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
Everyone instinctively looked at Michael. He said indifferently, “I’m in my own home, so it’s hardly a punishment.”In other words, since this was his home, he did not see any problem with staying.Next, everyone’s gaze shifted to Ivanka.The bet did not include her, so it seemed only the three men would stay.But what about Ivanka?Ivanka’s eyes flickered with contemplation as she turned to Rosie. “Grandma, I plan to stay with you tonight as well.”Rosie was surprised. Her voice tinged with delight. “You’re staying too?”Ivanka smiled. “Of course.”As she said that, she glanced at Michael. Her gaze showed a mix of shyness and affection, along with other emotions.Rosie was stunned by the scene.She thought. “What’s going on? Iv actually wants to stay. And the way she’s looking at Michael… Could it be that they… Is Iv interested in Michael again? Or maybe those feelings never went away, and now that Michael has changed, Iv is willing to give it another shot?”She knew it! Wi
It looked as if the leaves were dancing with unrestrained grace, yet they were entirely at the mercy of the wind. They could not even stabilize themselves.Ivanka’s eyes flickered with that thought before she refocused on Michael.“I don’t know.” Ivanka lowered her head and took a deep breath before speaking again. “I don’t know if I can really cure Grandma. I don’t know what the outcome will be. But I can only guarantee that using this method will give her a longer life than her original treatment.”Her voice grew more resolute with the final words.Michael’s gaze softened as he said, “That’s all I needed to hear.”Ivanka looked at him with surprise. She had not expected to hear that from Michael.She had thought he would have higher expectations and hope for a better solution.However, perhaps things were not as surprising as they seemed.She paused and collected her thoughts. Then, she looked at him and said calmly, “But I will cure you.”Michael looked at her with surprise
Ivanka frowned and instinctively glanced at Michael. Seeing his cold eyes fixed on her, she opened her mouth to speak, but Michael’s stern voice cut in. “Don’t answer it.”Ivanka looked at him in surprise. “Don’t answer it?”What gave him the right to speak to her this way?Michael said nothing more. He was still holding her arm and refusing to let go. Ivanka remained calm as she responded. “I still have business dealings with him. Besides, there’s nothing between us.”She realized she had crossed a line by thinking she could question Michael.Whether he was sick or not, his disdain for her was undeniable.Ivanka took a deep breath to control her emotions, yet she was provoked once more by what Michael said next.“Nothing between us? Do you think that’s really the case?”Ivanka looked at him sharply. She felt both irritated and alarmed as her inner calm was disrupted. She replied, “There has never been anything between us. Never.”After saying that, Ivanka tried to wrench her
Ivanka did not pay him any mind and got into the car. If Michael dared to chase after her again, she would most definitely kick him out of the car! She would do what she said she would!Michael did not catch up, but he blocked her with his arms wide open. His stance was clear: You can leave. But over my dead body! Ivanka could not possibly drive over Michael. But it was not a problem for Michael to keep blocking her way. Plus, she had just politely rejected his parents. So, it was even more impossible for her to turn back. Ivanka ran out of patience. She held her forehead and frowned. Michael had already drained her last bit of patience. She never imagined that Michael would actually cling to her to such an extent! How would she put it? All her positivity had been drained clean! “Michael, your parents are still at home. Aren’t you afraid they’ll see and laugh at you? I know Grandpa and Grandma are standing by our side now. It’s not like you and I haven’t been in
Ivanka would neither accept the carrot nor the stick approach. Michael had no choice but to persuade her with reason and win her over with affection. Ivanka snorted. “Have you ever given me a chance to have a meal with you before this? As the saying goes, Rome wasn’t built in a day. It takes time for things to come to this state. Things might have passed for you but not for me!” Ivanka’s gaze was razor-sharp. Michael felt his heart clench up. At that moment, his throat was in so much pain that he did not know what else to say to her. Ivanka did not wait for his response. She pushed away his hand and headed out without hesitation. Michael did not stop her. Nonetheless, he went after her and followed behind her. Meanwhile, they heard the sound from the kitchen. Mindy prepared dinner in the kitchen, and Jay helped her out. They had heard their conversation. Out of courtesy, Ivanka went to the kitchen and greeted them. She said with a smile, “Uncle Jay, Aunt Mindy, I’m
Ivanka clenched her fists. Her gaze was filled with ferocity. She looked like she was really going to punch Michael. Michael noticed the anger in her eyes. But since the person was none other than Ivanka, he was willing to take the beating. He even took a step forward and held his head high. “Strike me if you want.” “You!” Ivanka glared at Michael. He truly annoyed her. She reminded herself to keep her composure. She sucked in a deep breath before saying, “Michael, I’ve treated you with respect. You’d better behave yourself.” Right after she finished the sentence, Ivanka left. Before she even took a step forward, Michael grabbed her. “My mom is preparing the dishes inside the kitchen. If you leave now, you’re not showing me any respect. Please stay around to have dinner. Even though we’re already divorced, and it’s impossible for us to get back together again, we’re still friends,” said Michael. Haha! He had been adamant. He was using the same approach to draw close
Mindy’s expression instantly darkened. “What’s with us being prejudiced against her? Had I ever targeted her when she married Michael from the beginning? “She knew how well Rosie had treated her. It’s her own fault for failing to bond with Mic. How could you blame us?” Mindy had always disliked Ivanka. She believed Samuel’s intervention had been the reason for their marriage. It was an arranged marriage. There was no need for the Barkworth’s family to have an arranged marriage. At the end of the day, it was all up to Samuel to choose the bride for Michael. Ever since Ivanka married Michael, aside from the deliberate arrangements, they had hardly shown up together as a couple in public. Mindy did not have any particularly hard feelings for Ivanka. She believed the two would live happily together after getting married. After they divorced, Mindy thought Michael could start all over again. But she did not expect to see their current relationship was no different from when they
It was Jay and Mindy. When Ivanka saw them, a thought came across her mind. She took out a syringe and inserted it into Michael’s arm to unmute him. Michael felt like he had been stung by a bee. It was as though he had been put in jail, only to be freed all of a sudden. Ivanka took away the syringe and gave him a glance with displeasure. “Get out of the car now. Your parents are here—” “Aren’t you entering the house?” Before Ivanka finished her sentence, Michael interrupted her. When he looked at her, his eyes were filled with sincerity and seriousness. But Ivanka rejected him coldly. “Quick! Get out of the car! I’m not joking with you. Get out now!” “Let’s go in together. After all, you’re already here. Are you worried about seeing them?” Michael was undaunted by her emotions and tone. Instead, he stretched out his hand to try to grab Ivanka. Nonetheless, she avoided him with ease. Meanwhile, Jay and Mindy saw them. They walked over to them. Mindy glanced at th
It was no wonder Jonah asked for so many details. All these were facts.Ivanka did not avoid answering his questions. She gave a light smile. “The longest will be half a year.”If the treatment was ineffective after half a year, she would go to Silvania with Vincent.After all, it was not just about her.Upon learning of Ivanka’s decision, Jonah smiled wryly. “Iv, I don’t think it’s an easy feat to treat my legs. How about you go and deal with your stuff first? You can always treat my legs afterward.”Ivanka initially planned to do it that way. But George, Florence, and Margaret had interrupted her plan.Since she had returned to Bostone, why was there a need to travel back and forth again?She might as well treat Jonah’s legs.Besides, Vincent had informed her that it would be highly uncertain whether they could still return to their home country after arriving at Silvania.Ivanka said, “No. I don’t want to make so many trips. I’ll treat your legs for half a year and see if i
It was not an overstatement to say Michael was crossing the line. Nonetheless, Ivanka could not just sit there and watch the two men get into a conflict. Hence, Ivanka pulled Michael to the side and glanced at him. “If you don’t want to be kicked out, you’d better wait here.” But Michael was undaunted by Jonah. Although Jonah had the power to rebuke him in his own territory, Michael refused to allow Jonah to get the upper hand. Ivanka saw the determination in Michael’s eyes. She was very worried that the two might get into a fight. She quickly pulled him back. “Stop making me worry about you. Just wait here! If you dare to come after me, I’ll…” Although she did not finish her sentence, her intention was clear enough. If Michael disobeyed her, she would make him a statue! Understanding this, Michael did not follow Ivanka. But when Jonah turned around and left, the provocation in his eyes was evident. Still, Michael listened to Ivanka. He did not want to offend her. He
Jonah narrowed his eyes while questioning Michael. Still, Michael did not respond to him. Ivanka pursed her lips. She looked displeased when she answered Jonah, “Jonah, there’s no need to speak so harshly. Do you still want me to treat your legs?” She had temporarily made Michael mute. She did that to stop Michael from talking endlessly about those things. Nonetheless, he had still insisted on coming along with her, only to end up being targeted by Jonah. Ivanka had no intention of making Michael mute in front of Jonah. Upon hearing Ivanka’s words, Jonah looked at where she currently stood. She stood in front of Michael. It looked like she was trying to protect him more. As the saying went, true love was portrayed in hard times. This saying was true indeed. It was true that Ivanka cared about Michael. Jonah said gently to Ivanka, “I want you to treat my legs, and I only speak harshly to specific people. I already showed him much respect when he barged into my terri
Michael remained resolute.Ivanka rolled her eyes. “Then stay stubborn. I’ll only fix it when you stop pushing me away.”After she was done speaking, she turned to leave.Michael followed.He even opened the passenger door and got in her car. He was determined to follow her.But Ivanka would not go easy on him.Once inside, she warned him coldly, “Not being able to speak is harder than you think. Follow if you want. Michael, are you sure about this?”Even after her warning, he kept staring straight ahead.She said nothing more and started the engine.Within half an hour, she arrived at Jonah’s mansion.Jonah came out to greet her personally. The moment Ivanka parked the car, Jonah immediately spotted Michael in the passenger seat.The sight of him stirred up bitterness in Jonah. Yet there was nothing he could do.Before Ivanka exited the car, she said to Michael, “Wait here.”Without glancing at him, she walked straight toward Jonah.Her attitude made Michael decide t