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 sounded serious, and she said nothing else.She was no longer an eighteen-year-old girl who would risk everything in the name of love. She knew what she should do in her current situation.Moreover, she no longer craved love and romance.If Ivanka were talking about something else, Sandy would believe that she knew what to do.But when it came to Michael, Sandy did not trust her.She snorted. “If you really know what to do, how did you end up getting hurt by Michael? You had to put your career aside while you were married to him for three years!“I don’t want to point this out, Iv, but I’ve got to talk some sense into you. Stop being a lovesick fool! Back when Michael handed you the divorce paper, you were reluctant to sign it, right?”Michael was decisive when he gave her the document, and Ivanka had finally realized what kind of man he was. Hence, they got divorced and separated for good.For a moment, what Sandy said tugged at Ivanka’s heartstrings.The second she ha
Ivanka said, “Ivan didn’t say anything. He wanted me to help him set you up, but don’t you worry. I didn’t agree to do it. I know what kind of person you’re like. If you’re willing to date him, you wouldn’t need any help. Besides, I don’t think I should get involved in things like this.”Hearing that Ivan had asked for Ivanka’s help, Sandy was furious. “He dared to come to you for help? Gosh, all men are jerks, and that’s a fact!“He should have looked at himself in the mirror! How dare he ask for your help?!”As it seemed, Sandy really abhorred Ivan.Ivanka frowned and got to the point. “Why do you dislike him so much? Didn’t you travel to Mirvania with him a while ago? I’ve seen the way you acted around each other.”“Don’t be fooled by the appearance. Do you think we get along? I went to Mirvania with him because he knew where Michael was, and you didn’t tell me where you stayed to keep me away.” Sandy cut her off and explained the situation.Then, she added, “Ivan did not want
“Weren’t you just badmouthing Michael a moment ago? Why did you make it sound as if he is slightly better than Ivan as soon as we talked about Ivan?”Whether or not it made sense to compare the two of them, it made sense to Sandy.Ivanka was right about what Sandy was thinking as well.Sandy nodded. “Even though Michael was a jerk, he only had Chiara back then. When you married him in the heat of the moment, he also stated clearly that he didn’t love you, and he wanted to be with Chiara instead. But Ivan is different. He’s had so many women around him, but he never loved any of them. Has he claimed responsibility for any of them?“He just wants to lower my guard with seduction so that he can get what he wants. Men like him are shameless playboys.” That was what Sandy thought of Ivan.As it seemed, she truly loathed and despised him.Ivanka wanted to end this topic. “Alright, let’s stop talking about them. You didn’t call me just to lecture me, right?”Sandy denied immediately. “
However, Sandy refuted him immediately.“Stop it, Ivan. You disgust me.” There was a cold look in her eyes. It was filled with her contempt toward him.Ivan’s face fell instantly. “I was confessing my feelings for you. How’s that disgusting? You can say that you don’t believe me or accept my love, but you can’t deny my sincerity and all the things I have done for you.”Sandy was puzzled.His sincerity? She had not seen any signs of that!As for the things he claimed that he had done for her, she was rather curious about them. Hence, she asked, “What have you done for me?”Ivan explained eagerly, “I brought you to Mirvania and flew you back after that. Doesn’t it count?“You ask me to prove my sincerity. But I’ve told you repeatedly that I like you. Do you think that I’d waste my time on you if my feelings aren’t real?”He had explained himself clearly.It must have been hard for him to say all these things.Sandy gave a snort of laughter and immediately said, “I’ve made mysel
“One more thing, these are my team members. They’ve seen firsthand how you’ve tried to suppress me all the time. A little payback from them isn’t exactly unjustified, don’t you think?”Before Mandy could say anything, Candice turned to the employee and instructed firmly, “Call security. Have them escort her out of the building. Make sure she doesn’t take anything that doesn’t belong to her. Thoroughly check her devices for any company files.”Mandy completely lost her composure and started yelling.“Who do you think you are to treat me like this? You’re just riding on Ivanka’s coattails! Everyone knows how someone so young became CEO. And you? Are you sticking by her? You’re no better than… Argh!”Before Mandy could finish her tirade, Candice delivered a resounding slap across her face.Not far away, Ivanka, who had come out after hearing the commotion to see if she needed to step in, slowed her steps. While leaning casually against a nearby column, she watched Candice handle the
“I understand what you mean now.” Candice’s cheeks flushed with excitement. The gloom that had previously clouded her was swept away.Her joy was genuine. She said, “In three months’ time, I’ll secure this position and prove to you and the board that your decision was the right one.”With that, Candice stood, gave Ivanka a respectful bow, and left the office.Ivanka watched her leave with a smile.All was good.While the two of them were in good spirits, someone else’s mood was far from pleasant.Mandy returned to her office, humiliated, to pack her belongings.If she could turn back time, she might have chosen not to come at all. The shame she endured was beyond anything she could have imagined.Somehow, word of what happened in the conference room had leaked. Perhaps Ivanka had orchestrated it.When she arrived at her office, she was not surprised to see all her belongings stuffed into a tattered, broken box.The box had been placed right outside her office door. It was a
“Mr. Clarke, if you don’t like my decision and want to change it, you’ll have to take my position first to do so. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”With those words, Ivanka coolly left the meeting room.Candice, though initially taken aback by the sudden turn of events, quickly adjusted to her new role. Turning to Mandy, she said, “Ms. Cruella, please ensure your office is cleared in three days, as I will be moving in.”With that, she too left the room.After they left, the meeting room erupted into chaos, with arguments flying back and forth. However, the outcome was already sealed. Ferris was powerless to change it.Though he still had cards to play, he was not about to waste them on Mandy.Sure enough, by the afternoon, employees spotted Mandy packing her belongings and leaving in disgrace.Candice, though initially satisfied, could not help but feel uneasy. After thinking it over, she decided to speak with Ivanka. And so, at that moment, she was standing in front of the door to t
Ferris was panicking at the moment. He shot Mandy a disappointing and furious glare.It was one thing for her to embezzle funds, it was another for her to get caught.How foolish!Feeling the weight of Ferris’s gaze, Mandy instinctively lowered her head.That only made Ferris more enraged.She had caused all this trouble, and he had to clean up the mess.Ivanka ignored them and turned to the other shareholders. She sharply said, “Tell me, how can someone like her hold the position of project director in our company, yet Candice can’t even be promoted to team leader?”Mandy had been personally hired by Ferris, so Ivanka criticizing her in front of everyone was effectively a direct slap to his face.That naturally made Ferris extremely uncomfortable.His expression turned even darker.“In my opinion, it’s true Mandy shouldn’t have done that, but she’s been in this position for so long. While she doesn’t have achievements, she’s at least put in the effort. How about this, let’s
However, her smile did not reach her eyes.Mandy stood frozen. She was too scared to drink the water or take a seat. Just like that, she was ignored. The atmosphere was awkward. She could only cast a pleading glance toward Ferris for support.Ferris, who was standing near her, cleared his throat and said, “That’s right. Ms. Ivanka, Ms. Cruella is right. This isn’t in line with proper procedures.”Ivanka maintained her enigmatic smile. Her index finger tapped lightly on the table. It was impossible to guess what was going through her mind.She glanced around the room. “What do the rest of you think?”She sounded like she was seeking opinions, but the weight of her presence was intimidating. No one dared to answer.Just as Ferris was about to say something, Ivanka picked up Mandy’s report and tossed it onto the floor.It happened too fast. Everyone was stunned by her action. Even Ferris was caught off guard.Mandy’s face turned pale.“Rules are made by people. Besides, Cand
“Please start.” Ivanka nodded. Mandy glanced at Ferris and then at Ivanka. She did not dare to speak.It was obvious that she did not want to offend either side.But she had received a lot of favors being under Ferris over the years, so naturally she did not dare to disobey him.Ferris felt like he was getting the upper hand again, and he was a lot more cheerful. His expression seemed to say, “Look, this is my staff. Look at how they listen to me and not you. You’re nothing much as the chairman. Who are you here, Ivanka?”The anger from before had completely disappeared. He said calmly, “You really don’t get the hint. If Ms. Lane lets you speak, you should just speak.”Although he sounded like he was scolding her, anyone could hear from Ferris’s tone that he was not complaining. He was gloating.Some shareholders did not want to be caught up in the mess and lowered their heads.Others wanted to see where things went.In a way, he was asserting dominance over Ivanka. Everyone wa
Ivanka suggested to Candice to go home and rest.But Candice still refused.She said, “The contract will be done soon. I’ll be able to rest properly and have peace of mind sooner when it’s finalized.”Ivanka relented. She only said that if she felt discomfort in any way, she must tell her immediately.Candice nodded her head and took note.Ivanka gripped the steering wheel tightly. She felt guilty.Candice was already in such a state, but she still insisted on working. Her reason there was not only to repay Ivanka but also to realize her own self-worth.But Ferris kept getting in the way of that report.It was really upsetting.Ivanka also secretly made it a point to get the report passed on that day.The car reached the company. Ivanka went upstairs with Candice together. Ivanka also personally helped Candice to her workstation.Despite Candice’s repeated refusals, Ivanka was very insistent.She wanted to demonstrate to everyone that she had Candice’s back. If anyone wante
Ivanka noticed that the distance between the both of them were a little too close. She moved a little to the side as a form of silent resistance to Micheal’s behavior.Michael only felt lonely for a moment. But he then quickly returned to normal as if nothing had happened.“Candice hasn’t finished giving her statement yet. I know you have to keep her company today, but I don’t agree that you should just sleep here. I’ve booked a hotel in the neighborhood. In a moment, I’ll explain to the people from the police station and send the two of you there.” Ivanka seemed to be a little hesitant.Michael said, “It’s just nearby. It’s about a kilometre away. I’ve reserved two rooms. So, if we need to rush over at night, we can just come over together again. Besides, if you sleep in the lounge for the night, both of you will catch a cold.”Ivanka hesitated and finally nodded.She thanked him and turned to go into the lounge to wake Candice up.Michael’s voice called out from behind her.
The two looked at each other and spoke a name. “Ferris Clark.”“Ferris Clark.” Michael laughed first. Ivanka followed suit. “Speaking of which, it actually has something to do with me. When Candice came, everyone knew I brought her in. When she first came in because she did not have any experience, she was only offered a position as an intern team leader. She thought that she would be transferred to a permanent position after she did a good job. But her report never passed after that. It was stuck in Ferris’s hands. “I will go to the board of directors tomorrow and continue to submit the report. This time it will have to be passed no matter what. I will also take the opportunity to find an excuse to test Ferris. If it’s really him…” Ivanka did not finish speaking, but the ferocity in her eyes made Michael silently pray for Ferris in his heart.Ivanka changed her tone. “But if it’s not someone from Bostone, then we have to consider someone else.”The tacit understanding betwe