"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
It must have been cold for Elliot to have been standing out in the cold winter night.A car stopped in the parking lot in front of the hotel. The door opened, and Jun and Tammy got out of the vehicle. However, another car stopped in front of them both after they got out of the car.It was Ben,"Ben," Jun greeted.Ben asked, "What are you doing here?"Jun replied, "I drove my girlfriend here to find Avery…"While the two chatted, Tammy walked up to Avery and hugged her."I'm here for her too." Ben squinted and looked at Avery who was not far away, "Why don't I leave it to you here? It's best to let her go to Elliot's home."Jun answered, "Sure. Don't worry. My girlfriend will handle it." Ben sneered. "If it weren't for your girlfriend, neither of them would end up like this."Jun flushed in embarrassment. "My girlfriend just publicized the lie in advance—"Ben interrupted, "Forget it. It doesn't make sense to discuss this now. I'll go first."Jun nodded.After Ben left, Ta
Avery did not return to Elliot's mansion, nor did she visit the sick Elliot. This time, Avery was astonishingly cruel. Besides her, another person also had also treated Elliot ruthlessly. Ben. As Avery had never returned to Elliot's mansion, nor did she show any concern for him as he lay in the hospital bed, Ben would come every day and give him daily updates on Avery's daily activities. For example, today Avery had gone to Trust Capital and had a great morning with Charlie, or they had visited an art exhibition and had lunch together. It did not matter if the two of them had gone to an art exhibition or not, and it did not matter if they really had lunch together. What truly mattered was that Elliot must be angered, as that was the only thing guaranteeing that he cooperated. If Elliot was still sick, he could not take revenge.Ben used his understanding of Elliot to make him live in misery every day. Eventually, Elliot's condition began to improve under the control of medicat
Nevertheless, Charlie was not discouraged, and he could give her more time.After ordering, the two chatted casually. Then, Avery picked up her phone and fiddled with it. "Avery, do you have any issues with our cooperation?" Charlie asked casually as he took a sip of red wine.Avery was reading the news, and she looked up at him when she heard his voice."Your plan is fine, but there are still some disagreements on our side," said Avery casually. Charlie laughed. "What are the disagreements? Let's see if I can help."Avery replied, "It's fine. I can handle it myself." The disagreements stemmed from herself. In fact, the management of Tate Industries was very eager to accept investment from Trust Capital, but Avery was still hesitating. She had promised to meet with Charlie because she had wanted to get to know him a little better. However, no matter how well Charlie performed, he was still Chelsea's brother, and it was hard for Avery to rid herself of the prejudice she held a
Elliot had lost a lot of weight, and his originally well-defined facial features appeared more profound and elegant. What was he doing here? Was he the mysterious guest?Lucy left after finishing the task.Watching Lucy leave, Avery realized that the mysterious guest was indeed Elliot.Was he not bedridden? Was he feeling better already?Avery stood still, not saying a word or approaching him. "Mr. Foster, is this lady the person you're looking for?" The person in charge asked Elliot.Elliot nodded. "Thank you.""You're welcome," said the person in charge in a pleasing tone.Elliot walked toward Avery, looking at her with indifferent eyes, and said, "Let's talk.""Talk? What's there to talk about?" Avery lowered her gaze, her tone was cold. Elliot was not in a hurry or annoyed. Instead, he took her arm with his big hand and pulled her away. There were many people backstage, and it was uncertain how they would talk about them.Leaving backstage, Elliot led her through
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