Wesley's question left Avery silent for a moment."Have you ever loved somebody, Wesley?" Avery asked quietly. "If you have, then you probably won't have such a tough time understanding how I'm feeling."Wesley shook his head."You become possessive when you love someone. I want everything he owns, and I want to be the only one he sees. Most importantly, I want the relationship to have no reservations," Avery said. Then she smiled and continued, "You've seen it yourself. He has Shea, and he's willing to sell himself out for her treatment.""Before I knew about Shea's mental disability, I saw her as a thorn in my side. After I discovered she wasn't normal, the hostility I felt against her slowly began to fade away. Of course, I can carry out Shea's second surgery, but I won't do that."Wesley stared blankly at Avery."How do you think Elliot would react if he found out I could treat Shea?" Avery asked. She poured herself a glass of wine and continued, "How has he been treating Zoe
"Didn't we agree to stop being upset with Shea?" Layla asked dejectedly.Hayden took his sister's hand and walked back into the classroom.Shea's surgery was going to happen no matter what.Coming to see them in her nervousness and fear would not change a thing.She should have gone to see Elliot Foster and seek his comfort.Elliot received a call from Mrs. Scarlet at three in the afternoon."Shea's missing again!" cried Mrs. Scarlet. "The bodyguard and I have been looking for her for over an hour. We've searched through the entire Starry River neighborhood and we still can't find her!""Why did you go to Starry River?!" Elliot exclaimed as he picked up his keys and walked toward the front door."Shea's been begging to see Hayden since she got to school this morning… She threw a tantrum when I told her she couldn't. She refused to eat or drink anything. She never used to be like this. I had no other choice but to take her to see Hayden," Mrs. Scarlet said as she sobbed pitifull
Layla and Hayden rushed to the front door. They saw the man standing outside via the security system. "Mommy! Dirtbag Dad is here!" Layla cried in a panicked yet excited voice as she ran toward her mother.Avery took off her apron and picked up her daughter."Don't be scared, sweetie. Go to your room with your brother, she said as she glanced at Hayden.Hayden reluctantly entered the bedroom with Layla. Avery exited the children's room and walked past the living room to the front door. She opened it. Elliot was standing right outside the door.The glow from the setting sun illuminated his chiseled features."Shea's missing. Her nanny said she lost her in your neighborhood," Elliot said. "I've looked through all the houses around here and still can't find her.""Are you saying you want to search my house?" Avery asked as she gazed at him coldly.Elliot met her icy eyes, then said calmly, "I'm here to find someone, not to raid your home.""What happens if you don't find her
Was Elliot going to hold onto the things Avery had said in a fit of rage against her for the rest of their lives?After dinner, Avery dialed Mike's number, then put her phone on speaker and began to clean the kitchen."I'll be home late today, Avery!" Mike said in a stern and serious voice. "I'm not going to the bar tonight. It's for work… It's about the company! I'll tell you about it tomorrow.""Okay. It's nothing too serious, is it?" Avery said. "I'm not used to this sudden discipline in you."Mike chuckled and said, "I was just worried you think I'm out messing around. You don't need to keep dinner for me.""Okay."After Avery hung up, she glanced around the empty house and could not help but think of her mother.She had refused to hire a nanny because she wanted to do all of the things Laura used to do.She wanted to guess what her mother was thinking about when she did those things.The more she thought about it, the more guilty she felt.Laura had always taken care of
At Elliot's mansion...Elliot did not get a wink of sleep all night.Logically, Shea's mental state was better than it was before.She could even memorize Elliot's phone number.There was no reason for her to spend all night hiding outdoors by herself.The night before, Elliot stationed some of his people in the Starry River neighborhood.He had not received any news since, which means that there was still no trace of Shea.The weather was warmer than it was during the new year, but she could still catch a cold if she was roaming around the streets.Where could Shea be hiding?Did a good samaritan take her in?Elliot blamed himself.Shea had run away before when she had heard of her first surgery. Since her intellect had improved, Elliot thought that she would not be as afraid of the surgery. He had explained to her, again and again, the reason behind the surgery, so he had thought that she had understood him to some extent.Who would have thought that she would still b
Elliot shot up from his seat. Shea was at the hospital?!Who had sent her there?Why had he not been informed of the surgery?"Who sent Shea to the hospital? Which hospital is she at?!"Elliot's hand clenched tightly around his phone, and he stormed out of the surveillance center."I'm sorry, I'm not too clear on the details myself. We are at Elizabeth Hospital," the woman said, then hung up."Elizabeth Hospital!" thought Elliot in bewilderment. It was Elizabeth Hospital again!Zoe had planned to carry out Shea's surgery at Central Hospital.This meant that someone had told Zoe that Shea was at Elizabeth Hospital, and she had gone there.Who was the one who had sent Shea to Elizabeth Hospital?Was it Avery?However, Shea had not been at her house when Elliot had gone there the last night.Shea had a stubborn streak, but she was always well behaved in front of Elliot.It was impossible that she would not react if she had heard Elliot's voice.Elliot's mind was a mess!
Elliot dialed Avery's number once again but was still met with the bot's message.He could not believe his ears!How dare Avery not take his call? Or was her phone turned off?Elliot searched for Mike's number in his contacts and called him.They lived under the same roof and worked at the same company, so they were practically together 24/7.Mike was confused when he received Elliot's call.Why was he calling him?Were they that close?Mike glanced at Avery who was lying on the large bed, and he figured out why Elliot was calling him. He answered the call, but before he could say a word, Elliot's vicious voice came right at him."I'm looking for Avery!"Mike was dumbfounded.What was he being so aggressive about?!"Avery's asleep! What do you want with her?"Mike watched Avery's sleeping face. He did not raise his voice.She had arrived three hours ago and had fallen asleep without a word. Mike was thinking of leaving, but in the end, he had decided to stay once he
"Are you finally up?" Elliot asked mockingly.Avery laid back on the bed, massaged her aching temples, and said, "Weren't you the one who called and woke me up? Why did you call?""I saw you drive out of the neighborhood last night at 10.30 p.m., Avery. Where did you go that late at night?" Elliot asked.Avery gave Mike, who was sitting at the end of the bed, a little kick and shot him a look.Then, she answered Elliot's question."Mike had too much to drink last night. The bar called me. They wanted me to settle his bill. That's where I went. When I got there he was already in a drunken craze. I was worried that he would wake the kids if I brought him home, so we got a room at a hotel. What's up? What's up? Are you interested in going bar-hopping? Should I get him to invite you next time?"Elliot's brows furrowed.Why was Avery's answer different from what he had imagined?"Is there anything else?" Avery asked as she yawned. "Mike kept me up all night last night… I'm exhausted
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