The doors to the black Rolls-Royce were locked.Avery was sitting in the car, and she was filled with regret. She must not have been fully awake when she had entered the car that morning.By the time she realized what she did, the doors had already been locked.What was the meaning of this? Was this an abduction?"What do you want, Elliot?" Avery asked as she glared at Elliot with furrowed brows.Was it not the day of his engagement?Where did he find time to come and see her?"Do you know Eric Santos, Avery?" Elliot asked as he looked up at Avery with a sharp gaze. "Don't lie to me!"After Avery answered his call that morning, her phone had run out of battery and shut down.She had no way of knowing what was happening online.Avery was suddenly alert at the sudden mention of Eric."I don't. Why?"She stared at Elliot's familiar yet distant face and forced herself to stay composed."Why would he help you if you didn't know him?" Elliot snapped as he spoke faster, "I saw
"Elliot said to cancel the engagement. He's not coming," Henry said, then quickly held on to his mother.Rosalie was dumbfounded."What's wrong? Did something happen?"Henry shook his head and said, "I don't know. He hung up right away. Maybe something happened! I'll get the driver to send you home for now. I'll explain everything to the guests and send them home after lunch."The entire thing was an embarrassing mess!However, nobody dared speak about it.All of the guests' eyes fell on Zoe's crying face.She had never been through anything as humiliating as this in her entire life! She did not want to stay there for another moment. She picked up her gown and ran out of the banquet hall in tears.She was not going to let Avery get away with this!Over at Starry River Kindergarten, Hayden was watching the engagement party when Zoe suddenly ran out!This made his little brows furrow.If Elliot Foster was not at the banquet hall, did it mean that he was not going? Otherwise,
The kiss felt like it lasted an eternity.Elliot did not release Avery from his clutches until he heard the sound of someone tapping on the car window.Mike was staring confusedly into the car.Avery was so shocked that the color drained from her face.She was about to open the door and get out when Elliot grabbed onto her and said hoarsely, "The windows are tinted. He can't see us."Avery was relieved!The kiss had driven her into a frenzy of emotions.Her cheeks were unusually flushed while her hair was a disheveled mess. Elliot had taken off her jacket and thrown it to the ground!Avery picked up her jacket.Elliot handed her a bottle of water."I don't want it!" she snapped as she glared coldly at him.The thought of what he had just done to her made her so mad her head was throbbing.She would rather die of thirst than drink the water he was offering.Elliot ignored the hateful gaze Avery shot at him.All of the anger and resentment he felt melted away with their kis
Forget about the engagement.Zoe was already prepared for the day Elliot would break up with her and make her leave the Foster family.Even if he could not give her his love, he would still give her a hefty reward.It would not be a total loss for her as long as she got that money.When the black Rolls-Royce pulled up in front of the entrance, Rosalie exclaimed to Zoe, "Elliot's back! I'll make him give you an explanation right away!"Zoe stayed seated on the couch and did not get up.Her heart was completely shattered!How could Elliot tell her that he was still in love with Avery Tate on the day of their engagement?Not only did he not love Zoe, but he also did not respect her at all.All of this was still based on the premise that she was Shea's doctor and had operated on her twice.Without any of that, Elliot might not even give her another look.Elliot got out of the car and walked into the living room."Mother," he said when he saw Rosalie."Are you okay, Elliot?" Ro
At Starry River Villa, Avery's phone rang the moment she walked out of the shower.She immediately picked it up and answered the call."Hey, Wesley," she said."Why was your phone switched off all morning, Avery?"Wesley had tried to call her several times before finally getting an answer."My phone was dead. I just charged it," Avery explained regretfully. "Did you call me to talk about Eric Santos?""Yes, I did. Eric's worried you'd be mad.""I'm not mad," Avery said. "I just feel that I have caused him trouble. I'll call him later.""Okay," Wesley said as he felt relieved. "I almost went over to your house when I couldn't reach you all morning. Mike told me you weren't home when I called him to ask… Where did you go?"Avery was taken aback and rendered speechless by the question.She came up with an excuse moments later and said, "I went out for a jog.""I see… I guess it's important to get regular exercise. Are you able to settle the problems with your company this time?
"It'll be fine. I won't mention you even if he manages to find me. Don't worry!" Eric said."Okay. Make sure to work on your rehabilitation therapy. I'll be waiting for your comeback.""I'll give it my all!"…That evening, Eric received an unexpected guest at his villa in the mountains.He did not anticipate Elliot Foster to find him so soon.Elliot arrived with a woman next to him."Hello, Eric. I'm sorry for barging in on you," Elliot said politely. "I've been looking for you for a long time, and it would have taken me even longer had it not been for the video that you posted this morning." Eric's face remained neutral. He responded to Elliot in an equally courteous manner and said, "How can I help you, Mr. Foster?"Elliot glanced at Shea, then said, "There's a cat over there, Shea. Why don't you go and take a look?"Shea walked away to see the cat with the bodyguard.Elliot looked away from Shea and turned back to Eric."She's my sister. She's had a mental disability
Has Avery ever spoken the truth? Was she being cautious or was she treating him as the enemy?If she was being cautious of him, why? What was she afraid of? If she treated him as the enemy— That was even harder to understand! He had never done anything to hurt her, why was she so hostile toward him?Elliot's brows were scrunched tightly the entire journey back. Once he reached home, Mrs. Cooper took Shea.Elliot received a call and immediately drove away.At the Twilight Bar, Ben saw Elliot coming over. He immediately pulled him over to the sofa."Elliot! You have been missing the entire day, where have you been?" Ben poured him some wine."I went to see Eric Santos." He accepted the glass of wine and took a sip. "None of you will guess who performed his surgery."Everyone looked at Elliot, waiting for him to continue, but he did not want to continue."Have I been treating Avery badly?" He furrowed his brows and downed the alcohol. "She was the one who had asked for the divor
Elliot started to carefully think back about what he had said, but his head hurt. He could not think in peace.Forget about it! No matter what he had said, it was alright if Zoe heard.…Zoe felt as if something huge had hit her head! It felt like her mind was being slowly pulled apart! Although she did not want to accept that Avery's skills were better than hers, she had no choice but to do so. Avery was Professor Hough's last pupil! The anonymous doctor that operated on Shea twice was her too! She was the only one who did not want anything from Elliot. That would not be the case if it was anyone else!Thus, everything that she had received from Elliot was thanks to Avery. If Avery were to reveal the truth to Elliot one day, she would everything that she now had. Instantly, she went from the dominating to subservient. She had to quickly try and come up with a way to turn the tables around.After breakfast the next morning, Zoe accompanied Rosalie on a walk in the garden."
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