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
"Are you that certain that Hayden would be interested in whoever Tammy introduced? If he doesn't like the woman Tammy introduces him to, we will get Lilith to help instead." Avery had everything planned. "Hayden has already agreed to stay until after Layla's wedding, so he has more than enough time to meet a few girls."Elliot nodded with a scowl. "I'm shocked by his sudden change in attitude. What has gotten into him?"Avery nodded. "I guess it's normal for him to think this way. He has never been against the idea of having a family of his own and seeing Layla get married is bound to encourage him to take action."Elliot hummed in agreement and was instantly motivated to find a wife for Hayden but could not seem to think of a single woman who was worthy of his brilliant son."Did he mention what type of girls he wants?" Elliot asked.Avery shook her head. "He doesn't have a single clue. This is the first time he has ever considered something like this."Elliot pinched the bridge
Avery met with the church decorator sometime later, and Tammy strode in alongside a beautiful young woman."Avery. Hayden." Tammy greeted them with a smile and introduced the young woman next to her. "This is Lina, the daughter of my friend. She is in her fourth year of university and will be graduating next summer. She has already started interning, so she has a lot of free time. I saw a cafe on my way here, so the two of you can head there to chat."Tammy knew the mentality of young people well, so she did not say anything that would embarrass them, nor did she intend on breathing over their shoulders.Avery scanned Lina up and down.Lina was exceptionally beautiful with a slender, elegant frame.Avery smiled and said to Hayden, "Go and buy Lina a cup of coffee! It's been a while since I met with your Aunt Tammy, so we need some time alone as well."Hayden started walking out and Lina immediately followed.Once they were gone, Tammy took Avery's hand and gave her a grin that s
Hayden released an inward sigh of relief now that he knew she was not Tammy's relative. "You should focus on your career. I'm sure you have a bright future ahead," he said.Lina was a smart woman and instantly noticed the message hidden in his words. "Hayden, is it my looks that you don't like, or my career? I don't have to be a dancer..." she said."Abandoning your career for a family is not worth it," Hayden said.Sometime later, a waiter brought over their coffee, and after finishing their coffee, Hayden glanced at his watch and paid the bill.When Hayden and Lina arrived back at the church, they saw Tammy and Avery chatting and laughing.As soon as they spotted Hayden and Lina, the two stopped laughing."Why are they back so soon? Are they not happy with the date? Is Lina not satisfied with Hayden, or is it the other way around?" Avery wondered.Tammy, on the other end, was certain that Hayden was the one who was not happy with the match.On their way here, Lina had looked
Lilith had brought the woman here.When Elliot informed Lilith that Hayden was looking for a girlfriend, Lilith immediately brought a new model from her firm over.Lilith had a great sense of beauty, and the woman she brought with her was young, slender, and exceptionally beautiful."Hayden, this is Meryl, a new model whom I recruited recently. She is nineteen this year," Lilith said to Hayden with a smile.Hayden stared at Meryl for a few moments, before turning to look at Elliot, knowing that Elliot must have told Lilith something."Hello, Meryl," Hayden said. "I'm starving. Let's eat!"Elliot could tell that Hayden was upset and wondered if something bad had happened with the young woman Tammy had introduced to him.He took out his phone and typed a message before showing it to Avery.Avery had been staring at him ever since he had pulled his phone under the table. As soon as she saw the message, she grabbed her phone and began typing. [It didn't work out. Our son has high s
Ivy instantly lost her appetite when she saw over twenty dishes on the table.It was the most luxurious feast she had ever seen, and all delicacies she could imagine had been laid before her.There were dishes that she had never seen before, but luckily, there were chefs standing by them to explain each dish."Ivy, why aren't you eating? Do you not like the dishes?" Layla whispered."There are so many of them. I don't know where to start." Ivy was interning as a broadcaster now and dared not to eat to her heart's content as she had before, as she was afraid that she might not look good on camera. "Just take one bite of each dish. We will keep the ones we like and discard the ones we don't like." Layla started placing food on Ivy's plate."Okay."Sometime later, Lilith stopped eating as she had a small appetite due to the nature of her work."Hayden, there aren't any outsiders here, so why don't you tell us what you are looking for in a partner? Looks, figure, academic achievem
Ivy fastened the seatbelt and studied Hayden, before muttering hesitantly, "Hayden, Aunt Lilith, and Mom all mean well. Don't be upset with them."The tension on Hayden's face eased. "I won't.""Good, then." Ivy was relieved. "I think the girl Aunt Lilith brought with her looks pretty. She has a sharp sense for beauty.""We don't have any common interests." Hayden felt no problem expressing himself to his sister."Hayden, you didn't even try talking to her!" For some reason, Ivy was reminded of Lucas.Lucas remained silent on the first day she had been assigned to him. Just like Hayden, Lucas was a lone wolf but had a kind heart."Hayden, I once knew someone who disliked strangers just as much as you do. I didn't have anything in common with him either, but we were put under circumstances where we had to communicate... Slowly but surely, we found a way to talk to each other." Ivy wanted Hayden to overcome his difficulties and try to communicate more with strangers."Ivy, do you
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