Rosie subconsciously looked at Pastor Paul, and her eyes were filled with surprise. “You…” “If you force it, things will only end badly. I hope you understand this,” Pastor Paul spoke naturally and instantly highlighted his main point.Rosie was stunned. “I…” She had always looked for ways to get the two of them to meet so that they could reconcile. Had this been… a bad approach?Rosie could not help but secretly sigh. Yes, if it were a good method, would she have failed to improve their relationship in the past three years? Instead, their relationship had gotten worse.At the moment, she seemed to realize her mistake and the danger of her actions. However, would they have no chance at all if she actually allowed them to do whatever they wanted?Rosie did not know what to do for a while.Pastor Paul obviously knew her struggle. “May God bless you. You’ll understand when you let go. Everything is destined,” he added.Ivanka and Michael were still waiting outside. Michael’s exp
Rosie hesitated to speak, but Ivanka smiled and said, “So, Grandma, humans get tired and change. The two of us couldn’t be together, but we’re more harmonious now than we were before. What do you think, Grandma?”Previously, Ivanka had felt so suppressed that she could barely breathe. Her mother-in-law looked down on her and excluded her from everything, while her husband hated her. He desperately wanted to kill her, she had to deal with a lot of stress every day.Now, she did not have to suffer through all that anymore. She just felt very relaxed. She did not have to be wary of other people’s attitudes before doing anything. She just needed to protect the ones she cared about.In addition, her grandmother did not have to worry about her anymore.Rosie could not help but sigh. “Sigh… I give up. I won’t bother the two of you again.”Ivanka’s tension instantly eased at this moment.Even her mood gradually got better. As long as their grandmother did not force them to be together, s
To get the Barkworth family to acknowledge Chiara, Mindy had to suppress her hatred and willingly acknowledge Ivanka as a member of the family.However, her recognition was still very subtle—both of them were members of the Barkworth family.Rosie saw Ivanka as her granddaughter, but… she was not as accepting of Chiara. On the other hand, Mindy did not acknowledge Ivanka as her daughter. She was obviously telling Rosie that Chiara would be Michael’s wife.However, Rosie did not refute her this time. “We’ll talk about it after Ms. Lane marries into our family,” she said indifferently.Mindy looked at Rosie in surprise. Rosie had no objections?If this had happened in the past, Rosie would have probably argued that Ivanka was her only granddaughter-in-law. Did she just change her mind?Did Chiara stand a chance now?Even Chiara looked at Rosie in surprise. Rosie had apparently changed her mind after her latest visit to the cathedral.Mindy and Chiara looked at Ivanka at the same
Ivanka chuckled. “I’ll pick you up when Grandpa goes on his next business trip.” “That’s so thoughtful of you.” Rosie was happy, and she smiled genuinely. Ivanka chatted with her during their meal, and the atmosphere was harmonious. Meanwhile, Chiara and Mindy sat opposite them as if they were outsiders. Chiara tried to provide an explanation for yesterday’s incident, but Rosie merely focused on Ivanka. She did not even give Chiara a glance. Chiara then remembered her parents’ advice. They had reminded her to not bring up the issue and act magnanimously instead. Chiara hesitated for a while, but eventually, she managed to hold back the urge to defend herself. She found the food to be tasteless. Ivanka, on the other hand, had a full meal as she chatted happily with Rosie. However, she still had other things to do. “Grandma, I have to get back to my work. I’ll visit you again when I’m free,” she said with a smile. Rosie smiled back and nodded. “Go ahead. If you’re busy, you d
Ivanka’s face sank. Chiara had shown up and said a lot of things to her without recording anything with the dash cam. Even if she was trying to lure Ivanka to say certain things just before she turned on the dash cam again, Ivanka was not afraid. After all, even if the record was made public, what could the netizens do to her except criticize her? Ivanka lived for herself, and the netizens’ harsh remarks would do her no harm. Ivanka turned to Chiara and snorted. “You know why I slept with him that night, don’t you?” Chiara’s expression changed slightly. The next moment, she hissed. “I care about him the most. Why would I set you up with him?!” “You’re right. You didn’t mean to set me up with him. It was just an accident, wasn’t it?” Chiara seemed furious, and Ivanka was even more sure of her guess. Chiara had intended to set Ivanka up with another man to sever her ties with the Barkworth family. However, Chiara did not expect Michael to be set up on the same night. As a re
Ivanka’s lips twitched as Chiara remained headstrong. If the incident last night had not left her without a way out and destroyed the good image she had built for years, she would not have been so cranky. Ivanka chuckled. “I’ve never thought of reuniting with Michael. In fact, I can see that he isn’t paying attention to you, Chiara. Even though you lay in bed in a ‘coma’ for a year, he merely showed you some pity. Your marriage will be based on the fact that he’s indebted to you. Do you think your marriage will be different from mine?” “Of course my marriage will be different from yours!” Chiara mocked Ivanka without hesitation. “I’m not you. I’ll never force him into marriage on the grounds of him being indebted to me. He doesn’t like you, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t like me. Just you wait, Ivanka Lane!” Ivanka smiled and nodded. “In that case, I wish you all the best. I hope you’ll be able to resolve your current deadlock situation. Otherwise, everyone will see you as a cl
The corners of Chiara’s lips curled up slightly. “As for your father, he died very early. Don’t you think you’re the jinx that led to his death? “Your father was obviously fine. Why did he fall sick all of a sudden? Besides, he suffered from such a serious disease. Why did he have a heart attack out of nowhere? He never had a heart attack before that. Ivanka, don’t you think your presence just brings bad luck?” Ivanka’s heart tightened, and her face turned pale. It was not because she believed that she was the jinx that had caused her father’s death. It was because she had no idea of her eldest uncle and his family’s true colors in the past. She had always trusted them. Ivanka recalled the past and remembered that her father had been in good health before he suffered from a sudden serious disease. Her father’s disease was so serious that he passed away before Ivanka could rush back and see him for the last time. Chiara chuckled and patted Ivanka on the shoulder. “Ivanka, you
Before this, Ivanka had planned to walk her own path and reclaim her family’s fortune to prevent her father’s hard work from falling into Theodore’s hands. However, only now did she realize that her father never died from a serious disease! If Theodore and his group were the ones who had caused his father’s death, Ivanka would personally send them to jail. She would not spare them! Ivanka took a deep breath. It looked like she had to visit the Lane family’s mansion someday, but not today. Ivanka drove to the law firm instead. The lawyers in the hall noticed her cold expression, and they did not greet her. Even Abel kept quiet. When Suki noticed Ivanka’s expression, she asked in bewilderment, “What’s wrong? Were there some issues with St. John Cathedral?” Suki knew that Ivanka had taken Rosie to St. John Cathedral in the morning. Ivanka shook her head and answered, “No.” “What’s wrong then?” Suki stood up and poured her a glass of water. Ivanka took the glass but did n
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