"You have the power to reject," Elliot said."Just eat your food!" Avery said. "Even if I decide to work with Charlie Tierney, it doesn't mean that I will fall in love with him. Why do you think that I'll give in to his advances? Do I seem that easy to you?"Elliot fell silent.Avery returned to her room after dinner, opened Charlie's email, and looked through its contents.A wave of uneasiness washed over her after she finished reading it.She did not know a thing about running a company, but she understood Charlie's proposal very well.If they went in the direction that he suggested, Tate Industries might just be able to come back from the dead.If it were not for the fact that Charlie was Chelsea Tierney's brother, she would have immediately agreed to work with him.Avery shut her laptop and lay down on her bed.She picked up her phone and saw a text from Tammy.[I slept with Jun Hertz! Ugh! I think I'm in love with him!]Avery did not expect things to turn out the way th
Jun nodded and said, "That's him! I met him when I was abroad. He's eight years older than I am. We were neighbors when he was in college. I was always following him around back then.""You kept in touch with him despite the huge age gap?" Tammy asked."Yes! I always go to him when I'm troubled," Jun answered.Tammy glanced at his face and teased, "What kind of troubles could a young man like you possibly have?""I want to start my own business, but my family is against it. He has a successful career. Even my dad admires him, so I need him to help me convince him."Tammy was suddenly filled with excitement."What's his name? I'm sure I've heard of him before if he's a successful businessman.""You probably have heard of him," Jun said as he took a sip of water. "It's Elliot Foster."Tammy's eyes widened in astonishment.She let go of Jun's hand and exclaimed, "He's married?! Oh my god! I have a friend who worships him… She'll be devastated if she finds out about this!""Your
Tammy was frantically sending signals at Avery with her eyes, but all Avery could think about was the relationship between Elliot and Jun."Miss Tate, the reason why I never told you that I knew Elliot was because I did not want to make you feel troubled," Jun began to explain himself with a smile. "You didn't exactly get along well before this. I didn't mean to hide it from you… I really do want to buy your father's company."Tammy moved her phone under the table and sent Avery a text.Tammy: [Don't listen to him, Avery! Elliot Foster is the one who wants to buy Tate Industries! It's Elliot Foster!]Avery glanced at her phone on the table and opened up the text.She read it and gazed coldly at Jun. "Did you tell Elliot about your interest in buying my company?" she asked. Jun's warm smile remained on his face as he said, "I did. I asked for his opinion and he told me it was worth a try. As I told you before, I've been looking for investment opportunities ever since I graduated
If he could turn back time, Elliot would not change a thing.He was not perfect.Avery's appearance in his life was what made him decide to try to critique, examine, and correct his own behavior.If it were not for their constant fights and misunderstandings, his feelings for her would not be this deeply rooted in his heart.…Tammy caught up to Avery outside of the restaurant and grabbed her arm."I can't believe you're married to Elliot Foster, Avery! This is massive news!" Tammy exclaimed as her head spun from the excitement of the evening's events.Avery, on the other hand, felt like there was a lump stuck in her throat."You saw it yourself. He's just messing around with me.""Jun said that he just wanted to help you but was too embarrassed about it," Tammy said.She did not think that things were that bad to warrant such a reaction from Avery."Let's head back inside, Avery! We should let him explain…"Avery shook off Tammy's grip. Her tone was determined and cool as
"I really want to turn back time, Mom," Avery mumbled. "I don't care if we're poor.""No matter what happens, running away is never the solution," Laura said as she sat down next to her daughter. "If you can't handle your father's company, just let it go. There will always be opportunities to make money, but you can't forgo your studies." Avery glanced at her mother and caressed the wrinkles on her face, then said, "I won't run away. I'm just a little tired.""Take a break if you're tired. Have you had dinner?"Avery shook her head."Let me whip something up for you," Laura said, then walked into the kitchen.At eight in the evening, Avery went into her room to rest while Laura left to take out the trash.It began to rain.It was not heavy, but it was a constant drizzle.Laura could not be bothered to walk back upstairs to grab an umbrella, so she braved the rain and ran toward the dumpster.She threw the trash into the dumpster and turned back toward the apartment.That wa
"What about me?" Avery said as she placed the cup of tea on the kitchen counter, then made her way back to the room. "He's never treated me with respect, not even just for a day.""The two of you are from completely different worlds. It's understandable for him to be a little stand-offish toward you," Laura said. "Forget about his past. Focus on who he is right now and who he will be in the future…"Avery raised her brows, puzzled, and asked, "Why are you speaking up for him? Do you think he could suddenly find some kindness in his heart to let me keep the children?"Laura fell silent."I'm sure he has his reasons for not wanting children," she said after a brief pause. "I think the fact that he's willing to swallow his pride and come here to apologize to you is a sign that he does care for you."Avery covered her ears with her hands and said, "I'm going to bed. My head hurts."Seeing her adamant refusal, Laura had nothing else to say.She walked out of the room and planned to g
The reality of it finally hit Jun."What now? Would Elliot have to go and beg for her forgiveness?""I'll go check on them after work," Chad said."Should I get my girlfriend to go see Avery?""Who's your girlfriend?"Jun cleared his throat and said, "She's Avery's best friend… She was the one who revealed everything to Avery. I swear… If I didn't like her that much, I would've broken up with her last night!"Chad sighed and said, "You're so good at picking your girlfriend!""I was scammed. How was I supposed to know that they were so smart?""It looks like we're going to have to keep our mouths shut in front of you from now on. You're no longer one of us.""I'll make sure to stand my ground!" Jun said bitterly. "For Elliot's sake!"…That evening, Ben and Chad arrived at Elliot’s mansion to see Elliot."Master Elliot came home around five in the morning… His bodyguard said that he spent the night in the rain outside of Madam Avery's mother's house. They only managed to get
Avery's face was wet. Even though the water was warm, she felt chilly. "Chelsea! What are you doing!" Charlie got up immediately, grabbed Chelsea's arm, and pulled her aside."Charlie! Don't stop me! I'm going to teach her a lesson tonight!" Chelsea's eyes were red, and her sharp voice pierced through the entire private room.Charlie snapped, "Have you lost your mind?!"Chelsea had never been yelled at in public by Charlie, and she boiled with rage. Then, she pushed away Charlie's hand, trying to attack Avery again.Splash! A glass of juice was splashed on her face.Avery slammed the empty cup on the table, and she looked at the messy-faced Chelsea, and said, "If you want to bully me, at least make sure you're capable of doing so."The crowd instantly fell into silence, and everyone's eyes turned to Avery and Chelsea. Avery was only splashed with a glass of warm water, and her face was still clean and clear but just wet. However, Chelsea was drenched in red watermelon juic
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