As expected, Ivy seemed satisfied after viewing the first apartment."Mom, how much is this place? I feel like it's a little too big for me. I wish there was a smaller apartment."A sheepish expression appeared on Elliot's face when he heard what Ivy said."Haha. This isn't that big. It's quite cheap, and real estate properties around this area tend to be more spacious. The apartments in this residential area can go up to 130 and 150 square feet! This is already the smallest one," Avery said.The real estate agent did not understand what Avery meant and immediately said, "There are apartments within the range of fifty to sixty square feet that often target students studying at Southern University."Avery, Elliot, and Ivy reacted differently to what the agent said."Mom, he said that there are ones that are fifty to sixty square feet! Let's go have a look!" Ivy said excitedly.Before Avery could say anything, Elliot blurted out, "Darling, that's too small. We will need a place to
[Sure.]"Who are you texting?" Avery asked. "Your favorite dish is here."Ivy loved spinach so Avery specifically asked the waiter to add spinach to the dish."I'm talking to Layla. Layla said she is giving me a drone.""Oh, sure! I can teach you how to use it," Avery offered."Okay!"Time flew and half a month had passed.Ivy had mostly gotten used to her university life.At half past two, she arrived at the lecture room with her classmate. She had selected music as her minor. It was not because she enjoyed music but because she preferred music over art.Once she entered the room, she flipped through her notebook till the bell rang. The door was pushed open and a tall, slender man stepped inside."Ahh!!" Screams filled the classroom. "Eric Santos!"Ivy covered her ears and looked ahead while thinking to herself, "Why is Eric Santos here?"Ivy knew him as a famous idol through his songs and shows but had never seen him in person.Eric stood in front of the classroom and
Inside the classroom, everyone had their eyes on Eric and since he was standing in front of Ivy, they started to look at her as well. As they stared, they thought, "Why did Eric walk toward Ivy all of a sudden? Why is he grabbing her books? Do they know each other?"Eric soon realized how inappropriate his actions were, and he immediately took her book and held it up to the class. "I forgot to bring mine." He lowered his gaze and asked, "May I borrow yours?"Ivy nodded.Eric walked toward the front of the classroom with Ivy's book when another girl shouted, "Sir, you can use my book as well!""I only need one. Alright, let's begin."The classmate sitting next to Ivy whispered to her, "I thought you knew Eric Santos!"Ivy shook her head with a smile."But I have my book on the table as well. Why didn't he borrow mine instead?" The classmate sighed."Maybe he just happened to see mine first!""Oh... You are so lucky. Eric kind of smells nice... Your book is going to smell nice l
The smile on Ivy's face froze and thought to herself, "Eric Santos is Mom's friend? Did he borrow my book today because he recognized me?"She immediately opened her bag and took out her music textbook before flipping it open and tapping herself on the hand.Eric had left a message for her on one of the pages. He wanted to meet her, and there was a number next to his message. She assumed that it was his. "Please stop the car," Ivy immediately said to the driver.The car had just left the campus and had not gone far. Ivy got out of the car and dialed the number written in her textbook.Soon, the call was answered and Eric said, "Hello.""Mr. Santos, I'm sorry, but I just saw your message in my textbook," she said sheepishly."Are you still on campus?" Eric asked with amusement."Yeah. I'm in front of the university entrance.""Okay. I will come to you, then. I'll be there in about ten minutes," Eric said after checking the time."Okay." Once she hung up, she saw the driver wa
"I've just told your mom.""Yeah, I heard," Ivy said sweetly. "Mr. Santos, are you a full-time lecturer now?"He smiled and said, "I've already retired and teaching is just an interest of mine. I don't lecture much though." "Oh. What a coincidence!" Had Ivy not selected music, or had the lecturer not called in sick, she would not have gotten the chance to meet Eric. "Indeed. It's a shocking coincidence. I thought I was dreaming when I saw your name written on the inside flap of your textbook," Eric said. "When did you get home?""This summer.""How are you getting along with everyone?""Great. They are all very kind and caring toward me.""What about your relationship with your siblings?""Hayden came home from Bridgedale specifically to see me, and he even stayed home for a period of time! Robert and Layla are great as well. Everyone has been great!""That's good to hear. Your parents must be over the moon! They have been looking for you for years and have never given up o
Without skipping a beat, Ivy said, "Why don't you come over now? We haven't started yet! I can send you the location.""It's fine! It's not like I was invited."Sensing the frustration in Layla's tone, Eric asked Ivy for her phone, and Ivy handed it to him without hesitation."I'm having dinner with Ivy near her university. It's quite far for you so I didn't ask you along," he explained patiently."Why are you buying my sister dinner?" Layla asked. "She doesn't even know you and doesn't know what happened between us..."An amused look appeared on Ivy's face as she thought to herself, "Did something happen between Layla and Eric?""I'm just buying her dinner. I didn't say anything that I shouldn't say." Eric blushed and changed the subject immediately. "Have you eaten?""I haven't! But I'm about to, so bye!" Layla hung up.Eric gave the phone back to Ivy and she accepted it calmly, feeling off."Your sister and I... It's not like that... I pretty much watched her as she grew up
Ivy had not imagined the situation to be so complicated and asked, "Why would Layla be in love with you, then?"If Eric truly had been her father's enemy, it would not make sense for Layla to fall in love with him."I told you. They had fought all the time. Even when Hayden and Layla were children, they fought. During their school holidays, Mike would take care of Hayden while I looked after Layla." Eric smiled as he recalled the past. "Your parents made up in the end, and I stopped viewing your dad as the enemy."Ivy nodded. "You've been with Layla for a long time, which means that she has been in love with you for a while. What about you? Do you like her?""Of course, I do, just not romantically. Your sister is a beautiful young lady, and anyone, no matter their age, would like her the moment they laid eyes on her."Ivy agreed. "Not only is Layla pretty, but she is also really kind, too. I would like her if I was a man.""Yeah," Eric muttered as he focused on the food."Mr. Sa
Avery saved a lot of people in the past and helping Eric did not mean much to her. Eric, however, saw Avery as his savior. In the yard, Layla had said goodbye to Eric, and he was about to leave when Avery came over and invited him inside. "Eric, since you are already here, why don't you come inside?"Eric hesitated."My mom is inviting you in. Why are you still standing here?" Layla teased before opening the car door for him.Eric stepped out of his car and followed them into the mansion. Once they entered the living room, Layla pulled Ivy to the dining room and started digging into the barbeque ribs Ivy brought home.Ivy glanced into the living room. "Layla, aren't you worried that it would be awkward for them to be alone?" Ivy felt awkward when she tried to put herself in Eric's shoes."Eric is extremely scared of our parents, so he's probably dying from nerves right about now!" Layla giggled."Oh, you are doing this on purpose!""He is too timid. It's a good chance for him