After Elliot was done, Avery muttered, "I wonder what kind of guy Ivy would like.""She is just eighteen...""That's old enough to start dating. Elliot, you can't apply the same set of expectations you have for Layla to Ivy. Ivy has suffered a lot, and you are not going to stop her from dating!" Avery wanted to take this opportunity to talk to Elliot. "As long as the guy she likes is a good man and loves Ivy dearly, we will not stop her.""That's a dangerous way of looking at this, Avery. Do you know why I have such high standards for my future-son-law?" Elliot asked, "It's because those requirements can only be fulfilled by talented and virtuous men...""Why do you think a person's heart is connected to those requirements?" said Avery, disagreeing. "One's personality is partially determined by genes and partially determined by the environment they grow up in. Even kids who grow up in ordinary or poor families could have a good heart. Just look at Ivy. She grew up in poverty, and s
"Something happened to my family's factory. Are you behind it?" The boy had been scolded by his father and had hardly slept the night before, so he came to the gate early and waited for Ivy.His father called home last night saying that a few of the clients had terminated their contracts with their factory, and when the boy's father went to speak to those clients, they informed him that they had terminated their contracts because his son had crossed someone he should not have. If his house was close to the university dorm, the boy's father would have gone all the way to the dorm to beat him up.He had not slept the entire night. He had stayed awake wondering who he had crossed, and the only person he could think of was Ivy. "What happened to your family's factory?" Ivy asked in confusion."Are you not the one who did it? The only one I upset was you," the boy said in frustration. "I didn't expect you to be so capable as to do such a thing to our factory… We only have a few clien
[Okay. What are you having for lunch?] Avery typed.Ivy took a photo of her lunch: pasta and mushroom soup.Avery immediately replied worriedly. [Darling, is that really enough for you?]Avery, too, had not watched what she ate back when she was a university student, but her standards for her children were different.[I ate too much during breakfast this morning, so I’m not hungry right now. I will have a more balanced meal later at night when I get home.][What do you want for dinner, then? I will tell the servants to make whatever you want.][Anything. No matter what, home-cooked meals are the best.]Avery's lips curled into a smile as she read her daughter's message.Ivy was a sweet and independent daughter, and Avery did not need to worry about her at all.After a while, Avery sent her another message. [Ivy, do you think your dad and I have been out of line for stopping your sister from pursuing the man she wants? I want to hear the truth.]She had wanted to discuss this
"Alright. I will check it out."Once the meeting ended, they proceeded to dinner.Since the weather in Cambrode was extremely cold, the locals enjoyed drinking liquor."Ms. Tate, this liquor is famous here. I'm not sure if you've heard about it." The person representing the client handed Layla a bottle of liquor.Layla was not in the habit of drinking, and she did not know much about expensive liquor."Is this vodka?" She noticed that the liquor was transparent."Yeah! We only drink vodka here. It feels warm."The assistant immediately interfered and said, "Ms. Tate can't drink. Do you have any beer? We will just have beer.""Haha, just try a little. It will be fine." The person in charge uncapped the bottle and poured a small glass for Layla.Seeing how he did not mean to make her drunk and only wanted her to try the famous local liquor, Layla took a sip without hesitation and scowled."Hahaha! How was it, Ms. Tate?""It kind of burns my throat...""Looks like you really c
"Ms. Tate! Why would you climb a mountain at this time? I'll send you back to the hotel! Be a good girl!" The assistant grabbed Layla by the arm and attempted to drag her back, but Layla dodged her hand.After drinking, Layla was exceptionally strong, and her assistant had never seen Layla behave this way before. In her mind, Layla had always been elegant and brilliant, like a princess in a fairy tale. Though Layla was adorable when she acted normal, her assistant found it hard to deal with her. She panted in exhaustion and watched as Layla made a call, wondering who she was calling.The assistant hesitated and contemplated if she should get the bodyguard to carry Layla back to the hotel despite Layla's protests. She was worried that Layla might really climb a mountain. Though Layla was her supervisor, she could not allow Layla to do anything dangerous because she would be held responsible if something happened to Layla.The phone was answered shortly after and Eric's voice came
The assistant heard noises and immediately came to knock on the bedroom door.Layla opened the door, and her assistant said, "Ms. Tate, how are you feeling? Are you hungry? What do you feel like eating? Here, have some water." She opened a bottle of water and handed it to Layla.Layla gulped down the water."Ms. Tate, you shouldn't drink vodka ever again. It's too strong, and it's not for us. Do you remember what happened last night?" asked her assistant.Layla finished half the bottle of water and felt her stomach rumbling."Is there food around here? I'm starving." Layla stepped out of the bedroom and searched for the menu for room service."I bought oatmeal for you this morning, Ms. Tate. Let me check if it's gone cold." The assistant handed her the menu and went to check the oatmeal. "It's still warm.""I will have some oatmeal first, then!" Layla walked over to the table and started eating.As soon as the soreness in her stomach faded, Layla suddenly remembered what her as
The assistant felt sorry for her but understood her decision. "Ms. Tate, you are a wonderful woman. I'm sure you will find someone who loves you more than life itself.""I don't want to think about relationships for now," Layla said casually. "I was rushing into things because I wanted to be with Eric."Since that was no longer possible, she saw no point in rushing anymore."Ms. Tate, if even people like you have troubles in life, I guess I shouldn't be complaining about my life at all," her assistant said. "Maybe we are all alive to suffer."Layla forced a smile. "Don't say that. There are still plenty of things to be happy about. I've gained some level of clarity after getting here. I guess the pain does ease as time passes. Time is a wonderful thing.""Ms. Tate, you said you wanted to climb the mountain last night, so I checked online. Climbing all the way up is really tiring, so let's not do that! There's a spot on the mountain that we can get to by cable car. We can get there
Ivy had not expected to be told such a thing and did not know how to respond.Just then, Robert sent her another message. [You can talk to him if you want. He's not a bad person. I just don't know what to say to him since he keeps acting like he's being abandoned.][Is Layla close to him?] Ivy replied.[They are friends, I guess! Layla doesn't like him that way. She thinks of him as a friend, but he obviously doesn't think so.]After giving the matter some consideration, Ivy texted Robert a reply. [He is outside my university. Since he is Layla's friend, I guess I can meet him! Let's see if I can convince him to let this go.][I felt the same in the beginning, but I soon realized there was nothing I could do! If he keeps bothering you, block his number.][Sure. I will.]An hour later, Ivy arrived at the cafe where Andrew was waiting for her. They spotted each other immediately as Andrew was the only foreigner there and Ivy was the only person who stared right at him the moment s