"You guessed right. As long as there is no evidence, she will never admit to it," Mike said dryly."After all, nothing good can come out of admitting to it." Chad looked at the time. "Why don't you go and rest a bit?""Do you think I can fall asleep?" Mike glanced at the ward. "Once she is up, if Tammy is still not found, she will definitely lose it. The doctor has said that she can't be too agitated right now. If not, she will go into premature labor. She has already bled.""Bled?" Chad was stunned."Yes, bled. The doctor said that this is a sign of premature labor." Mike crossed his hands on his waist. "When is Elliot coming back?""He'll reach by seven tomorrow morning," Chad said. "I hope Avery sleeps until then.""So what if she sleeps until the next morning? The main point is Tammy is missing. What if the people who kidnapped her had done something to her? The consequences are unimaginable. Think of Zoe. Then think of Nora. They were Chelsea's doing." Mike gritted his teeth
Mike had long guessed that Avery would ask this question once she was up.They might need to sedate her again, otherwise, she would not get the rest she needed. "I haven't heard any news yet, but don't worry. The police are searching for her. She will definitely be found by the morning." Mike assured her.When Avery heard that they had not gotten any news on Tammy, she staggered. She was swaying soullessly from side to side. "Avery, go to bed and lie down. What happens if you go into premature labor?" Mike lifted her up and placed her in bed. "Your child is only eight months old. If you were to give birth to it now, although it might survive, it still has to be placed in an incubator. You're a doctor. You should know that premature children get sick easily. Do you want to see your child suffer?"Mike's words caused her body to stiffen. She wanted to go look for Tammy, but she had to care for the child in her womb too. She tried to control her emotions, but no matter how hard she
"Go get the doctor!" Elliot barked and carried Avery into her ward. He carefully placed her on the bed.Avery's pants were wet. Elliot looked at his palms... Thankfully it was not blood!"Is the amniotic fluid leaking?" Avery sobbed terribly. "Elliot, I'm sorry. I'm very sad. I can't control myself…"If her amniotic fluid had leaked, the baby had to be delivered immediately. Avery's baby in her belly was only eight months old. That would mean Avery would go into premature labor and premature labor came with a series of complications.She knew that she should not be too upset in her later stage of pregnancy. She should have managed her emotions better to ensure the child's health, but she could not control herself."Don't cry. The amniotic fluid leaking is not something too serious. You'll just have to give birth to the child. It's nothing bad." Elliot wiped her tears with some tissues. "Tammy has been located. She's not in danger. Once you're done with this, I'll take you to see h
Avery's seemed much more stable than before.Although she still missed Tammy, her outlook of the world had changed with the birth of the baby. The child in her had been doing well, but the accident had hastened the birth.When the nurse showed her the baby, she wanted to cry, but she could not cry. She had run dry of tears.Avery blamed herself as she looked at the small baby. When Hayden and Layla were born, they were premature too. It was normal for twins to be born prematurely. The pregnancy term was shorter than usual. Robert was even smaller than Layla and Hayden.Although she knew that he would survive, she was still upset."Avery, does it hurt?" Elliot saw her in a daze, so he broke the silence.Avery shook her head gently. She had been injected with anesthesia before the surgery. The effects had not worn off yet, so she did not feel pain."Have you seen the baby?" Avery's eyes fluttered. Her voice was very soft."I saw him. He looks like me." Elliot gently held her
Chelsea's body turned cold. "Pray for luck?" she thought. "They will never be able to find evidence to tie me to the crime! As long Nora is there to take the fall, they will never get me."Even if they all thought that she was the one who did it, as long as they did not have any proof, they could not do anything to her."Elliot had never been in love with her. When had all of that changed?" thought Chelsea.Chelsea was at the hospital. She was visiting Tammy, and she had a bouquet of lilies in her arms. Visiting Tammy was secondary to finding out how Avery was faring, and she was also here to clear her name and pin the blame on Nora.She had initially wanted to tell Elliot about it in private, but she lacked courage. She had indeed called Ben so that Ben would pass the word on to Elliot.However, Ben had completely lost his trust in her, so she had no choice but to go and visit Tammy. Jun stopped Chelsea outside the ward."How dare you come here?!" Jun threw the bouquet of lili
Tammy knew that as long as she was awake, she would forever think about what had happened to her.Her last shred of sanity told her that it was not her fault. She was aware that she could not take her own life. She knew that if she did, there would be no one to care for her parents. She was a princess. She had been born with a silver spoon in her hand, and she had never been hurt in her life. She had never been hurt not because she had been fortunate, but she had never been hurt because her parents had built a stone castle to keep her safe.Her parents would grow old one day. She had to survive to take care of them. This was her only motivation for surviving at that moment."Tammy, what are you saying? Divorce? I won't do it! I won't divorce you!" Jun was an agitated mess. His voice grew harsh. "I know you're very upset right now, but I will be with you—""I don't want you to be with me! I feel like puking at the sight of men right now! Leave! I want my mother to be with me! Leave!
Everyone's gaze landed on Elliot. He took his phone out and saw who was calling."It's Chelsea," said Elliot as he looked at Avery. He took the call. On the other end of the line, Chelsea hesitated for two seconds before saying, "Elliot, I heard that Avery has given birth. I thought about it and felt that I should visit her. I'm at the entrance of the inpatient unit. Do you know which ward she is in?"Elliot strode away. Mike hissed, "How dare Chelsea call him. Don't tell me she wants to visit you?"Avery's expressions turned extremely cold. She did not want to see Chelsea; she only wanted her to die."Layla, Hayden, stay in the room. I'll go have a look." Mike's curiosity was piqued. Other than prying, Mike wanted to put pressure on Elliot.Chelsea and Elliot have known each other for more than ten years. They were exceptionally close. If it were not for their relationship, Chelsea would not dare be this brazen. Avery suffered premature labor. Thankfully, it was only prematur
Although Chelsea deserved to die, it was still shocking to see how cruel Elliot could be. If the hospital guards had not stopped him, Mike knew that Elliot would surely have beaten Chelsea to death. This was the man that Avery loved deeply. This was why she could not fall in love with other men. If other men were as ferocious as Elliot, she would have stayed far away from them.The guards had taken Chelsea away, disappearing into the rain. Mike walked over to Elliot's back and tapped him on the shoulders. "Today is the birth of your son. You don't need to get so angry."If Chelsea had not come looking for him, he would not have lost his temper. If Chelsea were honest about what she had done, he would not have been so angry either. He was furious because Chelsea lied through her teeth and tried to convince him into believing her lies.Elliot hated being lied to the most. "How dare she lie to me!" he thought."Don't tell Avery about the incident just now." Elliot looked less host
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