Mike tried to hold back his glee as he said, "It's a deal!""Alright," Elliot responded."Our client this time is the Border Security Force. As for accommodation, Avery's staying at the base itself," Mike said as he broke into a maniacal cackle. "I told you that you can't get in there. They won't just let you into their base."Elliot gritted his teeth, then hung up.Zirconia City was located at the country's border. It was a four hour flight from here to there.He did not know what time Avery's flight was, but he knew that she would not have arrived yet.At most, her plane would have just landed in Zirconia.The place Avery had gone to was rather unusual and not dangerous, and so, he was not worried about her. He would wait for her to return from her business trip to explain things to her.If he were to show up at Zirconia in his haste and interfered with her work, she might even get more upset with him. Once Elliot had dropped Shea home, he made his way to his office.Not
It was noon in the city of Zirconia when a bulletproof car slowly made its way into the base of the Border Control Force.Avery sat in the car and curiously looked out at the scenery outside the window.There were no colossal skyscrapers here. They were far from the hustle and bustle of the city.The only things here were the pristine beauty of nature and the soldiers that defended the country."Miss Tate, we're far away from the city. The environment's a little rough, so you might have a tough time the next couple of days," said the director of the logistics department, Sean Tennant."It's no trouble at all. It's our company's honor that you chose our products."Sean laughed and said, "We compared several of the drones produced by local companies, and your company's products turned out to be the best in the end. Our deputy director, Mr. Lowe, demanded that we use your drones!"Avery felt slightly embarrassed as she said, "It's always been our goal to produce the best products."
"It was only 4.10 p.m. right now!"Did Elliot take a plane or a jet over?" she wondered. While she was overthinking things, she heard a booming voice pierce through the door. "I'm here to send you some fruits, Miss Tate."Avery let out a heavy sigh of relief, then quickly opened the door."Mr. Tennant specially asked us to take good care of you after he heard that you were pregnant, Miss Tate."The soldier was holding a bag of fruits in his left hand and a bag of snacks in his right hand, all while flashing a warm smile at her.While Avery was touched by the gesture, she could not help the sigh that escaped her."So, men could be this nosy, too!" she thought. She estimated that the news of her pregnancy had spread throughout the entire base by now."Feel free to let us know if you need anything, Miss Tate. We'll try our best to help!"The soldier put down the goods and prepared to leave."Thank you! I don't need anything else right now. Thanks for making the trip!" Avery
Minefield was self-explanatory. There were landmines buried in those woods. If one were to accidentally step on one, they would be blown to pieces.Thus, Sean's words carried a double meaning: was he willing to enter the dark woods to look for her, and was he willing to die for her.Elliot looked toward the dark forest.He had made his decision in a matter of seconds. He strode into the forest.…Avery was feeling antsy as she waited in Sean's house. Sean had said that he would help her test Elliot. Half an hour had passed. "Why are they not done yet?" she wondered. She did not know what Sean was doing.Elliot had a strange temperament. "Would there be friction between them?" she wondered. Emily stared at Avery. She noticed that Avery's brows had been tightly knit with worry the entire time she had been here. " Don't worry Miss Tate. Sean always does things within reason. He would surely bring him here later," said Emily in an attempt to comfort Avery. Avery nodded. "It get
Suddenly, she saw a ray of light. When she saw the light, her tensed heart relaxed instantly."Avery!" Elliot yelled out her name even louder than when she had yelled out his name. Hearing his familiar voice, Avery felt a burn in her nose and eyes."Avery, don't move! You're in a minefield!" Elliot had seen the light from her phone. He reminded her of the fact that they were in danger after he had made sure that it was her. Avery began to cry. If this was truly a minefield, would Sean have allowed him to risk himself? Did he leave his brain at home that day? Furthermore, if this was truly a minefield, she would not have entered to begin with!If she remembered correctly, Elliot was a smart man, yet why was he behaving so foolishly at the moment? "We're not in a minefield!" croaked Avery. "Come here quickly!"Upon hearing Avery's words, Elliot immediately ran toward her. Avery's vision was blurry from the tears. She only saw the light getting brighter as he ran toward her. S
Looking at how heartbroken Avery was, Elliot held her hand tightly and placed it on his heart."Avery, it's not what you think." Elliot looked into her eyes and said, "I only agreed to give her a ride because she had treated Shea." "Zoe treated Shea?" Avery could hear the sarcastic laughter in her heart.From Elliot's point of view, Zoe was Shea's savior. If not, he would not have given Zoe three hundred million dollars.Avery struggled and broke free from Elliot's grip."Since Zoe could treat Shea, why did you break up with her?" Avery asked coldly."Because of you," Elliot said without even thinking.Avery's heart skipped a beat. She felt like she had tripped over something. "Did Elliot say that he broke up with Zoe because of me?" she thought. "Although Shea has not fully recovered, I am already very satisfied with her current situation," said Elliot, explaining himself. "I can't force myself to be with her any longer, nor could I continue lying to myself that I did not c
"I met him." Avery picked up her phone and quickly changed the topic. "Where are Hayden and Layla? "Mike looked sad. He sighed. "They won't be able to talk to you tonight. Hayden cried today."In the washroom, Elliot had clearly heard what Mike said."Why did Hayden cry?" he wondered. Elliot walked out of the washroom. He looked at Avery with darkened eyes. Avery did not have the time to deal with him at that moment. She was even more stunned than he was.Hayden was a child who rarely showed any emotions. He was so calm and often did not act like a child. "What happened to him? Did he get bullied in school? Did you look for his teacher?" Avery said quickly. She wanted to return home and comfort her son."They had a pop quiz today. Someone scored higher than him. He could not take it." Mike shrugged. "He can't accept that there are people smarter than him."Avery sighed in relief, but she still felt bad.Hayden had always been living in his own world. In his world, he was th
Elliot calmly washed Avery's feet and then gently wiped them dry with a tissue. He took his time. Avery was blushing. She tried to retract her feet back a few times, but Elliot stopped her from doing so.The tingling in her feet that bloomed with every caress of his hands traveled to her heart. "Do you think the flights will be canceled tomorrow?" Elliot finally let her go."Don't jinx it!" Avery was desperate to return at that moment. Elliot picked up the basin and went over to the washroom to pour out the dirty water. When he went back to her, he saw that she looked gloomy and agitated."Are the flights canceled?" He guessed."Hmm." Avery placed her phone down, feeling depressed. "There are fruits and snacks in the bag, have some."Although Elliot was hungry, his appetite had vanished when he saw her in that state. Avery was holding onto a kettle, intending to boil some water. Elliot took the kettle and said, "Go and lie down."She listlessly walked over to the side of
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