Ivy knew that he did not like owing people, so she presented him with the receipt for the groceries. "Just pay me for the groceries. I'm actually not that good a cook, so don't pay me too much. I'll be eating the food, too, anyway." He accepted the receipt and glanced at the price. Noticing that it cost about forty dollars, he walked toward the dining room and studied the dishes that looked rather presentable. Wondering how they tasted, he took a bite. Ivy looked at him with anticipation. "How is it? Do you like it?" "Get me a glass of water," he said. She did as she was told. "Is it too salty? Have your tastes changed?" "No. I'm just thirsty," he said. Ivy breathed a sigh of relief. "The food tastes ordinary," he commented, then took out his phone and transferred fifty dollars to Ivy. Looking at the money, Ivy could not help but laugh. "Mr. Woods, do you think my cooking is only worth ten dollars? You might as well not pay me anything at all! It's so insulting!"
Ivy never expected Archer to say such things. "Are you trying to eavesdrop on us?" Ivy asked in a hushed voice. "What are you thinking? It's late, and you're out here alone with a guy. I must protect you!" he protested. "Don't you think Lucas can protect me? He is a man, too," Ivy retorted. "What if he does something bad to you?" Archer asked. "He's not that kind of person. Now, hurry back! I'm going out with him to buy some things and then heading back to the hotel," Ivy urged, pushing Archer aside.Seeing that they were done with their conversation, Lucas strode over. "Since your companion has some free time now, let him accompany you," he said. "My companion is busy! He came to tell me that he'll be busy for the next few days and not to disturb him!" she said. Lucas glanced at Archer. Archer looked shocked as he watched Ivy, who was usually obedient and well-behaved, effortlessly lie. If Elliot and Avery saw this side of their daughter, they would be extremely surpr
When he was told of Irene's passing, he would often dream of her nightly. However, the dreams stopped when he started his company. Each minute was filled with work. Ivy's appearance had reminded him of Irene once again. Lucas' biggest regret was leaving home to study in Edelweiss without bidding farewell to Irene; he had thought that he would eventually see her again, only to be told later that he would never be able to see her again. He had left his phone behind because he wanted a new start and did not want to contact his family. Because of his actions, he had lost touch with her. Irene did not have any other friends, so he assumed that she had no one else to talk to after he left.He did not know how Irene died, or whether she suffered before her death. Every time he thought of her, he would find himself overwhelmed by regret and sorrow. He got out of bed and went to the bathroom to wash up. After washing his face, he felt more awake. A voice inside him urged him to r
The furniture was exactly how he had left it. The only difference was that it looked like no one had lived there for a long time. Lucas' room had been meticulously cleaned. All of his belongings were gone, including his clothes. As Lucas emerged from the South Block, Mr. Woods, and Mrs. Woods approached him. "Lucas, what are you looking for? Your stepmother said that you no longer need anything in there, so she had the staff throw them away. I'll get you a replacement of whatever you want!" Mr. Woods said, feeling guilty. "I had an old phone in the cabinet. What happened to that?" Lucas asked. Mr. Woods immediately turned to his wife and asked, "Did you throw away his phone, too?" Mrs. Woods looked flustered. "There was an old phone, but it was very old, the screen was cracked, and the body was chipped. I thought you didn't want it, so…" Lucas clenched his fists and walked away. Mr. Woods caught up with him. "Lucas, I'm sorry! On behalf of your stepmother, I apologize! H
"Should I call you by your name, then? Lucas?" Lucas instantly felt chills run down his spine. "I guess you should stick with Mr. Woods." Ivy smiled. "I don't have your phone number, so why don't we exchange numbers? That way, I inform you when the food is ready." "Do you have to do this?" "I have nothing else to do, and I'm bored." "You can go home," he said. "I will, in a few days. You don't have to remind me. I will definitely go home." "What exactly do you take my place for? A cafe where you can just come and go as you please? I hate people like you who don't understand boundaries." "You said that the last time as well, but you still gave me the keys to your apartment anyway," she said.Lucas parked his car in the parking lot, and both of them got out. "What do you want to eat for lunch, Mr. Woods? I'll prepare it and take it to your company!" Ivy walked over to Lucas and said, "I washed the sofa covers for you, so I need to check if they've dried. If they have,
While Ivy was cooking lunch, she received a video call from her brother, Hayden. Unable to decline her brother's call, Ivy turned off the stove and went to the balcony to take the video call. Holding her phone, she adjusted the lighting and smiled sweetly at the camera. "Hey, how's the wedding preparation going with Shelly?" Hayden asked with a frown, "Where are you?" "At Lucas' place," Ivy replied. "Why are you at his place? Is he there? Let me see him," Hayden said. "He's not here! He went to work," Ivy replied. "If he's not there, then what are you doing at his place?" Hayden asked worriedly. "I... I wanted to cook, so I came to his place to use his kitchen," Ivy said. "Do you even know how to cook?" he asked. "Uh-huh, it doesn't taste that good though." Ivy chuckled. "You're cooking for him, aren't you?" Hayden guessed. "Well, I have some free time, and I was bored, so I thought I'd practice my cooking skills. When I get back home, I'll cook for you guys," Ivy
"Don't joke around! She's leaving soon," Lucas said. Caspian chuckled. "Is she returning to her country?" "Yeah," Lucas confirmed. Caspian teased, "So, she just came here to have fun! Why did she decide to toy with you, though? Hahaha!" "I still haven't figured that out," Lucas said. "Is she hiding something?" Caspian asked. Lucas sighed. "You've met her, too. She answers all of my questions, but her answers always leave me confused. It's like we come from different worlds." For instance, she told him that she knew the Woods' servants, but Lucas, despite having lived with the Woods, was never particularly close to them, so he could not determine if Ivy was telling the truth. "I don't think Ivy is lying. It might be you who is the problem. You've never truly cared about anything or anyone," said Caspian. "It's a pity, though, that such a beautiful lady is leaving. And I thought she must have felt something for you. Looks like she is just here to have fun."Lucas did not
"Of course, there's a point. You can't give me the bracelet, because you've never had it to begin with. Why else would you keep it from Irene three years ago?" Ivy said. "Just why are you so obsessed over this?" "You didn't pay off her debt. You lied to her!" Ivy pointed out. Sam sneered. "That's none of your business. So what if I lied to her? She's dead!" "You are a terrible human being! I never want to see you again!" Ivy said and turned to leave. She never expected Sam to admit to lying to Irene, and Sam, who realized that something was off, caught up to her and grabbed her arm. "Who exactly are you? I've never heard of you from Irene. Are you some kind of a scammer?" She shook his hand off. "You are the scammer here! What exactly did I scam you of? You had lied to Irene!" Sam studied her face. "Y- You... Could you actually be Irene?!" "It's none of your business!" she said, throwing his words back at him. ... After sending the message to Ivy, Lucas returned
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