Xander did not know if he should laugh or cry. Ivanka could not hold back her laughter too. “Grandma, why did you say that? Xander is very level-headed.” When she said the last sentence, Michael instantly turned to her. Ivanka was a bit confused when she noticed Michael’s gaze. She wondered why he gave her a razor-sharp glare all of a sudden and wondered if she had said something wrong. Rosie frowned and said unhappily, “You and Ivan have tricked me multiple times. Both of you always talked me into getting an injection. You say it’s not painful, but after getting the injection, it was as painful as pulling my own tooth!” Xander touched the tip of his nose and said nothing. Meanwhile, Michael said calmly, “You still need to take the necessary injections.” Xander nodded cooperatively. “He’s right. I’ll be very gentle this time. This has to be the gentlest of all time.” Ivanka could not help but say teasingly, “Grandma, you need to take your injection. It’s for your health
After Xander packed all the medical tools, he sat beside Michael. Apparently, he had no intention of leaving yet. It was early in the morning, and the trio did not go to work. Instead, they stayed around in the house. Rosie looked at them in puzzlement. “Don’t you need to go to work? Why are you all staying here with me?” It was clear that they should be working at that hour. Ivanka could not help but smile. “Grandma, have you forgotten that it’s the weekend?” “Oh, it’s the weekend!” Rosie snapped out of her daze. She looked at her phone. “You’re right. My head is in a muddle.” The next second, she looked a bit excited. “That’s why you all came here to keep me company, right?” Ivanka grinned. “Yes. Aren’t you happy?” “Of course I am!” Rosie grew even more excited. She almost slammed one of her hands on her thigh. She held Ivanka’s hand tightly, then turned to Xander and Michael with a look of puzzlement. “Why are you two so free too?” Michael and Xander usually had no
Rosie immediately said with a stern face, “‘Good day, Rosie?’ You brat, you’re even starting to flirt with an old woman? Everything was fine all along, so why did you make a bet?” Ivan was puzzled. He glanced toward Michael from the corner of his eyes. When he saw that he was sitting silently, Xander gave him a look too. Ivan immediately laughed out loud. “Ahahaha. Is there anything wrong with this bet?” D*mn it. Could they not give him a heads-up after they made a bet? He had to figure out everything by himself! However, he came over because of Rosie’s condition, and if this group kept staying here instead of leaving, they had to find an excuse so that they could stay. Rosie scoffed. “Don’t you know that asking him to stay here for a day is also a form of torture for me, even if you said it’s torture for him too?” Ivan already figured out that it was something like this. Since Rosie had said this, he was even more sure about what was going on. He immediately laughed out
Even if Michael did not help him, he still had other people to help him!Ivan immediately looked at Xander. At the same time, he smiled back at Rosie. “Rosie, why don’t we talk about something else?”“Change the topic? You’re being a bad boy again! I’m giving you good advice. You’re good-looking, and you come from a good family, too. So many young girls want to get close to you. If there’s anyone you like, and if she’s nice too, you two can be together. But you can’t keep changing girlfriends like this!”When she said this, Rosie could not help but sigh.Ivan quickly gave Xander a look. But Xander acted like he did not notice. His phone suddenly rang. Then, he got up to answer it. Ivan’s expression darkened again! Once again, he looked at Michael. When Michael did not even look at him, Ivan clenched his teeth. D*mn it! He got up straight away and walked over to Michael’s side. He gritted his teeth while grabbing his arm. “It’s all because I’m sitting next to Rosie and I’m cl
“Ignore him,” Michael said coldly. This made Rosie and Ivanka even more confused. It was clear that Michael knew why Ivan was acting oddly today. However, Michael did not intend to say anything about this matter.Rosie frowned slightly. In the end, she did not say anything.Before long, Xander returned from his phone call. He went back and sat on the sofa. When he did not see Ivan, he asked in puzzlement, “Where’s Ivan?”“He went to the bathroom and hasn’t come out since. He seemed a bit off. Could you go over and check on him?” Rosie was still a little worried. Was she too harsh on him? Was that why he had not come out till then? He was a boy, after all. She could not very well follow him into the bathroom. Xander raised an eyebrow. He nodded in cooperation. “Alright.”With that, he got up and headed to the bathroom.When he reached the door, he knocked on it. “Why aren’t you out yet?”“Smoking.” The voice coming from inside was soft, but Xander could still hear the mela
He glared at Xander. There was an icy coldness seeping through from the depths of his eyes. Xander was no longer looking at the sea of flowers outside. Instead, he turned to look at Ivan and said calmly, “Yes.” “You know best what state we are in now. Rosie met her true love because things were different in her time. Can you imagine us taking someone’s hand forever? Are you kidding? Is there a woman that’s suitable for you?” Ivan’s tone was snarky. After he said this, he did not even look at Xander. In fact, he felt that he was being weird today. Why would he say something like that out of nowhere? If this got out, others would think that Xander was crazy. Ivan did not feel like smoking anymore. Neither was he interested in talking to Xander. He waited till the cigarette smoke was gone from his body before he left. It was not nice to keep occupying someone else’s bathroom like that. But Xander did not care about what Ivan thought. Instead, he said calmly, “If you weren’t
Xander was also in no mood to tease or hide anything from Ivan. He looked at him and said in a low voice, “I recognized him at a glance. He’s the third heir of the Chaput family.” Ivan instantly narrowed his eyes. He immediately growled, “Enzo Chaput?!” Xander said nothing, but he had already acknowledged it silently. Ivan’s expression grew ugly. How did he not know about this before? The next moment, he looked at Xander again, but he did not see a single hint of humor in his face. He frowned. “You…” Ivan suddenly went silent after saying that single word because he knew that Xander would never lie to him about something like that. Since he said it, then it must have happened! There was no need to ask for confirmation. “Are you feeling nervous now?” Xander looked at him calmly. Ivan’s expression changed, but he regained his composure in the next second. He shrugged and said, “What’s there to be nervous about? If there are men out there who like her, then she did we
“It’s been so long, and he’s still not done smoking?” Rosie’s eyes filled with worry and disbelief.Xander laughed again. “When his nicotine craving hits, one cigarette isn’t enough. He’ll be out soon. Now, I smell like smoke.”Rosie shook her head with resignation. “He may be young, but he shouldn’t smoke like that!”Xander nodded in agreement. “Yes, I should talk to him about quitting.”Ivanka raised an eyebrow in contemplation but said nothing. Michael remained seated on the couch. He did not seem to care about Ivan’s actions.“I need to step outside to make a call. I’ll be back soon.” With that said, Xander headed toward the door.“Go ahead.” Rosie knew that they were busy, but she did not realize that Xander simply wanted to get rid of the strong smell of tobacco. He was worried that getting close to her with the smell would harm her.About another half an hour later, Ivan came out.Xander had already “finished his call” and returned.Seeing the four of them sitting on th
Ivanka understood everything just by looking at Stella’s expression.The drinks and pastries had to be the problem. The weakness and fatigue people were experiencing must have come from consuming them. She tested them with a test strip right away.As expected, they had been poisoned.She had not eaten anything, so she was fine. But she was unsure about Vincenzo, so she checked on him immediately. Thankfully, he was unharmed.Stella let out a deep breath.Before she could say anything, Vincenzo scolded her. “You ran back here and left Njord alone? Hurry up and get back there!”“Yes, Boss!”Stella responded quickly and ran off.Ivanka was about to speak when Michael and Evan rushed in.Michael looked anxious and was breathing heavily.Just like Stella, he was panicking.“Come here. Let me check.” Ivanka nodded at him. She knew how stubborn he was.Michael pursed his lips together and hesitated.But Ivanka had already stepped forward and checked on him. His pulse was weakenin
Vincenzo immediately noticed Michael putting some distance between them.It was not out of fear but respect for Vincenzo’s status. After all, he was Ivanka’s only family.Ivanka walked straight to Vincenzo without sparing Michael a glance.Michael could only stand there and watch her leave.Back at their spot, Vincenzo remained silent. Ivanka, however, felt uneasy.She had only gone to the restroom and had not expected to run into Michael.After some thought, she decided to explain.“Uncle, I didn’t go looking for him.”“You don’t need to explain. Even if you did, that’s your choice. I’ve said what I needed to. The decision is yours.”His tone was calm, but to Ivanka, it sounded like he was upset.She wanted to say more, but Vincenzo spoke first. “Don’t blame yourself. I’m not angry. Once the banquet is over, take a few days to rest. Then we’ll head out.”“Alright.”Since he had already said that, there was nothing more to say.Caeser had hosted the banquet to trigger inte
Ivanka saw the grin on Michael’s face and immediately let go of his arm. Her expression darkened with displeasure.Michael looked like he was enjoying her frustration.“I’m not,” he denied at once, quickly adding, “I’m happy because you pulled me away. It shows you care.”Ivanka was speechless.She looked at his smiling face and shook her head. “I just didn’t want you getting into a fight with Mr. George right now. If something happened to you while I was there, I couldn’t just leave. And if I didn’t, that would make me responsible for you.”Michael frowned. “Do you really think I’m that useless?”He had fought Mr. George before and never even saw him as a threat. There was no way someone like that could take him down.“That’s not the point. Mr. George isn’t alone, but you are. This isn’t your territory, Michael. And don’t forget, the drug in your system hasn’t fully cleared, and your gunshot wound—”He cut her off before she could finish.“That injury was a long time ago. I’m
Ivanka had never revealed her identity as Violet Cress. How did Mr. George figure it out just from her treating Caeser?“Mr. Ali, I only gave Mr. Hicks a few herbal prescriptions. It was nothing special.”“Caeser has plenty of skilled doctors, yet none of them could fix his condition. You did so effortlessly. That says a lot. Anyone who can earn his trust must be exceptionally capable. Ms. Ivanka, the Ganoderma Nebula is not something just anyone can use properly, nor does everyone have your level of confidence.”At first, Mr. George had not suspected anything. But after learning about the legendary medical expert, Violet Cress, he started making connections. She was well known by reputation, yet no one had ever seen her face. He had looked into her background and found that she was probably not elderly.There was also the Ganoderma Nebula.So, he made an educated guess.Looking at Ivanka’s calm reaction, he was even more convinced. When he first mentioned it, there had been a fl
A teasing voice broke the moment, interrupting Ivanka and Michael.They turned to look.Standing before them was none other than Mr. George. It had been a while since they last saw him.Michael narrowed his eyes. He had not expected him to show up at Caeser’s banquet.“What? Didn’t learn your lesson last time?” His tone was cold and sharp.As he spoke, he stepped forward. He simultaneously shielded Ivanka behind him.They knew they were in Mirvania, and Vincenzo was nearby. No matter what Mr. George was planning, he would not dare make a move under Vincenzo’s watch.Still, Michael’s reaction was instinctive.“No hard feelings, right? Isn’t this how friendships start?” Mr. George replied indifferently. He stepped to the side and looked at Ivanka.“Friends?” Ivanka let out a sharp laugh. “Be honest, Mr. George. Do you really think we could ever be friends?”She had taken the Ganoderma Nebula. He had tried to steal it by sending his men. She had turned five of them against him a
Ivanka tried to step aside, but Michael blocked her path.The acrid smell of smoke hit her.She instinctively covered her nose and mouth.Michael saw her reaction and put out his cigarette.“If I talk through a third party and they can’t get my point across to my subordinates, wouldn’t it be better to handle it myself?”Ivanka frowned. “Is this really the time to talk about this?”She thought about pushing him away, but she decided against it.“I know it’s not. I also know you did all that to make me give up. But I won’t. It will just hurt.”His voice was hoarse and tinged with sorrow.He looked heartbroken.If this had been before, she might have felt bad for him. But at that moment, she felt nothing. She said calmly, “That’s your problem, not mine. If you want to keep getting knocked out and run around like this, be my guest.”She stepped forward and pulled out her phone.Michael knew exactly what she meant. If he kept blocking her way, she would call Njord, Stella, and t
“Alright, go back to the casino and wait for my order.”The fight between Tanya and Blake had revealed how fragile their relationship was. If Tanya thought the stranger she met at the party was reliable, she would try to leave Blake.She would have thought that she had gotten her freedom. But in fact, it was just another circle of hell awaiting her.By then, Tanya would suffer a worse fate than death.That was what Ivanka wanted to see.After all, Tanya had disguised herself as Ivanka and put a stain on her reputation for a time. Moreover, Tanya was still planning to come after her and Michael.Ivanka would not intervene in the feud between Tanya and Michael, but since she had run into Tanya at the party, she would like to settle the score between her and Tanya.“That’s your plan?”As Ivanka hung up, Vincent could not help frowning.He knew what she was up to when she had asked Njord to assign the job to a man.But the progress was too slow!Ivanka nodded with a smile. “Yeah
Tanya was not a fool.Seeing Tanya’s reaction, the man smiled calmly and said, “Seriously? He’s just your boyfriend. He can’t possibly stop you from making friends, right?”Tanya ignored him and kept walking.She reached a junction and took out her phone to book a ride. But the Hicks family’s mansion was on the hillside. Moreover, Caeser had contacted the Ministry of Transport to impose traffic control in the area. Apart from those who attended the party, no one else’s vehicle was allowed to enter.Seeing that there was not a single car around, Tanya had no choice but to walk down the hill.Blake had told her to get lost, so she would not go back to the mansion to ask for his help.She walked for about five minutes. High heels were not made for long-distance walks, and she was in a long evening gown. She held a little purse that contained her phone, lipstick, a small packet of tissues, and nothing else. Worse still, she could not tear off the long hem of her gown.Tanya had no c
What Blake said struck a chord with Tanya.Her expression was cold, and the look in her eyes was vicious.She did not even love Blake, so everything he did had nothing to do with her. She did not care if he was involved with other women.“Do you have anything else to say? I don’t think I need to be at this party for long.” Tanya averted her gaze so that she did not have to look Blake in the eye.She had made her point clear. If he did not need her around, she would take her leave for the night.Naturally, Blake knew what she meant to say.“Get lost then!”He yelled at Tanya right away. She did not even spare him a look before lifting the hem of her dress, turning around, and walking away.Blake’s voice was filled with disgust, hatred, and rage. But Tanya could not care less about how he felt.She had come to the party with Blake, who arranged their ride. The Hicks, who organized this party, had prepared a parking lot for the guests. There were cars arranged neatly across the p