“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
Therefore, Ivan came clean and said, “I do intend to help you and Michael, but I’m also truly broke. Many people refuse to believe that. You’re the only one who was willing to lend me money right away. As for Michael, I haven’t told him about my predicament.”With that, he had explained why Michael did not help him out.He also wanted to convince Ivanka that he was telling the truth.Ivanka was not interested in whether Ivan had told Michael about his financial problem. She was bothered by what he said in the beginning. He wanted to help her and Michael out.Did he know the current state of their relationship?For some reason, everyone around them failed to see that.Ivanka pursed her lips with resignation. “We’re already divorced. We have been separated for quite some time. I don’t know what’s with you all. Do you seriously think that we can get back together again? If we could just make up, why did we get a divorce in the first place?”People indeed could remarry, but if they
When Ivanka mentioned Michael, Sandy was enraged.Michael was shameless!He insisted on getting Ivanka involved in everything he did. If they were a couple in a close-knit relationship, they had every right to do anything together.But they had already gotten a divorce. They were strangers. He should not cross the line again!Sandy was so furious that she wanted to run over to Michael and end him.“I know, but he’s very ill. When we were in Mirvania, he took two bullets for me when I was in danger.” Hearing what Sandy said to her, Ivanka felt rather dejected as well.She kept trying to cut ties with Michael, but he always had a reason to call her over.Recalling Xander’s words on his condition, Ivanka was rather troubled.Sandy disagreed with her. “He took the bullets for you willingly. You didn’t ask him to do it. Besides, didn’t you travel to Mirvania just to get medicine for his grandma?“Something bad happened because he brought you there. If you had stayed here, it wouldn
Ivanka understood everything just by looking at Stella’s expression.The drinks and pastries had to be the problem. The weakness and fatigue people were experiencing must have come from consuming them. She tested them with a test strip right away.As expected, they had been poisoned.She had not eaten anything, so she was fine. But she was unsure about Vincenzo, so she checked on him immediately. Thankfully, he was unharmed.Stella let out a deep breath.Before she could say anything, Vincenzo scolded her. “You ran back here and left Njord alone? Hurry up and get back there!”“Yes, Boss!”Stella responded quickly and ran off.Ivanka was about to speak when Michael and Evan rushed in.Michael looked anxious and was breathing heavily.Just like Stella, he was panicking.“Come here. Let me check.” Ivanka nodded at him. She knew how stubborn he was.Michael pursed his lips together and hesitated.But Ivanka had already stepped forward and checked on him. His pulse was weakenin
Vincenzo immediately noticed Michael putting some distance between them.It was not out of fear but respect for Vincenzo’s status. After all, he was Ivanka’s only family.Ivanka walked straight to Vincenzo without sparing Michael a glance.Michael could only stand there and watch her leave.Back at their spot, Vincenzo remained silent. Ivanka, however, felt uneasy.She had only gone to the restroom and had not expected to run into Michael.After some thought, she decided to explain.“Uncle, I didn’t go looking for him.”“You don’t need to explain. Even if you did, that’s your choice. I’ve said what I needed to. The decision is yours.”His tone was calm, but to Ivanka, it sounded like he was upset.She wanted to say more, but Vincenzo spoke first. “Don’t blame yourself. I’m not angry. Once the banquet is over, take a few days to rest. Then we’ll head out.”“Alright.”Since he had already said that, there was nothing more to say.Caeser had hosted the banquet to trigger inte
Ivanka saw the grin on Michael’s face and immediately let go of his arm. Her expression darkened with displeasure.Michael looked like he was enjoying her frustration.“I’m not,” he denied at once, quickly adding, “I’m happy because you pulled me away. It shows you care.”Ivanka was speechless.She looked at his smiling face and shook her head. “I just didn’t want you getting into a fight with Mr. George right now. If something happened to you while I was there, I couldn’t just leave. And if I didn’t, that would make me responsible for you.”Michael frowned. “Do you really think I’m that useless?”He had fought Mr. George before and never even saw him as a threat. There was no way someone like that could take him down.“That’s not the point. Mr. George isn’t alone, but you are. This isn’t your territory, Michael. And don’t forget, the drug in your system hasn’t fully cleared, and your gunshot wound—”He cut her off before she could finish.“That injury was a long time ago. I’m
Ivanka had never revealed her identity as Violet Cress. How did Mr. George figure it out just from her treating Caeser?“Mr. Ali, I only gave Mr. Hicks a few herbal prescriptions. It was nothing special.”“Caeser has plenty of skilled doctors, yet none of them could fix his condition. You did so effortlessly. That says a lot. Anyone who can earn his trust must be exceptionally capable. Ms. Ivanka, the Ganoderma Nebula is not something just anyone can use properly, nor does everyone have your level of confidence.”At first, Mr. George had not suspected anything. But after learning about the legendary medical expert, Violet Cress, he started making connections. She was well known by reputation, yet no one had ever seen her face. He had looked into her background and found that she was probably not elderly.There was also the Ganoderma Nebula.So, he made an educated guess.Looking at Ivanka’s calm reaction, he was even more convinced. When he first mentioned it, there had been a fl
A teasing voice broke the moment, interrupting Ivanka and Michael.They turned to look.Standing before them was none other than Mr. George. It had been a while since they last saw him.Michael narrowed his eyes. He had not expected him to show up at Caeser’s banquet.“What? Didn’t learn your lesson last time?” His tone was cold and sharp.As he spoke, he stepped forward. He simultaneously shielded Ivanka behind him.They knew they were in Mirvania, and Vincenzo was nearby. No matter what Mr. George was planning, he would not dare make a move under Vincenzo’s watch.Still, Michael’s reaction was instinctive.“No hard feelings, right? Isn’t this how friendships start?” Mr. George replied indifferently. He stepped to the side and looked at Ivanka.“Friends?” Ivanka let out a sharp laugh. “Be honest, Mr. George. Do you really think we could ever be friends?”She had taken the Ganoderma Nebula. He had tried to steal it by sending his men. She had turned five of them against him a
Ivanka tried to step aside, but Michael blocked her path.The acrid smell of smoke hit her.She instinctively covered her nose and mouth.Michael saw her reaction and put out his cigarette.“If I talk through a third party and they can’t get my point across to my subordinates, wouldn’t it be better to handle it myself?”Ivanka frowned. “Is this really the time to talk about this?”She thought about pushing him away, but she decided against it.“I know it’s not. I also know you did all that to make me give up. But I won’t. It will just hurt.”His voice was hoarse and tinged with sorrow.He looked heartbroken.If this had been before, she might have felt bad for him. But at that moment, she felt nothing. She said calmly, “That’s your problem, not mine. If you want to keep getting knocked out and run around like this, be my guest.”She stepped forward and pulled out her phone.Michael knew exactly what she meant. If he kept blocking her way, she would call Njord, Stella, and t
“Alright, go back to the casino and wait for my order.”The fight between Tanya and Blake had revealed how fragile their relationship was. If Tanya thought the stranger she met at the party was reliable, she would try to leave Blake.She would have thought that she had gotten her freedom. But in fact, it was just another circle of hell awaiting her.By then, Tanya would suffer a worse fate than death.That was what Ivanka wanted to see.After all, Tanya had disguised herself as Ivanka and put a stain on her reputation for a time. Moreover, Tanya was still planning to come after her and Michael.Ivanka would not intervene in the feud between Tanya and Michael, but since she had run into Tanya at the party, she would like to settle the score between her and Tanya.“That’s your plan?”As Ivanka hung up, Vincent could not help frowning.He knew what she was up to when she had asked Njord to assign the job to a man.But the progress was too slow!Ivanka nodded with a smile. “Yeah
Tanya was not a fool.Seeing Tanya’s reaction, the man smiled calmly and said, “Seriously? He’s just your boyfriend. He can’t possibly stop you from making friends, right?”Tanya ignored him and kept walking.She reached a junction and took out her phone to book a ride. But the Hicks family’s mansion was on the hillside. Moreover, Caeser had contacted the Ministry of Transport to impose traffic control in the area. Apart from those who attended the party, no one else’s vehicle was allowed to enter.Seeing that there was not a single car around, Tanya had no choice but to walk down the hill.Blake had told her to get lost, so she would not go back to the mansion to ask for his help.She walked for about five minutes. High heels were not made for long-distance walks, and she was in a long evening gown. She held a little purse that contained her phone, lipstick, a small packet of tissues, and nothing else. Worse still, she could not tear off the long hem of her gown.Tanya had no c
What Blake said struck a chord with Tanya.Her expression was cold, and the look in her eyes was vicious.She did not even love Blake, so everything he did had nothing to do with her. She did not care if he was involved with other women.“Do you have anything else to say? I don’t think I need to be at this party for long.” Tanya averted her gaze so that she did not have to look Blake in the eye.She had made her point clear. If he did not need her around, she would take her leave for the night.Naturally, Blake knew what she meant to say.“Get lost then!”He yelled at Tanya right away. She did not even spare him a look before lifting the hem of her dress, turning around, and walking away.Blake’s voice was filled with disgust, hatred, and rage. But Tanya could not care less about how he felt.She had come to the party with Blake, who arranged their ride. The Hicks, who organized this party, had prepared a parking lot for the guests. There were cars arranged neatly across the p