As if a roaring fire had been warming the room, Avery felt the chill as soon as she had left the room. Later, Avery went to the bathroom to wash her face. Once she was done freshening up, she returned to the exhibition hall. The exhibition lasted for over an hour, but it passed by in the blink of an eye. Avery saw plenty of things, but she remembered none of it. After the exhibition ended, she got up.Charlie asked Avery, "Would you like to go for afternoon tea? I know a new place, and it's quite good." Avery was not interested, and she rejected his offer, "I'm a little sleepy and want to go back to rest."Charlie realized that she looked exhausted, and he said, "I'll take you back.""Thank you."The two walked out of the first row.At the exit, Avery saw a familiar face. Seeing that he was waiting for her, Avery turned to Charlie and said, "Mr. Tierney, why don't you head out first? I have something to do."Charlie also noticed Shaun, the former second-in-command of Tate Ind
In the afternoon, Avery had bought two pots of daffodils at the flower market. Then she took them with her to her mother's house. As it was not five o'clock yet, Laura should still be at work, but Avery found that she was busy in the kitchen."Mom, did you get off work early today?" Avery changed her slippers and put the two pots of flowers on the living room table.Laura came out of the kitchen, looking a little embarrassed."Avery, I'm not working anymore," Laura explained. "My friend's daughter-in-law hired a more professional nanny.""Mom, don't be sad," murmured Avery as she hugged her mother. Laura chuckled. "I'm fine… Why did you buy two pots of flowers?"Avery glanced at the simple rented house and replied, "I happened to pass by the flower market, so I bought two pots.""Okay… Avery, don't worry about my job. I can always look for another one.""Mom, you don't need to. Just rest at home!" Avery said. Then, she took out her bank card from her bag and handed it to her m
Avery was shocked. Laura and Jack got divorced when Avery was still young, and she was so busy with her own affairs that she had no time to care about how her mother's life was going. Hence, Avery was completely unaware of how Laura had saved money."It's okay if you don't want to go abroad... I'm thinking, why don't we buy a smaller house? It's okay for us both to suffer a little, but we can't let the children feel sad!" Laura continued.Avery asked, "Mom, do we really have that much money?"Laura replied, "We can still afford a down payment."Avery said, "Oh… Then there's no rush. The babies are still months away!""Time flies, and you better give it a careful consideration."Avery nodded. "Mom, I'm going out later. My friend's dad is celebrating his birthday next week, and I have to buy a present."Laura was worried. "Can't you get it in the morning? It's getting dark, and I'm uneasy about you going out alone." Avery said, "There are street lights outside. I'll be fine."L
The doctor and Rosalie were also in the room, and they were standing by the window talking about Elliot's health. However, Avery's feet were as heavy as lead, and she could not bring herself to enter the room. When Chelsea turned around to leave the bed with the basin in her hand, she immediately caught sight of Avery standing outside the door."Avery! What are you doing here?!" Chelsea lowered her voice, afraid of waking Elliot. Then, she put the basin on the bedside table and strode toward Avery. Rosalie heard the noises and walked toward the door as well.Avery was afraid of waking Elliot, so she took a few steps toward the stairs, but Chelsea thought she was trying to escape and quickly approached her, blocking her way."Avery! Are you making a fool of Elliot?! If you don't like him, then let him go! If you do anything to hurt him again, I'll never let you go!" Chelsea's eyes were full of hatred.Rosalie shouted sternly, "Avery, Elliot does not want to divorce you because he
Rosalie still felt a tiny bit afraid at that moment. After all, Elliot had almost ended their relationship because of this woman. At around midnight, Elliot's fever subsided, and he finally woke up. Warm orange light lit the room. He sat up and saw Chelsea lying on the edge of the bed, fast asleep.Elliot frowned, got out of bed, and left the room.…The following morning, Chelsea woke up to an empty bed and an empty heart. Then, she immediately went downstairs to look for Elliot.Mrs. Cooper was shocked, and she exclaimed, "I've been downstairs, but Master Elliot has not come down!"Chelsea was stunned. "He's not in the room! I only came down because he was missing."Mrs. Cooper became anxious. "Goodness! Master Elliot can't just disappear into thin air!"As she said that, Mrs. Cooper ran upstairs. She and Chelsea searched all the rooms on the second floor, but they could not find Elliot.Chelsea burst into tears. "It's all my fault... I slept so deeply last night, and I did
At ten in the morning, a Rolls-Royce stopped in front of the gate of an old community house. The door of the car flung open, and a tall figure alighted the vehicle. Elliot was wearing a long navy blue quilted coat, a gray scarf, and a pair of brand new leather boots. Even though he was dressed warmly, his face was pale and haggard. His cold and noble temperament was incompatible with everything around him.The driver and bodyguard followed Elliot, carrying expensive gifts.Laura trotted from the kitchen to open the door when she heard a knock. She was shocked to see Elliot."Why are you here?" Laura froze, then she opened the door, urging, "Come in! I heard that you are sick. Are you okay?"Although it was early winter, it was not cold enough to wear a coat.Elliot glanced at the clean floor and hesitated. "Do we need to remove our shoes?"Laura immediately shook her head. "No, there's no need! Come in!"She invited Elliot inside and saw the gift boxes the driver and bodyguard w
"If you're sick, just stay home and rest." After Avery said that, she turned around to get a glass and poured some water."I'm much better today." Elliot removed his scarf. "That's what you said yesterday." Avery drank the water and put down the glass. Then, she went to the living room and saw the gifts on the floor. Avery asked, "What are these for?"'It's not good to come empty-handed.' He thought for a few seconds and changed the subject, "I just found out today that you went back last night.""Did you come here just to say this?" Avery walked over to the sofa and sat down, looking at his thin face with her almond eyes.There was a distance of more than a meter between the two."Chelsea and I—-" "I don't want to hear it," Avery interrupted him, "I'm not interested in knowing what type of relationship you have with her." Elliot saw her cold face, and he secretly felt powerless. "Are you going to talk about Charlie and me next?" She looked at him and said, "Elliot, e
"Avery! Have you forgotten whose wife you are?!" Elliot clenched her struggling little hands tightly and pinned them above her head. "I told you to stay away from Charlie! Don't challenge my patience!"It had been a while since Avery had seen him this irritable and crazy. He looked so weak, but his strength was frightening. She did not dare resist him, as the more she fought, the crazier he became. Avery lied down quietly for the sake of the children she carried within her. She waited for him to vent his dissatisfaction. "Why aren't you saying anything?" Elliot's burning gaze watched Avery's face. His fingers rubbed her cheeks, finally slipping from her eyebrows to behind her ears."What do you want me to say? What do you want to hear? I'll say it for you." She said.The anger in Elliot's heart was instantly extinguished."Avery, am I really unforgivable?" Elliot's voice was hoarse and soft, his fingers sieved through her hair to gently clasp her in his palms. His body was a li
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