"I'll hire another servant, then..." Hayden said. "It's fine, Hayden. Shelly and I are relaxed enough. We actually feel uncomfortable if we don't have anything to do." Mrs. Taylor was currently quite content, and her only concern was her daughter's marriage. With her daughter's current state, she did not know what kind of man Shelly could find in the future. Certainly, someone too inferior would not do, but she feared that men that were extremely capable might not be interested in Shelly. "By the way, Hayden, did Shelly tell you that we want my husband and son to come and visit for a few days during the holidays in May? We haven't seen them since New Year's. My son can only visit during that time since he has been busy with his studies," Mrs. Taylor said. "My husband smokes, but if he comes, I will definitely make him smoke outside. I won't allow him to smoke indoors." "Of course, no problem. As long as he doesn't smoke in front of the children," Hayden replied. "He definit
Hayden thought that it was a great plan and handed his phone to Shelly. Shelly hurried to the backyard and answered the video call. When Avery saw Shelly's face, she smiled in surprise. "Shelly, are you with Hayden?" Shelly blushed and said sheepishly, "Yeah. Hayden and Aiden are resting right now." "Oh... He did get up quite early this morning. Why do you have his phone, though?" Avery asked. Hayden had always been a man who valued his privacy and Avery could not help but suspect the two were dating. Shelly quickly came up with a clever response. "He left his phone on the coffee table. I guess he was too tired and forgot to take it to the room. When I saw you calling, I was afraid you would worry, so I answered it without permission." "Oh, I see! Are you guys at the place you're renting now? The scenery looks nice over there!" Avery looked at the lush trees on Shelly's side and exclaimed, "I haven't been to where you're living yet! I should visit you and your mom sometim
Firstly, Hayden had high standards. In the past twenty years, he had not shown any interest in women, which indicated that he was not the type to play around. Once he was committed to someone, he was unlikely to change his mind. Secondly, Hayden had taken the initiative to visit Shelly's home, suggesting that they were not far from going public with their relationship. ... After finishing the video call with his mother, Hayden went to the front yard to find the children. Mrs. Taylor had laid out a children's crawling mat in the yard for the two kids to play on. It was warm outside, and the weather during this season was temperate, and it was fine to bask in the sun like this. Upon seeing Hayden come out, Mrs. Taylor immediately said, "I'm letting the kids soak up some sun to absorb Vitamin D. The pediatrician mentioned it during Audrey's check-up. They said it's good for the children's health to spend more time outdoors." Hayden nodded and said, "Why don't you take a brea
"Let's get your mother into a different room!" Hayden said, before turning to communicate with the staff. Shelly grabbed his arm and said, "I've asked the nurse, and she said that there are a lot of patients at the moment, so there isn't another room available." "Just stay with your mom. I will negotiate with them." With that, he walked away. Shelly watched as he left and felt relieved. Though she was the one who had called Hayden, she did not expect him to hurry over to the hospital to see her mother, as all she wanted was for him to stay with their daughter. After all, without anyone there, there was no telling if the servants would take good care of Audrey. Shelly approached her mother's hospital bed and told her about Hayden's visit. "I just saw him. I thought he would come in and say a few words to me! Why did he leave without coming in?" Mrs. Taylor's pain had eased a bit by now, but she still looked sickly. "He said this place is too crowded, so he went to ask
"You're overthinking it. Appendicitis is common," Hayden said. Just then, Avery called. Seeing his mother's incoming call, Hayden already knew what she was going to say. He answered the call, spoke a few words with his mother, and hung up. "Do you have something to attend to? If you have something to do, go ahead." Shelly assumed he had some urgent matter to attend to. "It's my mom. She said she wants to come and see your mom. It's a bit late tonight, so she won't disturb you. She'll come when your mom has the surgery," Hayden explained. Shelly's eyes welled up with tears. "Hayden, thank you to you both." "There's no need to thank us." The two walked through a long corridor and arrived at the special care ward. This ward could not be accessed by money alone; one had to have certain privileges to stay there. Mrs. Taylor was already lying on a clean and spacious bed, looking pleasantly surprised by how comfortable the ward was. It was clean, without any unpleasant o
He did not mention that he was also giving himself a chance. Before meeting Shelly, he could never picture what kind of a woman he would marry, because he had never felt anything for women.The only thing he had considered was finding a wife of equal status and capability as he, for that way, they would at least share some common interests. Never had he imagined that Shelly would change his mindset completely. Shelly was instantly overwhelmed by emotions at his words. "Why aren't you saying anything?" Hayden glanced at Shelly when he pulled to a stop in front of a red traffic light. Shelly looked at him sincerely and said, "Hayden, you don't know this, but I've always felt that I'm not worthy of you. That's why I didn't dare to say anything even when I found out that I have feelings for you. I didn't want to make myself miserable or burden you. However, if you're willing to give me a chance, I'm willing to give it a try. No matter the outcome, I won't have any regrets."
A bodyguard walked over to her. "Ms. Taylor, allow me to escort you to the hospital." It was the bodyguard Hayden hired specifically to protect Audrey. Shelly normally would not order him around, and he was only required to guard the premises. She realized that Hayden was the one who had ordered him to drive her to the hospital. "Thank you," she said. Upon arriving at the hospital, Mrs. Taylor was already asleep, so Shelly turned off the lights and laid down on the guest bed. Overwhelmed by excitement, she struggled to sleep. Had her mother not fallen asleep, she would have shared her excitement with her mother. Shelly reached for her phone and decided to message Courtney and tell her the good news. [Courtney, are you asleep?] Shelly typed. [No! Why are you contacting me this late in the night? Is there something you want to talk about?] Courtney replied. [My mom got hospitalized for appendicitis.] [Huh? Today, you mean? I'll visit Auntie tomorrow. Don't worry! Ap
After Avery finished speaking, Shelly's face turned a shade of crimson. "You are too kind." Mrs. Taylor sighed, echoing what Avery and her daughter had said. There was no hint of pretense in Avery's demeanor; she was full of warmth and vitality, completely unlike any other high-status lady. "There's nothing to be embarrassed about. Shelly is truly an exceptional young woman! Our whole family really likes her," Avery said while Shelly brought over a chair for her to sit on. Once Avery plopped down on the chair, she looked at Shelly and asked, "Shelly, did Hayden spend the night at the hospital to keep you company?"Avery had asked her that because she wanted to gauge the progress of Hayden's relationship. Shelly immediately shook her head. "No, he said he has a house near the hospital, so he probably stayed there." Shelly could not bring herself to lie. If she failed to inform Avery that Hayden did not stay at the hospital, Avery would definitely start overthinking thing
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