After taking a day off, Ivy and Frank said their goodbyes to Mrs. Hartwell. Mrs. Hartwell was reluctant to see them leave.


    "Girl, once you''re gone, I''ll be alone again," she sighed.


    "Grandma, I promised I''de back to see you as long as you don''t mind me visiting," Ivy replied sincerely. She genuinely loved the quiet little vige.


    After spending so much time in the bustling city,ing to such a peaceful ce felt like a dream. Wandering the mountain paths and breathing in the fresh air, Ivy found it incredibly soothing.


    "Alright then, girl, you bettere back. Keep my phone number. If I miss you, I''ll call," Mrs. Hartwell said.


    "Of course, Grandma. Take care of yourself," Ivy said, holding her hand tightly.


    Oswaldo''s wife had passed away early, and Genevieve had never introduced Ivy to her grandmother. Ivy hadn''t had much contact with elderly rtives before, but Mrs. Hartwell left a deep impression on her. She resolved to spend more time with her own family elders in the future.


    "Okay, go on now, girl. Don''t keep him waiting too long."


    "Goodbye, Grandma. Oh, make sure to check under your pillow when you go back," Ivy said, turning to leave. "I''ll miss you, Grandma."


    "Take care of yourself," Mrs. Hartwell said, her eyes glistening with tears as she watched Ivy walk away.


    After Ivy left, Mrs. Hartwell returned to her room and found a stack of money under her pillow. It was ten thousand dors-money Frank had given Ivy before they left.


    The people in the mountains were simple and honest. Ivy had grown tremendously during her time there. She knew that if she handed the money to Mrs. Hartwell directly, she would never ept it, so she left it under the pillow instead.


    Looking at the money, Mrs. Hartwell almost burst into tears. "What a silly child."


    On the way back, Ivy felt much lighter. With Frank by her side, life felt more solid and secure. They treated the journey like a road trip, stopping and exploring along the way whenever they encountered scenic spots.


    Frank, though not as wealthy as Justin, had saved quite a bit over the years, with nearly ten million dors in assets.


    He had no family except for an aunt. Both his parents had passed away, and he had never married. Having spent years at sea, earning money without knowing how to spend it, he had umted a significant fortune.


    Ivy had always assumed that Frank''s life as a sailor meant he had little money, so she was very frugal.


    For instance, when staying at hotels, Frank would consider Ivy''s background as a former heiress. He didn''t want her staying in the kind of budget amodations he was used to. He always tried to find nice hotels.


    But every time he suggested staying at a good hotel, Ivy would pull him back. "This ce costs over six hundred dors a night! That''s too expensive. Let''s find something cheaper."


    "Cheaper ces have worse conditions. Didn''t youin about how damp our room on the ship was? Now we can stay somewhere bright and spacious," Frank reasoned.


    "But... it''s so expensive. We don''t need to waste money like this," Ivy said, feeling conflicted. In the past, she wouldn''t even nce at a hotel that wasn''t five-star, but now, she balked at the prices.


    "Don''t worry. We can afford it," Frank said, taking her hand and leading her inside. Since Ivy didn''t have an ID on her, she waited in the lobby while he checked them in. Once the room was ready, they went upstairs together.


    After spending a month on the ship anding straight from the mountains, Ivy still felt a bit out of ce.


    "Do you like it?" Frank asked.


    A room costing six hundred and eighty-eight dors a night was bound to be nice. The modern decor felt both familiar and strange to Ivy.


    "Yes, I like it," she said.


    "You''ve been traveling so much, you must be tired. We''ve already let your mom know we''re safe, so we can take our time and enjoy the journey," Frank said, smiling.


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    Ivy flopped onto the bed, which bounced her right back up with its perfect springiness.


    "Sofortable!"


    "Ivy, I''ll make sure you have a good life from now on," Frank said, reassured by her happiness.


    "Thank you, Frank," Ivy said, her face lighting up with joy.


    "Don''t thank me. You''re my wife," Frank said, pulling her into an embrace and kissing her cheek. "This hotel is in the heart of the city. Tonight, I''ll take you shopping. You can''t keep wearing these old clothes."


    "I almost forgot about dressing up," Ivy said, scratching her head in embarrassment. She remembered how, in the past, she would get her nails done every week, wear thetest fashions, and never leave the house without makeup.


    But life had worn her down. She had be so careless that she no longer even bothered with basic skincare.


    "If we''re going home, you need to go back in style. I don''t want your mom thinking you have no future with me," Frank said with augh.


    Frank was a man of integrity. Once hemitted to someone, he gave them his whole heart.


    Ivy, too, had opened her heartpletely, epting Frank as her lifelong partner. "Alright, let''s buy a few things," Ivy agreed.


    After napping through the afternoon, they headed out. Their first stop was a hair salon, where Ivy got a trendy cut with airy bangs.


    "Ivy, you look amazing," Frank said, staring at her with a goofy grin.


    She chuckled at his reaction. Frank was straightforward-if he liked something, he said


    it, and if he didn''t, he wouldn''t sugarcoat it. He couldn''t lie to save his life. "Sweet talker," she teased.


    "Come on, let''s buy you some pretty clothes," Frank said, noticing that she was still wearing the in, outdated clothes from their time in the mountains.


    "Alright, but let''s shop over there. The clothes are cheaper," Ivy suggested, always mindful of saving money for Frank.


    Frank grabbed her hand. "You''re my wife now. If you''d always worn cheap clothes, I wouldn''t mind, but you used to wear high-end brands. I can''t let you live below the standard you''re used to. We''re going to the mall."


    "The mall is expensive, Frank. I know you want to treat me well, but we''re going to be building a life together. We need to save money," Ivy said, sounding every bit the thrifty and practical wife.


    Frank ruffled her hair. "I don''t have endless money, but I have enough for us. Let''s go."


    Ivy had never cared about Frank''s background, his wealth, orck thereof. She had even nned for a modest life together. She figured they could both find jobs, live off her small apartment, and make do with a modest ie. Many families lived that way, and she was ready for a simple, happy life without material pursuits.


    "I still think we shouldn''t," she hesitated. "There are so many expenses ahead-travel, car rental..."


    "Don''t worry. I''ve got it under control. Trust me," Frank said, leading her into the mall. When they walked in, Ivy''s beauty immediately attracted attention. Genevieve and Paul had been exceptionally good-looking, and Ivy, their daughter, was no exception.


    At first, the sales clerks didn''t pay much attention to Ivy and Frank because of their simple attire. It was a stark contrast to the boutiques Ivy used to frequent, where the staff greeted her like bees swarming to honey.