Since she was now a single mother, Shelly's relatives would look down on her if she returned to her hometown.Fortunately, her close family members understood her situation and offered to visit her instead.Shelly still lived in the same apartment as she had before, and ever since Courtney had returned home, she had had to bear the cost of rent entirely by herself.After she had given birth, her mother had moved in to help care for the baby, and the apartment of two rooms had just enough space for them.The apartment seemed a little crowded once her father and brother arrived.She had offered to get her younger brother a hotel room instead so that she could be in the same room as her baby while her parents shared a room, but he had declined.Her brother, Samuel, was currently in his first year of high school, and while most teenagers his age were in their rebellious phase, he was a rather understanding young man because of his family background.He knew that Shelly managed a caf
Ivy was the first one to spot Shelly and called out excitedly, "Shelly!"Shelly immediately turned around and was stunned when she saw Ivy and Robert.It was a big city filled with countless people so she could not fathom the odds of running into them."Ivy, Robert." Shelly instinctively hid the bag containing baby formula behind her. "Are you here to buy flowers?""Yeah!" Ivy's attention was drawn to Samuel. "Shelly, is this your family member?""Yes. This is my younger brother, Samuel," Shelly said. "Samuel, these two are Ivy and Robert. They are Hayden's younger siblings.""Hello," Samuel said politely."Hello, Samuel. What are you two looking for? I will buy it," Robert offered generously. "Pick anything you want. We are here to get plants as well.""It's fine. We were just walking by and came in to have a look, so we might not even buy anything," Shelly said."Since you are already here, just buy something!" Robert said before starting to pick plants for them. "I think th
Shelly nodded with a smile. "Yeah! I wanted to buy clothes for him, but I was worried that the ones I bought might not fit him. Besides, I found out that he has a lot of new clothes during my last visit.""Hahaha! Layla likes buying clothes for him, so you don't have to buy him any more clothes. He has more clothes than he needs. Just make sure you come over to see him more often." Ivy knew that Shelly was struggling financially and did not wish for her to spend unnecessarily."Yeah. You two should proceed with your shopping! My brother and I should get going now." Shelly smiled politely.After leaving her address with the owner and confirming the time for delivery, Shelly left with her brother.Robert walked over to the owner and took a picture of Shelly's address."Robert, why are you taking down Shelly's address?" Ivy asked."What if something happens, and we need it?" Robert said. "I think Shelly is nice and not a pretentious kind of woman. I like her.""I think so, too. She
"Babies' tongues work differently," Avery explained patiently. "Just think of it this way: he hasn't tried anything else so he can put up with the taste of the formula.""Oh. Do you really not get sick of taking care of a baby all day, Mom? You can just hire a few more nannies so that you can go outside with Dad!" Robert was still young and could hardly stay put in one place, so he could not understand why his mother would choose to stay home all the time."It's cold outside, so what's there to see? Besides, your dad is going to take over later. He is spending far more time with Aiden than I am!" Avery smiled. "He is so full of energy. He works two to three hours every day and still makes time to take care of Aiden. He hasn't once complained about feeling tired.""I guess it's because Aiden looks so cute." Ivy was growing increasingly fond of her nephew."I think Aiden looks a lot like his mom. I should send Shelly some gifts for New Year's," Avery mused. "Do you think she would ac
"I see!" Relieved, Elliot said, "Our darling Aiden must be starving."The servant brought a bottle of milk over. Aiden responded by reaching his arms out for it.Just then, Hayden returned home and scowled when he spotted his son drinking milk as he changed into his slippers."Why is he eating whenever I come home?" Hayden recalled seeing the same thing the past two days.Avery was not sure how to respond to his question and smiled as she tried to change the subject. "Maybe you should come home at a different time, then. Robert and Ivy went out shopping and ran into Shelly.""Mom, I came home at a different time yesterday. Are you overfeeding him? He is getting chubby.""Babies are like this, and they look really chubby when they're around a year old. Why don't I show you the photos of you, Layla, and Robert when you were one? He will start to slim down once he starts taking solid food.""Your mom has raised enough children to be qualified for caring for your son," Elliot said.
Shelly paled at Avery's words. "Aunty, when will your driver arrive?""Probably in a while because he is dropping someone else off right now. Are you home today?""I am, but my apartment is messy.""It's fine. I've bought quite a lot of things for you, so I will get him to carry them up to your apartment. You don't have to tidy your apartment for that. I know that you are busy with work...""Sure. Thank you, Aunty Avery." Unable to refuse Avery's offer, Shelly said, "I will come to visit you when I have the time.""Of course. Just let me know when so I can be prepared," Avery said enthusiastically.Shelly massaged her temples after hanging up. "Mom, Aunty Avery is sending someone to deliver gifts to me, and her driver will be here later. You need to take Audrey outside with you." Shelly was having a rather relaxing day up until the moment Avery called."It's so cold out there so where on earth am I supposed to go with Audrey?" Shelly's mother asked. "Everyone should be on holida
"There's wine here, too!" Mr. Taylor's eyes lit up. "Is this for me? You don't drink.""I guess... Maybe these supplements are for Mom," Shelly said. "I told her that Mom has recently gone through surgery.""Avery is such a nice person." Mrs. Taylor was moved. "She has sent so many gifts, so you ought to pay her a visit in a few days to thank her, Shelly.""Mom, even if I do, I can't afford to give them gifts of equal value.""They don't care what gifts you bring with you. Just be a joy and make them happy. That will do you good," Mrs. Taylor said."Alright. It's not like I want to make them hate me on purpose, anyway!" Shelly put the gifts away.Still, it was not until a week later that Shelly finally paid the Fosters a visit.The Fosters were no ordinary family, and she knew that they would be swarmed by relatives who came to visit, so she waited a week before going to their house.Avery had called her a few times during that time, asking if she wanted to join them for dinner
Avery felt relieved. "How's business lately?""Ever since we launched the new cakes after New Year's, our sales have been going up! We have a lot of repeat customers, so we are making profits," Shelly said. "Aunty Avery, thank you. If it weren't for you, our business wouldn't run so smoothly.""Don't thank me. I can't rest until I see you living a great life yourself," Avery said. "By the way, Shelly, I wanted to ask how many cakes you can make each day. My daughter's company would like to order cakes for its employees once a week, but I don't know if you can supply that many cakes."Shelly was thrilled. "We sell approximately a thousand cakes each day, and since that's way past our usual daily sales, we intend to hire a few more employees.""Haha! That's great! Layla's company will need about five hundred cakes, and you can have those delivered to her every Friday. Will that be okay?" Avery was worried that Shelly might not accept it and said, "The cakes distributed to employees a
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