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
When Elliot saw Hayden, he thought he had somehow entered the wrong room.Why was Hayden here? How did he get here? Elliot realized that this kid would always surprise him.Of course, in this case, the surprise was not a delightful one."Why is my Mommy injured?" Hayden stood by the side of the bed, his eyes cold as he questioned his father.Hayden had seen that Avery's forehead was wrapped in bandages. She must have been injured, which was why it had been bandaged.Also, when he had called out to her, Avery had not reacted. He suspected that she might not be sleeping, but, instead, had passed out.However, he had no choice but to wait for answers. He could not carry her away, nor could he treat her.Elliot ignored Hayden's question. He looked at the small child condescendingly. "How did you come here? Who else came with you?""I'm alone!" Hayden was not afraid. The resentment in his eyes gradually grew. "You hurt my Mommy! I will never forgive you!"Elliot snickered at Hayd
The person lifting Hayden was Elliot! Elliot was strangling Hayden! Avery must be dreaming! If not, why was Hayden there? This was not the first time she had had a nightmare like this.Five years ago, Elliot had declared that he would strangle any child of his that Avery gave birth to, and ever since then, Avery had often had nightmares of that moment.She had dreamt about how Elliot used an assortment of methods to torture her children to death. A scene was just like the one in front of her eyes, She had dreamt of this scene countless times! The only difference from the dream was that the scene in front of her was extremely real.As Hayden was struggling with all his might, his bag had fallen to the floor with a loud thud!Avery blinked. A switch in her body was activated. Her blood was boiling! It was not a dream! It was not a dream!"Elliot! Let go!" she yelled. She trembled and wanted to get up from the bed. Due to the injuries on her leg, she could not get down from
The red button was an alarm button. It was linked to Mike. If Hayden pressed the button, it would send Mike his location. Mike would also call the police if Hayden pressed the button. If Hayden had not been forced to act, he would not have gone up against Elliot! Elliot made him do it."Hayden…" Avery anxiously called out to him in her bed.Hayden came over to her bed and held her hand. "Mommy, don't be afraid, I'm here."Avery looked anxious and said to him, "Hayden, I can't really move right now. I'll return home once I'm better. When Elliot comes by later, I'll get him to arrange for a driver to send you home. You have to be good—"Hayden frowned. "Mommy, don't ask him for help! I want to go back home with you! I promised Layla that I would bring you home!""I can't move right now—""I've already called the police. They will bring us home."Avery's brows furrowed. She looked behind Hayden. Elliot was standing by the door!He had overheard what Hayden had said a moment ago.
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