Elliot and Avery were supposed to work on their relationship while on vacation in Mount Sierra. In the end, they were faced with grave danger after only one night."Tammy called me first thing in the morning today and said that Avery texted her last night saying she decided to remarry Elliot." Less than half an hour after Mike got excited over the news, he heard about the danger they were facing on Mount Sierra. "Thank goodness it was a false alarm.""I have to get Ben back here to join in on the fun." Chad pulled out his phone and planned to call Ben, who was on a business trip abroad.Mike glanced at the time, then said, "I'm going to stop by Hayden's school. The news is too sudden. I'm afraid he won't be able to handle it when he gets home this evening if I don't give him a heads up."Chad grabbed his arm and said, "Hey… Please try and convince Hayden. Mr. Foster and Avery have been through a lot in the past years. Since they've decided to be together, we can't let them not rema
Without hesitation, Avery immediately opened the car door and got out of the car!She saw Adrian's brother!Back when she went to Bridgedale to see them, their neighbor had told her that they had moved! She had continued to look into their whereabouts, but she did not expect them to be in Aryadelle!Avery got out of the car and ran over to Adrian's brother."Mr. White!" Avery grabbed the man's arm from behind as her breathing intensified. "Why did you move? Did you move to Aryadelle for good? Where do you live right now? I'd like to see Adrian!"When Peter White turned and saw Avery, an annoyed and impatient expression instantly appeared on his face.After his father was sent to the hospital— having received a beating from Elliot, he was out buying breakfast for him. He did not expect to run into Avery!"Don't you think you're being annoying, Dr. Tate? Do we know you that well? What does my family moving have anything to do with you? Why do you keep bothering my brother?" Peter
"Why did your car get towed?" Elliot's brows furrowed slightly. "What happened? Why didn't you call me?""It was a small matter." Avery picked up her glass and took a sip of water. "I bumped into the brother of my patient in Bridgedale. Apart from my patient, there's something strange about his family. I'm upset that they won't let my patient contact me. When I saw his brother on the street earlier, I ran over to talk to him."Elliot was baffled after hearing her explanation. "Since your patient's family doesn't want to let you contact him, then why won't you respect their wishes, Avery? He's your patient, not your family. You can't get involved in their personal matters.""I knew you'd say that." Avery frowned. "This patient is different from the others.""I know. He's got the same illness as Shea did. That's why you're paying extra attention to him, right?" Elliot interjected. "Since his family was able to cough up a huge sum of money to hire you, then that means they're definite
"Why are you looking at me like that, Avery?" A pink flush washed over Elliot's handsome face.He and Avery had made up and were in a loving relationship, but she would rare stare straight at him like this unless they were in a fight.He could not tell what she was thinking.This was also one of the reasons he was so obsessed with her."I think you look particularly dashing today." Avery led Elliot over to the couch, then stroked the hair on his head and said, "Did you put on hair wax? It's not good for you. You're still very handsome without it."Elliot was speechless.He suspected Avery was on some kind of drug. Why else would she be acting this strangely?"Have you had breakfast yet? Shall I get you a glass of milk?" Avery said, then went to the kitchen to get a glass of milk before he could answer. She handed the glass to him and said, "Drink up!"Elliot held the glass of milk in his hand, then gazed at her with eyes filled with suspicion. "Avery, you…""Don't move! I thin
"You mentioned talking about our lives together. Did you have any special requests?" Avery took a seat at the dining table, then lifted her gaze at Elliot.Elliot shook his head and said, "I'm worried Hayden would feel uneasy about me moving in.""Well, I'm definitely not moving into your place! The kids wouldn't move there, and I can't be apart from them," Avery said without hesitation. "I don't want you to be upset, but the kids take priority over you in my heart."Elliot had no words.Even if Avery had not said it, he knew the reality of things.Hearing it said out loud just stabbed at his heart.He could not come up with a perfect plan, so he turned silent.Avery thought that her words were too harsh and hurt him."How about we don't think about this for now? You could move in here or we could move into your place. As long as we don't make it an issue, it isn't something that would trouble us," she said comfortingly."I've given it some thought. I want to give the kids som
"Good news? You not driving me to my death is good news enough for me," Cole teased with a cold chuckle.Avery stayed silent for a few seconds, then hit him right where it would hurt and said, "Are you that spineless? If your uncle was the one asking you out, would you be so scared that you would lose your soul?""Avery Tate! Why are you provoking me? I've already lost everything. Why are you still looking for me? I don't want to know about you and my uncle, nor do I care. Even if you get married one day, it would have nothing to do with me! My uncle would never invite me to the wedding!"Avery waited for him to finish speaking, then calmly said, "Your uncle and I are actually getting married. I'm the one who gets to decide if you're invited or not. Your uncle will listen to me."Cole was stunned."Come out and meet me, Cole. There are some things I'd like to talk to you about face-to-face." Avery used Elliot as bait to get Cole to meet her. "Your uncle isn't as heartless as you t
"What's so interesting about gray hairs? They're just hairs that are gray. Can't you just imagine it in your mind?" Avery's answer left Cole speechless."Why do I feel like you're messing with me on purpose?" Cole mumbled."I'm not complaining about your oily hair, but you're saying I'm messing with you? If I really wanted to mess with you, I could just get your uncle to do it. He won't just pull your hair out. He'll pull your whole head off instead."The color drained from Cole's face as terror took over. "Didn't you say that my uncle isn't as heartless as I'd thought?""That's right. Otherwise, how would you still be alive? If you weren't his nephew, you'd be dead a long time ago," Avery said. "I'm leaving after I finish my coffee."Cole was stunned for a moment, then said, "Didn't you ask me out to talk? What did you want to talk about?""We already finished talking!" Avery took a sip of coffee, then looked up at him. "I just wanted to know how you were doing. Now that I know
Over at Sterling Group, Ben was sitting in Elliot's chair in his office and grinned widely as Elliot walked into the room."You sure act fast, Elliot!" Ben knew that Elliot would not get mad no matter how much he teased him now, so he was being especially insolent. "I was only away for two days and you managed to get Avery in the bag. You're even planning your wedding already. If Chad hadn't told me over the phone, did you not plan on telling me anything until after the wedding?"Elliot walked over to his desk, then asked, "Are the Tierneys and Goldsteins close?""Which Goldstein?""The Goldsteins from Mount Sierra. After old man Goldstein died, his son, Roger took over." Elliot was still bothered by what happened in Mount Sierra. "If I hadn't bribed one of the staff members there beforehand, I would probably be a pile of dust by now."Ben cursed out loud, then shot to his feet in shock. "Chad didn't tell me about this. He just said that you and Avery were getting married. I'm not
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