With no other option, Ivanka finally told him the truth. “There wasn’t much to the deal. He just asked for a three-day trip. He probably wants me to go with him to the Middle East for something.”When Ivanka thought he might let go, Michael’s grip remained firm as he said, “You’re not going!”Ivanka bristled at his tone. “And why not?”She had only made the deal with Mr. George to secure Michael’s antidote. It was a fair trade. Besides, she was never one to go back on her word.If she did not follow through, what kind of person would that make her?However, something in Michael’s intensity made her hesitate. Could there be something else on his mind?For Michael, falling into this trap was a huge blow to his pride. He had never been a weak man, and this whole situation…Ivanka studied him.Michael’s expression darkened. His face was clouded with displeasure. “That man is cunning and dangerous. If all he wants is the Ganoderma nebula, give it to him. There’s no need to risk your
If making Rosie happy was really his goal, why had he been so quick to throw the divorce papers on the table when Rosie had objected in the first place?Michael did not respond, but Ivanka’s words hit him like a series of tiny needles, each one pricking his heart. It left him unsettled.Rosie liked Ivanka. That much was clear. During their recent interactions, he had seen it for himself.Ivanka was not the heartless, ruthless woman she was made out to be.Maybe there had been more to the story with Chiara. And maybe their marriage…Seeing Michael’s silence, Ivanka could not help but laugh, though there was an undertone of irony.“Michael, you’re not seriously thinking about getting back together, are you?”Michael’s drifted mind was pulled back by her words. He noticed the look on her face. It was one of cold indifference.To her, the idea of reconciliation was nothing but a joke.She really thought so.They had been married for three years. All that time, she had not been ab
Ivanka punched him in the chest.“We’re exes. You said it yourself. It means we’re total strangers now. Enough with your nonsensical argument. If you dare touch me, I’ll destroy you!”Michael did not let go even after she delivered the threat. But before he said anything, they heard people arguing outside the door.“This is not your turf. You can’t do whatever you please!”“Get out of my way!”There was a thump. Something heavy had hit the floor. Then, someone broke open the door from outside.Mr. George barged in with his men like a whirlwind.Ivanka seized the opportunity to shove Michael aside.Michael turned his cold, sharp gaze on Mr. George.But Mr. George was not intimidated by him at all. “Judging from the look in your eyes, you seem to be recovering. If a man has to rely on a woman to relieve his condition, then what good is that man?”Mr. George had seen the compromising position Michael and Ivanka were in.He found it rather interesting.Enraged by his words, Mic
Michael’s lips moved slightly as he spoke. With that, a group of men in black stormed in and surrounded Mr. George.Mr. George’s men were disarmed as well.Meanwhile, Michael grabbed his jaw and shoved a bunch of pills into his mouth.Mr. George’s eyes were wide with panic. He put his finger in his throat and tried to spit out the pills, but Michael gripped his cheeks tightly.“Michael Barkworth! You have a death wish! You might have defeated and humiliated me this time, but do you really think I’ll let you get away with this?”Mr. George clenched his teeth. There was a furious and chilling look in his blue eyes.If looks could kill, Michael would have been dead multiple times at the receiving end of his glare.But Michael was unmoved. He scoffed. “Before you try to turn the situation around and retaliate, you should worry about surviving the lethal poisons I just fed you!”His subordinates seized Mr. George and threw him into the bathroom.The door was shut and locked from ou
In the past, Michael never bothered to investigate anything or took her side and trusted her. So what was the point of finding out what happened back then?Chiara was already dead.Even if Michael could prove that Ivanka was innocent, the outsiders would think that she was smearing her dead cousin.But Michael did not see it as such. He pressed his lips together, then said, “Why is it unnecessary to clear your name? Ivanka, I—”He was at a loss for words when he saw her icy expression.It was the first time this happened to him in decades. He was rather surprised.At the next moment, his expression turned grim. He said nothing else.Seeing him like that, Ivanka was amused. She said coldly, “Back then, you decided that I was guilty. I’ll ask you this: So what if you investigate and prove that I am innocent? Are you going to compensate me? Do you think I need your money or a loveless marriage?”A loveless marriage was worse than death!She used to be foolish enough to imagine th
In the video, Tanya walked into a private room while disguising herself as Ivanka and then ran out naked.Tanya was flabbergasted.Chiara had told her a while ago that the video was destroyed. Why did she still have it?In contrast to Tanya’s panic, the mockery in Ivanka’s smile was striking. “Are you sure you want to set your dogs on me, Tanya?”“Back down!”Despite her reluctance, Tanya had to make a compromise.Meanwhile, Michael strode in with an icy expression.He walked over to Ivanka without sparing Tanya a glance. Tanya gritted her teeth. He only had eyes for Ivanka!But Tanya could not fuss over such trifles at this point.She wanted so badly to snatch the phone from Ivanka. She did not want to lose her pride and dignity in front of Michael.But she could not and dared not do that!Naturally, Ivanka could tell what Tanya was thinking. With a sneer, she put the phone into her pocket. There was no satisfaction on her face, but her confidence was apparent.“You disgui
Even if Tanya’s reputation was at risk, she did not plan to reveal her secret backer.Ivanka raised her brows slightly.Who was really behind Tanya, and what sort of person were they? It was surprising to see Tanya being so insistent!Suddenly, a man walked into the room.All eyes fell on them.Ivanka frowned slightly. She vaguely remembered who he was. It was the man who attended the party with Tanya.The man put himself between Ivanka and Tanya to protect the latter. Wearing a cold expression, he and Michael stared at each other. “Tanya is my woman,” the man said. “I won’t let you bully her like that.”Tanya was startled, but she did not push Blake away.At that moment, she was utterly helpless.If Blake could help her, she would not hesitate to play along and use him.Ivanka studied Blake with scrutiny and vigilance.This man had only appeared around Tanya twice. Her secret backer would not appear in public so openly.But Blake promised to help Tanya. It showed that he w
Ivanka was not a mild-tempered person.Alexander chuckled and said, “It’s not like I enjoy being rejected. It depends on who is rejecting me. I’ll only enjoy it if you’re the one doing it. By the way, are you coming over? I have the answer you want!”As he spoke, he drawled on purpose.Ivanka’s heart sank.Alexander said he had the answer to her question. He had also stated clearly that the person who wanted her dead was a woman.Therefore, it could be the masked woman next to him!With that in mind, Ivanka was intrigued.Her lips curled into a smile. “Since you have invited me so cordially, I should at least show up out of politeness.”After a few encounters with Ivanka, Alexander knew that she was smart. She must have connected the dots somehow, or else her attitude would not change so easily.But considering that he was the one showing his hand first, he would be intimidated if she kept digging.In fact, rather than working with Eleanor, he wanted to see Ivanka at her best
If this had been anyone else, Michael would not have tolerated such arrogance from Jackie. He would have already beaten him up and coldly told him to get lost.However, Jackie was Vincent’s man.And Vincent was Ivanka’s uncle. For that reason alone, Michael swallowed the anger surging within him.“Let’s go then.”In the end, he conceded. It was not because of Jackie, but because of what Evan had said. He could not just let Ivanka return and find no one waiting for her.However, before leaving, Michael made arrangements. He instructed Evan to leave some men behind, ensuring that the moment Ivanka came back, he would know.He did not intend to withdraw the forces he had sent to rescue Ivanka either....Back in the country, Coco stood in the middle of the room and shouted arrogantly at the servants. “Go get Samuel! Tell him I have something to say!”She was making such a scene that the servants had no choice but to comply.After being informed of the situation, Samuel, upon hea
Coco simply smiled and stayed silent.Samuel had plenty of time to wait her out.Meanwhile, Jackie was also waiting for Michael. If he did not leave within the hour, Jackie would follow Vincenzo’s orders and put him on a plane back to Bostone.Time was running out. Just as Jackie was about to act, Michael’s phone rang. It was Samuel.Samuel had never sounded this anxious and serious before. “Michael, get back here now. Your grandmother collapsed. I took her to the hospital, but she still hadn’t woken up. Coco said that if she doesn’t see you in three days, your grandma will die.”Michael knew Coco was bad news, but he never expected her to strike at such a critical moment.Ivanka was still missing, but Rosie was his family. He could not abandon either of them.But at that moment, he had to choose Rosie.“Okay, I’ll come back now.”He immediately contacted Evan.Evan was his trusted aide. Naturally, he had to stay behind to follow up on any news regarding Ivanka.But Jackie w
Rosie liked Ivanka way more than Samuel. Besides, there was no conflict between the two of them, so why did Rosie’s attitude toward Ivanka suddenly become so frosty?But Rosie simply shot Samuel a cold glare. “Do I need any reason to start hating someone? Anyway, Coco isn’t too bad. I’m going to meet with her and talk to her about the wedding arrangement…”“Wedding arrangement? Who is getting married?”Samuel quickly cut her off. He was utterly flabbergasted and could not believe what he had just heard.Rosie glared at him again. “Coco and Michael are about the same age. Who else is she going to marry? Me? Of course she’s marrying Michael. He’s the only single one in our family.”As she said that, Rosie walked off and left him behind.She looked so determined. Recalling her tone earlier on, Samuel was increasingly certain that something must be very wrong with her.He glanced at the house staff and signaled them to follow Rosie. They immediately obliged.Then Samuel immediate
Before Michael even finished his sentence, Vincent cut him off angrily.He said to Michael with a fierce glare, “Get out of her sight. If I see you anywhere near her, you’ll suffer a fate worse than death!”With that, Vincent turned around and left. His subordinates surrounded Michael soon after.Jackie was leading those men.He was rather straightforward. “Listen, we tolerated you because of Ms. Ivanka. Now that she is in trouble, you’d better listen to my boss and leave within an hour. Don’t piss him off.”Certainly, Michael would not listen to him.But as he insisted on staying, he received a call from Rosie.From the moment he had noticed that something was off with Rosie to after he arrived in Mirvania, he had not received a single call from her. The person he had hired to watch over her had not sent him any messages either.This phone call immediately alarmed Michael.Once he answered, Rosie’s old, frail voice rang out in his ear, “When are you coming back, Mic? I have
Seeing that, Vincent immediately gave Njord and Stella an order without hesitation.“Find out where his hideout is. I want to make him die a terrible death!”His bellow of rage rang out.Njord and Stella noticed his grim expression and the fierce glint in his bloodshot eyes.They had been working for Vincent for many years, but neither had seen him so angry. He was even angrier than the time Stella defamed Ivanka!Naturally, Njord and Stella got to work right away.As for Michael, he could hear the commotion at the front door earlier on. After Vincent left and Evan returned to him, Michael asked before Evan even said anything, “What’s the matter?”Evan replied with a solemn expression, “It’s Vincent. He’s here for Ivanka.”Hearing that, Michael’s face instantly darkened.Ivanka had already left. If Vincent showed up to look for her at that hour, it must have meant that something was up with Ivanka!Michael immediately pulled the blanket off himself and tried to get out of bed
Mr. George intercepted Ivanka at the hotel entrance.He had brought some men with him. Ivanka narrowed her eyes.Before she said anything, Mr. George smiled and said, “Greetings, Ms. Lane.”“What’s the meaning of this, Mr. George?” Ivanka knew what he was clearly up to when he brought so many men with him to intercept her. But she was not afraid.Mr. George’s smile broadened. “You’re a smart girl. I just want to befriend you, and I need your help with something. Do you mind going to the Middle East with me?”He had a plastic grin on his face as he said that.It was very fake.Ivanka knew the underlying meaning of his “invitation”. If she refused, then this “invitation” would turn into kidnapping.He would order his men to take her to the Middle East by force.Clearly, Mr. George no longer had reservations about offending Vincent.Ivanka immediately chuckled. “Do you think I’m here on my own?”“I never assumed that,” Mr. George smiled as he replied slowly.He stepped forwa
As Michael asked this question, he looked over at Ivanka with his dark eyes.At that moment, he seemed very serious.The firm and determined look in his eyes seemed to imply that he would gladly die for her.Ivanka knew that Michael was in love with her. After all, they had been through so much together.But she still could not get over their unpleasant past.“If you’re actually looking forward to that, then I won’t do it. How about that?” Ivanka snapped and quickly averted her gaze from Michael. After she stopped paying attention to him, she worked a lot faster.Soon, Ivanka started giving Michael a massage and pressing on all the sore spots.Michael did not dare move.It was mostly because he did not want her efforts to be in vain.Seeing the serious look on her face, Michael pressed his lips together and said slowly after seconds of silence, “If you can vent your anger by chopping off my limbs, then why not? Besides, you won’t be held accountable for it.”If Ivanka ever wa
The man in front of Sandy sneered again and strode toward her. Other men followed him.When they all approached her at once, Sandy felt a sense of tension.After all, she was alone in the basement parking lot and facing a bunch of hostile men.“How dare you!”Sandy clenched her fist and shouted at them in a steely voice.“Do you know who I am? I’m Ivan York’s girlfriend—Ahh!”Before she even finished, someone knocked her out from the back with a bat.Then they put a gunny sack over her head and tossed her into a van.…In a hotel near Kingzillion Casino, Evan brought Ivanka some food and milk tea when he came back.Of course, he bought them because Michael had told him to.Michael thought that Ivanka would not throw these things into the trashcan right in front of him and Evan.But Ivanka glanced at the food and knew that it was Michael’s idea.As an assistant, Evan would not ask around to figure out what she liked.When Ivanka did not take the food and drink, Evan said t
Since Robin’s dad had chosen a criminal defense lawyer who would represent him for free, he would not agree to switch lawyers.It would be hard for Ivan to persuade him unless Sandy backed down willingly.But based on her current attitude, she was not going to do that.She was such a difficult woman!“You’re asking me to talk to his dad? You might as well tell me to keep persuading you. Given the situation, you know full well that the man can’t be convinced.”As he spoke, Ivan heaved a long sigh.Sandy ignored him.Soon, the car arrived at Ivan’s law firm.It was time for him to get out of the car, as he said he would.Sandy did not urge him to get out. She hoped that he would not go back on his own words.Ivan noticed that she did not intend to say anything. There was a cold look on her face.Eventually, he summoned up the courage to put his arm around her neck and pull her closer.“I love you, Sandy. I’ll love you till the end of time!”With that, he kissed her hard on t