“Then let’s just leave it at that. I’ve said my piece. What happens next is up to Michael. If he really regrets what he did and manages to win Iv back, of course I’ll wish them well. But if he’s still the same as before, I absolutely won’t support them getting back together.”Sandy spoke with conviction. The look in her eyes was just as firm.“Got it.”Ivan nodded in agreement and said nothing more....At the restaurant, Michael handed the menu to Chiara. She saw a few of her favorite dishes and naturally wanted to order them.However, to outsiders, she was just Melanie from the countryside.She placed the menu back in front of Michael. “Mr. Barkworth, I’m not very familiar with the food around here. Why don’t you order for us?”“Ms. Levine, you’ve been in Bostone for quite some time now. If you’re still uncomfortable with something as basic as this, how am I supposed to believe you can bring me real value at work?” Michael flipped through the menu and criticized her.Chiara
Seeing Michael’s cold expression, Chiara felt her heart skip a beat in fear.“Mr. Barkworth, I swear it’s not like that. You’ve misunderstood me. I really see Iv as a close friend. I didn’t want her to get the wrong idea.”As she said that, she took a shaky breath. She lowered her head as if she was crying because she had been deeply misunderstood.In the past, Michael would have softened the moment he saw her like that.However, after witnessing just how calculated and deceptive Chiara could be, he did not feel pity, only a deep sense of disgust.Still, he held back his emotions and lowered his voice as he offered a quiet warning. “If you really see Iv as a friend, you shouldn’t be using her to get close to the people around her. Melanie, now that you’ve been accepted back into the Levine family and have gained a chance to start a new life, I suggest you make the most of it.”After all, she had already “died” in the eyes of the public once. Since she was living again under a
Chiara actually took Ivanka’s words seriously.Normally speaking, no one would approach a stranger and make such a promise as a show of goodwill without any motive.Chiara’s confidence either made Ivanka sound conniving or revealed how gullible she was.When Michael remained silent, Chiara could not help but get worried. She asked him timidly, “Do you think I’m lying, Mr. Barkworth?”Michael smiled. “I don’t think you’re lying. Iv is a nice person. Naturally, the people she likes won’t be too bad. This meeting is a gesture of goodwill from me. You can slowly tell me about your plan for the project.”This meal they had was only an excuse. As for what Michael could get out of it, it all depended on Chiara.If he could find out what Chiara was up to, he could help Ivanka out, so he was happy to do it.Hearing what Michael said, Chiara no longer had any reservations about him. She roughly told Michael about her plan.“A while ago, I promised to pretend to be Jonah’s fiancee because
Undoubtedly, Ivanka knew what Chiara was up to.Moreover, Sandy had seen what happened between her and Michael.Sandy immediately called Ivanka to tell her that she had seen Chiara and Michael eating at a restaurant together.During the call, Sandy straight up cussed at Michael and Chiara.Compared to how emotional and angry Sandy was, Ivanka seemed calm.When Ivanka saw messages from Chiara, she was rather amused.Ivanka: It’s nice that you’re collaborating with Michael. I hope your career will take off.Chiara: I have to thank you for this, Iv. I’m taking the agreement to Mr. Barkworth at Barkworth’s Group tomorrow. The truth is, I wanted to go with you and hoped to work with you to carry out the Willy suburbs project. However, Margaret has been difficult to deal with. Now that you’re back, I’m done pretending to be Jonah’s fiancée. But don’t worry, Iv. Mr. Barkworth is yours. I won’t steal him from you.“Hah.” Ivanka thought.She was Chiara, and Chiara was madly in love wit
Michael explained himself in a calm voice.But his explanation was pointless.His intention was as Ivanka had suspected.She pointed this out coldly. “Alright. Stop explaining yourself. I don’t want to hear it. You think Chiara is pitiful, so you want to work with her, accept her new identity, and allow her to live a new life. Fine, do what you want, but that’s none of my concern.”“Don’t hang up just yet, okay? I’m working with her because I want to help you. When her plan and true identity are exposed, can you spare her life? That’s all I ask.”Chiara had saved his life in the past. Michael would never watch her die and do nothing about it.Ivanka found him laughable. Throughout their marriage which had lasted three years, and even shortly after the divorce, many signs had ousted Chiara as the culprit whenever something bad happened. Ivanka had been innocent the entire time.But Michael always trusted Chiara for no reason. Instead, he had been cold toward Ivanka.He had cal
If the call came from prison, it could only be Theodore or Lyla.Since Ivanka assumed that it could not be Lyla, she suspected that Theodore had made the call.Unexpectedly, when she answered the phone, the person on the other end of the line was Lyla.“Didn’t you promise to save me a while ago, Ivanka? It’s been a long while. Why haven’t you gotten me out? I want to get out of here so badly! I’m so ill. Please, I beg you to let me out…”Lyla cried so devastatingly and pitifully. She could barely speak properly at the end.If she had not made the call, Ivanka would not have recalled that she had talked Lyla into betraying her husband when she tried to destroy Theodore.But once Lyla was free, she would certainly go to Chiara.“Okay, I’ll visit you tomorrow.”That was all Ivanka said before hanging up.After the call ended, Lyla immediately called Chiara.Seeing the caller ID on her phone screen, Chiara found a quiet corner to take the call. She was careful because she knew th
Lyla knew that Chiara did not want Ivanka to find out about them and ruin her plan. But Theodore was in prison, and all his assets were taken by Ivanka.As for the Zelda family, they had cut ties with Lyla ever since she was sentenced.There was no one else to turn to for help.Just as Lyla was about to say something, she heard an impatient voice from behind her. “Hey, this is your second call. I’ve given you enough time, but you’re taking too long. Hang up right now!”“If you don’t want me to go looking for you, take care of my accommodation when I’m out. I also need some money,” Lyla said in a rush and immediately hung up the phone.Chiara did not even have a chance to reply. She was already on the verge of tears.Lyla was her mother after all!If it were not for her dire situation, she would never leave her own mother alone and helpless!Chiara inhaled deeply and controlled her emotions. She clenched her fists, and her fingernails dug into her palms.Her family ended up lik
“How dare you hit me, Melanie! Do you have a death wish?”Cora had been raised as the pearl of the Levine family. She had been the apple of her parents’ eyes. They could never bring themselves to punish or lecture her, so she was spoiled.She had never been hit since she was young. Naturally, Chiara’s slap made Cora burst with anger. She immediately threw herself at Chiara in a fit of rage.Chiara ducked agilely and evaded her attack.But Cora refused to give up and attacked her once again. Normally, Chiara would refrain from hitting Cora in public or in front of the other Levines. Therefore, she had been mistreated, bullied, and attacked for a long time. But since there was no one around, Chiara would not put up with Cora.She grabbed Cora again, then she lifted her foot and kicked Cora in the knee.“Ahhh!”Cora screamed in pain and fell on her knees.Chiara grasped her shoulder and held her down before slapping her twice. “Do you think you stand a chance against me? Back th
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