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 subconsciously pressed the elevator’s open button because she believed someone was rushing to enter. When she looked up, she was surprised to see Michael! Her pupils immediately contracted! She was aware that she had changed her appearance, but how could she not know what was on Michael’s mind now that he had suddenly rushed here and glared at her with a sullen face? Ivanka slightly frowned and thought. “Is he here to get back at me? Because I sabotaged his plan again?” Ivanka raised her head to meet his gaze, but she said nothing. Michael, however, suddenly snorted. “Ivanka, you’re becoming increasingly impressive!” Ivanka’s eyes widened in alarm. He really had recognized her. She clutched the bag in her hand and looked at him defensively. “I’m sure you didn’t come over here at this hour just to tell me that, Mr. Barkworth.” However, the elevator had not gone up, so Michael pressed her floor. Ivanka frowned, but the next moment he suddenly grabbed her wrist, and
Ivanka started to shudder in rage. “Even now, he still thinks I’m a greedy and vain person!” She could have used that opportunity to ask for more in the divorce settlement when she got divorced, but she had crossed the mansion off the list. Even then, he still perceived her as someone greedy and vain? She let out a snort. “After I won the lawsuit for Jonah, he transferred the full amount of the ten billion dollars you compensated him to me. Do you still think I’m short of money?” Jonah did transfer the money to her, but she would not take it. She was still looking for an opportunity to give it back to him. The veins on the back of Michael’s hands bulged incessantly. Ivanka appeared to have mastered the art of making him angry because she could do so with every word she spoke! The elevator again stopped, this time on Ivanka’s floor. He dragged Ivanka from the elevator to her apartment. Ivanka had a furious expression on her face. She clearly had no intention of opening the d
Michael’s expression changed slightly. Ivanka’s words had actually rendered him speechless. He had no idea how to respond to her. Ivanka’s eyes glowed with contempt. She used to want to tell him everything. She had wanted to tell him that she was not that useless, that she could walk alongside him, that she would not weigh him down, that she was willing to contribute to Barkworth’s Group. However, she could only keep those words to herself. He would not even look at her. What was the point of telling him? Ivanka’s lip curled into a sneer as she noticed his forehead knotted in a frown, as if he was truly reflecting on himself. “Mr. Barkworth, you should leave. Also, don’t you think coming to my house so frequently is unfair to Chiara? Are you getting married soon? When the time comes, I will attend your wedding solely for Grandma’s sake.” Ivanka said those words casually. She had no idea, however, that it had completely inflamed Michael’s rage! “Rest assured. I will not meddle
Ivanka was no longer standing after Michael slammed the door behind him. She immediately sagged to the ground, and her face was as white as a sheet.“I thought I’d be able to forget everything about him. But his harsh words are as sharp as swords!” She thought as she gritted her teeth. Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably. She buried her head in her arms and hugged her curled legs. Her back trembled as she cried. Michael had just stepped into the elevator at the same time. He was not feeling any better than Ivanka either. Even the veins on his forehead were bulging. God knew how strong his urge was to break Ivanka in half after she made such infuriating remarks.As the elevator descended swiftly, his mind was filled with images of Ivanka’s insanity.“Now that I think about it, this is the first time I’ve seen Ivanka so upset. It seems like I finally successfully provoked her.” He thought as he closed his eyes.When the elevator door opened, his eyes were clear. He wa