Jillian’s lips twitched. Her mocking expression seemed to indicate that Theodore’s struggle was futile.This time, the meeting ended there with no one disputing Theodore’s declarations.Ivanka stayed in her spot. She did not get up until after everyone had left.Chiara immediately followed her. She grabbed Ivanka’s arm and said, “I have something to tell you.”Ivanka turned to face her. She scanned the security-camera-filled meeting room, and smiled, “Here?”Chiara gritted her teeth. “Follow me,” she said while grabbing Ivanka’s arm without letting go.Ivanka pulled her arm out and just looked at her. Then, speaking in a low voice that was only audible to them, she said sarcastically, “Chiara, I still have a lot of work to deal with. Out of the five projects you gave me, there are still two for which I have not secured the deal. You’ve been suspended now, so you can’t give me orders even if you want to. We can talk after I get off work.”After Ivanka said that, she turned away f
Chiara was confused. “What is it?”“It seems that this suspension may not entirely be a bad thing. You can’t touch Ivanka for the time being, but you can dig a hole first.”Chiara was dumbfounded. “Dig what hole?”“Go back to your mother. She’ll tell you,” Theodore said in a deep voice. Chiara frowned slightly. “Why are you being mysterious about this? Alright, I’ll go back first.”…At that time, Ivanka had already returned to her office. Everyone looked at her in confusion. Rebecca could not hold back and asked Ivanka, “Iv, what kind of meeting did you have?”Ivanka looked calm, and she just chuckled. “I’m sorry, Rebecca. We can’t announce it yet. We still have to wait for a few days.”“Ah, right,” Rebecca said with a nod. “If it can’t be made public, I won’t ask. I’ll wait a few days, but I have the feeling that you’re getting closer to success.”Ivanka smiled. “Thank you. I’m counting on that.” Her words carried a profound meaning. Everyone seemed to have noticed so
Naila halted and turned to glance at Ivanka, who was sitting next to her with a mask. Her eyes held a scrutinizing gaze.Ivanka slowly removed her mask and revealed a strikingly beautiful and unforgettable face.Naila’s gaze carried a hint of surprise. In the next second, she smiled and said, “Ms. Ivanka? What a coincidence.”Ivanka put her mask back on and said with a smile, “Is it? I came specifically for you, Ms. Naila.”Naila observed her. She said nothing, nor did she rush to leave.Ivanka smiled. “How about we talk in the private room?”Naila slowly removed her sunglasses. Her beautiful eyes carried a hint of indifference. “What is there for us to talk about?”Ivanka’s lips curled into a smile. “Ms. Naila, how would you know if my proposal is truly bad without a chat? Just take a look at it. If you don’t like it, you can turn around and leave.”After saying that, she opened her proposal and handed it to Naila.Naila simply glanced at it without taking it. However, after
Ivanka gazed at Naila with a faint smile. Seeing the anger in her eyes, she calmly remarked, “Business is all about making deals. Don’t you think so, Ms. Naila?”Naila frowned and stared at Ivanka.Meanwhile, two individuals were standing around the corner, one behind the other. The man standing in front pursed his lips and glanced sideways. Ivanka was looking at the woman next to her in a way that told him she was effortlessly handling the situation.He frowned. Annoyance grew in his eyes.The man behind him kept checking his watch. Eventually, he resignedly said, “Mr. Barkworth, we’re getting late for the meeting.”Michael’s frown deepened.In the end, he wordlessly adjusted his tie and headed outside.As Ivanka looked up, she caught sight of Michael, who was exuding an air of indifference and nobility. Her gaze carried a hint of surprise.She thought. “What is he doing here?”Following Ivanka’s line of sight, Naila glanced over but quickly averted her gaze.Unperturbed, Iv
Since they had not officially collaborated yet, Ivanka naturally refrained from divulging too much. It would suffice for the plan to remain unknown to outsiders and be safe from plagiarism.The plan needed to maintain a level of secrecy and potential for development.Now, it was time to meet that person.When she was about to leave, Ivanka decided to phone Suki.“Hello, Iris. You finally thought of me, huh?”Ivanka guiltily apologized. “Sorry, Suki. It’s been a busy couple of days.”“Come on, I was just teasing you. What do you need?”“How much have you learned about the last incident?”“Oh, this woman is excellent at hiding her tracks. For now, I couldn’t find anything useful. Your attacker has severed ties with his father, and his father left the Lane family several years ago. There’s a definite connection, but I can’t pin down the details.”Suki paused, then exclaimed, “I’ve been thinking about something.”“What is it?”Ivanka walked outside while holding her phone. She r
Just as Evan was contemplating that, he noticed Michael’s expression darken further.Evan was speechless.Was Michael asking about Ivanka?Just as Evan was hesitating on his answer, Michael spoke in a deep voice. “Go on.”Evan subconsciously sighed in relief and continued, “The leads are the same as last time, all cut off. This might have nothing to do with Ms. Chiara, or she might have managed to erase any traces completely.”“What about that man?”Michael was referring to the man who had pushed Ivanka.“He ran away. We’re still tracking him down. His father is in their hometown, but...”“Continue investigating through his father.”Evan paused for a moment, then nodded, “Okay, I’ve already sent someone to inquire.”Michael remained silent.However, he gave no indication for Evan to leave.Evan sensed that Michael might want to know the information about Ivanka. After a moment’s hesitation, he continued reporting.“Ms. Ivanka went to see Ms. Chiara yesterday to propose a c
Michael frowned again. The office air seemed colder than before.The atmosphere permeated through the phone and sent a shiver down Chiara’s spine.She turned a little pale. After taking a breath, she said softly, “I’ve been suspended from work.”Michael’s gaze flickered thoughtfully.However, in the next instant, he feigned ignorance. He attempted a softer tone. “What happened?”Chiara frowned. She had been against calling Michael, but her mother had been very insistent. She said this would fuel Michael’s disdain for Ivanka and pave the way for their perfect plan. But could this work?Chiara gritted her teeth. At this point, she had no choice but to continue speaking.“It involves some company secrets, so I can’t say. I just never expected Iv to misunderstand me. Mic, it seems like we’re really drifting apart. Iv has started threatening and mocking me. What should I do to mend things with her?”At this moment, Chiara played her role well. She did not come off as someone sowing
“Don’t worry too much about it. Besides, there’s no need to maintain any relationship with her. It’s unnecessary.”Chiara was speechless.She thought Mic would say something harsher about Ivanka, but was this all?“Mic, I…”“I have some matters to attend to here. I’ll visit you when I have time. Go home and take care of yourself.”Chiara parted her lips. She wanted to say something, but sensing Michael’s impatience, she chose to stop there. “All right, you go ahead. Make sure to get some rest. Don’t overexert yourself, Mic.”“Okay.”Michael’s voice was magnetic, but upon closer listening, a hint of impatience could be discerned.Chiara’s expression changed slightly. She could only say, “Well, then, I’ll hang up.”“Okay.”Chiara took a deep breath and reluctantly ended the call.The next moment, she looked furiously at Lyla beside her. “See, I told you I shouldn’t call him! Look what happened! What are you and Dad trying to achieve?”Her mother had been advising her on what
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