Even though there was no one else watching her, she still felt awkward and wished she could disappear into the ground. She had agonized for half the day about what to wear, worrying that if she didn't dress well, she would become the subject of ridicule among Hayden's employees. She even wondered if dressing too ostentatiously would make her stand out, but as it turned out, they were supposed to wear a uniform for the team-building event. After sending her measurements to Hayden, Shelly called Courtney. "Courtney, I'm so embarrassed! They have designated uniforms for the team-building event," Shelly exclaimed. On the other end of the phone, Courtney's tone was nonchalant as she said, "What's so embarrassing about that? You're not their employee, so nobody can dictate what you wear! Team-building outfits are usually quite ugly! You should dress up nicely, and you'll be just fine!" "But I already gave my measurements to Hayden, and he said he would provide me with their team-bu
"Give her a separate tent," Hayden replied without hesitation. "She's not an employee of our company, so it's not appropriate to make her stay with the other member of the staff." "I was thinking the same thing. Actually, I think we can arrange for her to share a tent with you," suggested Eliam nervously. "After all, you are the one who invited Ms. Taylor, and everyone already knows the relationship you two have. Moreover, it's crucial to determine whether someone is suitable or not by considering their compatibility in 'that' aspect as well." Hayden fell silent as he was not ready to live together with Shelly just yet. "Give her a separate tent!" Hayden repeated. "Understood, boss! I'll make the arrangements right away!" Eliam did not probe further, as he was afraid of truly angering his boss and losing his bonus. "About what you said earlier regarding deducting my bonus, were you serious or just trying to scare me?" "Say one more word, and I'll deduct it for real," Hayden r
"Mom, don't you think you're particularly enthusiastic about Shelly's family?" Layla sat beside her, watching her busy mother with a smile. "They're not even your in-laws yet! You haven't even mentioned sending something to my in-laws." Avery glanced at her daughter. "Would your in-laws appreciate these snacks? The reason I'm more concerned about Shelly's family is because Shelly's mother had surgery recently and needs to eat well for her recovery. Besides, Shelly comes from a less fortunate background, so it's only right for me to take care of them. It's a different case with your in-laws. They're so wealthy, so why would they need my help?" Layla was not genuinely blaming her mother for being biased and only meant to tease Avery. "If Shelly and my brother really become a couple, I'll have Shelly give you a commemorative plaque that says 'Best Mother-in-law!'" Layla continued to tease her mother. "You're truly the best in-law!" "Sure! I'll appreciate whatever Shelly gives me." A
If Hayden was to never come back to his mansion again, Samuel would have claimed all of his niece's toys as his own. When Elliot's driver pulled into the yard, the guard recognized Robert and opened the gate right away. When Samuel heard the noise, he walked outside and recognized Robert right away. "Mom, someone is here! They are from the Fosters!" Mrs. Taylor immediately set her chores aside and glanced outside and realized that her son was right. Startled, she immediately told her husband to hide upstairs with Audrey, and Mr. Taylor hurried up the stairs hastily. "Take it slow! Don't fall! Don't let my little Audrey fall," Mrs. Taylor anxiously interjected. "Alright, you attend to the guests! Don't worry about me." Mr. Taylor hurriedly carried Audrey upstairs. Robert and his bodyguard approached the villa's entrance, carrying gifts. Mrs. Taylor, with her son by her side, immediately welcomed them. "You must be Robert, right? What brings you here? And you brought so m
Robert immediately paused and looked up the stairs as the cry came from the second floor. "Is there a baby here?" he thought. Mrs. Taylor paled, desperately wishing she would hurry upstairs to take care of Audrey. However, she could not do so because Robert had not left. "Mrs. Taylor, is there a baby upstairs?" Robert asked with a sheepish smile. Mrs. Taylor nodded stiffly. "Yeah! I have a relative over, and they have a child. I didn't know you were coming. I'm so sorry about that!" Robert smiled. "It's fine. It's normal for you to invite relatives over. I won't tell Hayden. Besides, he won't say anything even if he finds out. Relax and enjoy the holiday! I will get out of your hair now." After seeing Robert out of the door, Mrs. Taylor sighed a heavy breath of relief. Samuel went upstairs and called his father down. Mr. Taylor came down with Audrey, whose face was streaked with tears. Anxious and unsure, he handed Audrey over to his wife. "I don't know why she's cryi
[Where are you? Can you at least take some photos and show me where you are?] Hayden furrowed his brow as he finished reading Courtney's messages, feeling a mix of emotions. Courtney was Shelly's best friend, so it was normal for them to have these kinds of private conversations, but the thought that Courtney was cheering Shelly on felt strange. He opened the camera and took a photo of Shelly's sleeping face then sent it to Courtney. Upon seeing the photo, Courtney immediately responded with a string of question marks with a message. [What's going on? Shelly fell asleep? Who sent me this photo? Huh?!] Hayden did not feel like typing, so he opened the camera and took a selfie of his own face, before sending it over.Courtney began to panic when she saw Hayden's photo. "What?! How did Hayden end up with Shelly's phone?! Did Shelly lend Hayden her phone? Has their relationship progressed to the point where they looked at each other's phones?" She thought frantically. After
Everyone else around them instantly turned their attention toward Shelly. No one paid Shelly any attention before Fergus asked the question because Shelly wore the same uniform as everyone else, so the others had mistaken her for one of them. Before taking a better look at Shelly's face, they all thought that Shelly might be one of Hayden's secretaries. Hayden had always been a private person who rarely appeared in public. Therefore, not many people knew who reported directly to him. However, once everyone saw Shelly's face and recognized her as the owner of Courtney's Cafe, they instantly realized that there was more to the story than meets the eye. None of them expected that Hayden would invite the owner of a cake shop to join the team-building event. Shelly's face turned red under everyone's gaze. Afraid that Hayden would be placed in a difficult position, she immediately answered Fergus's question, "No, I was told that you were having a team-building event, and I wan
Avery had told her that Hayden was brilliant at work but was hardly capable of taking care of himself. Since he invested much of his energy into work, he always had servants taking care of him. Since everyone was to spend a night in a tent for the team-building event, Avery was quite worried that Hayden might not be able to sleep or eat well. Shelly understood Avery's concerns. People raised in wealthy families tended to be quite bad at caring for themselves. Courtney could not cook or do any house chores either, and since Hayden grew up in a much wealthier household than Courtney, Shelly would not be surprised to discover that Hayden had little to no life skills. Avery mentioned that Hayden could not take spices and preferred plainer food that was not overly seasoned, yet Shelly noticed that they were having barbeque. The meal was probably to cater to the tastes of the majority of the employees, so there were not many dishes that Hayden would like. Shelly glanced around 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