"Haven't you been to my house many times before?" Hayden had already gotten used to his home's lively atmosphere. "When I came, it was usually just your parents at home," Shelly replied. "Having two kids is quite a lot of work already, but I do envy how lively your household is with four children!" "You don't want more children, do you?" Hayden casually asked. "Would you like to have so many children?" Shelly was still young, and she could accept having another child. Her previous pregnancy had happened in secrecy, and she had not had a good experience because of it; she wanted to experience a normal pregnancy and childbirth after marriage. "As long as they're my children, I will love them all equally. I do think that two children are enough, though," Hayden responded sensibly. "Having more children also carries more risks. There's no need to take that risk." "Then let's go with the flow!" Shelly's cheeks flushed. "Hayden, the more time I spend with you, the more I realize
The shop assistant immediately called Shelly into the office. "That woman was wearing sunglasses, so I couldn't see her eyes, but I could tell she's wealthy," the shop assistant reported to Shelly. "She was carrying a Hermes bag! The style of her clothes was also incredibly fashionable! I've never seen anything like it on the market! Her hair looks like it's been meticulously cared for with a hefty price tag, and her skin is flawless, too! It looks like she's wearing foundation!" It was the first time the shop assistant had seen someone dressed so elegantly. Upon hearing the shop assistant's words, Shelly's heart started pounding. "Did she say who she is?" Shelly asked. "No, she didn't. She only said that she has something very important to discuss with you and asked you to come out and talk to her." Shelly immediately left the office, and as soon as she stepped outside, she saw the young woman carrying the Hermes bag. Once Shelly emerged, the woman took off her sunglasse
"I know I'm not worthy of Hayden, but people always aspire to greater heights. Why shouldn't I find a man who is better than me? Are you suggesting that I must marry someone equally as impoverished as I am because my family is poor?" Shelly confidently countered Seraphina. "Ha! I understand your desire to climb higher," Seraphina responded. "I have, indeed, set my sights on achieving more in life, but even if Hayden wasn't the CEO of Dream Maker, I would still fall for him." Shelly blushed. "Oh, so you are in love with him. Well, then, don't become a burden on him. Do you know the difficulties Hayden's company is facing in China?" Seraphina questioned. Shelly shook her head. She had only recently started dating Hayden, and she was completely unaware of his business affairs. Moreover, even if they were to get married, given Hayden's personality, he would likely never disclose his business matters to her because she simply would not understand. "Only my family can help him,"
What Seraphina said seemed to be true. Hayden's company was facing a crisis, and Hayden would never turn to Elliot for help. Shelly felt both worried and conflicted as she could not help Hayden in any way. If Hayden found himself a more capable wife, he might not have to struggle alone. This was just the beginning. Hayden would run into countless crises and difficulties ahead, and the thought that she could not help filled Shelly with shame. "Shelly, it will be enough for you to support him," Avery said with a smile. "He will handle work himself, so you don't need to worry about him." "Aunty Avery, is that how it is for you and Uncle Elliot?" Shelly curiously asked. Avery blushed. "Elliot is someone who appears cold on the surface but has a warm heart underneath. When I was starting my own business, I faced many difficulties, and he always found ways to help me. I would accept his assistance every now and then." "And have you helped Uncle before?" Shelly inquired. Ave
The nanny could not help but take a photo of such a harmonious scene. Just then, Elliot walked over and asked Shelly where Avery was. "Aunty Avery is in the backyard checking out her fruit trees," Shelly said. Elliot nodded before saying hesitantly, "It's normal for kids to fight. You don't have to worry too much about it. Robert used to get beaten by Layla all the time when they were little! There's no big issue as long as no one is severely injured." Elliot only brushed it off because Aiden was the one who had been hit. He would not have reacted the same way if Audrey had been beaten. "I know," Shelly said with a smile. "When will Hayden come home?" Elliot asked. Shelly had not contacted Hayden during the day, nor had Hayden contacted her to inform her when he would return. "Let me call him and ask," she said, and the two nannies immediately hurried over to take the twins away. Shelly took out her phone and called Hayden. Hayden answered the call promptly. "When
At ten that night, Hayden drove his car into the yard, and Shelly, who had stayed awake, immediately got up to turn on the lights in her room. Hayden noticed the lights in the bedroom on the third floor turn on as he got out of the car. "That's my bedroom," he thought. "Is Shelly still awake? Are the kids still awake, too? It's bad for kids to stay up." Hayden hurried into the house and entered the elevator to reach the third floor. As he entered the bedroom, he noticed that the bed was empty and heard noises coming from the bathroom. "Shelly, where are the children?" Hayden walked to the bathroom door and saw that Shelly had already prepared the bathwater for him. "Today, Aunty Avery told the nanny to take care of Audrey." Shelly's blushed slightly. "Do you always work this late? It must be exhausting!" Hayden entered the bathroom. "In the past, when I was busy, I sometimes came home even later than this. From now on, I'll try to come back earlier." "I see. You must be
Hayden finally realized that Shelly was not joking. "Who told you to do this?" Hayden's voice grew colder. Shelly had always been obedient and compliant, so Hayden believed that someone must have influenced her to break up with him. "No one. I just realized that the gap between us is too big. Even if we're together now, we won't be happy in the long run," Shelly explained. "Hayden, I'm sure there are many women better than me around you. Try to interact with others more, and you'll see that I'm just an ordinary person who isn't fit to be by your side." "Nonsense!" Hayden shouted in anger. "Where are you now? We can't discuss this over the phone. Come back, and we'll talk face to face." "I'm not coming back," Shelly immediately refused without a second thought. "I plan to study abroad and won't be coming back for a while. You are all outstanding, and I want to improve myself." "Can't you study and improve yourself while being with me?" Hayden retorted. "Even if I improve,
Mrs. Taylor immediately spoke up. "I'll call her right away and find out!" She dialed Shelly's phone number, and after a few seconds, the call was answered. "Shelly, what's wrong?" Mrs. Taylor walked toward the adjacent restroom, holding her phone. "Why are you breaking up with Hayden all of a sudden? Did he do something to you? Tell Mom. I'll definitely stand by your side." Shelly choked on her tears. "Mom, Hayden didn't do anything wrong. I just realized that we're not compatible. He doesn't depend on me. The only reason he stays with me is because I gave birth to our two children. If another woman had children with him, he could marry her as well." Mrs. Taylor's expression was filled with disappointment. "But didn't you say you really liked him? Didn't you want to fight for this opportunity?" "I did think that way before, but I regret it now. I'm scared. I don't deserve him at all, so why should I hold him back?" Shelly wiped away her tears. "Mom, I'm sorry. I've let you d
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