Ivanka narrowed her eyes and retorted, “If it wasn’t you two, then who the hell is trying to kill me, huh?”Was it George?No way!He was too obsessed and twisted. He would not just kill someone without making sure they suffered first. Besides, no matter how mad he got, he would still respect Vincent and avoid causing too much trouble at the casino.Ivanka had a feeling that the person who fired two shots and then committed suicide was not as simple as it seemed. Alexander was a possible culprit.Alexander pursed his lips and interrupted Ivanka’s train of thought as he said, “You can suspect us all you want, but we deserve a chance to explain. If I really wanted you dead, you’d be six feet under already when Eleanor’s people tried to get rid of you earlier.”Before Ivanka could respond, Alexander continued, “Me and Eleanor are powerless right now. If you don’t believe me, ask Vincenzo. Didn’t he send someone to tail us the whole time?”Ivanka fell silent.If it was not them, an
That could only mean that this Alexander guy was on par with Michael!They must have run into some trouble and delayed their return home.Jonah spoke frankly, “Ivanka, just send me your location. I’m on my way to you right now.”Jonah had always been a man of his word.Ivanka calmly replied, “I have almost everything sorted out here. Once Michael and I finish up the last few things, I’ll head back. You don’t need to come help.”Michael had already taken two bullets for her. How could she manage both of them if Jonah came over and something happened to him too?!“Iv, you can’t—”Before he could finish his sentence, Ivanka cut in. “I’m fine here. I’ll get in touch when I’m back. I’ve got stuff to take care of, so I’m hanging up now.”On the other end of the line, Jonah’s expression turned serious as he fell silent.When Ivanka hung up the phone and was about to put it away, she caught Michael’s sharp gaze.She was surprised and asked, “When did you wake up? How are you feeling?
“Hmm.” Michael nodded. Although he had a high tolerance for medication, his body was still reacting realistically.He was swollen all over, and his voice was weak and hoarse.“Just don’t talk. Get some rest. I’ll be here,” Ivanka said. She decided not to argue with him any longer. After she finished speaking, she leaned back in her chair.At this hour, she was also feeling tired.Michael said nothing. For some reason, after Ivanka spoke, he felt an overwhelming sense of calm inside.He even felt... somehow reassured.Since he could not move, he could not pull Ivanka closer.After hesitating for a while, Michael finally said to Ivanka, “Come and lie next to me.”Ivanka was taken aback. She sat up and stared at him in disbelief.In three years of marriage, they had met only a handful of times. Everyone knew of his contempt for her.They had not even had a proper conversation during those three years. Whenever they did talk, he spoke to her with disdain.She thought hell must h
That stubborn jerk rarely agreed with her on anything. He was so set in his ways!Ivanka initially wanted to scold Michael, but when she saw him lying weakly in bed, she managed to hold back her anger.She pursed her lips and said, “If you were in good health, I would’ve—”“Am I disabled or something?” Michael interrupted sharply before she could finish.The deep frown on his face made it clear that he was upset. He did not agree with Ivanka’s statement.Ivanka was taken aback. She then became extremely furious.Though she managed to suppress her anger, she could not hold back her words. She snapped at him, “I never said you were disabled! Michael, you know what I mean. Stop arguing with me!“You’ve been shot. It takes around three months to heal from serious injuries. Even if you have a high pain tolerance, you’re going to need at least ten days to two weeks of bed rest. Let me ask you: if someone had a gun to your head right now, could you just jump up and disarm them in an in
She looked at his composed face and then said, “Honestly, thinking back on that scene still freaks me out. Didn’t you ever consider it? What if things had gone wrong? No, what if the other guy was just slightly more accurate? Do you think you could still be lying here in front of me, saying all this?”“We’re divorced. What I do and who I see is my business. You don’t have the right to interfere in my life like that. And I want you to know that no matter what happens between us, you’re still a living person. I could never just stand by and let anyone die.”Upon hearing her firm stance, Michael frowned and said casually, almost mockingly, “Is that so?”He smiled, but it did not reach his eyes.Just as Ivanka was about to respond, Michael questioned her, “If it’s really just about one life, then why were you trembling when you spoke after I got shot?”He had noticed back then that her fingers were trembling too.But as she had said, it was natural for people to have emotions.Micha
Besides, he could not get over the anger from the confiscation in the basement and the defeat in the confrontation!Njord tilted his head back while feeling resentment swell inside him.“Vincenzo, Michael is no good. If he’s dead, then Ms. Ivanka won’t have to deal with him anymore. Plus, he’s already divorced from her. Why should he still get to enjoy her kindness and act tough in the casino?”“Only because he’s Ivanka’s ex-husband. Njord, you’re my most trusted man. I don’t want to have to repeat myself. I said you can’t touch Michael, and that means you can’t touch him.”Vincent’s words were harsh.Njord fell silent. He felt a strong sense of resentment, but the pain of his current situation outweighed that resentment. He was caught between his feelings and the reality he faced.He had worked at Kingzillion Casino for many years and viewed it as his home. He saw Vincent as family and found it hard to accept that Vincent prioritized Ivanka’s needs over Michael’s position. Vin
However, Ivanka no longer wanted to argue with Michael about this.“This is the medicine and tea I’ve prepared for you. You should take the medicine and drink the tea while it’s still hot.”As she spoke, Ivanka handed him the medicine and tea that she had just set aside.Michael slowly raised his left hand, which was receiving an IV drip. Then, he pretended to cough repeatedly.“Feed me.”Even if he had not said it, Ivanka was planning to do it anyway.She then informed him of her intention to let Blake go.“I’m going to let Blake and Tanya go soon. Right now, you don’t have time to deal with them. When the Cullen family comes asking for them, you’ll have to accommodate them.”Ivanka was right. But ever since Michael had Evan hold those two, he hadn’t considered letting them go.Although Michael was not worried and could ignore the consequences of keeping them locked up, Ivanka could not afford to be so reckless. In the end, he acknowledged her point and agreed with her.Ivan
Ivanka deserved it. This was her own doing!Blake, who was right across from her, looked at her and said, “I just love seeing you like this.”He was smiling, but his smile did not reach his eyes.Tanya was momentarily taken aback. She quickly regained her composure and glared at him in discontent.He narrowed his eyes and said without reservation, “You look so cute when you’re plotting against others.”She shot him a cold glance and finally spoke softly, “I really think you should stay out of it.”He raised an eyebrow and said with a grin, “No, thanks. You know I’ll always have your back, right?”His voice sounded carefree and casual.Tanya gave him a faint glare and chose not to say anything more.Time was up!Just as she had planned, Ivanka’s video was posted all over the internet!Meanwhile, Ivanka’s phone was charging in the room.She had no clue that people were buzzing about her online and throwing all kinds of accusations her way.Sandy had called her multiple times
Ivanka remained in a daze. She struggled to get to Sandy.Candice could not stop her at all. She did not dare to use force on her, either. She was conflicted. Just then, Michael walked over with a fruit basket. When he saw Ivanka wanting to get out of bed, he rushed over in a couple of steps and single-handedly pulled Ivanka back into the hospital bed.Ivanka was still struggling to get on the floor. When Candice saw Michael come, she breathed out a sigh of relief.Michael frowned and stared at Ivanka. “Do you want to die?” It was the first time he was so fierce to Ivanka.Ivanka was stunned silent for a moment as she looked at Michael. There was not much emotion in her eyes. Michael sighed and said in a soft voice, “I know you’re worried right now, but Sandy is already in the ICU. I’ve found the best doctors. Trust me, okay?”Michael saw that Ivanka was in a daze and unresponsive, so he brought her hand up to his lips and kissed it. “Don’t worry about everything and leave it
Water. Endless water.It was as if Ivanka was trapped inside a tank of water. Everywhere she looked and her eyes and body touched, there was water.She tried to find a way out, but could not.Slowly, her breath was taken away.Ivanka held her neck, desperately trying to breathe and failing.She could even count the seconds by.“Huff—”Ivanka opened her eyes suddenly, accompanied by a violent gasping sound. It sounded a bit like a drowning person who had been inside the sea by a wave and lapped ashore again. This was a person who had escaped by chance and was finally able to breathe fresh air. “You’re awake!”In her ears, a familiar voice rang out, and only then did Ivanka’s somewhat blurred vision begin to focus.A somewhat unfamiliar ceiling. Her nostrils filled with the unpleasant smell of disinfectant. Next to her was an anxious Candice.“I…” Ivanka tried to speak, but it was as if her voice was not her own. As soon as she opened her mouth, her voice was like porcelain s
After all, when they ate breakfast, Jimothy was not there. She thought he had left first.It was only at this time that she realized that he had not left, and was still standing right behind Candice. The look in his eyes when he looked at Candice was in no way innocent.Ivanka’s and Sandy’s gazes were sharp, so Jimothy smiled slightly at the two of them and nodded.Ivanka also nodded politely at him in return.Afterward, his eyes were glued to Candice again. The two of them would whisper from time to time as if no one else was there. So, they did seem a bit like a young couple.When Michael saw Ivanka look at someone else, he probably felt very irritated. Then he coughed twice.Ivanka gave Michael a strange look. Michael explained without batting an eye, “Sorry, I guess I have a bit of a cold.”Sandy could not help but start chatting with Ivanka.“I say, this Jimothy is interested in Candice.”Ivanka did not say anything and smiled.Obviously, she thought so too.The reason
None of the previous questions were the ones she wanted to ask. The one she really wanted to ask was the last one. Ivanka understood this clearly. After answering the previous question, Coco nodded with a look of realization. She took Ivanka’s hand and shook it in a friendly manner.If other people saw this, they might even think that they were sisters.“Ms. Iv, you still know the best, you’re also meticulous enough to remember all of this. It’s no wonder Grandma told me to learn more from you.”Ivanka was also smiling, but her smile was a little forced.Coco seemed like she was complimenting her. But in reality, it was a roundabout way of saying that she and Rosie had a good relationship.Although she knew that there was something fishy going on, Ivanka could not help but feel her skin crawl when Coco said this.When she saw the unnatural expression on Ivanka’s face, Coco knew that her purpose had been achieved, and she immediately asked, “Didn’t you say that you’re going to c
She could not explain it all in such a short moment. Then Coco was also eyeing the situation with a fierce and intense look. It was hard to say it out loud.Candice suddenly understood. The meal was somewhat silent. Ivanka especially felt very uncomfortable.She kept feeling like she was being stared at all the time, and such a stare made her feel very uncomfortable.Coco’s seemingly elusive eyes kept looking toward Ivanka, afraid that she would say something to Michael.Under Coco’s intense gaze, Ivanka could not find a chance to speak.They ate the meal in silence. Sandy and Ivan did not come until the end.In the end, it was Candice who spoke. Otherwise, the meal would probably have been spent in silence.“Why don’t we soak in a private bath after our nap? We can still make it back in the evening.”Ivanka nodded noncommittally.Michael looked at Ivanka and was a little surprised. “Didn’t you say you want to rest for a while longer? Why are you suddenly in such a hurry aga
Ivanka still felt that she should talk to Michael about this matter.The thought weighed her down with worry. After thinking about it, Ivanka still wanted to talk to Candice about this matter in advance.As soon as the call connected, Ivanka began to talk about this matter.At the door, Coco had wanted to come and return the cleanser. She stared at it with a wry smile. It contained some small gifts that she had carefully prepared. Although it was not so bad that Ivanka would be disfigured, it was good enough to make her unable to see anyone for a couple of weeks.Coco put away her smile. Her hand had just touched the doorknob when she heard a voice from inside.The door was of good quality, and the soundproofing was naturally good. So Coco could only hear some of it in bits and pieces.But it was what she heard that made her a little surprised and even more fearful.Vaguely, she could hear Ivanka say something about Grandma, something wrong, witches, and the like.Coco was ho
The next day, Ivanka woke up early.Probably because of the hot spring yesterday, she woke up refreshed today and did not sleep in.A glance at the time told her it was around 7 a.m.. She sent a message to the group and received plenty of responses. Ivanka: Does anyone want to go for breakfast together?[Me.][Me too.] … It seemed that everyone was up. Ivanka smiled. Soaking in the hot springs really did help improve blood circulation. The group agreed to meet in the lobby downstairs at 7:30 a.m.. Ivanka washed up first. After washing up, she called Rosie, mainly to talk about Coco. The phone rang for a while before it connected. Mrs. Ruth answered it, but she sounded a bit strange.Ivanka did not suspect anything amiss. “Mrs. Ruth, is Grandma awake? Let her answer the phone.” Mrs. Ruth sounded troubled. After a pause, she seemed ready to speak.Rosie’s voice came from the other end. In the next second, the phone sounded like it had been snatched away. “It’s me.
But Ivan did not have the heart to entertain her. His mind was filled with images of Sandy’s razor-sharp gaze at him when she left. As such, he felt absolutely annoyed. As the organizer of the event, Ivanka could not bear to watch the event fall into this state. Hence, she asked everyone to return to their rooms. “You can ask for a room service to deliver the meals to your doorstep. It’s late now. Take a good rest.” Ivanka forced herself to remain calm when she said that. After she finished her sentence, she yawned. With that, everyone left. Jimothy sent Candice home. Ivan and Michael left together. Meanwhile, Ivanka stayed around with Coco. After all, they stayed together. They did not talk to each other on the way. Michael deliberately walked behind Ivanka. He wanted to guard her until she returned to the hotel safely. Ivan whispered to him, “Have I done something wrong?” He mumbled to himself. Michael ignored him. They just kept walking. ... When they arriv
Ivanka turned to Michael and thanked him in a whisper. Then she gathered her clothes. While waiting for Ivan, the wind blew directly toward them, and it was really cold. Ivanka stared at Michael. He only wore a wool sweater, so she asked gently, “Aren’t you cold?” Michael shook his head. He pulled out a stool and sat beside Ivanka. When he pulled out the stool, it released a piercing sound. Michael looked at Ivanka apologetically. Her eyes had flown wide open. Sandy was about to fall asleep and woke up in a startle to the sound. She then looked at her watch. It was already 11:30 p.m.. They had already waited for 30 minutes. Ivan was a man. Did he need to take so long to get ready? He was not even a lady. There was no need for him to blow his hair dry. While Sandy seethed in anger, Ivan finally packed up and walked out. At that moment, Candice looked slightly awake. Jimothy was beside her, and he stared at her without blinking even once. Candice stroked her face. “Is