"If you are struggling to decide, just don't be a bridesmaid," Mike said. "She has plenty of friends who can be her bridesmaids. Besides, they are definitely going to invite a lot of people because your sister likes to be surrounded by people.""I do want to be her bridesmaid, though," Ivy said."You can still stay by her side the entire day without being a bridesmaid!" Mike smiled. "You aren't married, so you don't know how complicated weddings are. Not only will there be bridesmaids but groomsmen as well and they would usually play a ton of games..."Ivy paled at his words.She had always been introverted and preferred her own company. Despite her dream of becoming a broadcaster, she was hardly good at socializing outside of her show, and she was what people would call 'antisocial'."Don't scare her. Eric hasn't fully recovered yet, so I'm sure there won't be too many people," Avery said with a smile. "Why don't you pay Eric a visit first and come back here later for dinner?""
"Hahaha! Elliot Foster's son-in-law, huh? You sound so confident after getting the marriage certificate," Mike teased. "You just need to focus on making Layla happy.""I know," Eric said and turned to look at Ivy. "Ivy, I talked to your sister last night, and we figured that you can be the host if you don't want to be a bridesmaid. That's what you are studying in university, anyway. We will entrust you with hosting the wedding. What do you think?"Ivy felt as though everyone was overestimating her and flushed when she felt their eyes on her. "I... I'm worried that I might let you down..."She had not expected Layla and Eric to trust her with such an important task and was worried that she was not qualified enough for the task."What are you worried about? Your sister and brother-in-law aren't worried, so just think of it as having fun." Mike thought that it was a great idea as a wedding was supposed to be interesting. "It's not a TV show, so you can make mistakes. Just read directl
"Don't put photos of me that even Mom hasn't seen at the wedding!" Layla protested. "Uncle Mike, are you trying to embarrass me on my wedding day?""You were cute when you were little!" Mike argued."Mike loved taking photos of you when you cried." Avery chuckled."Huh?" Layla was confused. "What kind of hobby is that?""It's fun! You were such a crybaby, or maybe it just appeared so compared to your brother," Avery said. "When Hayden cried, he just sobbed in silence, and when you cried, it felt like the entire house was shaking."Layla was rendered speechless with embarrassment. She did not want such things discussed in front of her younger siblings. "Mike, send me those photos," Avery said. "I think they are great memories."Layla sighed. "Mom, I remember that Robert cried a lot when he was a kid, too.""Yeah! All kids are that way, and Hayden was the exception," Avery said. "We can still show some of your childhood photos at the wedding. It will be fun.""I have to be the
"Hayden is always like that, even when he is happy!" Robert did not notice any difference."I'm getting married soon, but Hayden didn't offer to help with planning the wedding," Layla said in confusion. "Besides, does he need to teach Ivy how to drive this late at night?""I guess something is odd now that you mention it. I will go check on them!" Robert ran off.Ivy had not expected both her brothers to teach her how to drive and though she felt nervous before, she felt more relaxed in Robert's presence."Ivy, just think of the car as a toy. You've seen kids when they play with toy cars, haven't you? This is your toy car now," Robert said as he sat in the backseat."Don't listen to him. You need to be more focused when you are at work and when you drive. Once you are on the road, anything can happen," Hayden said."Hayden, you are scaring her. Even if she doesn't drive, accidents can still happen when she is walking on the road. Whatever you do, anything can happen," said Robert
Hayden had never felt the need to get married becuase his mother had never urged him to do so. His days were often filled with work, and he was left with no time to think about anything else.He was not born a workaholic, but he did not know what else to do if he was not working and felt that he should focus on his career at least until he was thirty.After returning to his room, he took a shower and felt refreshed.As soon as he sat down on his bed, he instantly opened his phone to check for work related emails.He had taken an early break from work to celebrate New Year's with his family, and since New Year's holidays had not officially begun at Dream Maker, the managers in the office would send him updates every day via email.After reading all the emails, he glanced at the time and noticed that forty minutes had flown by, just like how the past years had passed within the blink of an eye.He had created a business when he was extremely young and had gained success, but he had
[No. Why are you asking me that, Mr. Tate? I won't ask for leave even if my girlfriend is pregnant. My parents can take care of her, and I can hire a nanny to look after her as well.][You aren't young, so why aren't you getting married?]The assistant was confused by Hayden's odd behavior and wondered if Hayden was in some sort of shock.[Mr. Tate, is your family urging you to get married? I thought your parents never interfere with your personal life.][My mom brought it up subtly.] Hayden replied.[I guess it's because your sister is getting married! In most families, the eldest marries first.][That's not a tradition in our family.][To be honest, Mr. Tate, if I were your mother, I would have urged you to get married as well.][???][You've never dated and that's not normal. If I was your mother, I would have taken you to the hospital for a body check.]Hayden's face flushed at the message, and he blocked his assistant immediately for trying to lecture him.As soon as th
The next morning, Avery went down the stairs to find Hayden reading a magazine in the living room."Why are you awake so early? Aren't you going to sleep for a while longer?""I'm done." Hayden set the magazine aside. "Robert has changed. He got up at the same time I did, and he said that the holidays haven't started yet, so he needs to go to work."Avery glanced at the dining room. "Has he gone out yet?""Yeah. He grabbed breakfast and headed out," Hayden said. "I saw him driving a rather cheap car. Did he buy that specifically for work?"Avery nodded. "He wants to have a taste of what it's like to be normal, so we just let him.""He is under Ivy's influence!" Hayden did not get that chance as everyone knew that he was Elliot's son. Though his business was not centered in Aryadelle, he was just as famous as Elliot in the country because the Dream Maker cars had taken the globe by storm, and anywhere the cars were sold, people knew him."Yeah! I suppose it's a good thing for h
"Yeah. A romantic relationship can give your life balance. It would be really boring just to spend every day working.""But a new issue would emerge every now and then, so I'm not bored." Hayden would have never remained single for so long had he been bored or understimulated."What prompted you to bring this up with me?" Avery asked."Mom, I'm not against starting a family, but I don't know how to look for a wife."Avery blushed, knowing that Hayden must have truly found it challenging, or he would never have sought her help in this matter. Still, it was a challenge for Avery. "How about this? I will contact your Aunt Tammy later. She knows quite a lot of young women, so I can get her to introduce you to someone." Avery took a deep breath. "You can maybe just chat, so it's not technically a matchmaking situation. What do you think?"Hayden instinctively wanted to say no, but what his assistant had said the night before remained on his mind, so he agreed in the end.After breakf
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