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
A while later, the car stopped outside a restaurant.Avery went inside and walked directly into the VIP room."Eric, is this your day off?"Eric had booked a private room in a restaurant near Avery's company and invited her to a meal."Yeah, I am free this morning." Eric pulled out the chair for her. "Thank god, you came back safely. I was so worried."Avery sat down, and before she could respond, her attention was caught by a card resting on the table. "What's this? Is this your bank card?"Eric sat down next to her. "Yeah. Take it and pay Elliot back."Without a moment of hesitation, Avery pushed the card back to him and said, "I don't want it, Eric. I might owe him money, but he is not forcing me to pay him back. I pay him back when I want to, and I can stop whenever I feel like it."Eric pushed the card to her stubbornly and said, "Now that you have broken up with him, it's best to pay him back as soon as possible! Avery, you saved my life, and I will give you every penny t
She glanced at him and quickly turned away. Stepping out of the elevator, she walked right past him. "Avery!" He grabbed her arm.She paused before punching him in the chest with her free hand. "Let me go!" she yelled in a hoarse and broken voice, "Let me go!"Elliot released her after seeing her reaction. Noticing the tears in her eyes, he swallowed and asked, "What's wrong, Avery?"She was clearly emotional, and he could not imagine what must have happened to have caused it.Avery stared at his face, and the pain in her heart grew. If only Elliot had not asked the doctor to administer the medication, then there might have been a chance that the baby would not suffer this condition. She wanted to blame him, but she knew that it was wrong, especially when he had not intentionally done so. "Don't follow me, Elliot Foster!" she said as tears slid down her face. She turned around and left.Elliot watched as she walked away. He could not stay calm, and he ran after her.Just then
Elliot gazed out the door, but Avery had already driven away. "Um… Sorry! I thought you made her cry!" Mike dragged him to the elevator by the arm. "Let me get you a drink. She told us to leave her alone, so it's better that you stay away from her for now."Elliot scowled. "You really don't know what's wrong with her?""Not a clue! She was fine when she showed up to work this morning. Why else would I think that you pissed her off?"Elliot followed Mike into the elevator."Do you know how she managed to get three hundred million, then?" Elliot asked. "She paid me three hundred million today, and according to what I know, both companies combined can't rake in that much cash." "You came looking for her to ask her about this?""Yeah.""I don't know!" Mike was not going to tell him the truth. "She even keeps things from me now, since I'm rather close to Chad. She thinks I've shifted loyalties." Elliot's eagle-like eyes locked onto Mike's face.Feeling uncomfortable, Mike force
"Miss Tate, are you here on your own?" the doctor asked. "You will remain under observation for two hours. You should contact someone and ask them to come here." If Laura was still alive, Avery would definitely have asked her to be here.In the end, she accessed her contacts and called Tammy. When Tammy heard that Avery was in a hospital, she hurried over after finding out which hospital Avery was in and which department she was at. Tammy sent her home two hours later. She did not bother Avery as Avery appeared to be depressed.As she drove out of Starry River Villa, Tammy became increasingly frustrated.Though Avery did not tell her what had happened, she had guessed that the baby was not doing well.'It's not like the baby belongs to Avery alone, why does Avery have to suffer while Elliot carries on like nothing's wrong?' she thought.She found Elliot's number and called him, but no one answered. The line was automatically dropped, and so, she called Chad.Chad picked up
"He is too busy today to pick up the phone.""Alright!" The staff member compromised and said, "Wait here, Miss. I will get the person in charge."Two minutes later, the staff came back with Chelsea.Chelsea was surprised to see Tammy and asked, "Why are you looking for Elliot? He's busy.""It's an ordinary event, are you telling me that it can't go on without him?" Tammy asked sarcastically. "Does he not have time to take a sip of water or use the bathroom?"Chelsea did not waver despite Tammy's assertiveness. "What exactly is it that you need, Tammy? Considering the fact that your husband is friends with Elliot, I will pass your message to him." "I don't need you to pass my message! Let me in. I will leave after I have a few words with him!" demanded Tammy in frustration."I would let you in if this is an ordinary event, but there are a lot of important people here today, and I can't just let you in. If you don't want to leave a message, fine. I am busy too, and I don't have
Tammy covered her swollen cheek in shock. To her surprise, she heard Elliot saying, "Scram!"Tammy had been treated like a princess for over twenty years. No one had even come close to laying a hand on her or telling her to 'scram'.Though hot-tempered, she was not a strong-willed person.With a hand on her face, she ran off in tears.Elliot clenched his fists as he watched her run away. He could already imagine how angry Avery would be when Tammy told her about this, but what had happened could not be changed, and he would have taught Tammy a lesson even if he had to do it all over again.Tammy had no idea when to stop, and not only were her words inappropriate, but she had been too presumptuous as well. Though Chelsea was merely his PR manager, she was also a daughter of the Tierney Family. Regardless of Tammy's reasons, Tammy should not have slapped Chelsea in public.…Tammy ran out of the hotel in tears. Once she got into her car, she drove onto the highway and called Jun
Elliot remained silent for a while before asking, "Did she tell Avery about this?""No. She probably won't tell Avery… for now at least.""Why?" Elliot was curious as to why Tammy had come looking for him.Jun hesitantly told him the truth, "Tammy came looking for you to tell you that there's probably something wrong with Avery's baby. She was in the hospital with Avery earlier today."Elliot swallowed hard and the light in his eyes faded."Maybe that affected Tammy in some way too, and that was why she was so desperate to find you," said Jun. He explained Tammy's earlier behavior. "Tammy isn't a bad person.""I know," Elliot responded in a hoarse voice before hanging up.'There's something wrong with our baby,' thought Elliot. 'So, there is something wrong with the baby, but Avery hasn't said anything to me. Does she plan on keeping everything to herself? Would I have not heard a thing if Tammy hadn't come?'Feeling as though he was being stabbed in the heart, Elliot dragged h
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