Avery checked the time after ending the call. She wondered where Elliot was.The airport was located in a secluded area outside the city. If he was in the city, it would take him at least an hour to get here.There were only forty minutes left until Avery had to board the plane.There was no way she would wait for him.If she missed her flight, she would not be able to leave the city till the next morning, when the next flight was scheduled to leave. Time was not on her side.Mike noticed Avery's dejected expression, so he reached out and held her cold hand."Don't be scared, Avery. Whoever's behind this probably needs your medical skills," he said, consoling her. "Drag things on for as long as you can. I will definitely find a way to save you.""We have to save Wesley first," Avery mumbled."Of course.""Of all the years I've known Wesley, he has never once refused my plea for help, no matter how many times I had asked him for help. He always shared good things with me. H
She did not know what she was going to say even if she were to go to him. She had to go to Bridgedale right now.She would not change her mind even if he were to disagree with her. Besides, she did not want to drag him into this mess.She took a deep breath and continued walking…There was a bend a few feet away.Once she disappeared around the bend, he would no longer be able to see her. "Avery Tate!"Elliot's blood boiled when he saw Avery walking away without even a backward glance. With reddened eyes, he charged toward the counter! The security guards immediately held him back."Avery! Turn around!" Elliot had completely abandoned his pride. He desperately yelled at her despite the numerous people in the airport. "Turn around! Look at me!"Avery's feet felt heavy.It had taken all her energy to make her way to the bend. Once she was out of Elliot's line of sight, she leaned against the glass wall and sobbed."Make him leave, Mike!" Avery cried as she buried her f
Chad deeply understood Elliot's feelings.He was on Elliot's side in the same way that Mike was on Avery's side. They would support the people they cared for no matter what happened. It was two in the morning when the black Rolls-Royce pulled up at the Elliot's mansion.The living room lights were still on.When Elliot got out of the car, Mrs. Cooper immediately emerged from the house."Did something happen over at Avery's, Master Elliot? Hayden called Shea at around 10 p.m. and asked her to go over to their house."The moment Elliot heard Hayden's name, his frigid heart began to ache once again.Avery did not only abandon him, but she had also left her two children behind."It's late, Master Elliot. You should get some rest!" Mrs. Cooper saw the darkness on Elliot's face and did not say more.Elliot dragged his heavy body into the bedroom. He shuffled about like a zombie. When his tired eyes landed on the bed, the memory of Avery cruelly walking away from him entered his m
Elliot and Shea emerged from the mansion the moment Hayden finished his sentence.Father and son met, but Hayden averted his gaze in disgust.He was a minor and could not get on a plane without a guardian.If he could he would not be standing here!All he wanted was to get to Bridgedale as fast as possible so that he could be with his mother. "Hayden! Layla! Big Brother agreed to take us to Bridgedale!" Shea ran over to the children and chirped, "We'll see Avery soon!"…In Bridgedale, Avery was approached by two men the moment she stepped out of the airport.They were dressed in black suits and drove a black Buick.Mike took a photo of the car's license plate from afar. They could not act rashly and startle the enemy before they had rescued Wesley.The black Buick quickly disappeared into traffic.Mike saw the countless messages from Chad on his phone.Chad answered soon after Mike dialed his number."My boss took Shea and the kids on his private jet. They are going to B
A man with white hair which stood in sharp contrast to his child-like face stepped in front of Avery. "Are you the one who abducted Wesley?!" Avery demanded with clenched fists.The man simply smiled softly, then said to the two women next to him, "Help Miss Tate change.""Don't touch me!" Avery snapped, raising her guard. "Why do I need to change?!""What if you're hiding some kind of weapon or drugs in your clothes, Miss Tate?" said one of the women with a smile. "Don't worry. We will wash your clothes and return them to you."Avery snatched the clothes from the woman and said, "I'll change myself!""Please change right here, Miss Tate," said the woman as she maintained her friendly smile."How am I supposed to change here?!"Avery stared in shock at the bodyguards that surrounded her and the white-haired man.How was she supposed to change her clothes in front of all these men?…The news of a Gulfstream G650 private jet leaving the airport of the country's capital that
"Where is he?!" Avery demanded coldly as she stood in the living room.David glanced at his lackeys, and they immediately went to get Wesley. Moments later, two men in black dragged Wesley into the room.Avery's entire body stiffened as she could not believe her eyes.Wesley was covered with blood and bruises. There was not one spot on his body that remained untouched.David shrugged, then said, "You should thank me, Miss Tate. If I didn't catch him in time, this idiot would have jumped off the cliff and turned into a rotting corpse!'Jump off the cliff?!' Avery thought.There was, in fact, a cliff outside the mansion.'Wesley actually tried to jump off of it!' she thought. 'Did he choose to jump off the cliff because he did not want to expose her identity and he no longer wanted to endure all that torture?' Tears instantly rolled down Avery's cheeks."Wesley!" She rushed over to Wesley and held him in her arms. "Wesley! I'm sorry! It's all my fault!"Wesley did not move a
Wesley was in the intensive care unit of the hospital. He was covered in bandages, and his eyes were swollen and red. It was clear that he had popped some blood vessels. His hand too was bandaged, and clearly showed the gap where there should have been a finger.Layla and Hayden were waiting outside and the bodyguard was watching them. They had not been allowed in the room. Shea, on the other hand, was allowed in. Her bright eyes were wide as she stared at the man on the bed. She could not recognize him despite the long time she had spent staring at him. "Who… Who is this?" she asked softly. She was afraid that she might disturb the sleeping man. Mike turned around and saw her in shock, so he walked her to the door and said, "That's Wesley. Shea, go outside…"Shea instantly broke down.She shoved Mike aside and ran over to the bed as tears rolled down her face."Wesley! What happened to you? Who did this to you?" She wanted to hold his hand, but she was afraid of touching h
"Hey, who are you going to see?" Mike asked. "This is Bridgedale. Are you familiar with the place?""Even the Devil would do anything for money. Everyone knows that. As long as I'm willing to cough up the money, plenty of people would be lining up to risk their lives for me!" Elliot responded.Mike watched Elliot brag, and in the end, Elliot had frightened him so much with his passion that Mike obediently got out of the car. However, Mike did not forget to take a jab at Elliot."Did you cry when Avery ignored you at the airport that day? I bet you did. I should've recorded the whole thing—""F*ck off!" Elliot shot a glare at him and slammed the car door shut.…Avery was lying in bed at the White Mansion when Wesley's medical report arrived. She got out of bed and took the report. With all of his injuries, his report came up to several pages.Avery spent quite a while looking through the report. "He's not dead, Miss Tate. He'll be fine after some rest," said the woman who
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