you rested enough? How are you feeling? Do you feel tired? I had the maid make you some soup." Avery spotted Ivy and hurried over to grab her hand.Ivy did not want Avery to worry and smiled. "I had enough rest. I'm starving.""You don't look too energetic. Get some more sleep after having some food. You have to work again tonight, and it's hardly a reasonable shift. Even doctors and nurses don't work night shifts on consecutive nights," Avery said."Mom, I'm fine. One more day at work, and I get two days off!" Ivy walked over to the dining room. "What soup is it? It smells so good.""It's chicken soup, so it will warm you up. Have some food before drinking your soup." Avery sat down next to Ivy."Have you eaten, Mom? Where is Dad?" The mansion was quiet even though it was twelve in the afternoon, and it was around the time when her parents would normally have lunch."Your dad went to the office, and we ate at ten, so I'm not hungry right now." Avery woke up at nine th
"That's not possible!" Ivy chuckled as she blushed. "I think you and Layla are the most beautiful women!""Haha, both you and Layla are my children, so you are just as beautiful as one another," Avery said. "Are you really okay with the trouble that might come with fame? Your dad and I hate being the center of attention.""I don't like that either, but I'm happy to know that everyone likes me." Ivy had not dreamed in her wildest imagination that she would be famous after her first day on air."Your dad can take care of it for you. If you aren't aiming to become an actress, it won't help you to be on social media." Avery did not want to expose her daughter to the opinions of others."Can Dad do that?" Ivy did not wish to be on social media either."Sure." Avery scrolled through her phone to send Elliot a text. "I will get him to work on it right away.""Okay." Ivy got up to take a glass of water.After sending Elliot a text, Avery walked over to Ivy. "Get some more rest later. Ma
She clicked into the poll and noticed that she was in second place.As she scrolled through her phone, she realized that she had received countless messages from people she knew.[Ivy, you got famous! I'm so happy for you! Your votes are high, and they are still going up! You are definitely going to be the queen of the popularity poll! I heard that the person who gets first place gets to sign a contract with the station! I envy you, Ivy!] Meredith typed.Andrea wrote. [Before the poll even started, you've already gathered countless supporters! I envy you!][Ivy, I saw the replay of your show, and you've made bigger progress than I anticipated. Hard work will never fail you, and I hope that this motivates you to keep up the hard work in the future!] A message from her lecturer read.Meanwhile, Harry also texted her. [Get some rest during the day, Ivy. I assume that there will be a lot of people watching you tonight! Good luck!]Ivy replied to each and every one of them, before sil
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