"Caspian, are you making fun of me?" Ivy asked. "Of course not. This is the first time I've seen so many women interested in Lucas. It's exciting!" Caspian said. Ivy fell silent. Caspian elbowed Lucas and said, "You are in luck this year! Feeling troubled?" Lucas glared at him. "You're overthinking this! Is romance all you think about?" Caspian flinched. "I'll just keep quiet and watch the drama unfold." Ivy picked up the jug and poured herself a glass of water. Caspian immediately handed her his glass. "I want water, too." Ivy poured him a glass and turned to Lucas. "Do you want water?" Lucas simply handed her his glass without a word. As Ivy finished pouring him a glass of water, Missy arrived alone. Caspian promptly smiled and asked, "Ms. Feake, where's your companion?" Missy replied, "He's resting at the hotel. I didn't ask him to come." "Oh! Then I'll have the waiter bring the dishes out now." With that, Caspian signaled the waiter to start serving them.
Ivy immediately stopped them. "He can't drink. Let's just drink juice," she said before standing up to order juice. Missy grabbed her hand and said, "Your boss hasn't said anything, so why are you panicking? I'm just a woman; it's not like I could do anything to him." Ivy gave up, and Missy raised her glass to click it against Lucas'. "Lucas, I know you've just graduated and might not have a high tolerance for alcohol, but it's fine. You need to drink more to build up your tolerance! This wine doesn't have a high alcohol content anyway!" She immediately finished her wine in one big gulp, and Ivy swallowed hard at the sight. Missy set down her glass and gestured at Lucas. "Aren't you going to drink? Why are you just staring at me?" As he had downed his wine earlier, Lucas' cheeks were flushed. He rarely drank so he was already feeling a bit tipsy. "Ms. Feake, I can drink, but if I have this glass of wine, we won't be able to discuss anything." Lucas' clear aversion and dista
"Did you come to Taronia for Lucas?" Caspian asked "Not entirely. Even if Lucas wasn't here, I still would have come." Caspian nodded. "I've known him for so many years, and I've only ever heard him mention one woman." Ivy's eyebrows arched. "And who is that?" Caspian continued, "His former nanny. She passed away, and he dragged me to church to pray for her one day." A bitter look crossed Ivy's face. Caspian went on, "He was quite emotional that day. He'd been drinking. Once he sobered up, he didn't remember any of it." "So he prayed for me before..." she murmured. "What?" Ivy shook her head with a smile. "It's nothing! I just find it hard to believe that Lucas, who doesn't seem superstitious, would pray for someone who's passed away." Caspian chuckled. "Hahaha! He had too much to drink that day. While I was helping him home, he saw the church and refused to go any farther. So we went inside to pray. I asked him who it was for, and he said it was for his former nann
"Don't misunderstand me! I don't consider you a substitute for my ex. You're much better than him. My ex had no ambition and nowhere near your level of competence..." Lucas raised an eyebrow. "Ms. Feake, I'm not interested in your personal life." Missy chuckled. "Then what are you interested in? Lucas, there's no one else here so you don't need to be so cautious." "I'm not being cautious; I'm speaking the truth. Ms. Feake, give up on any notions you might have. I'm not interested in you." Lucas' tone grew sterner. "I'm not interested in investing in your father's company either. If it wasn't for Caspian's insistence, I would never have met with you." Lucas' cold and detached attitude shocked Missy. She had never seen such an indifferent man, apart from Hayden. She had once been infatuated with Hayden. She had been coldly rejected by him in a similarly straightforward manner. "Could you please explain why you don't like me? I'm good-looking, and I have a great body..." Missy
Lucas' face was still flushed from the alcohol. "What did you think would happen between us?" He paused and glanced at Ivy. "Where's Caspian?" "He's probably sleeping in your office. Your face is quite red. Do you want to go home and rest?" Ivy asked. "I'm not drunk," Lucas retorted. "I can drive you home, you know! I drove Caspian's car today, and I realized I'm not too bad at driving." Ivy followed behind him as he walked on. "Where's Ms. Feake? Did you drop her off at the hotel?" she asked as they entered the office. "No, we just chatted briefly and went our separate ways," Lucas replied. "What did you talk about? I feel like Ms. Feake has a thing for you. Did she confess her feelings or do something to you?" Ivy inquired. "You seem to know everything. Are you assuming that or did she tell you about it?" Lucas asked. "It's just a guess! Her behavior was quite obvious." Ivy followed Lucas into the office. "What did you two actually talk about?" Lucas frowned. "Are you
Ivy noticed that he was hesitating and took the form back. "Why don't I send it to her? I have her number." "Ivy, why are you helping me?" "Because I'm your employee, of course!" Lucas was more casual and bold after drinking and said, "Why won't you tell me the truth? I have my own judgment. Don't take me for a fool!" Ivy batted her eyes innocently. "Mr. Woods, are you drunk? Should I go make you some tea?" Lucas pinched the bridge of his nose. His senses were intact, but he did feel slightly dizzy so he did not stop her from making tea. Carrying the form, Ivy picked up Lucas' teacup and made her way to the refreshment area. She brewed a cup of herbal tea and then took out her phone to snap photos of the form, sending them directly to her brother. Hayden was familiar with her handwriting, so, even if she sent the pictures to Missy, her brother would eventually realize that it had been her who had filled out the form. Thinking that her brother's actions were going too fa
Staring intently at him, Ivy murmured, "Lucas, it's me, Irene! Can't you recognize me? Is it really that hard? Even though my face has changed, my personality hasn't! Who else would be so nice to you?" Ivy sighed involuntarily. At the same time, a knock sounded from behind her. Ivy immediately turned and was startled to see Caspian standing at the door. Quickly, Ivy walked to the door, pulled Caspian outside, and closed it behind them. "Caspian, how did you sneak up on me like that?" "I wasn't sneaking up on you. You were just so engrossed with staring at Lucas that you didn't hear me." Caspian said with a laugh, "Ivy, is Lucas really that handsome? You are head over heels for him. I don't think he's much better than me. Why don't girls chase after me?" Ivy stared at Caspian for a moment, then teased, "Lucas is more handsome than you." "I'm taller than him!" "Are you? I feel like you two are about the same height!" "Being taller by one centimeter still counts as being
Ivy took out another piece of cake and took a bite out of it. "He knows that I like him. I made it quite obvious." Lucas' mother chuckled. "And how did he respond?" "I'm from Aryadelle. It's quite far from Taronia," Ivy said. Lucas' mother instantly froze as she understood the implications of Ivy's words. "Are you saying you wouldn't be able to marry and move here?" Ivy nodded. "My parents wouldn't let me marry here, and I don't want to leave them. They treat me really well." Lucas' mother nodded in understanding "I can see that. You're always smiling, have a good personality, and it's clear that you come from a happy family." Ivy affirmed her assumptions: "Yes. My parents weren't very keen on letting me come here, but I insisted. They didn't stop me, but they would absolutely not allow me to settle down here." "If you're doing well in Aryadelle, there's no point in settling down in Taronia. Even though I haven't been abroad, I know that Aryadelle is quite developed." Luc
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