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
Avery froze.The thought that someone was playing a joke on her! Even if she was the most incredible doctor in the world, she could not bring the dead back to life!"Miss Tate, this is my dearest daughter. She's the most beautiful woman in the world," David said as he leaned closer to Avery. His voice tittered across her skin carrying insanity and disdain in its wake. "Can you cure her? If you can, then I'm willing to give you anything you want!"Avery shoved him aside and snapped, "You're insane! How am I supposed to cure her when she is dead?! I can only treat people who are alive. Not once have I said that my skills are good enough that I can raise the dead!" "Someone told me that you're James Hough's last student and that your skills have surpassed his! So, why can't you cure the dead?! How would you know if you don't try?" David grabbed Avery's arm in a tight grip. "Where do you think you are going, Miss Tate? This is your home now." Avery felt like she had fallen into an
"This is Bridgedale. Aryadelle's laws can't touch me," David continued with a chuckle."Even if that's the case, someone's using news of our scandals to blackmail us into saving her! Release her this instant!""I won't," said David with a timber of finality in his voice. "I want her to extend my life. She's a medical genius. I'm sure she can come up with a way to prolong life!""Are you sure?""I am," said David."Then, don't touch her for now… You have to keep her alive," said Senator Kane. "I'll deal with things here. You better make sure she wants to stay with you. That way, we won't wind up laughing stocks!" "Got it!" The smile on David's face died."Make her want to stay?" he thought."How could am I going to make her want to stay?"…It was the afternoon when Mike found Elliot. They were at a special security company that was mysterious in that not many knew about its existence. He did not expect Elliot to have both vast connections and excellent execution skills.
"Avery!" yelled Elliot. Agony distorted his voice into an animalistic howl. His face was contorted with terrifying rage. He needed to save her!She was so close, and so far.He could hear her pants and see the horror in her eyes, but there was nothing he could do!His blood boiled, and he was dominated by a desire to rip the man into pieces and feed the pieces to the dogs!On the other side of the call, Avery froze.She had heard Elliot's voice!A chill ran through her entire body.She did not expect David to call Elliot!"Elliot! Don't look!" Tears welled up in her eyes. "Please! Don't look!"Her pleas tore his heart into a million pieces as he helplessly stared at Avery's face, seeing all the misery and helplessness she felt. His grip around his phone tightened as a savage fury flared in his eyes. "Avery, I'm coming for you! I'm coming to save you right now!" he cried out as tears escaped his eyes.He tasted the bitterness of his tears!He had never felt this kind
"I told her the plane," said Mike. "The power going out is our signal. She will know that we are there to save her. She'll find a place to hide during the frenzy, and we'll find her once we are done with the enemy." "If we don't cut their power and mess up their internal operations, then they will definitely use her as a hostage!"…Avery had gone still the moment the call had ended. David's interest waned when he saw her catatonic state. He was doing this to make Avery his.He knew that she would stay the moment he made her his!The only reason he had called Elliot was because he had found out that Elliot was Avery's man. He knew that Elliot would no longer want her after she had been had by another man. "Why aren't you screaming? You don't really think that he is coming to save you, do you?" chuckled David as he tapped Avery's rigid face. "How many soldiers do you think I have hidden up here? How many do you think I have surrounding this mansion and the mountain it's on
Mike buried his face in his hands and burst into tears."I regret it! Why did I say those cruel words to her?!"Tears sprang into Elliot's eyes as he thought about the incident that had taken place last night. "She was helpless and scared. Even if we couldn't save her right away, I shouldn't have said that! She must have felt so hopeless after hearing what I said…" Mike was racked with guilt, and he could not control his emotions.Elliot's Adam's apple bobbed in his throat and he said hoarsely, "Stop crying! Are you done cracking the system?"Mike wiped his tears away, and he glanced at the progress bar on his computer. "Almost… It'll be done before noon. My head hurts. What will I do if Avery's really dead?"Elliot did not have the courage to think of that possibility."How about you go home and take a shower?" Mike saw Elliot's stubble and knew that Elliot was in more pain than he was right now. It was because Avery was still carrying his child.Elliot stood still. It wa
"You haven't eaten, have you? I'll go make lunch," Mrs. Scarlet said and walked to the kitchen.Elliot glanced around the house. It had an open layout, and the decor was minimalistic.Layla thought he was looking for his room, so she ran to the guest bedroom and gestured for him to follow her. "You can sleep in here!"Elliot followed her when a framed photo on the shelf caught his eye. It was a family portrait. It was a photo of Laura and Avery. Each woman held a baby in their arms. He walked over to the shelf, picked up the photo, and examined it carefully.At the bottom right corner were the words 'We're a year old!'The children in the photo must turned one when the photo was taken. One of the babies was dressed in a smart suit, while the other was wearing a white, puffy dress and a tiara… It was obvious that one was a boy while the other was a girl."Are they Hayden and Layla?" he wondered. "Come on in!" Layla stood at the door of the guest bedroom and called out to
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