"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
As time ticked by, the sky outside began to turn dark.It suddenly began to rain. It was not a storm, but it was enough to make one feel uneasy. "The medicine has cooled down, Miss Tate."The voice snapped Avery back to reality. She walked over to the wooden tub and dipped her hand into the liquid to test the temperature. "Put the corpse in!" she said."Oh… Wouldn't the body rot if we put it in?" David's assistant asked with suspicion. "Can you really bring the dead back to life, Miss Tate?"Avery shot him a cold look and said, "Are you doubting me?""I'm just curious.""This is a special concoction," Avery said confidently. "The corpse won't rot."Seeing her seriousness, the assistant no longer doubted her.A few bodyguards picked up the woman's corpse and placed her into the wooden tub.Avery saw the different levels of anxiety on the men's faces.No matter how beautiful she was, nobody would be able to appreciate the beauty of a thirteen-year-old corpse.The dead were
"Where's Avery Tate?!" David roared. "You bunch of idiots! Find her and bring her to me!"The bodyguards and assistant immediately began their search for Avery.She had been standing by the tub, and no one had seen her move. "How did she suddenly disappear?" they thought. The beam from the torch ran over the tub, illuminating the corpse that lay within. His phone crashed to the ground. "It's a ghost! A ghost!"Blood oozed out of the eyes and lips of the corpse.She looked like a zombie!The assistant fled in fear.The bodyguards immediately flashed their torches in the direction of the tub. The screams did not make it past the bars of their teeth, as they fled the room in terror. "Sir! There are a bunch of helicopters outside!"When the assistant fled to the first floor and discovered what was outside, he was even more terrified!David gritted his teeth, raised his gun, and began firing at the corpse's head. The bullets shredded the head. That thing in the tub was n
Elliot's eyes instantly filled with menace!The doctor quickly corrected himself and said, "I'm not saying she's dead. She's possibly in shock after losing too much blood. Ahem, it could be hypovolemic shock!"Elliot blinked a few times as he took a deep breath. He held Avery so tightly that it almost looked as if he wanted to assimilate her into himself. Moments later, the helicopter landed at the hospital, and Avery was rushed into the emergency room.Elliot felt as though someone had hit the pause button on his life as he stood outside the doors that Avery had disappeared behind. It was as if his entire heart and body had been sucked dry!What would he do if anything happened to Avery?His phone rang, interrupting his agonizing thoughts.He pulled out his phone and answered it."How's Avery?! I've dealt with Grimes!" Mike said gleefully. "That old b*st*rd! I knew he would escape through the back door! We caught him the moment he walked out!"Elliot's Adam's apple bobbed
It was only natural that Elliot would pick Avery. He did not want to give up the child, but he had no choice. Their child would have been four months old. If the incident had not happened, they would have been able to meet their child during the next maternity check-up."Okay, Mr. Foster, please sign this risk disclosure form." The doctor took a form and passed it to him. "Do you want us to administer anesthesia to the patient before the surgery? The anesthesia would affect the child, so if you want to keep the baby, we can forgo anesthetizing her." "Wouldn't that hurt a lot!" Elliot obviously wanted to keep the child, but surgery without anesthesia would be agony for Avery!"Yes, it will hurt, but it will pass soon," said the doctor."She's already so weak. I don't want her to suffer any further pain." Elliot felt that once again his heart was being ripped to pieces. He was in so much agony that even breathing hurt. "Please anesthetize her.""Alright." The doctor accepted the si
Avery was taken aback! If it were not for the injury on her arm, she would have jumped off the bed."What husband? I'm not married! Nobody has the right to decide whether my child gets to live or die!"The doctor immediately apologized when he saw that she was growing more and more agitated. "Miss Tate, I'm sorry. Mr. Foster did not say he was your husband, but he did say that he was the baby's father—""Even if he is the baby's father, he doesn't have the right to give consent!" Avery could no longer contain her grief, and she began to cry. Elliot was currently at home as he had been keeping watch over Avery the entire night. Mrs. Scarlet had relieved him this morning so he could get some rest.Left with no other choice, Mrs. Scarlet called Elliot. She could not allow Avery to remain in this state. After Mrs. Scarlet had made the call, Mike pushed open the door and entered the room. "Avery, you're finally up!" Mike walked over to her bed and sat down. He took out a piece 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