Elliot's face darkened terribly because of Avery's silent resistance! Elliot indeed could force her mouth open and feed her spoon after spoon, but he was not going to do so! Since she was refusing food, let her starve to death then!He looked away and stormed out of the room!After he left, she relaxed a little. Suddenly, a car honk came from outside the window. Avery pricked her ears and listened to the sounds outside the window. Many cars pulled up in front of the mansion. A moment later, a cacophony of sounds came from downstairs. Why were there so many people here so late at night? Why were they here at such a remote place?Elliot had said that this was one of his holiday villas. Did he invite them there? His mother had just passed, but not only was he not with her, but he was in a remote forest villa hosting a party?!Just when she planned to get out of bed to head over to the window to have a look, the room door swung open.The doctor entered with his case of med
When the bodyguard saw her coming down, they immediately reported it to Elliot.Elliot got up from the sofa and looked at the staircase.Avery was wearing his robe. It was touching the floor. The sleeves were a little long too.She looked like a child wearing adult clothes wrapped in the huge robe. He furrowed his brows. Should she not be on a drip at that moment? Why was she downstairs?"Elliot, you have hidden a woman here!" Someone chuckled and teased when they saw Avery."He is a man! It would be weird if he didn't have ladies! Haha!""Which family is this heiress from? Or is she someone you found just to have fun with?"Elliot ignored everybody's questions because Avery was walking toward them.Did she not want to die? Why would she be willing to come down to meet his friends? What was she trying to do?He strode over to her and blocked her path. He looked at her with dark stormy eyes. "Did you pull the needle out again!"She stretched her hands out and pushed against
Elliot thought that Avery had gone to the washroom and then to her room. When he realized that she had gone upstairs, he stopped drinking. A thought suddenly flashed through his mind. Would Avery have… run away?!The villa was encircled by the forest that was a hundred kilometers in radius. How was she going to leave the forest when she was this weak? He clenched his fists tightly, turned around, and prepared to head downstairs."Mr. Foster! I'll go check the surveillance footage right away! I'll see when she left!" When the bodyguard realized that Avery was gone, he immediately said, "It's dark at night, and there are no street lights too. I'm sure she did not go far!""A bunch of idiots! You can't even guard a woman properly!" Elliot snarled through gritted teeth! "I'm sorry! I'll get people to look for her right now! I promise we'll bring her back by dawn!" The bodyguard swore with fear on his face.Elliot instantly sobered up! His mind was extremely clear at that moment
There was only the endless vast forest. There were many wild beasts in the forest. Even in the daytime, there is a chance that one might face an attack, but at night it was almost a guarantee. Under the protection of the bodyguards, Elliot entered the unknown and terrifying forest.He held the torch in his hand. The light penetrated the darkness, revealing a forest full of vines and branches. Desperation rose in his heart! How did she dare?! How did she dare to step into the forest? Did she really think that she could leave this forest alive?If she knew it was a road to death, why did she not turn back? Even if she had managed to escape the mansion, she could have just turned back? He would not have been that angry with her. "Avery!" He swallowed and yelled out her name with a trembling voice!After his yells, the bodyguards yelled too, "Miss Tate! We're coming for you! If you hear us, please respond!"The only thing that responded to their cries were the calls of the animal
They were soaking wet by the time they had reached the mansion. It was three in the morning.A few of Elliot's friends were still drinking in the main hall. They were waiting for Elliot to return. When they saw him returning with Avery in his arms, they all got up from the sofa. They should have said something to lessen the awkwardness, but no one said anything.Elliot was only wearing a thin t-shirt. He was soaked from the rain, so the t-shirt was clinging tightly to his body. Water dripped down his hair.His deep amber eyes were filled with despair and darkness.The woman in his arms was covered in his jacket. Only her pale and lifeless face could be seen. Her eyes were closed, and they looked as if they would never open again.The scene at that moment was inexplicably sad and tragic!Elliot carried Avery upstairs and vanished from everyone's sight.…After Rosalie's autopsy report came out, Henry sent it to Elliot immediately.Rosalie did not die of poison or other injuries
However, when Chad saw Mike's messages, he held back.Forget about it! He was not going to care about it! He was going to pretend as if he knew nothing. This time, Elliot was the one that crossed the line.How could he take Avery away and not contact her family? If Chad were Mike, he would be furious too.Time passed, and it was almost eleven in the morning. Hayden did not cause a scene. Chad did not even see him.He did not know what Hayden's plan was. Whatever his plan was, he might have already abandoned it.After the funeral, the guests headed to the hotel for lunch.Chad walked over to Elliot. "Mr. Foster." Elliot stopped and looked at him coldly.Chad said awkwardly, "My condolences."Elliot heard him and headed to the parking lot. Chad quickly chased after him and mustered the courage to ask, "Mr. Foster, is Miss Tate with you? Her children are worried about her safety—"Elliot swallowed and said hoarsely, "She's not dead."Chad was baffled. What sort of reply wa
"Miss Tate, you're finally up!" A man's voice rang in her ears.Avery looked to where the sound was coming from. It was Elliot's bodyguard."Miss Tate, do you still remember what happened last night?" The bodyguard stood by the side of the bed and said, "Last night when Mr. Foster carried you back, it was raining extremely heavily! He even lost his shoe! He carried you all the way back barefooted!"Avery was speechless."Although your leg is seriously injured, Mr. Foster's feet were cut deeply too…" The bodyguard looked down at her. "You were under the rain last night, and you developed a fever, and so did Mr. Foster. After bringing you back, he dealt with the injury on his feet, took some medication, and left to attend Madame Rosalie's funeral without any time to rest."The bodyguard looked at her emotionless face. He thought that, perhaps, the fever had made her stupid."Miss Tate, you're the craziest and bravest woman I've ever met." The bodyguard had an expression of admirati
Elliot gritted his teeth and gazed coldly at her.He placed the bowl of oatmeal down and helped her up. Then he arranged two pillows behind her for her to lean against.He then stuffed the bowl back into her hands. Avery accepted the oatmeal, but, as she was about to pick the spoon up, her left hand suddenly fell limp and powerless. Her hands shook, tipping the bowl onto the covers. Everything spilled.Avery looked at the spilled oatmeal in shock. She pursed her lips.Elliot's heart broke at the sight. She had not done it on purpose. He knew that she did not do it on purpose. Avery truly wanted to eat on her own, but she lacked the strength needed to even hold a bowl.Before Avery's tears could fall, Elliot bundled the dirty covers away."Avery, you'll get better. Don't cry!" He had intended to comfort her, but what came out sounded more like a stern lecture.He took a deep breath, wanting to explain, but Avery had already laid back down with her back turned toward him.Ell
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