After Elliot explained his reason, Mike bawled in a fit of laughter."From your gift-picking skills, I have reasons to believe that you only attracted Avery because of your face and your money," Mike teased him mercilessly."She doesn't like my money," Elliot corrected him."You can earn money, that means you have capabilities. You're not all useless." Mike roared in laughter, "By the way, I heard that Layla has called you Daddy last night. You got a daughter for free. I'm sure you're delighted?""You sure don't mince your words." Elliot furrowed his brows.What did he mean by free? Layla was his daughter. This was a fact. If Layla was willing to let him raise her, he would take the time out to do so too."The truth is always harsher. How are you and Avery doing? Are you still at a standoff?" Mike changed into a subject that made Elliot feel worse. "Shea's funeral has been done. Let her rest in peace! You still have to live your life.""Are you asking me to go to Bridgedale and
That way, Elliot could pass on what he wanted to say to Hayden.Hayden accepted the gold bar to see what was engraved on it.'Happy New Year.'Hayden harrumphed and put the gold bar back into the box."There's still engraving on the back!" Mike placed the gold bar in Hayden's hands once more. Hayden was spirited. He looked at the gold bar closely once more.'I'm sorry.'Hayden was speechless. Was Elliot apologizing to him through the gold bar? How comical! Does Elliot not have a mouth? Why did he not apologize in person instead?"Big H, the gold bar it's quite heavy. It should be worth quite a lot! Why don’t you keep it!" Mike placed the gold bar and the box in Hayden's hand. "Elliot gave you a gold bar because he thinks you're golden. You're shiny and glittery. You burn bright.""You're describing a star.""Oh, what he means is that you have a bright future. You'll do great things.""I will surpass him in the future!" Hayden threw the gold bar aside. "I don't need his apolog
The laptop was playing a video of the funeral of Elliot's father.At the same time, Elliot's psychiatric diagnosis was also with Charlie.The day that Wanda came to visit, she deeply agitated him. That was because Wanda said that she was about to succeed, so Charlie sent men to keep watch around Starry River Villa.He never thought that his men soon got it! This was Wanda's consequence for disrespecting him!Once he has discharged from the hospital, he would properly plan.This time, he would surely make Elliot pay a painful price!…The backstage of the gala.After Layla's performance, she was interviewed by the media. Since her debut was with the help of Eric, her starting point was much further than any child celebrity.Other than that, she was pretty and tall. She was also rather talented, whether it was singing or dancing. If she underwent professional training in the future, she would surely be famous! "Layla, what do you think of your performance tonight? Rate yoursel
"Layla, did the reporters give you an interview just now?" Eric asked."Hmm, they just asked some questions," Layla said with a yawn, "Uncle Eric! I'm sleepy! I want to sleep."Eric lifted her. "Go sleep! Once you're up, you can be with your Mommy in Bridgedale."Layla initially had a tired expression, but after hearing what he said, she smiled sweetly. "I miss Mommy. I have so many things I want to tell her…" Layla said softly and closed her eyes.In Bridgedale, Avery had been busy preparing for the surgery the past few days. Mrs. Cooper and another nanny had been taking good care of Robert. Avery occasionally came to see Robert, because they had agreed to spend New Year's Eve together, Tammy was in charge of curating the menu for dinner. She passed it to Avery to have a look.Avery looked at the menu and said respectfully, "You're much more knowledgeable when it comes to food. I trust you.""Avery, you won't mind if I bring another person along, right?" Tammy took the menu ba
"You're right." Avery looked at her. "I will always place my children and me first. A selfish person like me has no right to say anything about you."Tammy said, "Avery, don't feel aggrieved. You have nothing to feel aggrieved about. You have never been through hardship."Avery said, "Yes, what I have been through is nothing compared to you all."Tammy did not want to hear Avery talk about this. Even hearing her voice annoyed her. They were not like that before. To put it bluntly, Tammy could not get past that incident. Although she said that the humiliation that she went through had nothing to do with Avery, her heart could not let it go.If she did not know Avery, she would not have been kidnapped. She could have grown old with Jun, instead of hurting each other.Tammy stormed off. She got in the car and quickly drove off.She was in too much pain! She has already decided to turn over a new leave. Why did Avery have to choose that moment to tell her about Jun?Tammy cried al
There was a knock on Elliot's door. Then, it was pushed open.Ben entered. "Elliot, it's almost the New Year. How do you plan to celebrate? Will you be home or out on holiday?"Elliot did not look up. His tone was calm. "I'll be spending it at home.""Then, I'll come over to your place to have dinner! I'm not going back to see my parents." Ben walked over to Elliot's desk and sat down. "Chad's culinary skills are quite good. We'll get him to cook."Elliot look at him and said directly, "You all don't need to accompany me."Ben scratched his head. "It's not only to accompany you. My parent's house is too cold. They are on a vacation on a tropical island right now! I don't want to be their third wheel."Elliot said, "Your parents have such a good relationship, why don't you get married?"Ben sighed. "If I get married, that means I have to bear a huge responsibility. I think being single is quite good. I get to have fun with whomever I want.""You still can't get over Chelsea, rig
After seeing the wounds on her face, Chelsea was silent.Then, she let out a maniacal laugh! Her right face was still smooth and exquisite, but her left face was mulch. It was as if some parts of it were missing, half of her face was caved in!Her wound was much uglier than she had imagined! A million times uglier!Her ego was badly wounded. All the grievance she received in the past was not as great as the harm her wounded face brought to her! No wonder the brother that loved her the most in the past would suddenly have a change of attitude.Even her mother, Jeanette, could not help but take a step back after seeing the wound on her face."Charlie, you get discharged first!" Jeanette retracted her gaze. She did not want to spend another second longer there. "If she wants to stay in the hospital, let her be! You don't have to deal with her.""Mom, how heartbreaking is it to say this in front of her! Although she is an ugly one right now, I will never forget how pretty she was
The reporter asked, "Layla, do you have any New Years' wishes?""I wish to receive a lot of beautiful gifts…""Do you have any happy things that happened to you recently?""I never had a good relationship with my father previously, but it's getting better with him. It's great to have a father."Elliot's eyes were a little wet at that point. He never thought that Layla would mention him in her interview. In her heart, he must be someone important to her already!The reporter continued, "Is your father in the industry too? Is he here tonight?"Layla said, "He isn't in the industry. Our relationship only got better a little, we're not there yet! I still have to evaluate his performance in the future!""Then, what do you hope he does in the future?""I have never thought about it, but he has to at least not do things that would make me sad. Also, he can't do bad things. If not, it would embarrass me."The video ended there.Layla's last sentence rang in his mind for a long time.
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