Of course, Avery would not answer that question.However, she could not reveal that she was personally aversed to that line of questioning. "You should not ask me questions about him. The sale of your magazine might be affected if you continue to pursue this topic," she said, hinting at Elliot's wrath. Her answer made the journalists realize the foolish, gossipy nature of their questions. "Alright, Miss Tate. You have studied medicine. Why did you venture into business after your graduation? What motivated you to pursue business?" Avery furrowed her brows slightly at that question.If she were to answer it seriously, it would take more than a day and a night for her to finish her story.She planned to deal with them as simply as possible. Just as she was about to open her mouth to speak, an insuppressible, nausea rose within her.She covered her mouth with one hand and rushed to the washroom outside."Miss Tate! What's wrong?" Both journalists rushed after her, concern lac
Avery pulled her phone further away from her ear as her eardrums hurt a little."Avery Tate! Don't play dead! Hurry up and tell me! Whose child you are carrying? Ah! I am going crazy! Where are you now?! I'll come to you, and you will tell me everything— face-to-face!" Avery could not help but laugh at Tammy's reaction."I am at home. Don't come looking for me. I'm going to rest after I end this call," Avery said lazily. "Whose child do you think I'm carrying… I'm telling you this because my morning sickness is starting to get worse now. Even eating has become a problem, let alone drinking… If someone were to persuade me to drink at your wedding, I'll need you to help me get out of the situation."They had previously agreed to have fun together at Tammy's bachelorette party the night before her wedding.Once the group had gathered, it was a guarantee that they would start drinking. She would be avoiding a lot of trouble by telling Tammy her situation beforehand."You're pregnant
Ben was quite surprised by Elliot's answer."You've thought it through?" Ben teased. "You should have long come to your senses. Do you know what she said to Chad? She said that since you returned her sweater, she would wear it whenever she liked. She's right, but she also said that she might wear it on a date in the future."Elliot's knuckles, gripped around his utensils, turned white."Do you think I care?"Ben said, "I'm trying to make you forget about her.""Then why bring her up?" He swept his cold gaze over Ben. "Don't mention her anymore. I'm not interested.""That's great! I was worried you still weren’t over her,” Ben sighed in relief. "Too bad you can't drink. I'll drink alone."Ben walked over to the small bar and picked up a bottle of wine. Elliot soon finished his meal. He put down his utensils and left the dining hall.Ben was holding a glass of wine. He was unhappy. "Hey! Come talk to me! It's no fun eating alone!"Elliot walked to Shea's room. He had not slept t
Once the call connected, Elliot briefed the family doctor on Shea's condition and asked, "Is it true that she can recover by herself without the need for further surgery?"On the other end, the family doctor did not dare make any guarantees. "It's a good thing, but I can't say for sure if she will continue to recover. One thing that's certain is that going through with further surgery will damage her body."Elliot was aware of that. He had taken Shea to other doctors after the two craniotomies Zoe had performed on her. Shea had gone through a couple of other procedures since then, so Elliot was a little uncertain what to do next right now."Mr. Foster, have you consulted Dr. Sanford?" the family doctor asked."No.""Oh… If you don't plan on letting Dr. Sanford continue Shea's treatment, perhaps you could try asking Avery Tate. I had a look at Eric Santos's performance after he returned from his break, and he is doing great… Apart from not being able to dance like he did before, he
Tammy helped Avery into the car, and Mike followed closely behind to lecture, "Try talking some sense into her, Tammy! She refuses to eat because she is on a diet! It's not right, but she doesn't even recognize the severity of the issue! Look at how thin she's gotten! She used to take walks around the area, and now she can’t even move…"Tammy patted Mike on the shoulder. "I'll talk to her. Don't worry. She wants to go on a diet now, but maybe she will change her mind after a while.""Oh… Why didn't you guys invite me out as well today?" Mike was jealous."Because you need to take care of the kids!" Tammy said.Mike was speechless.Once Tammy was inside the car, she waved goodbye to Mike. She closed the car door and took off.Avery lay down in the backseat and asked, "Did you invite Chad?""Why would I? He is Elliot's assistant… I didn't invite anyone related to Elliot, including Jun's senior, Ben."Avery could not help but chuckle."It's not entirely for you… I just don't like
Intrigued by Avery, Ben took a moment to think before sending a message to Jun.[Snap a photo from the front and send it to me.][You can't be thinking of sending it to Elliot, can you?][Hurry up!] commanded Ben. There were heaters inside the mansion, so the temperature was slightly warm.Both Tammy and Avery removed their jackets and sat down on the couch.Tammy had prepared a lot of fruits and placed them before Avery.Avery picked up a peach in surprise and said, "I thought it wasn’t the season for peaches yet.""You can have them at any time of the year you want, as long as you have money. Try it!" Tammy urged.Avery nodded with a smile.Jun took the chance to take a picture of her biting into the peach.The photo looked great. Everything was perfect: structure, lighting, and the general outlook of the photo. Avery looked both seductive and adorable in the photo.Jun sent the photo to Ben, and Ben could not help but exclaim after seeing it.[Are the arms even real?]
Ben did not knock. He pushed the door to Elliot's office open. Elliot immediately set his phone down at the sound."Ahem! Elliot, I accidentally sent a photo of Avery to you…" Ben said, clearly faking fear. Elliot looked up. "I wouldn’t do anything to you even if you’d just come out and said you sent it on purpose." Ben laughed awkwardly. "Jun said that Avery lost a lot of weight, and she looked almost as though she was sick. I didn't believe it, so he sent me a photo of her.""I suppose she is not actually sick, considering that you are laughing right now."The smile on Ben's face froze. "Um… I heard that it was because she was trying to lose weight. She sure is determined. There are plenty of ways to lose weight and she chose to go on a diet. Isn't she a doctor? Doesn't she know that not eating isn't healthy? I feel like she's lost her senses… This is almost as shocking as the time she tried to kill you." Elliot's composure faded as he set the documents down. "Why don't yo
Avery felt much better after sleeping for most of the day; she did not feel nauseated."It's hard to say. It might be soon, it could be later. Don't worry about it. Some people barely experience any of the symptoms that come with the hormonal changes, so you might not suffer any morning sickness when you are pregnant." Avery went to sit down on the couch and widened her eyes at the spicy chicken soup. "Thank you for being so considerate, Tammy. It's been so long since I had spicy chicken soup.""Don't eat too much, or you might puke." Tammy sat on the couch across from her and said, "Do you know what Jun did today? He was so worried that you might pass out because you skipped lunch, that he had arranged for an ambulance in case anything happens to you. The ambulance is still outside as we speak!" Moved, Avery smiled. "Tammy, I wish that you and Jun would live happily ever after.""I know! Right now, your mission is to take care of yourself and the baby in you. When I think of your
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