Perhaps it was because of the tranquilizer or because Ivanka was by his side. Michael seemed to be a lot more relieved and fell asleep quickly.When she heard the even sound of breathing next to her, Ivanka sat up and stared at him. She shook her head.She really could not guess what Michael was up to!In the past, he treated her badly. Yet he sacrificed his life to save her now! As she stayed in the same room with him, the events of that day replayed like scenes from a movie. All the moments were racing through her head, disturbing her thoughts.The next day, she got up early.It was also mainly to make a call to her assistant.Theodore had suffered such a big loss last night. He kneeled and said all those nice things. Yet she did not budge at any of those either. He would definitely come up with something on his end.“Keep a close eye on those projects in the company. Do not make any mistakes!”“Yes,” the assistant replied.“I have something to do, and I may not be able to g
Michael typically avoided interacting with women, especially those with overly delicate and sugary tones. It always struck him as odd and unsettling.However, Ivanka was there with him.The young nurse stood in front of him. Her head was lowered like a schoolgirl who just got scolded. She would not leave without his forgiveness.Meanwhile, Ivanka quietly ate her breakfast by the side. The whole situation did not seem to concern her.That made Michael feel a little frustrated. He frowned and said, “You said it wasn’t intentional, but it felt like the opposite.”His question made the nurse’s face pale immediately. “Um…”Michael’s gaze was sharp like a dagger.The nurse fidgeted with her hands and continued to stammer in a humble tone, “Mr. Barkworth, I swear it wasn’t on purpose. It really wasn’t. It’s just that your presence is so overwhelming. I-I-I find it hard to breathe when I get close to you.”Michael’s commanding presence was undeniable.His sharp and cold features only
“Michael, if you don’t care about your health, why bother getting treatment? You might as well just go home and wait to die!”A mocking and indifferent voice came from not far away.The words carried a strong sense of disapproval toward Michael.Michael and Ivanka turned toward the source of the voice. Ivan, dressed sharply in a tailored suit and carrying his briefcase, approached them at a deliberate pace. His words were not the only thing dripping with annoyance. His expression radiated coldness and contempt.Ivan had clearly come looking for Michael. The moment he heard Michael was at the hospital, with Ivanka by his side, he dropped everything and rushed over.He knew full well that while Michael’s health was fragile, the man was not made of paper. One little shove would not knock him over. Assessing the scene in front of him, Ivan quickly caught on to the situation.Michael, however, shot him a sharp glare. He was silently telling him to shut up.Ivan raised an eyebrow
Ivan’s words made Michael fall silent and threw him into a bout of introspection.So, was Ivanka’s annoyance with him mostly because he did not act like a patient enough?Did that mean he needed to act more like a patient?Seeing Michael lost in thought, Ivan seized the moment and continued, “Women are soft-hearted. And come on, you were her husband once. No matter what, you two were married. If something happened to you, do you really think she’d just stand by and let you die?”Her husband once…Those words hit Michael like a dagger.Once.If he could not win back Ivanka, that word would define their relationship forever.Noticing Michael’s expression growing even darker, Ivan sighed. “Just get back in bed, will you? Let her take care of you for now. And listen, don’t feel guilty about it, and definitely don’t act like you did earlier. If I were in your shoes, well, let’s just say I wouldn’t waste this chance.”Otherwise, he could have tried the same approach to keep Sandy by
If the artery near his heart ruptures, it would lead to massive bleeding. Michael could die instantly without a chance for resuscitation!Therefore, Michael needed complete bed rest right now. No stress, no overexertion, not even casual walking around. He could not do anything that required strenuous movement!The first priority was clear, which was to completely eliminate the residual drugs in Michael’s system. However, given his current condition, even something as drastic as a full blood transfusion was not an option.Michael’s case was proving to be increasingly complicated.Ivanka, remembering how Michael had yanked out his IV and gotten out of bed just moments ago, felt a surge of anger rise within her. She was so furious she wanted to kill him!She threw the test results onto the table. “You’ll have to be the one to tell Michael. He doesn’t listen to a word I say. Tell him this, if he wants to live, he’d better follow the doctor’s orders. If he wants to die, then he can lea
Seeing Ivan catch up to her, Ivanka frowned. “What do you want?”Ivan wasted no time. “I need your help. I need you to set me up with Sandy.”He did not beat around the bush. This was, after all, the main reason he had come to the hospital today.Back in Mirvania, he had already asked her once. At the time, she had said they could talk about it once she returned home. However, Sandy just called her yesterday to talk about Ivan.Her tone was dripping with disdain and frustration when she talked about him.Ivanka shook her head. “I can’t help you with that. If Sandy likes you, and you like her, then I…”“If we both liked each other, do you think someone like Sandy would need anyone to play matchmaker?” Ivan interrupted before she could finish.Ivanka was momentarily at a loss for words. She could not deny that Ivan was right. With Sandy’s personality, if she really liked someone, there would be no need for anyone to step in.Still, the dynamic that these two shared was rather c
Of course, there had also been Samuel, Michael’s grandfather, orchestrating their marriage.Before Ivanka could say more, Ivan realized he had misspoken and hurried to explain. “Wait, that’s not what I meant! I was talking about before. Now Michael’s different. He really wants to fix things and make it up to you. Just forget what I said earlier!”His flustered response amused Ivanka. She teased him, “Spilled words are like spilled water. I already heard them. Do you really think I can just ignore them?”She was not deaf, after all. There was no taking back what he had just said.Ivan looked visibly annoyed with himself. He thought. “Why couldn’t I keep my mouth shut? If Michael finds out what I’d just blurted, he’d probably kill me. Seriously, I have a knack for saying the wrong thing.”“All right, enough of this. I’m busy, so I have to go. As for Sandy, if she’s open to considering you and you manage to prove that you’re reliable, I’ll help where I can. But if she has no intere
Ivanka was at a loss for words for a second.She had not expected Ivan to say something like that.Did he just assume she was going to see Sandy?Ivanka felt resigned. “Fine, I’ll call you a cab and have it take you straight to Sandy. Also, why not just ask Michael for money?”Her last point hit the nail on the head.Ivan was momentarily speechless. She was not wrong. It did not make sense for him to go to her instead of Michael. However, with the agreement he and Michael had made, there was no way he could let Ivanka leave alone, especially not when he needed to stop her from potentially meeting Jonah.With a long sigh and a look of exaggerated helplessness, Ivan said, “I thought about it, but you know how it is. Men have their pride, or what little of it we have left. Look, I get what you’re thinking. But if you just take me to Sandy, then fine, let me be pitied. I’ll take it. If I didn’t mean it, do you think I’d still be standing here asking you like this?”His words were
Egbert stormed off in fury, but Sandy’s rage had not cooled in the slightest. She even lashed out at Ivan. “You shouldn’t have stopped me just now! If I’d given him a good scolding, or even a beating, maybe it would’ve finally knocked some sense into him. Otherwise, he’ll keep coming back. He’s always trying to use me for his own purposes!”She was so angry she was practically grinding her teeth. Ivan pressed his lips together and let out a long sigh. “With the way you looked like you were ready to kill someone, what did you expect me to do? Just stand there and watch you commit murder?”He was really worried when he saw how Sandy was losing control. “What’s the point of that old b*stard still being alive anyway?” Sandy said coldly. If she could really get rid of that old man, she would do it so she could avenge her mother and let go of that grudge she had been holding on.Ivan shook his head and said in a low voice, “Then think about it, how hard did you work to get to where yo
Sandy exploded. “Eighty million? Why don’t you go rob a bank? Or better yet, see if that wrinkled old face of yours is worth anything as collateral!”Sandy was fuming.Egbert had not expected Sandy to be so vulgar. He turned back, enraged.His black eyes shot daggers like he could rip her apart on the spot. Sandy did not flinch. Instead, she lifted her chin and gave him a cold, mocking smile. “What? Are you so mad that you’re thinking about hitting me? Do you want me to remind you of the law? We have no legal ties anymore. If you so much as touch me, that’s assault. And let’s not forget, you barged into my workplace to cause a scene.”“Sandy, I don’t know what kind of twisted morals your birth mother and adoptive mother taught you, but just look at yourself now! Do you even resemble a proper human being?”Egbert was extremely disappointed in Sandy. The one thing Sandy hated most was when people brought up her birth mother and adoptive mother. Those two women were the most import
Egbert snapped at Sandy coldly. His gaze was pressing.However, that had no effect on Sandy. Her lips even curled into a mocking smile as she said, “I’m not one of your McNeil pets. That look, your words, they cannot intimidate me at all.”At the mention of “pets,” Egbert was so furious that he slammed his cane against the floor with a loud crack. “Listen to yourself! Is that any way for a lawyer to speak? Do you even understand the meaning of respect, decency, and manners? Is that how your mother raised you?”Sandy had been mean and harsh on purpose to kill whatever sliver of hope he held onto.Just as she wished, he was angered.Watching him lose his composure, Sandy even felt a flicker of satisfaction rise within her. Her mother and herself were thrown out and lived a tough life while her father stood by uselessly. Who else was to blame, if not this old man standing before her?“My mother raised me to be a decent person. She taught me never to push away what’s rightfully mine,
Thomas stated his purpose.Sandy’s reaction, however, was full of repulsion. She frowned. Even her tone was curt. “Uncle, I made it very clear about seeing him the last time we spoke. He never once considered me part of the McNeil family. If it weren’t for my mother taking me in, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Now that I’ve grown up and suddenly seem useful, he wants to claim me back? I was abandoned by the McNeil family the moment I was born. I’m not stupid enough to become a pawn for your family!”Sandy was furious.She had always treated Thomas with a certain courtesy, but at the moment, that line had clearly been crossed.Thomas, though only the messenger, could feel the weight of her resentment. “It may not be as bad as you think. If you won’t go, Dad will come find you himself.”That was the truth. Yet Sandy did not spare the old man a shred of respect. She scoffed. “He might be your dad, your head of the family, but he’s nothing to me. From the moment I was abandoned, th
Sandy was really surprised to see Ivanka. “When did you get back?”“Today,” Ivanka answered honestly.“You have quite a packed schedule for just one day.” Sandy teased her.When they had planned to take down Coco last time, Ivanka was not around. Then Michael returned. From what Sandy could tell, they were always either together or closely following each other.Ivanka did not respond to her teasing. “I’ll only be here for a day or two, then I would have to leave again.”Sandy was speechless. She rolled her eyes at Ivanka. “Are you going to become a full-time jet setter?”“She can’t help it,” Anna answered for Ivanka. Just as she finished saying that, Anna’s phone rang. It was another case to follow up on. She had to step away to take the call.Only Ivanka and Sandy remained in the office. “You look exhausted. If you keep going like this, I’m worried you’ll wear yourself out!” Sandy shook her head and expressed her concern for Ivanka. Ivanka chuckled. “I wouldn’t go that fa
When she heard what Anna said, Ivanka immediately teased. “Why, can’t I even come to the firm?”“Well, of course, you can come. You are an important partner; why can’t you come?” Anna laughed and looked at Ivanka, annoyed. Immediately after, she made a cup of tea for Ivanka.The tea was also of fine quality. She had bought it.Ivanka also remembered how she, Anna, and Sandy, the three of them, used to work hard together in the firm after she divorced Michael. Originally, she wanted to live on her own. However, one thing happened after another, and her plans got delayed. “I don’t see Sandy. Has she gone to handle cases?” Ivanka sipped a mouthful of tea, and immediately after, she asked Anna about Sandy’s whereabouts.Anna told Ivanka truthfully. “Sandy recently took over a very tricky case. She wants to make a not-guilty defense for that person. But the father of the deceased is the Groethe family, a rather prestigious family in Bostone. How could a commoner fight with a rich ki
But as time went on, things happened one after another. While they were in contact with each other, she also slowly understood Jonah’s personality.The most important thing was that Jonah was also honest with her later on.When Jonah mentioned this again, Ivanka could not help but scrutinize Jonah again.He was starting to become unhinged!“Jonah, you need to stabilize your emotions. Sometimes, when you feel impatient, you should just close your eyes and take a good rest. You should not have such emotions.”Ivanka spoke solemnly toward Jonah and advised him. When he saw Ivanka’s serious expression, Jonah instantly also realized that he had lost himself.Ivanka was not like Chiara, who could accept him losing control. If he lost control in front of Ivanka, it would affect Ivanka’s mood. That would make him courting death too! This would put a halt to all his opportunities!Jonah also realized this problem. He was very distressed. He could not even explain why his emotions had
When Ivanka said this, she pressed her hand on Jonah’s shoulder. There was no other meaning, she wanted Jonah to calm down.But this instead gave Jonah an opportunity. He grabbed Ivanka’s wrist. Then he tugged forward forcefully… Ivanka was caught off guard, and her whole body fell on top of him.He then took advantage of the situation and held Ivanka in his arms.The faint scent entered his nose, Jonah was intoxicated for a moment.But at that moment, he felt like he was waking up from a dream.Ivanka could not be so intimate with him. The sensations of touch and warmth in front of him were so real again. It was not an illusion, it was his compulsion!After realizing this, Jonah hurriedly pushed Ivanka away. He even more quickly apologized to Ivanka. “Iv, I’m sorry. I lost control. I didn’t mean to…”“I know.”Ivanka uttered softly, but her tone was cold.She knew. Neither did she blame him. But why was she using that tone, with that look on her face?“No, Iv. you’re blami
“Jonah, I don’t like you. I told you, I only see you as a friend. When I’m unwilling to do something, no amount of moral coercion would work on me.”Ivanka spoke up bluntly. She did not want Jonah to cling to something impossible.Jonah was silent.This was where Jonah and Michael were different.“Look, you still have so many things to do. By the time you remember me, we have already missed the best time. This time when you leave, did Michael go with you?” Jonah raised his eyes to meet Ivanka’s. He wanted to hear Ivanka’s answer from her mouth.Ivanka did not reply. But the look in her eyes already said it all.Her silence confirmed it all.Jonah felt that his heart grow incredibly heavy at the moment. He had a crazy thought: Was it true that if Michael died, Ivanka would be able to focus all her attention on him?However, he was an invalid and did not even have a chance to get close!“The way you treat Michael and the way you treat me has always been so different. I know. A