Avery felt suffocated under Elliot's fiery yet solemn gaze."Are you talking about leaving the recital early today?" Avery began to explain after a moment's hesitation. "My friend texted me saying that she wanted to take a photo with you after the show. I figured that you wouldn't like taking photos with strangers, and I didn't want to explain to her why we were there together.""Why not?" Elliot asked, his voice as cold as ice."It wouldn't exactly be a quick conversation, would it? Besides, you and I are too different from each other. Not only in status but also… in age. Would you be willing to hang out with my friends? We can be pretty immature… Wouldn't it be annoying if they bothered you because of our relationship? Wouldn't you rather have one less thing to have to worry about?"In truth, the true reason why she did not want him to meet her friend was because they could get a divorce at any moment. There was no guarantee that they were going to spend the rest of their lives t
The contents which were below the title were short and simple, for Avery could not figure out exactly how to get out of her situation no matter how much she had thought about it. There was only one sentence: [Divorce Elliot Foster by the end of the year at all costs.]A mixture of rage and bitterness swept across Elliot's face.He was working on himself to change for the better, but she was still hell bent on leaving him.She had created the document the night before… She had played him for a fool!While she pretentiously buttered him up with her gifts and her words, she had been planning her escape in her room! Elliot had thought that Avery was different, but the only thing that was unique about her was that she was a two-faced snake!He slammed the laptop shut and stormed out of the room.The people at the executive meeting at Sterling Group noted Elliot's peculiar mood. From the moment he stepped into the conference room, his brows were furrowed and his expression was ic
"Maybe it's fate," said Chad."That's too bad for my baby sister," responded Charlie."Forgive me for being forward, Mr. Tierney," Chad said. "Chelsea is an exceptional woman, but despite all the years that she's spent by Mr. Foster's side, he still hasn't fallen in love with her. Even if she spends the next twenty, thirty years next to him… He will never love her."A hint of malice flashed in Charlie's eyes as he replied, "Thanks for the reminder."That evening, Elliot took the company's managers out for dinner.After that, Ben dragged him out for drinks.Everyone knew that Elliot was in a foul mood, but nobody knew the reason behind it.That was why they all decided to work together to get him drunk.Once drunkenness began to show in Elliot's eyes, Ben took his wine glass away from him."You haven't said much today. Isn't it stressful keeping everything inside?" Ben said as he switched Elliot's wine glass out for a glass of juice.Elliot raised his slender fingers to his he
Avery smelled the alcohol on Elliot along with the faint scent of tobacco. Suddenly, she noticed that the group of men behind Ben had pulled out their phones and were aiming their cameras at her.They must have been in on it with Ben.Avery gave Elliot a hard shove, but because she was worried about him falling, she reached out and grabbed his arm.Seeing this, the driver hurried over to help, and the two placed Elliot in the backseat of the car.Once Avery strapped Elliot in, the driver passed her a bottle of water.She had worked up a sweat, so she accepted the bottle and took a big gulp of water from it."That was for Mr. Foster, Madam," said the driver.Avery's cheeks turned crimson.She quickly held the bottle out next to Elliot's arm and asked, "Do you want some water?"His eyes were closed and his brows furrowed tightly as if he was in a world of discomfort.He did not respond to her question at all.Avery was not sure if he did not hear her, or if he did, but chose
The cold, night air burst into the car, whipping Avery's hair and calming her nerves. Elliot had said that he was not the only one for her.From that, she figured that as long as she remained adamant about the divorce, he might just agree to it one day.The anxiety she felt dulled into relief with that comforting thought. When they arrived at the mansion, Mrs. Cooper and the driver helped Elliot out of the car.Avery saw that he was being looked after, so she quietly returned to her room.It was not long before Mrs. Cooper showed up in her room and said, "Master Elliot won't let anyone touch him, Madam. Maybe you should give it a try! You just need to wipe his face down and help him change his clothes."Wipe his face and change his clothes?Avery would have no objections if Elliot were still in a vegetative state, but he was not!He might have had a little too much to drink, but he was not unconscious.She had not forgotten the fight that they had in the car on the way home
"Stop acting like a baby," Avery said in a low and gentle voice as she wiped down Elliot's face. "Do you think I want to care for you like this? You stink of booze… Aren't you a clean freak? Was that all an act? I wouldn't even bother helping you if your legs weren't still recovering."The sound of her voice calmed Elliot's breathing, and he was overcome by a sudden wave of drowsiness.Her voice was like a hypnotic lullaby.Once Avery finished wiping Elliot down, she pulled the covers over him and tucked him in.By the time she cleaned up in the bathroom and returned to the bedroom, he was already fast asleep.She finally let out a huge sigh of relief.She sat down on the edge of the bed and glanced around the room.The memory of how her every move was monitored and recorded by surveillance cameras for the first three months she was there sent a shudder down her body.The cameras were probably gone by now.Elliot was erratic and bad-tempered, but he was not a pervert.Avery g
Tammy was holding the menu. She glanced at Jun and said, "Your outfit was pretty tight, so I assumed you liked men. Of course, I'm not saying you can't prefer men. I respect everyone's sexual orientation."Jun almost choked on his water."You've greatly misunderstood, Miss Lynch. I'm straight. Very straight.""And I'm not as promiscuous as you think.""Alright! Let's start over," Jun said as he reached out his hand for a handshake.In order to find out his true intentions for Avery, Tammy shook his hand.Once they had ordered their food, the two of them talked about anything and everything.An hour and some wine later, Jun's defenses crumbled and he began to ramble."I have a friend who got married in a haste. He has feelings for his wife, but he's too scared to show it. When she had gotten into some trouble recently, he had me help her. The funniest thing is that his wife has no idea that I'm friends with her husband. The first time she met me, he had been furious. He didn't t
"Is this Miss Avery Tate?"The low, deep voice on the other end was warm and polite."Yes, and you are?" Avery asked."Hello, I'm Charlie Tierney from Trust Capital. I got your number from your company's HR department. I'd like to propose a collaboration," said Charlie."Trust Capital?""That's right. Do you have time to meet up today? I'm near your office right now," Charlie said in an earnest and sincere tone.After a moment's consideration, Avery accepted his invitation.Once they decided on a meeting point, she called the HR manager at Tate Industries."Do you know Charlie Tierney from Trust Capital?""He's an impressive investor. Trust Capital is one of the country's top ten investment banks, which was why I didn't hesitate to give him your number when he asked for it earlier," answered the HR manager."Got it," said Avery."Do you need me to accompany you when you go to your meeting? I'm worried that you'll get overwhelmed if you go alone," asked the manager.Morale a
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