Ivan cleared his throat and asked, “You haven’t moved on? No way. No matter what, you’re divorced and have gone on your separate paths. She is free to do whatever she wants. We’ll simply react accordingly to her next moves. Besides, she’s just a woman. She has no one to rely on. What? Are you worried she would get the upper hand over you?” Michael snorted and thought. “A woman? This is the woman who threatened to make me lose tens of billions of dollars, and she delivered. Is that a small sum of money?” That just occurred to Ivan as well. He cleared his throat again and hurriedly said, “I let my guard down that time! Besides, I was about to file an appeal when you stopped me. Who knows? Maybe I will defeat her next time!” Michael set the spoon down. He only had a few bites of his food. Ivan immediately said, “You have a poor stomach. Now you are not eating anything. Do you want to die young? Also, wasting food is bad!” Ivan handed him another clean spoon as he said this. He mot
Jonah’s eyes narrowed. He had been expecting this. Frank, who had been nervous, burst out laughing! “As long as she beats the racer, it’s fine. It makes no difference if Michael is ahead of her.” No one would ever doubt his son again as long as she maintained such a ranking and order! The following ten people would compete in the final round! The top ten would be rewarded by the organizers, but big names like Michael and Ivanka did not care about any reward at all. Trophies and other mementos practically filled Ivanka’s apartment. Today’s race lasted longer than expected. Because it was the final game that would determine the winner, they decided not to postpone it until the next day. And, as everyone had predicted, the game began! In the last round, they had to race on an extremely challenging circuit. In addition, the rule was different from previous rounds, which required ten cars to start at the same time! The track was particularly wide. When the referee gave the s
The next moment, they got out of their cars at the same time. Ivanka did not spare Michael a glance. She just walked to her seat as usual. Other people’s results had nothing to do with her. Besides, she had seen that she tied with Michael. Just as she sat down, Sandy exclaimed with excitement. “Whoo-hoo! We won!” Ivan snorted when he heard it. “It’s obviously a tie. What makes you think you’ve won? Don’t embarrass yourself, okay?” Sandy rolled her eyes at him. “You’re the one embarrassing yourself!” Ivanka sat down without looking at Ivan. Ivan, however, could not help but stare at Ivanka and thought. “She has defeated me twice in two different fields. It’s insane! And Sandy always makes fun of me at every opportunity!” He wished he could smack Sandy across the face. Jonah was no longer interested in looking at the third-place finisher in the field. Instead, he focused his attention on Ivanka. He thought. “Wisteria. Why does this woman look so familiar? Have we ever m
Michael ignored him. Ivan leaned closer to him in a resigned manner and whispered, “Can you please take it easy? It’s absolutely freezing! Besides, do you want people to think you’re upset because you didn’t win?” Michael’s piercing gaze was drawn to Ivan’s face right away. Ivan immediately yielded and raised his hands. “Fine, fine. Forget I said that.” The ranking had been confirmed. The host continued to introduce the race winners and the awards that would be presented on stage. Ivanka looked at Hanson with a smile. “Hanson.” Michael also heard her voice, which she had deliberately altered. His face darkened as he thought. “She called his name with such affection.” Hanson looked at her. “Yes?” “Get someone else to receive the award. I’m going home.” There was no point in staying here. Besides, she did not want to be in the same place as Michael. She was not afraid of him; she just found him annoying. He entered the race because he wanted to win the project. Her enc
Ivanka nodded. “Sure. We’ll have fondue then. It’s been a long time since I’ve had it.” “Whoo-hoo!” Sandy appeared to be overjoyed. “It might be a tie today, but the score is absolutely perfect! Hanson, your problem is solved, right?” Hanson smiled and nodded. “That’s right. I’m afraid I wouldn’t have been able to take over the company if it hadn’t been for Iv. Thank you, Iv.” Ivanka was bothered by Hanson’s affectionate gaze. “We are friends,” she said with a smile, looking away. “This is the least I could do. There is no need to say such things to me again.” Hanson’s eyes flickered with disappointment. He could tell Iv was emphasizing the word “friends” in her tone. Even Anna and Sandy heard it. Anna’s eyes darkened slightly. She wondered if Hanson would be happier if Ivanka agreed to be with him. Sandy, too, sighed in resignation. She thought. “Iv hasn’t gotten over her last love affair.” Hanson smiled and said, “Okay. I got it.” He said nothing more after that. Th
Michael’s face stiffened for a split second. Ivan could not read the emotion in his eyes. Ivan let it pass. He said again, “Actually, it’s fine to have flings, but don’t get too serious with a woman. Or else…” As he said that, he snorted. He considered his father as an example, but he clearly did not want to bring it up. Michael frowned slightly. “Not everyone is like your dad.” “Seeing how my dad behaves kills off any desire for me to fall for any woman. All right. I’ll get off after the turn. I will see you again some other time.” Ivan appeared to be aloof. However, there was a tinge of bitterness in his eyes. Michael could not say anything about his affairs. After Ivan got out of the car, he leaned back in his chair and rested with his eyes closed. By now, it was completely dark, so Michael drove all the way back home. Michael entered the house as usual, but there was a faint fragrance in the living room. Michael frowned immediately. A fragrance like this would have
However, little did she know that the closer she got, the more overbearing the stench became. Michael’s expression hardened. He stood right in the doorway, without even attempting to change into his indoor shoes. When he saw Chiara approaching him, Michael instantly said in a deep voice, “Stay right there!” He thought. “What on earth is that smell on her? It’s awful!” Chiara would have trembled in rage if she could have heard him say this. However, she was still very flustered. She remained on the spot and stared at him incredulously. “I didn’t want to ruin your marriage with Iv in the past, Mic. I also tried my hardest to bring you two closer together. But you’ve now turned against each other. It’s never going to work between you two.” “But you know, I knew you earlier than Iv. I like you even more than she does. You said you’d marry me. Have you changed your mind?” Chiara let out a self-deprecating smile. “I guess it was one-sided. I will never misunderstand you again.”
Chiara thought. “Why? Everything was going well! How did things turn out this way? Why?” Chiara tried to remain calm, but she could hear a car driving away from outside. “Mic…” Her tears streamed down her cheeks unknowingly as she wondered how things had turned out this way. He had already divorced Ivanka. She had driven Ivanka away from Michael. She could not figure out how things would turn so wrong. Her plan had been for her to marry Michael as soon as they divorced, but things were not going as she had hoped. Michael is currently driving away. His expression was cold. All he could think about was what had happened today, the scene of Ivanka driving without even looking at him. He also recalled what she had said to her father the last time they met at the cemetery, and what she had said to him. He thought that she had completely changed. She no longer wanted him like she used to. He was supposed to be relieved that she was leaving him alone. However, she kept going a
Ivanka did not pay him any mind and got into the car. If Michael dared to chase after her again, she would most definitely kick him out of the car! She would do what she said she would!Michael did not catch up, but he blocked her with his arms wide open. His stance was clear: You can leave. But over my dead body! Ivanka could not possibly drive over Michael. But it was not a problem for Michael to keep blocking her way. Plus, she had just politely rejected his parents. So, it was even more impossible for her to turn back. Ivanka ran out of patience. She held her forehead and frowned. Michael had already drained her last bit of patience. She never imagined that Michael would actually cling to her to such an extent! How would she put it? All her positivity had been drained clean! “Michael, your parents are still at home. Aren’t you afraid they’ll see and laugh at you? I know Grandpa and Grandma are standing by our side now. It’s not like you and I haven’t been in
Ivanka would neither accept the carrot nor the stick approach. Michael had no choice but to persuade her with reason and win her over with affection. Ivanka snorted. “Have you ever given me a chance to have a meal with you before this? As the saying goes, Rome wasn’t built in a day. It takes time for things to come to this state. Things might have passed for you but not for me!” Ivanka’s gaze was razor-sharp. Michael felt his heart clench up. At that moment, his throat was in so much pain that he did not know what else to say to her. Ivanka did not wait for his response. She pushed away his hand and headed out without hesitation. Michael did not stop her. Nonetheless, he went after her and followed behind her. Meanwhile, they heard the sound from the kitchen. Mindy prepared dinner in the kitchen, and Jay helped her out. They had heard their conversation. Out of courtesy, Ivanka went to the kitchen and greeted them. She said with a smile, “Uncle Jay, Aunt Mindy, I’m
Ivanka clenched her fists. Her gaze was filled with ferocity. She looked like she was really going to punch Michael. Michael noticed the anger in her eyes. But since the person was none other than Ivanka, he was willing to take the beating. He even took a step forward and held his head high. “Strike me if you want.” “You!” Ivanka glared at Michael. He truly annoyed her. She reminded herself to keep her composure. She sucked in a deep breath before saying, “Michael, I’ve treated you with respect. You’d better behave yourself.” Right after she finished the sentence, Ivanka left. Before she even took a step forward, Michael grabbed her. “My mom is preparing the dishes inside the kitchen. If you leave now, you’re not showing me any respect. Please stay around to have dinner. Even though we’re already divorced, and it’s impossible for us to get back together again, we’re still friends,” said Michael. Haha! He had been adamant. He was using the same approach to draw close
Mindy’s expression instantly darkened. “What’s with us being prejudiced against her? Had I ever targeted her when she married Michael from the beginning? “She knew how well Rosie had treated her. It’s her own fault for failing to bond with Mic. How could you blame us?” Mindy had always disliked Ivanka. She believed Samuel’s intervention had been the reason for their marriage. It was an arranged marriage. There was no need for the Barkworth’s family to have an arranged marriage. At the end of the day, it was all up to Samuel to choose the bride for Michael. Ever since Ivanka married Michael, aside from the deliberate arrangements, they had hardly shown up together as a couple in public. Mindy did not have any particularly hard feelings for Ivanka. She believed the two would live happily together after getting married. After they divorced, Mindy thought Michael could start all over again. But she did not expect to see their current relationship was no different from when they
It was Jay and Mindy. When Ivanka saw them, a thought came across her mind. She took out a syringe and inserted it into Michael’s arm to unmute him. Michael felt like he had been stung by a bee. It was as though he had been put in jail, only to be freed all of a sudden. Ivanka took away the syringe and gave him a glance with displeasure. “Get out of the car now. Your parents are here—” “Aren’t you entering the house?” Before Ivanka finished her sentence, Michael interrupted her. When he looked at her, his eyes were filled with sincerity and seriousness. But Ivanka rejected him coldly. “Quick! Get out of the car! I’m not joking with you. Get out now!” “Let’s go in together. After all, you’re already here. Are you worried about seeing them?” Michael was undaunted by her emotions and tone. Instead, he stretched out his hand to try to grab Ivanka. Nonetheless, she avoided him with ease. Meanwhile, Jay and Mindy saw them. They walked over to them. Mindy glanced at th
It was no wonder Jonah asked for so many details. All these were facts.Ivanka did not avoid answering his questions. She gave a light smile. “The longest will be half a year.”If the treatment was ineffective after half a year, she would go to Silvania with Vincent.After all, it was not just about her.Upon learning of Ivanka’s decision, Jonah smiled wryly. “Iv, I don’t think it’s an easy feat to treat my legs. How about you go and deal with your stuff first? You can always treat my legs afterward.”Ivanka initially planned to do it that way. But George, Florence, and Margaret had interrupted her plan.Since she had returned to Bostone, why was there a need to travel back and forth again?She might as well treat Jonah’s legs.Besides, Vincent had informed her that it would be highly uncertain whether they could still return to their home country after arriving at Silvania.Ivanka said, “No. I don’t want to make so many trips. I’ll treat your legs for half a year and see if i
It was not an overstatement to say Michael was crossing the line. Nonetheless, Ivanka could not just sit there and watch the two men get into a conflict. Hence, Ivanka pulled Michael to the side and glanced at him. “If you don’t want to be kicked out, you’d better wait here.” But Michael was undaunted by Jonah. Although Jonah had the power to rebuke him in his own territory, Michael refused to allow Jonah to get the upper hand. Ivanka saw the determination in Michael’s eyes. She was very worried that the two might get into a fight. She quickly pulled him back. “Stop making me worry about you. Just wait here! If you dare to come after me, I’ll…” Although she did not finish her sentence, her intention was clear enough. If Michael disobeyed her, she would make him a statue! Understanding this, Michael did not follow Ivanka. But when Jonah turned around and left, the provocation in his eyes was evident. Still, Michael listened to Ivanka. He did not want to offend her. He
Jonah narrowed his eyes while questioning Michael. Still, Michael did not respond to him. Ivanka pursed her lips. She looked displeased when she answered Jonah, “Jonah, there’s no need to speak so harshly. Do you still want me to treat your legs?” She had temporarily made Michael mute. She did that to stop Michael from talking endlessly about those things. Nonetheless, he had still insisted on coming along with her, only to end up being targeted by Jonah. Ivanka had no intention of making Michael mute in front of Jonah. Upon hearing Ivanka’s words, Jonah looked at where she currently stood. She stood in front of Michael. It looked like she was trying to protect him more. As the saying went, true love was portrayed in hard times. This saying was true indeed. It was true that Ivanka cared about Michael. Jonah said gently to Ivanka, “I want you to treat my legs, and I only speak harshly to specific people. I already showed him much respect when he barged into my terri
Michael remained resolute.Ivanka rolled her eyes. “Then stay stubborn. I’ll only fix it when you stop pushing me away.”After she was done speaking, she turned to leave.Michael followed.He even opened the passenger door and got in her car. He was determined to follow her.But Ivanka would not go easy on him.Once inside, she warned him coldly, “Not being able to speak is harder than you think. Follow if you want. Michael, are you sure about this?”Even after her warning, he kept staring straight ahead.She said nothing more and started the engine.Within half an hour, she arrived at Jonah’s mansion.Jonah came out to greet her personally. The moment Ivanka parked the car, Jonah immediately spotted Michael in the passenger seat.The sight of him stirred up bitterness in Jonah. Yet there was nothing he could do.Before Ivanka exited the car, she said to Michael, “Wait here.”Without glancing at him, she walked straight toward Jonah.Her attitude made Michael decide t