Ivy sat down next to the bed and said, "Lucas, it's not that I wanted to hide things from you. It's just that my family situation is quite unique. Also, we haven't seen each other in three years, so I didn't know if you had changed." "I understand. You're now the young lady of a wealthy family. You can't casually reveal your identity to outsiders in case you get into trouble," he said. "It's not just that. My parents are concerned about my safety. I only brought one bodyguard the last time I was here." Lucas turned to look at Ivy and said, "If I'm not mistaken, your father is Elliot Foster." Ivy nodded. "During summer vacation three years ago, I went to Aryadelle, and I found my biological parents by accident. They wanted me to have a better life, so they faked my death in Taronia." "I understand. Finding your biological parents is a good thing. You don't have to work as a nanny for others anymore, and you don't have to cater to other people to make a living." "The scar I h
Ivy nodded. "If we were together, you would have to come with me to Aryadelle." Lucas shook his head. "Don't reject me now. My family isn't that difficult to get along with. They are very nice and are very respectful of my wishes. They wouldn't have allowed me to come here to see you if they didn't respect me." Lucas nodded. "It's great to see that you are doing well, but I won't leave this country." This place was his home; his mother was still here, so he would never leave. In truth, his attachment to this land was not as deep as others' love for their countries, but even so, he was unwilling to leave his country for a woman. Lucas had always been a prideful man, and even if Ivy's family was wealthy, he could not possibly trade his dignity for money. "Let's not talk about this for now. After being apart for so long, let's just treat each other as friends!" Ivy was extremely optimistic, and her smile was radiant and bright. Lucas nodded in agreement. Ivy leaned closer
"I didn't mean it that way. I do feel like doing chores from time to time. You don't know how delicious the meals that our family's chefs make are. Sometimes, I want to cook something myself, but I am too embarrassed. It's different here with you. I know you will definitely eat what I cook." Lucas blushed awkwardly. "Have you finished tidying up?" Ivy nodded. "Take a rest for a while! I'll leave now," Lucas said. "It's still too early for dinner. When you get hungry later, we'll go eat." "Sure. I'll call you later then." "All right." Lucas got up and left. Leaving the hotel, Lucas called Caspian to pick him up. "You are leaving already? Didn't you two have a proper conversation?" "We are done talking." Caspian was excited. "Okay. I'm on my way to pick you up now. You better spill all the juicy details when we meet! I'm dying to know everything." Before long, Caspian arrived in his car. Once Lucas entered the car, Caspian started talking incessantly. "Lucas, did sh
Lucas frowned at Caspian. "I have nothing now. If I go to Aryadelle with her, what will I do there? How will her family see me?" "Who cares about how they see you? As long as Ivy likes you, it's all good! Besides, if you go to Aryadelle, her family will naturally arrange for something for you to do." "I don't want that. I don't want to be dependent on others. I had enough of that a long time ago," Lucas retorted. "Are you going to give up on Ivy then? She is an amazing girl! Lucas, why are you being so stubborn?" Caspian spoke seriously. "If your mom finds out about this, she'll definitely want you to be with Ivy. If you're with Ivy, you'll save yourself twenty years of struggle! No, scratch that! Twenty years don't even cut it! If you're with Ivy, you won't have to struggle for the rest of your life! I've looked into Elliot's background; their whole family is a bunch of business geniuses. Each one of them is incredibly impressive individually." "Which is exactly why I can't be
"I'll find you. I'm nearby." "Sure! I'll come down to the lobby now," Ivy said. After hanging up, she walked to the closet and changed into a beautiful dress. She had taken more clothes with her this time because she knew that there were no longer any secrets between her and Lucas. Three years ago, they belonged to different worlds and were far too young to admit if they even had feelings for each other. However, things had changed. Though they were still from different worlds, Ivy was finally confident enough to take the initiative. Ivy went downstairs and saw Lucas standing by the hotel entrance. She hurried over. "Lucas!" Lucas looked up and turned toward her. Ivy was wearing a strikingly designed dress. Not only was the design unique, but the colors of the dress were bold and vibrant in a way that was hard to forget after a glance. Ivy walked up to Lucas and waved her hand in front of him. "Are you stunned?" Lucas replied, "It's a special dress." "Of course, i
Not wanting his mother to hold unrealistic expectations, Lucas decided to tell her the truth. "Mom, she is the daughter of the wealthiest man in Aryadelle," he said. Lucas' mother froze, and, for a moment, she thought she had misheard him. "Ivy used to be Irene, my nanny back with the Woods. Her biological parents found her after that. Her family is wealthy, and we don't belong to the same world." Lucas' mother's face suddenly looked awkward. "Oh, my. I didn't know you were Irene, Ivy. Lucas told me about you when he heard that you passed away. Who would have known that you were alive and well? How surprising!" "I'm sorry for worrying you two," Ivy said. "Oh, don't apologize! It's a good thing that you are fine!" Lucas' mother studied her intently, awed but disappointed that Lucas was unlikely to marry Ivy. "Please have a piece of cake!" Ivy unwrapped a cake and handed it to Lucas' mother. "A bite should be fine." "Haha! I'm not watching my diet right now! The doctors tol
"I'm telling the truth, but Lucas doesn't want to go to Aryadelle. After all, this is his hometown. It's surely difficult for him to leave his country for my sake," Ivy explained. Lucas' mother shook her head vigorously. "Ivy, he refuses because he lacks confidence, not because of a deep attachment to his homeland. If he felt attached to Taronia, he wouldn't have chosen to study abroad or wanted to start his business in Edelweiss in the first place. Ivy, you mustn't give up on him. Give him a helping hand! He will definitely treat you well in the future." Ivy nodded. "Okay, I'll do my best." Exiting the hospital, Ivy noticed Lucas' somber expression and playfully asked, "What are you thinking about? I greatly enjoy chatting with your mother, no matter what she says." "I'm not thinking about anything," he said. His mother, the one who raised him, was now critically ill, and he felt powerless to help her. He did not want to give up on her life, but the doctors had made it clear
Seeing how insistent he was, Ivy did not argue and simply said, "I believe in you." "How so?" he asked. "I believe that you will be really accomplished in the future, at least more so than what you imagine now," she said. "We don't have to compare ourselves to others. There’s no point in that. We are living for ourselves, not to fulfill others' expectations." "I'm not that ambitious, really," Lucas said. "You don't have to be! I know what you are thinking; you think you aren't worthy of me, and you are worried that my family will be against us dating, right?" Lucas fell silent. "My parents aren't that kind of people. You might not believe me now, but I will bring you to meet them one day. You can still meet my parents even if we are just friends!" "We will see." Lucas sipped on his water. "Yeah. We are still young, anyway. We don't have to rush." They ended dinner at half past nine. The streets were noticeably quieter, with fewer cars in sight. "I'll drive you back
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