Shocked, Ted went after Edward without hesitation. "Don't get mad, Edward! Wait for me!"Once the two left, the tension in the dining room eased, and Elliot placed a scoop of mashed potato on Hayden's plate."Eat up.""I don't need you to serve me." Hayden did not want to be treated like a child."Alright. Serve yourself, then. Eat more," Elliot said before turning to look at Nick. "Is there anything you want to say?""I really don't know where Ivy is." Nick shrugged. "Edward was the one who reached out to Walter, intending to control Juliet's actions and prevent her from saying the wrong things. No one expected her to take her own life."Elliot frowned.When dinner was coming to an end, a thought emerged in his mind. "I want to go to the Goulds' mansion. Is there anyone there?""Probably not at this time. The place is locked most of the time," Nick said. "Whenever I pass by, it looks locked up. I think there are servants who clean the place every once in a while! You can ask t
Shortly after, Nick returned with an old cell phone."Luckily, it's still charged. I checked and found the video I took of Ivy."Before Nick could continue, Elliot snatched the phone out of his hands.Hayden leaned closer to Elliot, trying to get a glance at his sister.Elliot opened the video and a chubby little girl appeared on the screen.Ivy looked well-fed and happy in the video, and anyone would be able to tell how well she was treated. She laughed while shaking the toy in her hand. She was sitting on a carpet. She smiled at the camera, and her bright eyes blinded Hayden. Elliot instantly burst into tears.Nick had not expected Elliot to cry and immediately handed a box of tissue to Hayden, hinting for Hayden to hand it to Elliot."Don't cry." Hayden shoved the tissue paper in Elliot's hands. "Ivy might still be alive."Elliot wiped his tears dry and said, "She's so adorable... She is so adorable... I shouldn't have been so mean to her.""What are you talking about?" H
"He didn't even drink tonight. How is he acting drunk?" Hayden said with a blush on his face before hurrying back to his room."Hey! Why are you blushing?! He is your daddy! Didn't you come all the way to Ylore to help him?" Mike chased after him.Mike heard a loud bang. It was Hayden slamming the door shut, keeping Mike out of his room. Two days later, the three returned home from Ylore, and Avery went to pick them up from the airport.She sighed a breath of relief after seeing them with her eyes, all safe and sound."Mike, thanks for looking after them," said Avery."You're welcome," Mike said before leaning closer to Avery and whispering, "Talk to your husband! He has been really depressed lately."Avery could tell that Elliot had gotten thinner; his face was pale, and he seemed exhausted. He looked ill. "You and Hayden should go home. I'll take him out for a walk before heading home," Avery said."Alright. We'll get going!" Mike grabbed Hayden by the shoulders and left.
Twelve years had passed, and Taronia was experiencing an exceptionally harsh and unforgiving winter. The doctor had come to give the old woman an injection, but her skin no longer allowed him to find her veins. He shook his head at Irene before leaving.Tears rolled down Irene's face as she watched the doctor leave."Irene..." murmured the old woman weakly.Irene swiftly wiped her tears away and calmed herself before turning around and heading back to bed."Don't be afraid, Grandma. The doctor forgot to bring the medicine. He is heading back to the clinic to take it." Irene did not want the old woman to worry.The old woman had been bedridden and ill ever since she had tripped and fallen a year ago. Had Irene not tended to her carefully, she would have passed away a long time ago. After a year of fighting to survive, the old lady felt weak and weary. She had no energy left to continue the fight. She had been unable to eat for three months and had wasted away. She had become a
The old woman's last words echoed in her mind, followed by her devastated cries....Two days later, Irene arrived at the Woods' mansion after settling the old woman's funeral.Ever since the old woman had fallen sick, Irene had been working in the kitchen of the Woods family's mansion.The money that the old woman earned each month was sufficient to support Irene through college. Being the grateful child she was, Irene would help with chores in the Woods' mansion whenever she had time. This was after the old woman had secured a job in the mansion. All the servants in the mansion knew Irene and took rather good care of her."Irene, how's your grandma? Are you still going to work here? The butler asked about her yesterday!" a servant who knew Irene asked."Mrs. Flores, my grandma has passed away," Irene muttered while lowering her gaze."Oh, dear! Perhaps it's better that way. You will exhaust yourself, working between jobs while balancing school as you take care of your grandm
"Irene, what are you doing standing there? Come help! We are welcoming another young master into this house. The butler is bound to have chores for you," Mrs. Flores yelled.Irene set her purse down and hurried over.An hour passed, and Mr. Woods' car pulled up outside the mansion. Shortly after, he entered the house, and the argument that took place between Mr. and Mrs. Woods echoed throughout the living room. "Lucas is my son. His mom has abandoned him, and I can't just let him die!" Mr. Woods roared. "I am sending him to the South Block precisely because I don't want you to throw a tantrum! If you still can't take it, get out of here!"Stunned, all the frustration boiling within Mrs. Woods turned into tears. She could never leave the Woods family while all her children were here. This was her home."Why would his mother abandon him after raising him all these years? Why is she sending him here now? It is surely all a part of her plan to get a share of the money!" sneered Mrs.
The dog seemed to be terrified once it had a clear look at Irene's face."Don't be scared, doggie. I won't hurt you." She took a deep breath and attempted to soothe the dog enough that it would let her pass. "I'm just here to work. Let's be good friends. I will feed you delicious food every day!"She tossed a piece of bread over and the dog caught it in the air.With her heart racing, she entered the block quickly and saw a tall, slender man standing in the living room. He was about 1.8 meters tall, so Irene needed to look up to see his face.The heater in the living room had not been turned on so it was freezing, but the man was only wearing a green jacket.This was the illegitimate child that Mr. Woods had brought home, Lucas Woods.As Irene gazed at him, he looked her up and down as well and froze when he saw the scar on her face, just like the dog in the yard did."Mr. Lucas. Hello. My- My name is Irene. I... I am turning eighteen this year. I might be young, but I work fast
That afternoon, after Lucas retired to his room, Irene returned to the kitchen in the main block. "How was it, Irene? Did he bully you? Did that dog bite you?" Mrs. Flores asked."Mr. Lucas said I'm a poorer cook than him and that he won't let me work there anymore if I don't improve my cooking by tomorrow," Irene said gloomily. "The dog is fine. It didn't bite me.""Don't worry, Irene. I'll teach you a few recipes. I promise that you will be okay by tomorrow night.""Thank you, Mrs. Flores." Irene got back on her feet right away. "Mrs. Flores, I think that Mr. Lucas isn't that bad of a person. He didn't call me ugly. Though he complained about my cooking, he still finished everything.""Maybe was very hungry. It's surprising that he didn't call you ugly, though.""I'm surprised, too. Which is why I have to do my job well and clear my debt."Mrs. Flores was instantly overwhelmed by emotions when she saw the bright smile on Irene's face. "Is it okay to not go attend your univers