"Let's not talk about him then," Wesley said with a smile, "It's late. I have to send Shea home. Let's meet again soon!"Avery looked at the time and nodded. "Go! I'll sit here for a while longer."Avery had a long nap in the afternoon, and she was still feeling quite awake. Her children were not home. She found it boring to be home, so she stayed out a little longer. She was the one that had set up the meeting that night. She had brought gifts from Bridgedale for them.After the two of them left, Avery took her phone out of her bag. She saw Mike's message, [He left! You can come back!]Avery replied, [I'm not out because I'm avoiding him. Don't think of me as a coward!][That's not what I meant! I just want you to come back! It's dark out! It's not safe!][This country is very safe. Why are you so free? Why aren't you on a date?][I haven't seen you for a few days! I want to be with you!][I'll be back immediately.] texted Avery. She picked up her bag and left the restaurant
Mike looked at Avery and asked, "Do you want to talk to him?"Avery seemed to have not heard him.She was looking out the window. It was as if she had had her soul stolen away by him. Mike stopped the car and said loudly, "Avery, go and talk to him."Avery came to her senses. She pushed the car door open and got out of the car. She had not felt the heat outside when she had been in the air-conditioned car, but now that she was out, she could feel the sweltering heat. Sweat began to bead on her forehead. She looked at Elliot's face, which had been burned red by the sun. His forehead was sweaty. His shirt was soaked through with sweat, and it stuck to his skin.She could not imagine how long he had been under this hot sun."Miss Tate, you're finally back. Mr. Foster would have probably died here had you delayed any longer," said the bodyguard unhappily. "We have been here since eight this morning! We've waited until now!"Avery was upset. She was trembling.The thought of him
Avery headed upstairs. She had been out the entire day, and she was exhausted.Mike saw her go upstairs. He carried Layla and left. They arrived at an ATM. Mike carefully inserted the card.The pin was written on the back of the card. It was Avery's birthday, which was easy to remember.After keying in the pin, Mike pressed the check balance button. Instantly, countless numbers of zeros appeared on the screen.Mike was dazzled and speechless!Layla exclaimed, "Uncle Mike! How much is that?! There are so many zeros! I can't count! Woo!"The number was beyond Layla. Mike coughed a little before raising his finger and counting the zeros on the screen.Layla suddenly pointed at the first number on the screen. She said out loud, "This is one."Mike said, "… Babe, you interrupted me! Where was I counting until? Sigh!""Stupid Uncle Mike! Just take a picture and go ask my Mommy! My Mommy would surely know how much it is with just one look! She doesn't need to count!" Layla pursed h
Avery got up from bed. She looked at the numbers on the phone and answered the call. She had never thought that the call was a video call. "Mommy!" said Hayden in his crisp voice. Avery looked at Hayden's face and said excitedly, "Hayden! How did you video call me?""I hacked into the camp's internet and called using a virtual account." Hayden had a rare smile. "Mommy, is Layla back?""She is, but she just went out with Uncle Mike. They are not back yet." Avery's face was filled with tenderness. "Hayden, how are you finding camp? Your teacher just called me a few days ago and said that you have made some friends from other countries." "Mommy, I'm grown up. You don't have to worry about me." Hayden sounded mature. "How could I not worry about you? Even after you've grown up, I'll still miss you and worry about you." Avery looked at her son's face. No matter how much she stared at the screen, she still could not get enough of him. "There are ten more days before I can see yo
Hayden hung up. Mike wanted to laugh but he saw Layla's lost yet adorable look. He suppressed his urge to laugh.When they returned home, Avery held onto Layla's hand. Before she could say what she wanted to say, Layla spoke."Mommy, do you think I'm cute?""You are cute! You're the cutest kid in the entire world.""Then, when I become a big star, I'll give you all the money I earn, okay? I told Hayden I'll give him half just now, but he doesn't want it," said Layla as she stared up at Avery with sparkling bright eyes. Avery did not know what to think of Layla's proclamation. Since she could not get through to Layla, she had to have a word with Eric. Avery sent him a text expressing her disapproval. Half an hour later, Eric sent her a reply. [Layla might be young, but we should respect her decision. The entertainment industry is not as scary as you think. I will protect her. I'll make sure she won't get hurt. Please trust me.]Avery had failed in persuading him too. She was
If Zoe had not mentioned Cole, Avery would have almost forgotten about his existence!After the split-up six years ago, Avery had completely avoided him. Falling in love with Elliot blinded her to all other men. There was not the slightest possibility of her stealing Cole away as Zoe had claimed she had.It was comical and absurd!The bodyguard nearby saw Zoe attacking Avery. He quickly ran over and kicked Zoe in the waist!In pain, Zoe released Avery. She fell to the ground, landing on her side. "I'm pregnant! How dare you kick me! If my child dies, I'll kill you so that you can keep it company!" Zoe lay on the ground crying.The surrounding guards and secretary immediately ran over. Avery's secretary looked at Avery's messy hair. She immediately helped Avery. "Miss Tate, are you alright? Let me get you in. I'll help you straighten up your hair."Avery stared at Zoe who was still on the ground."Miss Tate, how should I deal with this crazy woman?" the guard asked.Avery said
"Zoe, you said that I snatched Cole away from you. Did you see me with him?" said Avery as she stood by the car. "Call Cole now! Let's ask him!""No! If he knew I came looking for you, he'll break up with me!" Zoe said painfully. "I saw the photo of you two at the nightclub! He admitted to it! You are the only one who is still denying it!""Night club? I have never been to a place like that! Either he is lying, or he mistook me for someone else!" said Avery, taking great care to stress each word. "There's a woman who looks like me called Nora. You better check properly and see whether that woman in the photo is called Nora!""But Cole said that it's you!" Zoe did not believe Avery's words, after all, they shared a grudge."Then, you can just continue hating me!" said Avery calmly. "Don't come looking for me again when you and Cole get into another stupid fight. If not, I'll get the guards to kick you out next time."Zoe clutched her waist which still hurt a little. She sobbed hoar
Avery was still happily chatting with Tammy. She did not notice him approaching her."Are you nervous? You'll be giving birth soon." Tammy stirred the glass of juice in her hand with the straw."I'm not nervous, but I really want to get it over and done with. My stomach is huge, and it's tiring to carry it around," said Avery as she took a bite of her dessert. She asked, "What about you?""I told my in-laws that I'll give them one next year. I'm going to drag it till next year. I haven't had enough fun yet!""Having kids won't stop you from having fun.""I'm sure kids will affect it somehow. I like kids. Once I have one of my own, I won't be able to be stern enough to discipline them.""You can take your kids around and play with them! Having kids will make things more interesting. You don't have to worry too much.""Hmm! You give me courage. Whether it's caring for your kids or working, you're not afraid of anything," said Tammy enviously. "If I was a man, I would fall in love
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