Daniel asked Layla, "Why isn't your father here yet?""My dad's been here since the beginning! He's in the banquet hall now!"Daniel scratched his head and looked around."Which one's your dad? Why isn't he playing with you here? Is he a lazy bum who enjoys himself all day and slacks off at his job? Is that why your mom isn't with him? Is that the reason you don't like him either?" Daniel allowed his thoughts to run free as he made wild guesses.Layla was stunned, but she was very much against telling Daniel the truth. "My dad isn't a lazy bum who enjoys himself all day and slacks off at his job! I just don't wanna tell you who my dad is! You said you're better than Hayden, right? You should find my dad yourself!"Mike smiled and asked, "Why do you want to know who Hayden and Layla's father is?"Daniel said, "I'm just curious! My mom said that Hayden's father is Elliot, but my dad said it's not Elliot. The two of them argued several times about this."Mike laughed. "Then do you
"About what? Can't we talk now?" Avery asked. Her conscience was clear.Their misunderstanding had been resolved and all he wanted to talk about was to ask her for another chance.She politely refused the last time, but she still could not bring herself to agree at the present.It was not so much that she hated him, but more so that she did not feel as though she had calmed down sufficiently.Moreover, the current relationship between the two of them—where they respected each other and were neither too cordial nor too distant—was actually pretty good."If we talk now, we won't be able to reach a conclusion." He could already guess what she was thinking just by looking at her expression."Do you think you'll be able to get to a conclusion after you come back from a business trip?" Avery found it incredulous. "How long is your business trip?""A week.""Oh, then we'll talk about it in a week!" She lowered her eyes and glanced at his hand holding her arm. "You didn't wash your han
Avery knew that Elliot and Eric had a bad relationship, so she found it rather strange to see them standing together."Nothing to talk about," Elliot looked at Eric coldly and answered Avery. "Eric is worried about your bedroom life, so he reminded me to exercise a little more.""Don't you guys have anything better to talk about?!" Avery's cheeks turned red and she walked away angrily.Eric lost his cool when he saw Avery getting angry. "How shameless can you be, Elliot!"Elliot answered nonchalantly, "Not as shameless as you, I'm afraid. Words are no indication of a man's prowess. Instead of worrying whether or not I can still get up, you might as well find a woman to prove that you're still able."Eric left in a huff after hearing that!"You're toast," Mike said to Elliot. "When Layla finds out that you pissed Eric off, she'll definitely be mad at you!"Elliot felt a throbbing in his temple.He could not possibly chase after Eric.Then again, he did not want to make Layla an
Elliot stared at the photo of the middle-aged man once again, but he still did not have a clue as to who that was.Perhaps this man appeared near the mansion and smiled at Elliot last night because he really did have a psychological disorder.Elliot scrunched up the piece of paper, tossed it into the trash, then walked into the bathroom and closed the door behind him.After Mrs. Scarlet saw Elliot go upstairs, she immediately went into the kitchen and called Mrs. Cooper."I heard that Master Elliot got into a fight with Eric Santos," said Mrs. Cooper. "Master Elliot wasn't the one who started it, though. They both left after the fight.""I see. I was wondering why he got back so early!""How's he doing?" Mrs. Cooper asked considerately."He doesn't look too happy, but he seems alright." Then, Mrs. Scarlet said, "Did things go well between him and the kids today?"Mrs. Cooper laughed on the other end of the line. "He didn't get to spend time with the kids today. He spent all day
Once the other bodyguards heard the report, they immediately responded, "Roger that! We're moving in!"About five minutes later, the sound of kicks and punches as well as a man's shrill howl of pain could be heard outside the mansion.When Mrs. Scarlet heard the commotion, she hurried out to check on things.She saw two bodyguards beating up a man and asked, "What's going on? Who's this?"One of the bodyguards took a break from hitting the man and answered Mrs. Scarlet's question., "This is the man from last night, Mrs. Scarlet! He was acting suspicious and wandering by the mansion walls. Even if he doesn't do anything bad, he still deserves a beating! Otherwise, he'll be coming back every day and making the boss mad!""Oh…" Mrs. Scarlet took a closer look at the middle-aged man who was curled up in a ball on the ground."Do you still remember me, Mrs. Scarlet?" The middle-aged man lifted his head, brushed the hair off of his forehead, then gazed at Mrs. Scarlet with clear, blood
Nathan had been a scoundrel his entire life and had never been afraid of anything.However, now that he was faced with Elliot's savage, malicious expression, he felt fear for the first time in his lie!He knew that if he continued to provoke Elliot, he would be beaten to death right there and then.He immediately swallowed the words that he had wanted to say.He had a lapse in judgment! He had mistakenly underestimated Elliot's temper! He should not have recklessly shown up here like this.All he wanted right now was to be able to walk out of there alive."Mrs. Scarlet! My ribs are broken! Hurry and call 911!" Nathan did not dare speak to Elliot, so he howled at Mrs. Scarlet instead.Mrs. Scarlet saw Nathan lying on the ground with his bloody face and twitching body and got so scared that she began to search for her phone to call 911."Don't go soft on this b*st*rd, Mrs. Scarlet!" Elliot roared loudly.Mrs. Scarlet immediately snapped out of her daze. "Get the bodyguards to th
"You must be exhausted, Avery!" said Mrs. Cooper. "I just wanted to tell you that I've put all of the gifts that Hayden and Layla received today in the storage room on the first floor.""Alright. I'll deal with them tomorrow." Avery caressed Robert's head, then said gently, "Did you have fun today, sweetie? I'll throw you a birthday party when you turn a year old, okay?"Mrs. Cooper sighed with a smile, "Time sure flies by. Our dear Robert is already turning six months old!""I know.""Take a shower and go to bed, Avery. You still have work tomorrow!" Mrs. Cooper said.Avery nodded, then headed toward her bedroom.She had planned to take a shower before she went to bed, but the bed seemed to be calling her name the moment she walked into the room.She walked over to the bed in a daze and lay down. She had planned to rest for a bit and take a shower once she recuperated some energy. She ended up falling into a deep slumber shortly after.Avery regularly had nightmares. They neve
Avery was in good spirits after a good night's sleep, but the phone call from the vice president made her frantic with anxiety.After the phone call, she received the address to Sierra University from the vice president.Next, she had to book a flight and rush over.Just as she opened up the airline app, the alarm on her phone went off. She was so startled that she almost dropped her phone.She held her chest and let out a long sigh."What is there to be anxious about?"It is just a training course. It would be fine even if I was late." thought Avery. She had not taken her tardiness seriously while she was a student, and she saw no reason to take it seriously now that she was no longer a student. Besides, she was not the one who signed up for the course. She was already doing the vice president a huge favor by agreeing to attend it in his place. There was no reason at all to be so nervous.At that thought, Avery fell back onto the bed and planned on getting some rest.She g
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