“Ivanka.”Ivanka stopped walking. Her expression spoke of puzzlement. She turned around and saw Michael. “Mr. Barkworth.”At this point in time, Chiara thought that there was something wrong, and she had Belle wheel her out. When she saw Ivanka and Michael at the corner, her expression changed, and she asked Belle to stop. At the sight of Michael’s indifferent gaze, Ivanka felt quite bemused. “Grandma hasn’t been able to sleep for two days.”Ivanka’s expression froze, and her eyes filled with worry. “What happened?”Michael gave her a cold look. “It’s all thanks to you.”Her face turned pale, but she still looked at Michael in confusion. “Just what exactly happened?”Michael simply said coldly, “Come back to the mansion with me once the party ends.”Ivanka frowned, but in the end, she just pursed her lips and said nothing. Chiara’s expression turned incredibly sour. Why would Mic ask Ivanka to go back to the mansion?!If Rosie was feeling sick and could not sleep, why d
Rosie was ecstatic and said, “Okay! I’ll be waiting for you!”“...Alright.”Ivanka still could not shake off the feeling that something was wrong even after she hung up, so she called the butler at the Barkworth family’s mansion. “Ms. Ivanka?”“Mr. Harvey, how has Rosie been lately?”“Um…” Harvey spoke hesitantly. Ivanka’s heart leaped to her throat. “Has she been sick?”Harvey sighed. “Mdm. Barkworth has been unable to sleep over the past few days, and Master Barkworth has been worried about her.”“Why was she suddenly unable to sleep?” Ivanka instinctively tightened her hold over her phone. Michael said that it was because of her. Was it because she asked for a divorce?Harvey sighed. “Mdm. Barkworth is old now, so it’s inevitable that she would start sleeping less. We’ve taken her to doctors, and she’s on medication. She should be able to sleep tonight.”Ivanka pursed her lips. By the looks of it, Rosie had told them not to tell her anything, but she could pretty much
Ivanka had a solemn look. She did not believe Michael would intentionally wait for her here.As everyone in the office saw Michael and Ivan, many women looked besotted and wished they could pounce on these two men.After all, from the women’s perspectives, both Ivan and Michael were so exceptional, yet so unattainable.They would be perfectly content if one of them would just be with them!Ivan was rumored to be a womanizer. What if he fell in love with one of them?Many women had started putting on all sorts of seductive poses just to get Ivan to look at them. However, both Ivan and Michael had their eyes fixed on Ivanka. William was being incredibly attentive as he followed Ivanka. He was even more convinced that what he had done that day was the right thing to do when he noticed Michael was present!At least Parker Corporation could be saved that way!He really regretted doing such a thing to Ivanka in the first place!At that moment, someone was unable to resist trying
A female employee passed by Ivan and suddenly slipped. “Ah!”Her body fell in Ivan’s direction. Several women turned to look at her. A few of them even felt jealous!How could she! How could she use such a despicable method! If they had known someone would start doing that, they would have done the same in the first place!Ivan immediately ducked sideways without thinking. The female employee just so happened to fall into William’s arms.Her eyes were closed at that time, and panic was written all over her face. But when someone suddenly gave her a hug, she was secretly thrilled!If Ivan was willing to hug her, did it mean that she could have a chance with him?Bystanders saw William’s smile lingering on his lips as he gave her waist two squeezes with his hand.The people went speechless. Served her right! The employee who received the hug blushed. She thought, “Young Master Ivan is indeed flirtatious!” When she opened her eyes in panic and realized that William, the
Michael’s face darkened further. Ivanka was unable to break free from his grip. She looked a little angry. “Let go of me!”“Ivanka, are you deaf? Have you not heard what I previously said to you?!” Michael was livid.Ivanka, however, just grinned and said, “Well, listen to this recording.”She played the recording. It was the part where Chiara had ordered her not to attend. Michael frowned. He did not want to mention Chiara. Ivanka smiled. “Look, you have nothing to do with me after our divorce. But Chiara is my cousin. She insists that she’s doing things in my best interest, so I have to do as she says, right?”With a fierce gaze, Michael asked, “Ivanka, have you lost your conscience? Grandma really needs you to come visit her right now. What are you doing now?!”Ivanka looked at him coldly. “Do you know who’s the one that has lost their conscience?”When Michael became even more furious, Ivanka stated cynically, “It’s you! Grandma is the way she is today because of you!”
Chiara’s expression shifted slightly. “Damn it! Mic must have heard Ivan’s voice. What’s with this man and his big mouth? He’s too loud!” she thought.She immediately looked at Ivan worriedly and said, “I-I was worried about Mic and Ivanka, so I came to check.”Ivan smiled and said, “Ah, they’re an old, married couple. Even if they’re divorced, it wouldn’t matter if they share the same bed. It won’t cause any harm. You don’t have to worry so much, Ms. Chiara.”Chiara’s expression dropped. She gave Ivan a serious look and said, “Don’t say things like that, Young Master Ivan. Mic and Ivanka are not that kind of people!”“Really?” Ivan chuckled. Xander had told him before that something was going on with Chiara, and he had even analyzed Michael’s inner thoughts with him. To be honest, he did not think well of Chiara, even though she was the one who saved Michael.Chiara looked at Ivan in confusion. “What do you mean, Young Master Ivan?”Ivan smiled wordlessly. Instead, he rounde
Michael frowned. He could not help but feel that Chiara had changed.She was not the same as she was before. He could not tell what had changed. However, as soon as he remembered that she was his savior and had endured tremendous suffering, he could not place any blame on her.Ivan followed Michael to his car and cheekily asked, “So, what are you thinking now? If you don’t end whatever you have with Ivanka, what about Chiara?”Michael frowned. “Can you shut up?”Ivan was amused. “Do you think I’m being annoying? But this is your mess, my friend. You need to think about it carefully. You should let Chiara know soon if you don’t want to be with her anymore and can no longer keep your promise. Since you’re not even with her, don’t let her keep thinking about you. Do you know what consequences there will be in the long run?”Michael stared at Ivan in confusion. The corner of Ivan’s mouth twitched. “Holy crap! There’s no way?! You’re a genius! But you really have no idea what mig
Belle took a deep breath and did not answer Ivanka directly. Instead, she uttered softly, “Are you happy with today’s counterattack, Ms. Ivanka?”Ivanka looked at Belle with a slight twinkle in her eyes as she studied in silence. There was clearly a hidden significance in Belle’s words today, but Ivanka felt like it was not Chiara’s usual style. Chiara would not send Belle over to report anything if it was going on.“What are you trying to say?”After taking a deep breath to calm her nerves, Belle looked at Ivanka and said, “If I hadn’t been there to fuel the fire at today’s incident, I don’t think you would have fought back with such thrilling ease this time, Ms. Ivanka.”Ivanka’s eyes narrowed. She was not wrong.At the same time, She also thought Chiara’s plan today was a little dumb. However, it would make more sense if Belle had been the one behind the plans.Chiara trusted Belle the most now. Even if Belle concealed and lied to her, she would know nothing. Ivanka did no
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