Michael looked at Ivanka coldly. “Are you satisfied after making a fuss?”“Am I satisfied?” Ivanka chuckled. “You’re the one who made a fuss.”In the past, she devoted herself to being Mrs. Barkworth and made the Barkworth family the focus of her attention. She would never do anything that would embarrass the Barkworth family. Many people praise her for being a perfect wife and daughter-in-law. However, Michael never spared her a glance and fooled about with Chiara. Now that they were getting married, she had become a laughingstock. In spite of all that, Michael was claiming that she was making a fuss.Michael’s thin lips pursed when he saw the mockery in Ivanka’s eyes intensifying. “If you leave the banquet now, this matter ends here.”Ivanka looked at him indifferently. “Will you go to the City Hall with me tomorrow to collect the divorce certificate, then?”Michael immediately sneered. “Ivanka, quit dreaming and stop testing me. I’ll divorce you sooner or later.”When Chiara
Chiara was just as surprised. What was Ivanka going to do on stage?Michael would not have planned this, so only Jonah could have set this up. What were they planning?Chiara was genuinely curious. Jonah would never help Michael and Ivanka to reconcile. If Ivanka and Jonah got together, she would reject Michael and she would not be together with him anymore. After that…Chiara eagerly waited. She hoped that Ivanka could continue being proud and never meet Michael anymore!Jonah turned to look at Ivanka with a smile. “Should I accompany you?”“I’m good.”Ivanka was calm and at peace with herself.Jonah and Michael became everyone’s center of attention. Ivanka stood beside Jonah, and everyone could see her at a glance. They stared at Ivanka as she got up on the stage.Mr. Morris sat in the head seat and looked over. He immediately frowned. “Who did this?”Adrian’s expression darkened. “I’ll ask someone to investigate.”The Morris family would never do something that would offen
Everyone was shocked.She was so bold!In other words, she was announcing to them that she had broken up with Michael!Otherwise, why else would she no longer be Mrs. Barkworth?She had become single again!Jonah had been watching Ivanka. At that very moment, he suddenly smiled, and a hint of joy shone in his dark eyes.He turned to look at Michael. Michael had a gloomy expression but otherwise did not react much.He had probably brought Chiara over today to put on a show.However, Ivanka’s actions had made his show in vain. Everyone knew their relationship had fallen apart, and Barkworth Group became the laughingstock.Michael sensed Jonah’s gaze and looked at him. They were not sitting at the same table. Many people were between them, but that did nothing to stop them from shooting murderous gazes at each other.Jonah smiled and raised his glass. Although it was champagne, he could still drink a toast to him.Michael stopped looking at him. Instead, he got up and walked ou
Jonah smiled. “I still have matters to attend to, but I’ll find a chance to make it up to you later, Mr. Morris.”One should never be angry with someone who was smiling so widely. Mr. Morris could only return the smile. “I’m flattered, Mr. Sadler. Since you have to take care of something, I’ll leave you in peace.”Jonah nodded and left with Ivanka. The other guests were still giving their speeches. However, the departures of the two important figures left the guests feeling a little empty. It was just turning out to be such a good show, but they were going to prematurely end it here.They could only follow up through the media later.The two of them walked to the car. Jonah opened the door of the front passenger seat for Ivanka, and Ivanka got into the car.After Jonah closed the door, Ivanka said, “Now that the banquet is over, when will you make the appeal?”“Let’s wait until after your divorce. I must take care of something, but it won’t take long.”Ivanka nodded and did not
Ivanka’s eyes twinkled. “No, I’m a little tired today. Some other time, maybe.” Sandy seemed to have understood something right away. “All right. Get some rest. Remember to give me a call if you’re bored. I will go and keep you company,” she could only say. “Okay.” They said nothing more and hung up. Jonah swept a glance at Ivanka without asking anything. He stepped on the gas pedal and drove all the way to the front of her building. Ivanka glanced at Jonah. “Thanks for today.” Things would not have gone so well for her if it had not been for Jonah’s arrangement. Jonah cocked his eyebrow. “We both win from this. You don’t have to thank me.” Ivanka smiled slightly. “You should go home early and have some rest too.” Jonah cracked a smile and looked at her dotingly. “Are you worried about me?” Ivanka was speechless. She had only said that out of politeness. She wordlessly responded with a smile and quickly got out of the car. Jonah had always been trying to take ad
She finally reached the mansion after an hour’s drive. The looks in the servants’ eyes were unusually odd as she walked in. Even though it was a closed party and no press could sneak in, there was still a large crowd. The guests at the party could also take videos. Even if no one dared to post it online, word must have spread in private. Besides… With Chiara around, there was no need to be concerned about people not knowing. Mindy was sitting on the sofa. Even her dark green casual outfit could not hide her fury. She had been holding in her anger for Ivanka’s arrival. The moment she saw Ivanka in person, she said coldly, “How dare you show up here!” Ivanka looked up at her. Mindy was still as smartly dressed as ever. She exuded a more aggressive aura. If it was in the past, Ivanka might have worried about what she could do to please her mother-in-law, but she looked extremely calm at the moment. “I dare not decline your request to show up, Mrs. Barkworth.” Rosie moved
Ivanka curled her lip. “Thank you, then, Mrs. Barkworth. If there is nothing else, I shall take my leave.” Mindy’s expression slightly changed. Her rage was about to burst forth! She thought. “So, Ivanka really wants a divorce?” However, she snorted the next second. “Ivanka, you are doing this on purpose, aren’t you? You are aware that if you divorce Michael at a time like this, it will jeopardize Barkworth’s Group’s negotiation of the project. The project is worth at least ten billion. You want to get something out of it, don’t you? Or perhaps you would like to take advantage of the divorce settlement negotiations to get some shares? Ivanka snorted with rage. She finally knew who Michael took after. He was just as arrogant as his mother. She thought. “It’s true that the Barkworths are rich, I have plenty of money too!” Her lip slightly curled. “You are overthinking it, Mrs. Barkworth. I’m not taking a single penny from your family, as is written plainly in the settlement a
This time, Rosie was truly furious. “Mindy, watch your words! Go back to your room now!” Mindy frowned, but she still disobeyed Rosie. She said to Ivanka sullenly, “Ivanka, I can say worse things, but I suppose you don’t need me to tell you more because you know it yourself. Now, you have two options.”Ivanka raised an eyebrow. “Go on.” Her nonchalant tone infuriated Mindy even more, but she believed that Ivanka would panic after hearing what she was about to tell her. “First, if you get a divorce, the Barkworths will cut ties with you completely. We won’t give you a single penny. Second…” “You may stop. I chose the first option.” Ivanka interrupted her without any hesitation. Mindy felt like she was going to spit blood. Ivanka sneered at her. She said gently to Rosie without giving Mindy another look, “Grandma, it’s getting late. I don’t intend to stay. Have an early night.” Rosie nodded in a hurry. “My dear child, stay safe on your way home.” “Ivanka, convene a press c
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