Ivan’s brow furrowed tightly as he looked at Sandy in exasperation. “Is that really what you think of me?”Sandy laughed out of frustration. “What did you expect?”She really could not think of anything good about Ivan at the moment.“D*mn it!” Ivan felt like he was talking to a brick wall. This infuriating woman always managed to infuriate with just a few words!He had just spoken with such sincerity. What more did she want from him?Besides, what happened that day was not his choice. It was all just a coincidence! Was she taking it all out on him?Before Ivan could think further, Sandy said, “Forget it, I don’t want to argue with you anymore. It was just a membrane. I don’t care about it. You don’t need to say you’ll take responsibility for me. It’s one thing for me to be skeptical. Even if you were sincere this time, it’s just ridiculous to me. You’re such a womanizer, always surrounded by different women. Do I look like an idiot to go for a man like that? Can’t I find a good
However, as she tried to calm herself, tears began to flow uncontrollably. Sandy did not seem to notice that a tear had slipped to the corner of her mouth. She quickly sat up and wiped it away with a tissue.She sniffed. Her eyes filled with disbelief. Why was she crying?Why was she crying over a scumbag like Ivan?Oh, she must be feeling sorry for herself!She had kept her virginity for over twenty years, and now this happened. How could she not feel heartbroken?She told others she did not care, but how could she possibly not care?As she lowered her head and took a deep breath, she suddenly heard Ivanka’s steady voice. “In the end, it still hurts, doesn’t it?”Sandy’s body trembled violently. When she looked up and saw Ivanka standing beside her, her heart skipped a beat. When did she come in? How had she not heard a sound?“I...” Sandy started, but then suddenly did not know how to continue.Ivanka pulled up a chair and sat beside her. She took her hand. “We’re best frien
Ivanka gazed at her. She did not answer her immediately. It was as if she was giving Sandy some time to think.Previously, Ivanka might have been unsure, though she could sense that something was off with Sandy’s emotions. However, today, Ivanka could say she fully understood, though Sandy herself might not have realized it yet.In the past, Ivanka might have debated whether or not to bring this up, but now she found it necessary. Sandy needed to understand her complex emotions before she could make a clear decision.Sandy was still looking at Ivanka. Her voice did not sound entirely calm as she asked, “Iv, what did you mean by what you just said?”Ivanka sighed softly. “Let me ask you this, if what happened that day involved a stranger instead of Ivan, if it was a stranger you had no feelings for, how would you feel now?”Sandy was a little stunned. A stranger?“A stranger? I’d still feel awful. It was my first time, after all. I say it doesn’t matter, but I still need to proces
She had lost her heart to him?Sandy was completely stunned!In the past, she might have instinctively refuted such a statement as it was simply impossible.However, at the moment, she never expected that this could be the case!She had lost her heart to Ivan?She liked Ivan?She shook her head in disbelief. “How is that possible? Ivan and I have been rivals for so many years. We’ve both gone to great lengths to compete for that thing, and I’ve always been on guard around him. How could I possibly have lost my heart to him?”She shook her head incredulously. Her eyes were filled with a frustration that she had never felt before.However, she could not convince herself anymore. Something felt off.Ivanka remained silent. It was as if she was giving Sandy some time to think.Many things need to be understood gradually. Ivanka wanted Sandy to process her emotions step by step. If she said too much at once, it might be too overwhelming for Sandy to accept.Moreover, much of what
Ivanka looked at her for a moment. “No matter what you decide, I’ll support you. Just make sure you’ve thought it through.”Sandy nodded. “I’ve definitely thought it through!”Her voice was firm and was devoid of doubt. She only felt uncertain when she questioned whether she had feelings for Ivan.Now everything had become clear to her.Ivanka placed a hand on her shoulder and gave it a gentle pat. “I’m here for you.”Sandy felt a warm sensation in her heart and held Ivanka’s hand. “Iv, I’m so glad you’re here with me. I’m so grateful you’ve been by my side.”Ivanka sighed softly and said nothing.In such a situation, her presence could only do so much.The distress and suffering were Sandy’s alone to bear. No one else could go through it for her.Ivanka could only offer her some companionship. As for the rest…Thinking about this, Ivanka sighed inwardly, but ultimately said nothing.That night, Sandy did not sleep well. In fact, she had not slept well for several nights. Iv
Knowing that Michael was able to stay tough despite learning about his own condition, Ivanka was rather impressed. But since he was a patient, she would not neglect to comfort him. Of course, what she was about to tell him next was also the truth.Ivanka dealt with the used needle and said to Michael flatly, “Your condition is rather good. If you cooperate with my treatment plan for a period of time, you’ll recover.”A strange emotion flickered in Michael’s eyes. “How’s Grandma’s condition?”“I still need to observe for a day and see how she fares. Then, I’ll think about the prescription based on her physical condition.”The medicine she injected into Rosie’s body was very effective. Without it, Rosie would have to receive chemotherapy in a hospital and would have found out about her illness.Michael said nothing. He seemed calm and composed.But he did not plan to leave either. Ivanka contemplated for a while and eventually looked at him. “You must be cautious with food intake f
Michael immediately scowled and said with an icy expression, “Get in. I’ll drive you.”He did not intend to explain why.A strange emotion flashed in Ivanka’s eyes, but she said nothing.It was pointless to argue with him at this point. When Michael got mad, he would insist on having his way. Therefore, instead of wasting time arguing with him, she might as well get into the car so that she could go home and get him out of her sight sooner.With that in mind, Ivanka finally shut up and walked over to the front passenger seat right away.Only then did Michael’s expression ease up.During the drive, neither of them said anything. It was very quiet in the car. They did not even play music.But they did not feel uneasy. The atmosphere between them was already awkward to begin with.Once they reached the destination, Michael stopped the car. Ivanka opened the door on her side and glanced at him. “You may drive the car home first.”She had other cars.However, Michael did not respo
Michael said nothing. He got up and walked toward the bedroom.They did not interact for the rest of the night.The next day, after they both woke up, Ivanka made breakfast before they parted ways and left for work.Meanwhile, Michael thought that his stomach felt significantly better after having the food Ivanka had made. He wondered if it was an illusion.The two of them did not contact each other throughout the day. But after work, they both headed to the Barkworth family’s mansion without even informing each other. It was because Ivanka had said that she wanted to check on Rosie that night. Michael wanted to know the news firsthand, so he would naturally show up.When Rosie saw them appearing together, she was in an even better mood. Grabbing each of them with each hand, she said with a kind and loving look on her face, “You’ve come to visit me again. What if your frequent visits affect your work?”Ivanka smiled. “No way. I managed my schedule well.”Hearing that, Rosie wa
Ivanka frowned deeply. Michael was in a horrible state. He had been poisoned and suffered gunshots. He had a strong tolerance to medicine and pain. But it was his mental condition that caused him to fall into this state. Not being fully recovered also added to the burden. Ivanka gave him a white pill which she had formulated by herself. After that, she had the security guard carry Michael into her car. Then, she sent him to the hospital. They arrived at the emergency department. Xavier had finished attending to his patients. When he walked out of his office, he saw Michael being carried into the hospital. He then saw Ivanka beside Michael. Xavier frowned. His expression became tense, and he asked solemnly, “What’s happened to him?” “He’s weak and had previously been poisoned. Since you’re around, you can look after him.” Ivanka summarized Michael’s condition. After hearing Ivanka’s brief explanation, Xavier gave Michael a checklist and put him on a drip. After that,
Since Jonah had come to this and Ivanka was not an ungrateful person, she nodded and gave her word. “Jonah, I’ll give this my all. Don’t worry. As long as it’s within my ability, I’ll help you.” Jonah had to be bound to the wheelchair at the moment. Since Ivanka had shared a similar experience when she took over Lane’s Group back then, she naturally figured out how wolfish and greedy his adversaries would be. Jonah was injured because of her. She swore to give her all to save him from whatever crisis he was facing. Jonah took advantage of this and asked, “What time are you coming tomorrow? I’ll have my assistant get ready.” Ivanka thought for a moment. “Tomorrow afternoon.” She needed to manage her company affairs during the first half of the day. Jonah was content upon hearing her answer. “Good. I’ll wait for you tomorrow.” “Okay.” Ivanka nodded before hanging up. When she returned to her office, she did not expect to see Michael sitting on the couch. She nearly jum
There was only one possibility. Ivanka was calling somebody else. Michael wondered who could strike up such a long conversation with her. Sandy and Ivan had returned to the country. Ivanka’s besties were around her. Even if Ivanka deliberately approached Chiara, she could not possibly have so much to chat with Chiara. If Ivanka’s phone call was business related, there was no need to chat this long. Michael eliminated the possible reasons one by one. In the end, he thought of Jonah. Michael’s expression instantly turned as dark as thunderclouds. His gaze was dull and cold. Evan noticed it. He also saw the call record on Michael’s phone. Evan quickly persuaded Michael, “Mr. Barkworth, Ms. Lane could be tied up with her work, so she couldn’t answer your call. We could go to her workplace now.” Michael said nothing. He gave a cold glance at Evan. Evan got a shock. The next second, Michael turned around and left his office. Looking at Michael’s fading silhouette, Evan wi
It was why Ivanka still came for Jonah in spite of her unpleasant experience with Margaret in the hospital last time. Jonah had been injured because of Ivanka. She came for him only. The other people did not matter to her. Jonah’s heart sank upon hearing her words. His expression tensed up. He could imagine the indifferent look on Ivanka’s face right at that moment. She had that expression on her face simply because he was never really important to her. Jonah was upset precisely because of her indifference to him. He wanted to say something to her but did not know how to begin. He was also not in the position to say that. It did not take long before Ivanka’s gentle but rather indifferent voice rang in his ears, “Jonah, don’t worry. I’ll treat your legs until they recover. Don’t run into any conflicts with your mom because of me.” Her words pulled Jonah’s wandering mind back into the present moment. He felt a heavy weight on his heart. “Iv, I trust you. You don’t need to
Margaret became frustrated and grabbed Ivanka. She could not understand why Ivanka was fine while Jonah ended up in such a bad situation after the accident.Then, Jonah defended Ivanka. There was also all the talk about Ivanka’s treatment. Margaret was curious to see what kind of miracle medicine Ivanka could develop.In the end, Ivanka’s treatment did not work. Moreover, her relationship with Jonah, which had finally started to improve, was once again ruined because of Ivanka.Jonah scoffed. “Mom, I’m not an eight-year-old anymore. You’re saying all this because you want me to go along with your plans for an arranged date, right?”Margaret had not expected Jonah to guess her thoughts. She was about to insist on her point when Jonah spoke first. With a mocking smile, he said sarcastically, “Do you think anyone would date someone like me?”He had a point. But Laura might be one such person.However, Margaret did not like her. She would do anything to keep Laura from becoming her d
“That’s because you want him to fall in love with you!” Margaret snapped.Ivanka chuckled softly. Her tone was edged with sarcasm. “Love? Does it really matter that much?”Margaret felt humiliated and furious. She pointed a finger at Ivanka’s face with a hostile expression. “If it doesn’t matter, why are you doing all this? Stop pretending, Ivanka!”Ivanka let out a bitter laugh. “Pretending? What am I pretending for? Is being divorced a crime? Margaret, you’re a woman too. How would you feel if someone accused you like this?”She hoped Margaret would take a moment to reflect. After all, she was Jonah’s mother, and Ivanka did not want their conflict to escalate.But Margaret was unmoved. Her glare turned colder, sharper, and filled with hatred.“You think I’ll just let this go?” Margaret said sharply. “If it weren’t for you, Jonah wouldn’t be in this mess! I meant every word I said, and nothing will change that.”To her, Ivanka was nothing more than someone scheming to use Jonah
“Ivanka,” Margaret took a deep breath while trying to compose herself. When she looked at Ivanka again, her expression was calm. She said, “I don’t know how deep Jonah’s feelings for you run. What I fear most is that once he becomes fixated on you, that’s it. When he falls for someone, his heart won’t make room for anyone else. In that way, he’s just like his father.”Ivanka’s gaze wavered. She bit her lip and was unsure of what to say.“I beg you, don’t hurt Jonah anymore!” Margaret’s voice carried a note of desperation.Ivanka’s expression turned extremely complicated.There was a time when Jonah came to her only to use her. Back then, they were both using each other. It made things simple.But later, Jonah unexpectedly started talking about marriage. Perhaps it was to provoke Michael, or perhaps he simply wanted to keep her close because she was useful to him.At some point, though, it seemed Jonah had become serious about her. She could not pinpoint when it happened. Perhaps
Jonah frowned in clear disagreement, but he stayed silent. Ivanka’s confident smile reassured him and made him trust her.Eventually, he let go of her wrist.Ivanka noticed Margaret putting on her shoes. She quickly followed, stepping outside just as Margaret was about to get into her car“Margaret,” she called out.Margaret frowned slightly and stood still.Since Jonah had not come out with Ivanka, she decided she could spare a moment to speak with her.She turned and looked at Ivanka coldly.Ivanka softened her tone. “Let’s take a walk.”Margaret did not respond, but her silence was enough of an agreement.They walked slowly around the edge of the mansion. The surrounding area was all part of the Sadler family estate.Margaret suppressed her anger and glanced at Ivanka before speaking in a composed tone, “Alright. What do you want to say?”Ivanka met her gaze briefly before looking ahead and said, “Do you know what will happen if Jonah’s coughing continues?”Margaret’s he
Margaret glared at Ivanka and scoffed, “If there’s an issue, I’ll get another doctor to handle it. It’ll be anyone but you, Ivanka. Haven’t I made myself clear enough? I’ve told you this before.”She hated how Ivanka ignored her warnings and kept coming back to visit Jonah time and again. What if Jonah got too close to her and ended up ruining his reputation? If Jonah had not been here, Margaret would have been even harsher.Ivanka frowned as she met Margaret’s sharp gaze. “I’ve never tried to get close to Jonah like that. We’re just friends. I know I’m not good enough for him, so I’ve never even thought about it.”“You might not have, but he has!” Margaret snapped, raising her voice.“Mom!” Jonah’s expression darkened.Jonah was usually calm and polite. This was the first time Ivanka saw him looking so upset and was about to lose his temper.Ivanka’s eyes flickered with hesitation. She was unsure of what to say.Explaining Jonah’s coughing would do no good. Margaret would not