She stared at the pained and frustrated expression on his face and for a moment, she could not say a word.Elliot had come to the conclusion that Avery and Eric were in a relationship. If Avery had been him, she would have misunderstood as well. After all, under what circumstances would a woman accept a card from a man? A woman would only do so if the two were extremely close and had nothing to hide from one another. She never even accepted his card during their sweetest moments together as a couple.Thoughts came to a screeching stop when she saw his tears.Feeling as though she was being strangled, she found it difficult to breathe. She frantically tried to explain herself. "Elliot… He just asked me to keep the card safe for him… I didn't spend his money…""Really?" Elliot tightened his fingers around the card. "If that's the case, I will return this to him on your behalf."With that, he picked the clothes rack off the ground and walked to open the door.The faces of Mike and
[That guy looks decent. Who knew he would do such a thing!][He looks vicious and is obviously capable of violence! I would love to see which woman would be fearless enough to marry him!][So what if he is capable of violence? There are plenty of women out there who are willing to marry him even if he's a murderer! He's just that rich!][Ew! I would be so depressed if I was the woman who got slapped!][Who's that woman? Does anyone know her? She looks quite pretty from the side profile!]…After a shower, Avery took a folic acid pill and lay down on the bed, but because she had taken a nap in the afternoon, she did not feel tired at all. She unlocked her phone and saw a message from the university chat group.She went into the chatroom and found out that a heated discussion was underway.Someone sent a message that said, [That woman looks so much like Tammy from the side!][That woman might look a lot like Tammy, but it's definitely not her! No one dares to bully Tammy!] wrote
"I slapped Chelsea across the face," said Tammy. "I know that I was being impulsive, but I would do it again if given the chance! She is not the Mrs. President of Sterling Group just yet! How dare she pick on me?"Avery's heart felt heavy when she heard what Tammy had said. Tammy was at fault for starting the fight, but that was between her and Chelsea. 'Was it really necessary for Elliot to get involved?' thought Avery. "That b*st*rd Elliot Foster! I will never forgive him! Of course, he probably doesn't care about that!" Tammy said and glanced at Avery. "Avery, this is between me and Elliot Foster! You have nothing to do with this, so don't get involved. I got slapped because I had run my mouth, and he did not slap me only because of Chelsea." "It doesn't matter what you said to him, Tammy. He never should have hit you." Avery was reminded of a similar incident and said, "He had come close to strangling Hayden to death once, and Hayden still hates him. I suspect that he knows Ha
Chad sent Avery to Elliot's office and poured her a glass of warm water before asking enthusiastically, "Do you want something to eat?""No, thank you. Go back to what you were doing and just ignore me."The smile on Chad's face remained. "I don't have anything to do, so I can wait here with you!"Avery reached for the glass and took a sip of water."Avery, I heard what had happened yesterday. I heard about it as soon as Mr. Foster had hit Tammy. Please allow me to first explain what happened. Mr. Foster didn't strike Tammy because of Chelsea. He had struck Tammy because she had said a few inappropriate things to him. She called him a dirtbag, and she told him that he deserved getting dumped…" Avery stared at Chad coldly.Chad panicked and blurted out, "Um… Mr. Foster had already explained this to Jun.""The more you try and explain things to me, the more I resent him," said Avery as she set down her glass. Chad quieted down and said, "I'll wait outside."He sighed a long si
Chelsea did not expect Elliot to still protect Avery under such circumstances. Feeling wronged and bitter, she began to cry. Chad hurried inside and dragged Avery out from where she was seated."I don't know why Chelsea showed up," he explained seriously. "Let me see you off first!""No thanks." She pushed Chad's hand away and strode toward the elevator.She was overwhelmed at the moment. She came with the intention of confronting Elliot, but she had not expected herself to strike him. Though he had instigated her into striking him, it did not change the fact that she had hit him. Elliot was hot-tempered and would often get into arguments with her, but he had never raised his hand at her.After exiting the elevator, she walked toward the parking lot. She then got into her car and drove back to the company. While she was driving, she received a call from Tammy."Avery, I heard that you hit Elliot for me… Didn't I tell you to not go looking for him?" Tammy was so stunned by th
Avery thought about it from another perspective. If Elliot had slapped her, she would resent him for life. She would have gone to the hospital and gotten an abortion out of spite. When she thought about it that way, she secretly thought that Elliot might never look for her ever again. A week had passed, and Tammy and Avery were in one of the most elite restaurants in the city. The bruise on Tammy's face was almost gone, and Tammy had asked Avery out for a meal. Tammy fully intended to buy Avery a meal.Initially, Tammy had invited the children, but Wesley had taken them and Shea out."Avery, Elliot did not go looking for you for the past few days, right?" said Tammy, worry tinting her voice."Hmm." Avery ordered a few dishes and passed the menu to Tammy."I heard that he has been at home for the past few days. He never left the house." When Tammy said that she could not help but laugh. "I don't really hate him anymore. For real. It really tickles me that now he is feeling wor
"Hah! As I thought!" Tammy sneered. "Chelsea brought that lady over to present her to Elliot."Avery looked away. Although she found the entire situation to be absurd, she did not have any control over the actions of others."How unlucky! We were having such a good time, and now, they are here," said Tammy. She took a sip of water and looked at Avery. "Avery, why don't we go somewhere else?" Avery shook her head. "We came here first.""Won't he upset you?""Even if he upsets me, we can't leave," said Avery calmly. "We have already placed our orders. We can't let the food go to waste." "Why don't we take it away. We can eat at home!" Avery said, "Tammy, I don't remember you being such a coward? If that lady has truly altered her face to look more like me, it is she who should be nervous about running into me. I don't have to avoid her." "Of course, I'm not a coward! Even if Elliot approaches me right now, I won't be afraid!" Tammy might say that she was not afraid, but she s
After Avery finished her meal, she placed down her utensils.Tammy followed suit. "Let's go! Do you want to do some shopping? If you want to shop, I'll accompany you."Avery shook her head. "I had too much food. I'm a little sleepy." "I'll send you back," Tammy grabbed her bag and walked over to Avery, helping her up.Avery suppressed her laughter, "You don’t have to be so cautious. I can walk on my own.""I just want to hold onto you!" Tammy touched Avery's tummy. "It sure does look quite big. You're wearing baggy clothes, so it doesn't look like it, but when I touch it, it's obvious. It's like a huge watermelon.""It's clearly a small watermelon," replied Avery."Have you ever seen such a huge small watermelon? Sigh. We should be able to see the child's face already, right?" Tammy asked."Hmm. I saw the baby on the ultrasound scan when I was in Bridgedale." "Who does the baby look like?"Avery was silent for a few seconds before saying, "It looks like itself.""Is the ba
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