Avery wondered if she would be his mistress if that woman was still alive. If she was dead, then was she her replacement?Either way, it made her heart ache and left a bad taste in her mouth.While Avery was lost in thought, Elliot's thoughts also wandered."Tell me, what exactly do you like about Cole?" he asked as he pulled out his cigarette box. His face was the epitome of an enigma. "I don't like him anymore," Avery said coldly.If they had not talked things out earlier, she might have continued to use Cole to anger him.It was childish, but Elliot was always losing his temper over the smallest things.If she did not retaliate, she would lose her mind."Is it because you realized he was nothing but a penniless loser?" Elliot asked as he held the unlit cigarette between his fingers."Is money all you think about?" Avery retorted. "Back when Cole was pursuing me, he would write me love letters every day. On the weekends, he would take me to art galleries and music recital
Why was Elliot asking about art galleries and recitals?What led to his massive change in taste?"Pick something that a woman in her early twenties would like," Elliot said.Chad finally understood where all of this was going."Of course, sir. I'll send you the tickets once they're booked."Elliot was not in his office at Sterling Group the next morning.Ben and Chad seized the opportunity to gossip about their boss. "Mr. Foster might as well have told me straight up that he wanted to take Avery out," Chad said with a chuckle. "I wonder what happened between them. I didn't expect things to progress so quickly. I thought they were getting a divorce!"Ben was analyzing the situation, then said, "I'm guessing they slept together again. Elliot is a stone-cold b*st*rd, but after he slept with Avery, I bet he couldn't control his urges even if he hated her to death.""Chelsea would lose her mind if she found out," said Chad."Don't tell her. She's spent the past few nights getting
The little commotion between Avery and the guard attracted everyone's attention to look toward the door. When Elliot recognized Avery's slender figure, he got up from his seat and said, "What are you doing here?"Avery shook off the bodyguard's grip once again, smoothed her clothes, and walked into the office."I'm here to see Professor Hough," she said, then looked curiously at Elliot and asked, "Are you here to see him, too?"Professor Hough examined the two, then adjusted his glasses, and asked, "Do you two know each other?"Avery was about to tell the professor that they were acquaintances, but Elliot was one step ahead of her. "Professor, please keep the matter we talked about private.""Of course," answered the professor. "It's doctor-patient confidentiality.""I'll be off, then," Elliot said.The professor nodded in response.Elliot turned toward the exit. When he walked past Avery, he glanced at her, but said nothing and walked out.Avery was a little stunned.Why d
Avery did not know whether to laugh or cry."Relax… I was forced into it. When our family was struggling with money, my stepmother married me off for the engagement gifts and cash. I'm still waiting to get a divorce!""What the hell was she thinking?!" Tammy exclaimed. "Why didn't you tell me sooner? We should go to the police!"Avery reached out to calm her down, then said, "It's not as bad as you think. We're from two completely different worlds, so we should get divorced anytime now."Tammy was still not convinced."Who is he? Tell me… You husband… D*mn it! I still think this is insane!""It is pretty nuts. I'll tell you who he is after we're divorced.""Absolutely not! You need to tell me right now! I'll stand up for you!"Avery knew about Tammy's bad temper all too well.If she found out about Elliot, she would definitely go after him.Her relationship with Elliot was already on the rocks, and Tammy's involvement would just add fuel to the fire."Just focus on looking i
"No idea," the bodyguard shrugged.Avery took a deep breath and glanced at her surroundings.If her memory served her right, the recital that Tammy mentioned earlier was this exact one!However, she had declined Tammy's invitation.In the end, she found herself here anyway!The only thing was that she was here with Elliot instead.She would be mortified if she bumped into Tammy in the concert hall.As her palms began to sweat profusely, she prayed that she would not run into Tammy.It was impossible to end up being seated close to each other in such a large concert hall, right?Chad reserved the whole front row for Elliot.Avery saw him the second she walked into the hall.He was sitting by himself. He sat ramrod straight, and he emanated arrogance. Since the concert had not yet begun, he was looking at his phone.Avery felt as if her feet were glued to the ground, and she could not move.Elliot stood out too much!What made him want to invite her to a recital?Did he
Elliot felt like a joke.Why did Avery not want to be discovered by her friend?Was it that embarrassing for her to be seen with him?The recital began soon after, and Avery calmed down.It was a good thing that Tammy did not see her!She wondered where Tammy was seated.She wanted to turn and look around, but reason stopped her from acting rashly.Tammy was at the recital with another friend and was seated in the fifth row. "Who's that on the first row? Three people taking up all those seats. What a waste!"Tammy was complaining to her friend who was scrutinizing the row of nearly empty seats. "Probably someone rich! We're on the fifth row and the tickets cost over a hundred and fifty bucks, so I bet first row tickets are expensive! It looks like they reserved the whole row. You can tell right away that that guy in the middle is super-rich. The woman next to him is either his daughter or his lover. The muscular guy on the other side is definitely his bodyguard."Tammy agr
The more Avery thought about it, the more erratic her breathing became.Was this proof that Elliot was in love with her?Otherwise, why would he go and do something that he considered a waste of time?She felt a sudden chill run down her spine.Her hand instinctively drifted to her lower abdomen.She was now more than three months pregnant. She had been watching her diet, so her baby bump was not showing at all.By the time she reached the fifth and sixth months, she could still hide her bump under loose clothing.What would happen when she was near the end of her term?No matter how skinny a pregnant mother was, she would not be able to hide her baby bump once that time came.If she was still by Elliot's side by then, she would definitely get caught.Avery wandered aimlessly around the streets.She was holding her jacket in her arms, and she was wearing nothing but a light t-shirt, but she did not feel the cold breeze. Her feelings for Elliot confused her. It was exactl
"Mr. Foster, are your legs alright without the wheelchair?" Chad asked gently.He knew that Elliot had not used the wheelchair today as he had not wanted there to be any obstructions while he was on his date with Avery. Him having to roll the wheelchair would have definitely been a bad experience for Avery. It was a shame that she did not appreciate his boss's thoughtfulness.Elliot pushed Ben and Chad aside.His expression was cold as he curtly said, "I'm fine.""Let's go have a drink, Elliot!" Ben said as he grabbed onto Elliot's arm once again. "Charlie Tierney's around, so let's get him to join us."Elliot's ominous expression concerned Ben.Charlie was Chelsea's older brother.Ben was the one who called Charlie when Chelsea angered Elliot.The Tierney family business was based in Rosacus City.As the heir to the Tierney empire, Chalice spent most of his time in Rosacus.After a moment of silence, Elliot said, "No."He made his way to the elevator. He did not walk qu
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