Mike immediately took off his jacket and draped it over her."Go back!" Avery's eyes were filled with tears, but her voice was aloof and stern. "How could you let an outsider take care of the kids!"Her mother had passed away. She had decided that she could not let anything happen to her children. If anything were to happen to her children, she would not be able to live.Mike looked at how sad and angry she was. His mind was a mess."I'll go back now! Stop crying!" Mike reached out and wiped the tears from her face. "I won't bring him home in the future! Don't cry anymore!" Mike said frantically before leaving quickly.While all this was going on, Elliot was at another hospital. He pushed the door to the ward open. Zoe was on the bed, and when she saw him, she immediately squeezed two streams of tears out of her eyes.Rosalie strode to the door and pulled him in."Elliot, how could you two be so careless? The child is already so huge, yet none of you knew about it." Although Ros
Mike and the children were at Starry River Villa having breakfast when he told them about Laura's death."I know that you are very sad, and I'm very sad too. But, your Grandma is gone. I hope that you can be strong for Mommy because she is extremely sad right now. If you are sad too, your Mommy will be even more in pain."Mike took each child in one arm and hugged them and kissed them on the head.Layla did not take the news well. She was sobbing, and her lips were quivering. She said weakly, "I want Grandma… I want to look for Grandma…"Hayden's eyes were wet too, but he was much stronger. Not only did he not cry, but he even hugged Layla. "Layla, don't cry. I'll be with you.""I don't want to be apart from Grandma. Without Grandma, what would happen to us?" Layla felt as if the sky had been ripped apart. Laura had been the one to send her to school, made delicious food for her, and who had taken her out to play. "Layla, don't be afraid. Without Grandma, we can still live well.
"I'll send more men over. They will be on twenty-four hour guard duty," said the captain before changing the topic, "I hear your girlfriend is pregnant. Congratulations!""I don't like kids." Elliot's face darkened a little. His tone turned cold too. "If there are any updates on the case, inform me at once."The captain nodded. "Okay. How is Miss Tate? She was not too well yesterday. I wonder how she is today."Elliot's gaze darkened. His lips thinned into a tight line. He got up from the sofa and left. He could not answer that question.He had been outside the operation theater the previous night, but his mother had called him, and he did not go in. Zoe's pregnancy had become an obstacle in his mind. He could barely face it, let alone face Avery.Avery slept the afternoon away in the ward. She slowly opened her eyes. Before grief could enter her mind, she heard Hayden say, "Mommy, I'll go to whichever school you want me to go to."Then, she heard Layla's soft but hoarse voice,
At seven thirty in the morning, the black Rolls-Royce slowly pulled into the courtyard.Mrs. Cooper had not slept the entire night. When she saw Elliot returning, she immediately walked to the door. She had told Shea the truth the previous night, and Shea had become rather agitated. She blamed herself for that.Words spoken could not be taken back.Elliot entered with a gust of chilly wind."Master Elliot, I have done a terrible thing. Please punish me." Mrs. Cooper followed Elliot.Elliot froze. He looked at Mrs. Cooper with red eyes."I told Shea last night about how Dr. Sanford threatened you, and Shea is now refusing treatment." Mrs. Cooper lowered her head. "It's my fault! I shouldn't have told her that!""Why did you tell her then?" Elliot raised his eyebrows. He looked gloomy."She said that she hoped you and Avery could be together, so I couldn't resist telling her the truth," Mrs. Cooper said hoarsely, "Fire me! I'm too old and clumsy. I'm no longer fit to serve you."
Avery came out of Laura's room.When Mike saw her, he thought he saw a ghost. She had not seen daylight for the past few days. She looked pale and weary. On top of that, she had barely eaten anything. She looked emaciated.When the children saw her, they were stunned too.Avery turned and entered her room. Mike immediately chased after her. "Avery, don't tell me you're going to work?" Mike guessed.Avery took out a set of clothes from her closet and headed to the bathroom. "You stay at home with the kids. I'll head to the office and have a look.""Oh, so I'll stay at home and look after the kids in the future?" Mike asked.Avery shook her head. "I'll hire bodyguards.""Shouldn't it be nannies?" "No need." Avery planned to care for all her children's needs herself. The bodyguards only needed to send the children to school and pick them up from school, ensuring their safety. That was enough."By the way, I heard that Laura's accident was not an ordinary accident but murder," Mi
Avery's grip on her coffee cup tighter.She was not interested in Wanda talking about Elliot."Your brother is in prison. How could he have hired a killer?" She looked at Wanda and said, "You did it, right?"? Wanda maintained her smile. "Avery, you should not resort to slander! In Aryadelle, murder is a crime punishable by death! Even hiring a killer is too! This was what you told me previously. How could I have done such a thing?"It was as if she was saying, "I'm not an idiot! Even if I did it, I will never admit it."The coffee sloshed inside the cup as Avery tightened her grip around the cup."Do you know why I asked to meet you?" Avery released the coffee cup.Wanda glanced at Avery coldly. "Avery, your mother is dead. It's useless to pester me about it. I said I didn't do it, which means I didn't do it. Even if you kill me, I didn't—"Avery got up from the chair. She swallowed her bitterness. "Of course, as long as you won't admit it, it wasn't you who did it."Then, Av
Mike was speechless."One. Two…" Avery started counting.Mike's face flushed. "Avery! Fine, live with your own mess! I'll leave you alone!"Then, he turned and left the police station.Coming out of the police station, Mike called Chad."Chad! Is your boss around? I'm looking for him!" Mike was standing outside the police station, with the icy wind blowing against him. He was feeling extremely aggrieved.Despite how he was feeling, he could not leave Avery alone. Avery was in a special situation at that moment. When one was extremely agitated, they could do anything.She could kill someone today, but what if she killed herself the next day?"We just started work today. It's a little busy. Why are you looking for him?" Chad was talking fast. After asking his question, he came to a realization. "You're looking for my boss. Did something happen to Avery?""She's in a mess. She almost killed Wanda today. She's at the police station right now. I think she is going to be detained. I
"I'll settle this myself," Elliot said to the captain.Then he grabbed Avery's slender wrist and said, "I'm taking her with me."The captain simply nodded.Once they were out of the station, Avery shook off Elliot's slightly cold hand.Elliot raised his brows as he stared at Avery's defensive posture."Your mother wouldn't come back to life even if you did kill Wanda, Avery. There are many ways to take revenge, yet you chose the most foolish one.""Who are you to judge me?"Avery looked at Elliot's familiar yet unrecognizable face and sneered."Are you judging me as the mighty President Elliot Foster, or because Wanda Tate is your future mother-in-law?!"Every word she spoke was sharp and fractious.An unreadable emotion flashed through Elliot's eyes as he said, "Calm down, Avery.""I can't calm down!" Avery lashed out, her voice breaking. "My mom's lifeless face appears in front of me every time I close my eyes! What did she do wrong?! She never did anything wrong! How coul
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