"Are you done with the preparations for Layla's wedding?" Lilith asked. "When will it be?""The preparations are almost done, considering how much help we have," Avery said. "It can pretty much take place any time, but we are still celebrating New Year's, so we didn't want to take the attention away from that.""You need to decide on a date soon and send out the invitations!""I will speak to Layla and Eric about it," Avery said."Layla is going to get married yet she still acts like a child sometimes!" Lilith was amused by Layla going up the stairs with the other younger girls."We were just like her when we were in our twenties, weren't we?" Avery thought back to the days when she was young; it all felt like yesterday. All the memories seemed fresh, yet so far beyond her grasp.Shortly after, Kiara came running down the stairs with a gift she received."Mom, Layla, and Ivy gave me this for New Year's." Kiara showed Shea a sophisticated purse. "Look, Mom, it's the shape of a sl
"Alright!" Lilith said gloomily. "Avery's kids are all so brilliant, and whenever I think about the difference between Harry and them, I would doubt whether Elliot and I are even related. I've pretty much let go of that now. Every kid is different, so maybe Harrod will only start to shine later in life.""Even if he doesn't turn out the way you want him to, you shouldn't feel frustrated about it either. Everyone wants their kids to be successful, but we are all still human. You succeed as a parent as long as your child has great manners and health," said Avery. Shea nodded in agreement."Fine. I will just leave him be for a while." Lilith set her burden aside."You can't exactly just let him run free either. You need to have some rules. You can't push too hard, nor can you give him too much freedom... There's a trick to these things..." Avery said.Lilith's head started to hurt from all the information."If you are getting tired, leave Harrod to Ben. Don't worry. I'm sure Ben kn
That afternoon, Harry called Elliot to inform him that Ivy's script was ready, and Elliot immediately sent the driver to the television station to pick the script up.Once the driver brought the script home, Ivy returned to her room to recite her script.Avery pulled Layla aside and said, "Preparation for the wedding is almost done. When do you want to have the wedding?""Just any day after New Year's, I guess!" Layla said."You need to pick a date! Once you select the date, you will need to send out the invites to your family and friends." Avery pulled up the calendar on her phone and showed it to Layla. "Your dad and I don't have any date in mind. Maybe you should ask Eric's parents.""They are probably okay with anything we decide as well!" Layla grabbed the phone and randomly picked a date on the calendar. "First of March, then! We can't have it on Valentine's as I had not expected the preparations to be done this quickly. I haven't even sent out the invitations!" "That shou
At half past nine, they set off the fireworks in the yard. Instantly, the darkness was illuminated by dazzling colors, and everyone came out to watch the fireworks and take pictures.The fireworks were so bright and breathtaking that Ivy could not help but shed tears at the sight.She recalled fragments of her past and distinctively remembered the year when her grandmother had taken her to the city center so that she could watch a grand fireworks display. During the show, her grandmother's wallet had been stolen, and they did not have the money to take the bus back. On that cold night, it had taken them nearly three hours to walk home. Many of Ivy's memories were filled with icy coldness and poverty, and though she rarely looked back, these memories would still occasionally rush back to her.Midnight arrived, marking the beginning of a new year.They had finished setting off their fireworks just as their neighbor began setting off theirs. The sound of successive fireworks a
Ivy was surprised as Harry had not mentioned anything to her."When did it happen?" she asked."Yesterday. I found out earlier today, though. The manager approached Anthony and Andrea in private. What do you think happened?" the staff member asked Ivy mysteriously."Did they leave together?"The staff member shook his head. "You have too high a regard for Anthony. He sold Andrea out, so Andrea was fired and he got to stay."Ivy was utterly stunned because Anthony and Andrea seemed extremely close when she spotted them on the street on New Year's Eve. She had never expected Anthony to betray Andrea this easily."Andrea is a fool for underestimating the people around her. Throughout the years I've worked here, I've never seen anyone who would sink this low. Even if she had managed to embarrass you while you were on camera, did she really think she would be able to get away with it? Something must be wrong with Anthony as well if he was dating someone like that. It's a good thing th
"What about Harrod?""We have enough people to play the game so we don't need him! Haha! He is just a kid. Let him play on his own!" Tiffany said mercilessly.They had a few snacks and went to sleep.On Ivy's way back to her room, she glanced into the poker room.Lilith spotted her and said, "Welcome home, Ivy. How was work today?""Great. Aunt Lilith, are you hungry? I brought you guys some snacks." Ivy set the snacks she brought aside."Hurry to bed, Ivy! We will be going to bed soon as well." Avery smiled gently at Ivy."Okay. I will go to sleep now." Ivy returned to her room.Oddly, she did not feel tired at all despite waking up early that morning and not taking a nap that afternoon.She lay awake in bed, daydreaming, when she realized why she could not sleep. She reached for her phone. She had yet to send a message to Lucas[Mr. Lucas, it's New Year's here in Aryadelle. I spent a wonderful and unforgettable night surrounded by family and friends. They all love me, and
"They sure kept the news of the wedding a secret! We didn't hear anything about it until now!""Yeah! I heard that the press is not invited! If we manage to get something, even if it's just a photo of the wedding, we are going to be famous!""Dream on! If they didn't invite any reporters, I'm sure no one can get into the wedding hall unless they are invited!""It's not exactly impossible to sneak in... You can do so before the wedding, like pretending to be a part of the hotel staff.""The hotel is unlikely to send a newbie to the wedding hall to serve such important guests! You are being naive! Even if you manage to get in, they won't allow you to carry any cameras! There are bound to be multiple security checks.""But the manager said that whoever gets information or photos of the wedding gets a cash reward of 15,600 dollars! 15,600 dollar! I can just rest for the rest of the year if I win that reward.""It's not that much, though, considering that this is Eric Santos' wedding!
"Yeah! He is rich and likes to keep a low profile, just like his dad," another guest commented as he took out a gold bar from the gift bag.Shelly was instantly blinded by the gold bar and wondered, "Is that what gifts between rich people look like?! They just give each other cars and gold bars?!"She thought about how her family lived in poverty when her mother fell sick, and she was overwhelmed by bitterness"I wonder what kind of woman he likes! I asked his parents about it and wanted to set him up with girls a few times, but he just won't accept it. His parents said that they can't control him!""Of course, they can't. Hayden is just as accomplished as his dad! A man that brilliant couldn't possibly be a mama's boy.""Layla is getting married now, and Hayden too should be starting on his family. My daughter is head over heels for Hayden. It is a shame that Hayden will never be interested in her.""Haha! Everyone loves Hayden! He is young, successful, and rich. He inherited hi
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