As Elliot's tears fell onto his phone screen, he wiped them away with his fingers, but the video came to an end.He watched the video once again, and his heart ached even more!He immediately dialed Shea's number but was once again met by the monotonous sound of the system notification telling him that her phone was turned off.This was the first time in her life that she made an important decision behind his back.He would not forgive her, nor would he forgive himself!He should have realized that she was smarter than she used to be. Why did he not notice that at all?He should have been suspicious the moment Wesley arrived with the first bag of blood.There were indeed good people in the world who would ask for nothing in return for their good deeds, but they would not so coincidentally bump into him.At the same time, Avery also received a text message.She picked up her phone and saw that it was from Wesley.[I'm sorry.]The short message made Avery freeze in place.Wes
"Robert made it through the critical period."On the other side of the line, Mike was ecstatic. "That's wonderful! Let's have a party to celebrate once I'm back!""What's there to celebrate about?" Chad's voice was chilling. "Shea's dead. She sacrificed herself to save Robert."Mike thought he had heard wrongly."Hurry up and get back here, Mike! I can't leave Avery alone, but I need to find my boss," Chad said in a strained voice. "This is a huge blow to him!"…At the Foster mansion, Elliot locked himself inside Shea's room.Earlier, someone had sent over a package. Inside of it was Shea's phone.The phone was filled with selfies and videos of Shea.He looked through every photo and watched every video.Her lively smile made it seem like she was right in front of him, but she would never again appear before him.During the years that Elliot had taken care of her, Shea was his spiritual support.That was because he could only guarantee that nobody would pick on her if he l
Avery did not have the courage nor the heart to tell Elliot about this good news.After all, this happiness was built on top of the pain of losing Shea.If he felt a strong fatherly love toward Robert before, she was afraid that the love he felt might have changed by now.Avery did not dare to expect Elliot to continue to love this child. She just hoped that he did not hate him.She dragged her exhausted body home and was surprised to see Mike had returned."If Robert alright now?" Mike approached Avery, pulled her into his arms, then said softly, "Chad told me about Shea. Everyone's upset about this, but what's done is done."Avery saw Hayden and Layla standing in the living room, so she maintained the calmness on her face."Robert's fine for no. The doctor asked me to get some rest." Her tone was no different from usual.Mike released her.Avery walked over to the children and asked, "Have you guys had breakfast? Is it time for school?""It's the weekend, Mommy!" Layla said
Henry walked to the front yard to welcome the guest.The car came to a halt in front of Henry. When the car door opened, Elliot's bodyguard was the first to emerge.The bodyguard got out of the car and threw a cold glance over at Henry.Henry felt shivers run down his spine from the bodyguard's gaze.What was going on? He was Elliot's biological brother. How dare a bodyguard look at him in such a provocative way?!Many times, the way subordinates treated someone represented the way their superiors felt toward that person.Henry was perplexed. Shea's death had nothing to do with him!Just as he was feeling uneasy, Elliot emerged from the car.He glanced coldly at Henry, then strode into the mansion.Henry was puzzled, but followed after him."I heard about Shea last night, Elliot. I wanted to contact you right away, but I didn't want to bother you that late at night. If you didn't come by, I was planning on going to discuss this matter with you."Elliot's voice was chilling t
Elliot decided the night before that he was going to take revenge for his mother.If the one who killed her was his brother, then he would kill Henry. If it was Cole, then he would kill him.It did not matter who begged for their lives.His fingers tightened around the gun as he aimed it at Cole. He began to count in his head, "One, two, three…"A bang echoed through the entire mansion as a bullet shot in Cole's direction!Cole was so terrified that he forgot to scream.All he saw was a black silhouette flash before his eyes. Immediately after, this silhouette let out a blood curdling cry.Cole watched as his mother fell into his arms, and saw the blood oozing from the corner of her lips!He realized that his mother had taken the bullet for him!"Mom! Mom!" Cole wailed in agony as he held his mother in his arms.Downstairs, Henry witnessed the entire thing and instantly rushed up the stairs."Olivia! Olivia! You can't die, Olivia! I'll take you to the hospital! I'll take you
Why was Cole calling Avery?Avery lay back down on the bed and answered the phone."My mother's dead, Avery," Cole sobbed on the other end of the line.Avery froze for a moment. This was very sudden."Your mother's dead? How did she die?""Elliot Foster shot her," Cole choked. "He wanted to shoot me, but my mother took the bullet for me. I'm in so much pain right now, Avery. I don't know who else to talk to…"Avery sat up.Why did Elliot do that?Shea got in trouble because of Robert. It had nothing to do with Cole!Elliot would not kill someone for no reason. He was not that kind of person!"Did your uncle do that because you did something horrible, Cole?" Avery pestered. "What did you do?!"Cole had simply wanted to complain to Avery, but he did not expect her to be more emotional than he was."It's true that I did something awful. I shouldn't blame my uncle for wanting to kill me, but my mother was innocent!" Cole drew a sharp breath, then wiped the tears from his face.
Mrs. Cooper shook her head and said, "He looked really upset when he left this morning, so I was too afraid to ask. How about you give him a call?"Avery pulled her phone out of her bag and dialed Elliot's number. The call went through, but there was no answer."Come inside, Avery! It's too cold out here." Mrs. Cooper led her inside. "How's your recovery going?""I'm doing well," Avery responded casually.The wound on her abdomen was still aching, but the series of events that were happening constantly made her forget about the pain."I'm also a woman and I've also had children. It hasn't even been a month since you gave birth, but you've been running back and forth between the house and the hospital. That must affect your recovery." Mrs. Cooper sighed, then continued, "Once Robert's condition is stable, you can rest at home in peace. Master Elliot will get through this by himself.""I know. I just came to check on him." Avery would not be able to rest easy if she did not at leas
However, there were individual photos of Shea.At the time, Elliot was also just a four-year-old child. Even if he was smarter than others his age, he still would not be able to do anything about wanting his sister to be a part of the family portrait.Avery guessed that Elliot's father was the main reason behind the fact that Shea was left out of the family register. He could not accept having a mentally disabled child.Otherwise, he would not leave his own daughter out of their family portraits.Avery continued to look through the photos. When she turned a new page, she saw a photo of Elliot at five years old.Looking at a five-year-old Elliot felt like she was looking at him now, but something did not feel right.Her heart tightened in her chest as her hands began to tremble.Elliot did not look like this when she was looking at the earlier photos, but the five-year-old Elliot was obviously him!Avery turned back to the earlier pages and tried to find photos of Elliot at four
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