She narrowed her eyes. “Are you trying to scare me?”Ivan chuckled softly. “I wouldn’t dare try to scare you. Besides, with that temper of yours, do you think I could? Sandy, if I really wanted to get something done, you know how quickly I could get them done. If you’re not worried, fine, but do you think I couldn’t just call a locksmith?”Sandy was furious.She could not take it anymore and cursed, “You are such a jerk!”The next second, she angrily yanked the door open.Ivan stood there with a grin plastered on his face.Sandy, however, was not in the mood for his charm. She lifted her leg and aimed a kick at him, but Ivan quickly stepped back and dodged it.“What, you come over here in the middle of the night to bother me and can’t even take a hit?” Sandy’s lips curled into a sneer.Ivan’s grin widened. “Hey, getting hit or yelled at, that’s tough love. Love is love, of course I can take it. But in this situation, if I got hurt, who’d be around to take care of you?”“Ha.”
Sandy felt speechless. Ivan’s sudden shift in emotions did not sit right with her. She was skeptical.“Has Ivan really grown this desperate just to get his hands on Mom’s stuff?” She thought with a scoff.“Then show me the text about your accounts being frozen,” Sandy demanded bluntly.Ivan had nothing to show her, of course. Besides, even if he tried searching online for false records, Sandy was right there, watching his every move.He could not exactly make a call to his people to fabricate something with her standing right in front of him, either.While Ivan found himself stuck, Sandy spoke first. “If you don’t have it, stop pretending. Do you think you can fool me? Not a chance!”Now it was Ivan’s turn to be speechless.He thought. “This woman is impossible! Nothing gets through to her!”Ivan felt his temper flare. He considered getting tough but then thought better of it. With Sandy’s fiery personality, a head-on approach would only backfire.Raising his hands in
Ivan, however, did not see it that way. “How is that considered clingy? If things go well between them now, they will get back together. Isn’t that a good thing? Sandy, haven’t you heard that there’s nothing better than getting back with your original spouse?”Besides, Michael only made such foolish mistakes because he had not realized his true feelings.But now, if Michael and Ivanka really patched things up, they could rebuild their relationship and become a power couple. They would be stronger than ever while taking on the world. How amazing would that be?Sandy could not agree with Ivan’s perspective at all.“Sure, ‘getting back with your original spouse’. There’s truth in that. But they’re already divorced. Do you know another saying about this?”Ivan, genuinely curious, asked, “What would that be?”“Late love is cheaper than dirt!” Sandy’s response was blunt and left no room for sentiment.Ivan did not know how to respond to that.Sandy had a point. If anyone was to blame
As Vincent watched Ivanka enjoy her meal, he gently brought up the subject. “Why don’t you take Michael back to the country with you a couple of days later?”If she stayed, Michael would never go. With her still harboring feelings for him, there was no way she could fully cut ties with him.Vincent did not want anyone else involved in certain matters. The best solution at that moment was for Ivanka to take Michael back.Besides, he did not want Ivanka to get involved in the risks ahead. He planned to find the truth himself. He would find out who was targeting her and take care of those people.Ivanka immediately looked at him. “Do you want me to go back with Michael, or do you want me to return here after dropping him off?”Vincent did not hesitate. “I meant for you to go back with him.”Ivanka instantly understood, but she refused without a second thought, and she was firm in her decision.“Uncle, I know you don’t approve of Michael, and you’ve warned me about him more th
After understanding Ivanka’s point of view, Vincent did not insist on keeping her in the country.However, just as Ivanka was about to say something, her phone rang. It was Evan’s number.Noticing the time difference, Ivanka could not help but had a bad feeling.She answered the call, only to hear Evan’s urgent voice. “Ms. Lane, Mdm. Barkworth’s condition has worsened, and she’s been rushed to the ER again. When are you and Mr. Barkworth coming back?”Hearing this, Ivanka’s face darkened. “Didn’t I already send you the prescription?”She had gone over the process with Evan multiple times. She even sent the entire prescription and steps to his phone. All Evan had to do was follow them.It had been two days. She thought Rosie would have already started taking the medicine, she did not expect…Ivanka was speechless.Evan glanced at Rosie, who was lying nearby and looking frail, then considered Ivanka and Michael’s situation. Gathering his courage, he explained. “Ms. Lane, it’s Mdm
But why would an old lady like Rosie harbor any ill intentions? As Evan had said, Rosie only trusted Ivanka and did not dare ingest the medicine without Ivanka’s supervision. On top of that, Rosie also wanted her and Michael to come home, where she could see them.Only then could Rosie watch over them and set them up when the opportunity arose.After all, she had never given up on her matchmaking plan.Ivanka nodded. “I know what Grandma is up to, but her impossible wish will never come true. As for the investigation, let’s get it started when I return, or I can do it myself. After all, I’m no longer a child. I can handle everything on my own.”Her mother abandoned her when she was young. Her father gave his all and raised her himself. Later on, Theodore and his family murdered him, and Ivanka was all alone. She had gotten used to solving her problems on her own.Vincent stopped trying to persuade her. But he knew that he would never let her deal with this matter alone.Meanwhi
Michael understood what Ivanka meant.If he had not received the news about Rosie, he would have stayed put. But since he knew, he could not afford to stay any longer.He called Evan on the phone.Rosie picked up.“I’m fine at the moment. Since Iv has scheduled her flight, you should do as she says.”Although Rosie did not sound as energetic as she used to be, she did not sound ill or frail.Hearing her voice, Michael frowned and started having doubts.He asked her right away, “Grandma, is there really a medical emergency?”But his question angered Rosie. “Do you think I faked it? Are you seriously asking me this right now?”Rosie knew that Michael had begun to suspect her, so she pretended to be mad to distract him.Michael pressed his lips together and said, “That’s not what I mean, Grandma. Ivanka and I… She’s only heading back for you. You won’t get what you want from her.”Although he had had a vague desire to get back together with her from time to time and even knew t
Ivan lay on the couch with a blanket over him.At that moment, he was staring at his phone, and the words on the screen said: 108 Tips to Win Her Heart.Although he was a little worried whether it would work, he believed that with enough determination, he would surely succeed!He was rather confident.On the next day, Ivan and Sandy set off to the airport.When they were buying the tickets, Ivan said, “Apart from looking for Ivanka, we should come up with other plans, such as visiting tourist spots…”Sandy sneered, and Ivan stopped talking.He sensed her disdain toward him.As expected, Sandy immediately said with disgust, “Aren’t you broke? Do you want to tour Mirvania without a single penny on you, Ivan? Are you begging me to take you in or trying to cheat me out of my money?”Ivan was speechless.This wench did not have a romantic bone in her body!But he really should not have mentioned that he was penniless.Ivan immediately put on a grin. “I’m indeed broke, but Michae
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