Mandy’s once-beautiful makeup was smudged beyond recognition. It was as embarrassing as it could get.They had planned to sneak away unnoticed and find a room to freshen up.Actually, the crowd was immersed in the joyous atmosphere. No one seemed to notice them.However, Candice, always sharp-eyed, spotted them immediately.After Ivanka finished speaking, it was Candice’s turn to address the crowd.She smiled as she stepped onto the stage. She took the microphone and began by expressing her gratitude to Ivanka. Then, feigning surprise, she looked toward the back of the crowd. “Mr. Clark, Ms. Cruella, what happened to you? Why are you in such a state?”The crowd turned to follow her gaze and spot the disheveled duo.At that moment, Mandy wanted nothing more than to strangle Candice.To make matters worse, the lighting technician, mistaking them for special guests, spotlighted them.It threw their embarrassing state into full view.If not for the inappropriate setting, Mandy mi
Michael had just stepped out of the restroom. To get back into the event, he either needed to take the direct route or make a long detour around half the venue.And yet, this woman was shamelessly occupying the passageway. She seemed completely at ease with inconveniencing others.Mandy flushed, not from coyness, but from sheer embarrassment.Thinking back to her earlier assumptions and behavior, she wished she could disappear into the floor.She whispered, “Sorry,” before stepping aside to clear the way.Michael said nothing, but the disdain in his gaze cut deeper than any words could.Mandy watched as Michael walked straight toward Ivanka.Even when Ivanka was not speaking to him, Michael simply stayed quietly by her side.The sight made Mandy’s grip on her wine glass tighten abruptly. Her eyes flashed with intense jealousy.Her emotions, too intense to contain, did not go unnoticed by Ferris.When Mandy snapped out of her thoughts, she realized Ferris was staring directly
Ivanka sneered and thought to herself. “So this is why the fox is suddenly acting friendly toward the hen. Now their intentions are clear.”Mandy, seizing the moment, raised her glass of red wine. Apologizing was not easy for her, but she convinced herself that everything would return to her favor by the end of the night.She forced herself to say it. “Ms. Ivanka, I was out of line before. Let me toast to you. I hope we can put our past grievances behind us. You’re magnanimous. Please forgive me.”Perhaps imagining Ivanka’s downfall later tonight, Mandy’s lips curled into a smile. It carried just enough of an impression of sincerity to make her words seem genuine.Ivanka smiled and said, “Sure. If you want to come back, just go through the interview process. I won’t stand in your way. But whether or not you can return to the company will depend on your own abilities.”Ferris and Mandy’s faces immediately darkened.Ivanka clearly understood they were asking for Mandy’s reinstateme
Ivanka rarely stayed alone after boarding the boat and spent most of her time on the deck.She was curious to see how Mandy would execute her plan if she did not isolate herself.More than that, anyone bold enough to plot against her must be prepared for the consequences.Under the moonlight, Ivanka held her wine glass and downed its contents in one go. An enigmatic smile lingered on her lips.At first, seeing Ivanka remain on the deck and not return to her cabin made Mandy visibly uneasy.What about the surprise she had prepared for her if she did not go back? Mandy, growing increasingly anxious, turned to Ferris. “Do you think she’s noticed something? What if she traces it back to us?” Her face was pale with fear. It seemed like she was traumatized by the lesson Ivanka had taught her.Watching her panic, Ferris chuckled and patted her shoulder. “Stay calm. We’ve been discreet. How could she possibly figure it out? Even if she suspects something, there’s no evidence to prove w
Mandy lost consciousness and collapsed to the floor.When she woke up, she found herself in an unfamiliar room.Could someone please explain why a man was lying beside her?It was not just any man, it was the very one she had arranged to send to Ivanka’s room!Although she could tell she had not been violated, the sight of herself and a man not fully dressed in the same room was a disaster waiting to happen if anyone saw them.Suppressing the urge to strangle the man, Mandy tried to wake him up.However, he too had been drugged and would not wake up no matter how hard she tried.Sweat poured down Mandy’s forehead in large beads.Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed from the hallway. Like a startled bird, she frantically searched for a place to hide.As the footsteps grew closer, she had no time to think and quickly darted into the closet.Outside, she heard Ferris’s voice accompanied by a woman’s, one she did not recognize.Ferris’s tone dripped with lust. “I’ve missed y
Ferris, irritated by the chaos, opened the door to step out for some air and think of a solution.As soon as he opened it, he came face-to-face with Ivanka.To be precise, she had a group of people with her.Ferris cursed inwardly.Instinctively, Ferris tried to close the door. He knew full well that the mess would reflect poorly on him no matter how it unfolded.However, Candice was not about to let him have his way.It was all part of the plan, after all.Just as the door was about to close, Candice slipped inside.“Oh my!” Candice exclaimed. She covered her mouth with an exaggerated look of surprise.Ivanka feigned confusion and asked, “What’s going on?”She stepped forward as if to check, but Ferris quickly blocked her path.His face darkened. “Just a personal matter, Ms. Ivanka. There’s no need to trouble you with it.” His eyes flicked nervously toward the people standing behind her.If they saw what was inside, things would spiral out of control.Forcing a strained s
There was another version of the story closer to the truth. Allegedly, Mandy had slept with some man in Ferris’ room.Meanwhile, Ferris cheated on her with his female secretary.When the four of them ran into each other, tension broke out.Mandy got jealous and started fighting the female secretary, who was an intern.Ferris could not talk some sense into her, so he had no choice but to leave the room and get a breather.He had not expected to be discovered that way.Of course, Ivanka was partly responsible for this version of the rumor.She would not let Ferris appear faultless and innocent in the rumors.She looked forward to seeing how he explained himself to his wife.In the meantime, after Mandy calmed down in Ferris’ room, she did not dare to face what came next.Ferris had sent the female intern away a while ago. Once he and Mandy cooled down, they realized Ivanka had set them up.Candice’s phone was on the table. She must have dropped it when she eavesdropped on them
On the cruise, Mandy was a little shocked when she saw Michael leap into the sea. She wanted to save him and tossed a lifebuoy off the deck.It was attached to a rope, which meant that if Mandy pulled it, Michael would be dragged onto the cruise.But Michael wanted to save Ivanka, so he put the lifebuoy on her.Mandy hesitated.Ferris had told Mandy that Ivanka knew how to swim. Therefore, Mandy had not intended to let her drown. Of course, it would be ideal if Ivanka drowned. But even if she survived, it would have been a humiliating experience for her.However, Ivanka suddenly had a cramp for some reason and almost drowned in the sea.Seeing that, Mandy thought that she lucked out.Who would have thought that Michael would show up and ruin her plan?“Pull her up!” Michael held onto the lifebuoy and shouted at the people on the cruise.Deep down, Mandy was conflicted.But the commotion had drawn some people from other parts of the cruise.Hearing their approaching footste
When Mdm. Wright heard that, she asked in discomfort, “Why do you care? It’s none of my business.”Michael just smiled. Mdm. Wright had been distracted since she arrived here. She still cared about Doska in the end.He was her last remaining relative, after all. Mdm. Wright’s sons and daughters had died one after another, leaving behind only this one grandson. It would be a lie to say that she did not care.It was just all to keep her pride. By the grace of Mdm. Wright, he would let him off the hook once when he met Doska on the field. But if Doska repeatedly provoked him or tried to get in his way… Then he would not care who he was.With that, Michael tidied up and prepared to enter.Before he was about to go in, Michael looked toward Ivanka quickly.By that time, Ivanka had already stood very obediently next to Anais.When she saw Michael look over at her, Ivanka gave him a small smile.“Take care of yourself.”Michael had mouthed those words to her.Ivanka smiled. “B
“So, Mdm. Wright, even if we go back, Michael and I won’t forget you, nor will we forget this place.”Mdm. Wright’s body froze visibly.Ivanka spoke to her heart. She spoke to the most vulnerable, most profound part of her heart.To put it bluntly, the old lady was also afraid of being alone in her old age.Ivanka continued, “If conditions permit, we will come back to see you, or we can pick you up and take you out for a few days.”Mdm. Wright said nothing as she held back her tears.She was afraid that she would cry the moment she opened her mouth. Ivanka affectionately took Mdm. Wright’s hand. She looked at Mdm. Wright with eyes that twinkled like stars in the sky.“Mdm. Wright, give Michael and I a local name for this place.”“Alright…”Mdm. Wright could not hold back her tears any longer.The warm liquid dripped onto Ivanka’s arm. It was so warm that it felt like it was burning her skin.Ivanka took out a tissue and gently wiped away the tears off her beloved Mdm. Wrig
“The question struck my mind at this moment.” Michael did not trust Ivanka’s statement. When she asked him that question, she looked serious. She did not look like she asked it spontaneously; she seemed to have prepared it a long time ago. Michael thought about it carefully before answering her. “You’re serious, bold, smart, and beautiful.” Ivanka had many excellent qualities. Her beauty was unquestionable, yet it was the least worth mentioning. She nodded. After that, she looked up and stared at Michael. Her gaze was so razor-sharp as if she could pierce him through her gaze alone. She said, “I’m not some sort of a delicate, rich young lady. We’re currently facing a situation that is unfavorable to us. If we want to return to our homeland, it’s going to take more than your effort alone to get back, it’s going to take us all working together. Since you mention we’re a team, why can’t I contribute to our team?” Michael’s lips parted, but no words came out of his mouth.
Michael grabbed Ivanka’s hand and wanted to leave together. He could not bear to watch Ivanka suffer. But Ivanka stood motionlessly in place and stared at Anais. Meanwhile, Anais recovered from her shock and gave Ivanka a strange look. Then she asked skeptically, “Have you made up your mind? Are you sure you’re not kidding me?” Michael was about to answer her, but Ivanka interrupted, “Yes. I’m very certain about it. Can we register now?” Anais raised her head proudly. “Of course.” Right after she finished her sentence, she gave the registrar a look. The registrar naturally did not want to mess around with the troublemaker, so he instantly added Michael’s name to the list. After Michael’s name was added to the list, it was only then that Ivanka heaved a sigh of relief. She turned around and realized that Anais was staring at her. Ivanka was undaunted. She met her eyes. Anais moved her lips silently to say, “I’ll wait for you.” After that, she gave Ivanka a profound
The moment Candice saw Mandy, she instantly recalled the night Ivanka and Michael fell into the sea. She knew Mandy and Ferris were the main culprits behind it all. At that moment, Candice had the urge to tie them up and toss them into the sea so that they would sink underneath. It seemed to be the only way to get rid of her hatred toward the duo. Unfortunately, she could not take action just yet. Mandy moved in front of Candice and removed her sunglasses. Then, she raised her chin and asked the security guard, “What’s with all the noises?” The security guard listened to all her whims and said, “This mad woman is being so unreasonable and insists on entering the building. She said she’s the project director of the company.” Upon hearing this, Mandy looked like she finally noticed Candice’s presence. Without caring much less about the hatred and disgust in Candice’s eyes, Mandy cradled her mouth and pretended to look surprised while saying, “Oh, no! Aren’t you the project di
With that belief, Candice returned to Lane’s Group. Rosie suggested going with her, but Candice shook her head and rejected Rosie. Candice said, “Grandma, don’t worry. Just leave them to me. I can handle them. You can stay at home in peace.” After Candice finished her sentence, she smiled at Rosie and left. Rosie was worried, and she watched Candice until she disappeared at the end of the building. The driver turned around and comforted Rosie, “Mdm. Barkworth, don’t worry. Although Ms. Lane isn’t around the company, her prestige stays within. Candice won’t need to suffer much.” In spite of the driver’s comforting words, Rosie still frowned deeply. “I’m worried that the people’s hearts have changed,” Rosie murmured, as if both talking to herself and replying to the driver. As Rosie had expected, the moment Candice reached downstairs, she faced an issue. Candice was about to enter the inside of the building after passing the biometric facial recognition system, but the
Anais’s gaze was filled with obsession while staring at Michael. After not seeing him for a few days, he was still as good-looking as ever. No matter how calm and composed Anais was, her heart always skipped a beat whenever she saw him. Michael had gotten a bit tanned. This suited Anais’s preference even more. Anais stood next to the crowd and said indifferently, “I can help you with the registration.” The crowd turned in the direction of her voice and saw Anais staring at Michael and Ivanka calmly. Her eyes sparkled with a hint of teasing. Michael frowned. He subconsciously wanted to reject her. Anais’s gaze was unfriendly, especially when she rested her gaze on Ivanka. She looked as though she wanted to ask for some request in return. As Michael expected, Anais pointed at Ivanka and sneered, “But I have a request. I need her to stay by my side throughout the Heroes Meeting. She’ll be my follower.” Meanwhile, Rosie bailed Candice out of the police station. The mome
After some time, Mdm. Wright turned around and entered the house. A hint of disappointment flashed across Ivanka’s eyes. Michael sensed her depression. He tightened his grasp to cheer her up wordlessly. Ivanka’s glum mood quickly faded. She had always been like that. She had experienced falls, suffered heartbreaks, and encountered hurdles when facing setbacks in life. But she always recovered from them. She carried so much burden on herself to the extent that she could hardly take a break. Michael admired her for that. At the same time, his heart ached for her. “Never mind. I’ll find other ways out. But our relationship with Mdm. Wright may end here,” Michael looked at Ivanka while comforting her in a whisper. Ivanka nodded and looked up at him. Her eyes sparkled, and she looked calm as if she was unaffected even the slightest bit. “It’s okay. We aren’t on the same path from the beginning, after all.” Michael knew that she was a little sad in spite of her sentence
They supposed they would not be able to see such a scenic starry sky again. The next day, Michael woke up early in the morning. He dressed up to attend the Heroes Meeting. But he could not open the door. Then, Mdm. Wright showed up in the compound. Her face was devoid of any expression. She looked very calm, and her tone was flat as she said, “Stop wasting your energy. I’ve locked the door. The key is with me.” With a frown, Ivanka turned to her. Her gaze was questioning. Mdm. Wright sighed. “I know you haven’t given up on it. You insist on attending the Heroes Meeting, but it’s too dangerous. Besides, our village’s fate depends on the Sonder fish. I can’t just sit there and watch you guys take it away from us. “The registration for the Heroes Meeting will end after noon. Until then, you’ll stay around with me.” Before this, Ivanka had thought of Mdm. Wright stopping them. But she did not expect Mdm. Wright to use such a forceful and extreme method to stop them. Ivanka’