“So… everyone just left her be and let her handle the work herself. I didn’t expect her to be so impressive. She managed to make these plans work.”In spite of Chiara’s reluctance, she had no choice but to say it aloud at this point.Besides, it was an open secret. Michael would surely find out.Michael remained silent.Panicked, Chiara continued, “You can tell from the requirements on the contract that the executives were meant to put Ivanka at a disadvantage. They demanded Sadler’s Group to be the sole source of funding, and it wasn’t a small number either. Everyone thought it was impossible, but who would have thought that…”She could not continue.But she had said all these things on purpose, and it was all she could do.Now, she would see if Michael would accept this proposal and put someone more experienced in charge.Michael narrowed his eyes slightly and looked at Chiara. “So, you want me to take over the project and remove Ivanka. Then replace her with someone more exp
“It’s up to you from now on, Iv. Both of us want you, but who will you choose?” The smile on Jonah’s lips was bewitching. There was even a hint of delight in his eyes, which she had not seen before. Ivanka had a faint smile on her face. “You already know the answer, Mr. Sadler.”Jonah laughed. “But I still want to hear more words of approval from you. Just like…”As he spoke, he suddenly leaned toward her and said in a gentle voice, “When you were on the phone with someone else just now.”Ivanka’s expression changed slightly, and she immediately backed away.She turned around. The lights in Chiara’s car had gone off. Michael had already driven off. Ivanka quickly said, “They left. I should be going too.”“I’ll drive you.”When Chiara’s car disappeared from view, Ivanka immediately opened the car door and said flatly, “That won’t be necessary. My car is right here.”With that, she got out of the car. Jonah did not stop her. As he watched her stride away quickly, he said in a so
“What did you say to him? Why did you provoke him?”Ivanka opened her mouth to speak. But at that moment, surprisingly, she found herself tongue-tied.Sandy sensed something was wrong. She stepped forward and pulled Anna away. “Anna, calm down. What happened?”Ivanka closed her eyes regretfully. “It’s my fault.”Sandy was confused. “Iv?”Ignoring her, Ivanka anxiously turned to Hanson’s other friends and asked, “How’s he now?”One man sighed. “We were just drinking together and discussing our crushes. We noticed Hanson sipping alone in silence and being odd, so we dropped that topic. Out of the blue, he stood up and said he had to make a call.”Ivanka clenched her fists as she paled.Sandy’s gaze changed. Evidently, she guessed that Ivanka must have rejected Hanson. Otherwise, he would not be so devastated. He then went out all drunk and distraught... and got into an accident.“We figured he probably called you. After quite a while, he didn’t come back. When we went out lookin
Everyone froze. Ivanka spoke first. “Doctor, how’s he doing?”“He suffered severe head trauma in the car accident. It’s bad. We managed to save his life, but how soon he wakes up depends on his own willpower. If he can fight through fate, he’ll gradually recover. But... if he doesn’t wake up within a month, he’ll...”The doctor sighed helplessly and shook his head. Ivanka’s heart sank; she knew what the doctor was about to say.Sandy was puzzled. She asked anxiously, “What happens if he doesn’t wake up within a month?”The doctor sighed again and said faintly, “He’ll be in a vegetative state...”With that said, he left the scene.Soon, another doctor came out and gave a series of instructions to the crowd.Anna cried even harder. She looked angrily at Ivanka. “Hanson is an excellent man. He loves you with all his heart and doesn’t even mind you being a divorcee. Why didn’t you give him a chance? Why break the poor guy’s heart like that?!”Ivanka closed her eyes and said, “I’m s
Ivanka’s lips quivered. She tried to speak but failed.Sandy suppressed her inner worry and said sadly, “Hanson... got drunk and was hit by a vehicle. He’s now unconscious.”Anna’s head hung low. Her eyes were swollen. She was unable to find words to say.Frank turned pale. “What did the doctor say?”Everyone had no choice but to tell him the truth.Frank inhaled sharply and staggered.Vegetative state?He had only heard of this condition and had never experienced it happening to someone close to him. However, now... his son may experience it.His expression was grim. However, having weathered numerous challenges and hardships over several decades, he maintained composure.He inhaled deeply and said, “We have a month. Let’s figure out a solution.”Everyone fell silent as fear lurked in their hearts.That night, Frank stayed at the hospital. Anna schooled her emotions and approached him before saying, “Mr. Jackson, given the current situation, no one is allowed in. You still
Thomas was very pleased with the current outcome. He chuckled lightly and casually said to Susan, “Mr. Barkworth and Mr. Sadler both have sharp eyes. They specifically requested Ivanka to take charge. Do you think this is merely a coincidence? If one of them isn’t thinking straight, does that imply the other is also off their rocker? Honestly, between the two, who seems more out of touch?”Thomas’s words resonated with the crowd. They fell silent. Though not entirely convinced, they had to acknowledge Ivanka’s capability. Many had already started to believe in her ability to handle the projects.On the other hand, Theodore’s faction opposed letting Ivanka reclaim Lane’s Group. They refused to entrust the company’s fate to a mere girl. If Ivanka succeeded, it would unequivocally demonstrate her leadership prowess.They would never follow orders from a girl! It would only stoke their resentment and defiance toward her.Hugh’s expression soured as he glanced at Theodore before inquiri
He held the position of chairman, but nobody truly feared him. He was merely a figurehead lacking real capability. The company had declined steadily since he assumed leadership. If Lane’s Group did not change leaders soon, it would be doomed.Many were already eager for Ivanka to take over. After all, she was the daughter of the former chairman, Fernando! She possessed the same astuteness and capability as him!Thomas felt even more confident about the situation. He spoke up again, “Ms. Chiara is currently suspended. I don’t understand why she is still meddling in company affairs. Didn’t she consider the potential consequences?”Theodore silently inhaled deeply. He tried to maintain composure as he calmly stated, “I’ll address this with her upon my return. During her suspension, she will not be involved in company matters.”Thomas smiled and responded, “I’m relieved to hear that from you. It assures me that Ms. Chiara won’t act recklessly again. Otherwise, it would reflect poorly
The room fell silent once again as the topic lingered in the air.Awaiting his response, everyone turned to Theodore. Yet, Theodore was just as uncertain.The prospect of Ivanka collaborating with the two companies, particularly with Michael, did not sit well with him.Should they proceed with the partnership with Sadler’s Group despite this internal conflict? But what about Barkworth’s Group?Theodore hesitated to express his thoughts.Thomas smiled and said, “That’s why I said we should ask Ivanka for her opinion first.”Hugh immediately objected. “The company’s interests should come first. She’s just one member. Why should her opinion dictate our decisions?”Thomas shrugged. “You all know her value. Without her buy-in, can we truly ensure the success of this collaboration?”With no consensus reached, the meeting concluded without resolution.Theodore could not issue directives unilaterally. He needed to confer with his team privately.After the meeting, Thomas immediately
Ivanka nodded. What Rosie said was true. Rosie continued, “If Michael were the stranger, why are you resisting him and feeling helpless?” Ivanka was stunned. It was a fact. If a stranger courted her relentlessly, Ivanka would only find them annoying. But she would not resist them. Only she knew the reason she refused to accept them. But when it came to Michael, she treated him differently. From the bottom of her heart, she refused to give him a fair chance to court her. Was it because she was worried that her heart would move for him? Ivanka was startled by the thought. She shook her head as if trying to get that ridiculous thought out. When Rosie saw this, she chuckled. Ivanka was a smart woman. It was sufficient to say all that; too much would be meaningless. Rosie looked up at the moon. She could not help but sigh. “Tonight’s a beautiful moon night. Unfortunately, it’s time for me to go to bed.” After Rosie finished her sentence, she headed to her room. Ivanka
On the other hand, Ivanka had no idea her best friend had “betrayed” her. She helped Rosie into the bedroom. When they passed the garden, Rosie suggested walking inside it. Ivanka was too embarrassed to reject her. So, they came to the garden. The gardeners attended and trimmed the garden daily. It was naturally a sight to behold. There were many rare plants in the garden. Of course, there were also some rare herbal plants in the garden. Ivanka had planted them, and the herbal plants were flourishing. There was a botanical garden encircled within the garden. It contained the herbal plants used to nourish Rosie’s health. While they were walking along the path, the fragrance of flowers, the earthy smell of the soil, and the faint aroma of the herbal plants entered their nostrils. The fragrance lifted their spirits. On top of that, the fragrance could refresh one’s mind. Rosie felt more refreshed as she walked down the path in the garden. She grabbed Ivanka and shared
Within the blink of an eye, it was already 12 a.m.. Ivanka noticed that Rosie had been yawning but still refused to go to bed. Ivanka knew why. While they were chatting, Ivanka occasionally turned to Rosie. While Rosie was wiping off her basal tears, Ivanka and Michael exchanged glances. Ivanka sat beside Rosie and patted her hands gently. Rosie looked more alert, but her eyes were still a little blurry and appeared bloodshot. She had dark rings beneath her eyes. In spite of her exquisite makeup, her dark eye rings were still visible. Of course, it was only visible when Ivanka looked closer at her. Seeing this, Ivanka’s heart ached more for Rosie. Ivanka believed Rosie must have stayed up late or had insomnia when she and Michael went missing. Rosie wanted to receive first-hand information about the missing duo, but she was also worried that she would not be able to face reality. After struggling and battling with her inner conflicts for a month, Rosie’s health de
Speaking of which, this was Michael’s first time seeing Ivanka looking this helpless, and he found this a novelty. Whenever Rosie said things like that, Ivanka usually looked expressionless. She either looked calm, or she pretended to be deaf. Based on her unease and embarrassed look, did that mean her heart began to move for Michael? With that thought in his mind, Michael was eager to find out the answer. At that moment, they heard Candice’s voice. “Why are you staying outside? Did I come at a bad time? I thought I could have dinner immediately after I returned from work.” Ivanka and her group turned around and saw Candice standing not far away from them. She smiled as she looked at them. When Candice noticed Rosie’s teary eyes, she looked surprised and approached them. “Grandma has a sharp tongue, but she’s soft-hearted. She said the two of you were so cruel that you left her and a whole mess behind. She said she would teach you a lesson when you return.” While speaki
Everything had been fine just a moment ago.Why had she suddenly started to distance herself from him?It was probably true that a woman’s mind was unpredictable. Even a strong woman was no exception.Soon, they arrived at the Barkworth family’s mansion.Michael wanted to get out first and open the door for Ivanka, but she stopped him by tapping her soft hand on his shoulder.He looked down at her hand and then looked at her.“Don’t get out yet. I’ll grab a coat for you from inside and come back.”Michael wanted to refuse, but Ivanka had already exited the car.He watched her walk away. He then leaned back against the seat and felt a wave of relaxation.It felt as though he had finally found someone who had his back.He could not help but find it funny when he thought about it. He glanced at the spot where Ivanka had touched his hand and chuckled quietly.In the front seat, the driver felt so awkward about what he had just witnessed that he wished he could hide behind the st
The motorcycle approached them with no sign of slowing down.Michael’s expression turned grim. He quickly pulled Ivanka to the side and turned to shield her with his back.Ivanka felt a sudden spin. By the time she regained her balance, she found herself in Michael’s arms.His embrace was warm and strong. She could smell his familiar scent.It felt as if everything around them had slowed down.Then she heard the sound of water splashing on Michael. She pulled away from his embrace.Michael felt his arm grow light and stared at the empty space where she had been. He could still feel her warmth lingering.He shifted his gaze to Ivanka.Before she could speak, he quickly asked, “Are you okay? Did you get splashed?”She blinked and shook her head.“I’m fine. What about you?”He shook his head, but she did not buy it. She was sure the sound of the water splashing had been loud. There was no way he was not wet.Without hesitation, she grabbed his arm and turned him around.His b
Both Ivanka and Michael walked side by side as they maintained just the right distance between them. They looked great together, and their presence naturally attracted many gazes.It was worth mentioning that it was difficult to tell whether Michael did this on purpose or if it was just a coincidence.Both of them wore black trench coats that day. The styles were quite similar. This made them look even more like a couple in matching outfits.Ivanka’s wavy hair and red lips were striking. The beauty mark by her eye was the perfect finishing touch, which made her look stunning.Despite her beauty, Michael standing beside her did not go unnoticed either. He seemed to be a perfect complement to her.They looked like a perfect match.Ivanka noticed it but said nothing.Michael broke the silence and asked about Ferris and Mandy.“What are you going to do about Ferris and Mandy?”Ivanka did not answer right away.Michael continued, “Just having them arrested seems like getting off t
Mandy was rushed to the hospital.She fainted, but Ferris was not as fortunate.It seemed that he could not accept the fact that he had kicked his own child. He kept shaking his head and muttering, “This can’t be. How could this happen?”He looked like he was losing it.However, the law would not overlook his actions just because of his mental state.Ivanka had seen enough of their mess and was no longer interested in watching them tear each other apart. She asked the police to explain why they were there.“Mr. Clark, Ms. Ivanka has filed a report requesting a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding her fall into the water. Following our preliminary inquiry, both you and Ms. Mandy are now considered suspects. We are required to take you both in for further questioning.”Ferris did not respond. He was still unable to process what had just happened.The police followed protocol and arrested him.Ferris was led away with his hands cuffed. He was completely dazed.N
Still, Ferris kept quiet. However, the others in the room did not.A portly shareholder stood up, smacked his lips, and forced a flattering smile. “Isn’t it obvious? Ferris wants to take your place, Ms. Ivanka. Everyone can see it. He’s nothing but a complete traitor!”Once he spoke up, the rest quickly chimed in.“Yeah, he’s a traitor!”Ferris looked around the room. He already knew these people were untrustworthy, but he had not expected them to turn on him so easily.Ivanka, on the other hand, did not seem surprised.She had not taken any action on Ferris and Mandy because she wanted to watch the chaos unfold. These shareholders had sided with Ferris when she was gone, and they switched back just as quickly when she returned.Ferris was no fool. He knew that too. But the sense of isolation he felt at that moment drove him into despair.Still, he was not one to back down easily.He spat in the portly shareholder’s face.“And who the hell are you?” Ferris sneered. “You were