Zoe almost spat out the water she had just drunk.'What does she mean by returning every last penny? Once Elliot gave me the money, it was mine! Why should I return it?' she thought."Avery, I know that you desperately need to pay Elliot back and that you need money for that," Zoe muttered nervously, "but there is no reason that I should give up my hard-earned money for you! I've put in so much effort and time into treating Shea—" "But you didn't perform those surgeries on Shea," Avery interrupted calmly, "I am only asking you to give back the three hundred million and not the interest. Consider the interest as compensation for your hard work!"The corner of Zoe's lips twitched. She did not know what to say.'How ridiculous! Avery is being ridiculous!' she thought."Zoe, has no one ever told you that there's no such thing as a free lunch?" Avery said sarcastically. "You sure are brave. You have been daring—telling Elliot lies and accepting his money. Aren't you afraid your lies
Zoe was in Wonder Technologies as she was telling Wanda everything in tears while Wanda looked livid. "I don't have that much money to give you!" said Wanda coldly. "The money has been spent, and you can ask the finance department if you don't believe me! Go see for yourself if we still have three hundred million lying around!"Zoe gasped. "Of course you would say that you don't have it when it's not your life on the line! What you do if you were me?"Wanda lambasted, "I'm not as foolish as you! You can't even keep a hold of the money that you earn! If you are incapable of retaining money, then you should have taken your three hundred million and gone somewhere far away!" "That's not what you said when you begged me to invest in your company!" Zoe was burning with rage.Avery had only given her three days. She had to gather three hundred million dollars within three days because the last thing she wanted was for Elliot to find out the truth. If he did, it would no longer be as s
Her eyes were red as she made another call. It was someone she had not called in a while. Her call was answered shortly, and she heard a sweet melodic voice drift out from the speaker."Did you dial the wrong number, Dr. Sanford? It's been so, so long since you last contacted me, and here I thought that you had completely forgotten about me! Hahaha!"Chelsea's smug laughter came from the speaker.It had been Chelsea who had gotten her to come back to Bridgedale. It was also Chelsea who had told her that there was much to gain in Bridgedale, but she had not listened to Chelsea.Once she had gotten a hold of Elliot, she had immediately cast Chelsea aside. "What are you laughing at Chelsea?!""I'm laughing at you, of course! You are out of the game now." Chelsea sounded cheerful. "It is so easy to destroy you right now, it will be like squashing an ant. But that is beneath me, and I don't want to get my hands dirty." "Really?" Zoe mumbled. "What have you gotten so far? Elliot s
It was a notification from the bank informing her that three hundred million had been wired into her account."Avery, I heard that you were the one who had broken off things with him this time. I'm guessing that he is doing this now to spite you," Tammy guessed.Avery was in a good mood. She had so easily gotten the three hundred million dollars."What he wants to do is up to him." She took out a banana from the fruit basket, peeled it, and handed it to Tammy.Tammy was not happy about it. "That Chelsea really is everywhere! She's stayed quiet for over a year, and I almost forgot that she is still working for Sterling Group. She's definitely patient."Avery had a deep and lasting impression of Chelsea from the last time they met, and she knew what Chelsea was like, although they had not met for a long time. "Chelsea's love for Elliot surpasses my love for him," said Avery, "Elliot doesn't like kids, and so to reassure him, she went and got rid of her own uterus."Tammy gasped.
"Chad, did Elliot deactivate his account?" Avery looked up at Chad.Chad was taken by surprise and said, "He didn't tell me to do anything like that, so I'm not sure. Are you having issues transferring money to his account?"Avery nodded."I'll ask him about it when I go to work tomorrow," Chad said awkwardly. "Maybe he doesn't want to take your money anymore!""That's funny. Does he intend on keeping Avery in his debt?" Tammy directed her frustration toward Chad and said sharply, "What exactly is his relationship with Chelsea? Jun said that Elliot had taken Chelsea along with him the last time they had dinner together." Chad was starting to sweat. "… They are colleagues, I guess! He's known Chelsea for years so he would sometimes take her out for meals.""Who are you trying to fool? Jun said that Chelsea was putting food on Elliot's plate, and Elliot accepted it… Is that what colleagues do in your company?""Tammy Lynch, it's really not necessary for you to say all these things in fr
After two seconds of silence, he could no longer control himself and said, "Avery!"His voice was filled with unconcealable concern for her.She gagged a few times before the nausea finally passed.Elliot regained his composure and muttered in a hoarse voice, "Avery, go lie down on the bed if you don't feel well."Enraged by what he said, she hissed, "I don't need your pity!"He did not need to tell her how great Chelsea was."I pity our child!" he said sternly as he tightened his grip on the phone."Why?" she asked sarcastically. "Is it because I haven't gotten rid of it?!" "Avery Tate, do you really have to be so savage?!"Elliot could not help but wonder whether he really was the villain she made him out to be. He had been overjoyed by the news of her pregnancy and had looked forward to the birth, and when the accident had happened, he had been deeply hurt as well."Who was the first one to start this savagery?" said Avery as she sat on her bed. Her eyes had grown red, an
"I accepted the offer because I feel relaxed whenever I'm with Shea, and I love it," he continued, "Elliot then gave my parents a tremendous amount of money in secret."Avery's lips curled into a smile, "You should take the money if he insists."Wesley shook his head. "I told my parents to donate the money. I don't like the feeling of being a charity case. It makes me look pitiable, and I've never considered myself that.""Maybe he doesn't mean it like that, Wesley."Wesley looked at her with gentle eyes, and he calmly said, "I know he meant well. Avery, if you can say all these things to me, why can't you think the same way about him?"She blushed slightly. "Can't I?""It isn't wise for you to break up with him. You are pregnant, and you need someone to help you out," said Wesley as he studied her face. "After what has happened, can you really not tell how he feels about you?" His voice was steady, and he said it with absolute calm. Avery lowered her gaze as her heart grew hea
The interview was posted online by the reporter. The video became an instant sensation on the internet.The previous rumors that had been circulating had already gotten plenty of attention, and this was the first time that Avery had ever publicly paid any attention to it.Her admission that the rumors were true shocked everyone. What was more shocking was that Elliot had not sued her or requested any kind of compensation. It made everyone curious, and they truly began to wonder whether Elliot was as gullible as Avery said he was.Elliot returned to his office in the Sterling Group building. He had been in a meeting for an hour. When he came back, he saw countless messages on his phone. Every message was followed by a short clip. He scowled and played the videos."Miss Tate, we heard that you scammed Elliot Foster out of one and a half billion dollars, may I know if this is true?""It’s true."Everyone was instantly rendered speechless."You have to be joking, Miss. Tate. If it’s
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