Shea nodded and said, "I'll keep it in my room. I won't lose it.""Good. Have you had dinner yet?" Elliot asked."I did! I ate at the hotel with Hayden.""You seem to like Hayden a lot," Elliot said as he recalled the way she had switched seats with Mike that afternoon.In the past, she had never left his side while they were out. Today, however, she had actually preferred sitting next to Hayden."I like Hayden and Layla," Shea said.She had a strong feeling that she was not only Hayden's aunt but Layla's as well.She felt this way because she recognized that the bond Hayden and Layla shared to be the same as the one she and Elliot shared. Elliot could not help but recall the way he had almost strangled Hayden to death at the mansion in the forest.When they met that afternoon, Hayden did not once look at him.It was as if he was avoiding him on purpose.Elliot was sure that the boy was traumatized.He felt guilty as he recalled what had happened.He had never felt guil
Avery almost passed out when she saw the trending topic online that morning.She was not distraught because the author had called her private life a mess, but she was distraught because the reprobate holder of the account had posted photos of her two children!The photo had been taken by a member of the paparazzi, and it did not show the children's faces only their backs, but it was all the same!One could clearly see the children's features in the photos.The post even went as far as to reveal the name of their preschool.Avery dragged her weak body out of the bedroom.She knocked on Mike's door, then walked right into his room."Wake up, Mike!" she shouted as she yanked the covers off.It was a good thing Mike was wearing his underwear.Otherwise, Avery would have immediately regretted her recklessness."What's wrong?" Mike said as he looked at Avery with groggy eyes. "Avery… Is the sun even up yet?""It is! The kids are going to wake up soon."Avery showed Mike the artic
Elliot had not been able to get a wink of sleep, and he was currently catching up on his sleep. When his phone rang, he got up to answer the call."Sir, Mike said he wanted to hire a nanny to help Avery out. He accepted my offer to help him look for one."Chad had received new orders from Elliot last night, telling him to keep an eye on Avery's movements through Mike.Chad thought it was nice of his boss to do that.Elliot was clearly doing this because he wanted to be a responsible father, because of that, Chad had agreed to carry out his orders without hesitation. "I see. I'll arrange something," Elliot said hoarsely."Also, Avery went viral today. Someone got an entertainment news company to post photos of Hayden and Layla that had been taken by the paparazzi. The article went so far as to reveal that Avery was a single mother and that her personal life was a mess…" said Chad, finishing his report. Elliot's eyes furrowed as he said, "Look into it immediately and find out
Shea was worried they did not understand her and added, "My brother bought this gift for Avery."Avery closed the box, looked at Elliot, and asked, "What's the meaning of this?"The spark of war was instantly ignited.Mike immediately dragged Shea and the children out of the house.It would be bad for the children's mental well-being to watch their parents fight.Once Shea was out of the house, she turned to Layla and Hayden and explained, "My brother may have bought Avery's gift, but I was the one who got you your presents. It was me! You have to accept them!""Sure," Layla said and began to open her gift.On the other hand, Hayden had his eyes pinned in the direction of the living room."Relax, Big H! Your mom's pregnant with that dirtbag's baby, so there's no way he'd pick on her!" Mike said as he tried to comfort the boy. "Let's go somewhere to play!""I'm not going out," Hayden responded.He was still worried about his mother.Shea took Hayden's hand, then said, "Let's
It was nothing but a ludicrous fantasy!With reddened eyes, Elliot got up from the couch."Don't ever come here again," Avery said as she stared at him with cold eyes. "I'm sure you haven't forgotten what you did to my son. He will always remember what you did every time he looks at you." Elliot's Adam's apple bobbed in his throat."All you saw was that I attacked him, but did you ever ask him what he said to me?""No matter what he said to you, you could always use your words. Was there a need to get physical?" She was right.He was wrong!"That's exactly that kind of ruthless, savage person I am!" Elliot snapped."I don't need a self-introduction!" Avery said as she shot a glare at him. "I already know that!"The light extinguished from Elliot's eyes as hopelessness took over.He suppressed the desire to explain himself and maintain the little reason and self-respect he had left.He picked up the gift box from the coffee table, then left the house.Avery took a deep br
Ben took a seat and listened closely to Elliot's woes."It's true that you were forced into a relationship with Zoe, but that wasn't because of Avery. You did it for Shea," Ben said bluntly. "Avery is unaware of your relationship with Shea, so she is quite understandably upset."Elliot stared at him with his deep-set eyes. "What do you think my relationship with Shea is?"Ben chuckled lightly, then said, "Are you really asking me to guess?""I know you'd figure it out," Elliot said confidently. "You know me well.""Are you upset that Avery doesn't trust you enough?"Ben had a feeling that, if he was right, Elliot's relationship with Avery was about to worsen."Wouldn't that explain the problem?" Elliot retorted.Ben stroked his chin and said, "Not everybody is as calm and reasonable as you are. Besides, love is a completely different matter. Last year, you had been jealous of Mike, and you weren't as calm as you are right now."The light in Elliot's eyes dimmed, and his voice
The bodyguard felt like things were about to get out of control.He quickly sent their location to Mike along with a text message.[Miss Tate's going head to head with Wanda Tate! Get over here!]When Mike saw the location of the hotel, which the bodyguard had sent over, he fell into complete shock. Avery had thrown up this morning after barely having a bite or two of her breakfast. She could barely get out of bed.How did she find the energy to go after Wanda Tate?!Mike grabbed his keys and rushed out of the office.Back at the hotel, Avery casually walked onto the stage.She took the microphone from the host and turned to Wanda."I have a question for you, Madam Tate," she asked loudly. "Is your assistant's name Faye Johnson?"Wanda's eyes were cold as she said, "I don't think that question has anything to do with our talk today.""Aren't we discussing the advantages of marketing for the success of a business?" Avery said, then pulled out a few pieces of paper.Everythi
Realizing that he could no longer hide the truth from Elliot, Chad said, "Avery went to see Wanda Tate today and ended up falling down after Wanda's bodyguard pushed her."That morning, Chad had informed Elliot that Wanda's assistant was the one behind the viral news a few days ago.Elliot had planned to take some time to see Wanda over the matter.He did not expect Avery to be one step ahead of him.Chad heard Elliot's heavy breathing on the other side of the line and instantly became anxious."It was an accident, Sir. You can't blame Avery… She doesn't want anything to happen to the child, either… She's really down right now. Please don't get mad at her when you get here—"Elliot hung up.Ever since Chad had gotten together with Mike, he had become severely biased in favor of Avery.Elliot cared about the child, but that did not mean that he did not care for Avery's wellbeing.If it ever came down to having to choose between Avery and the child, he would always choose Avery.
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