“Okay.” Anna uttered affirmatively and took her lunch. They went to the single room next door and ate their food. Nonetheless, the trio seemed to find their food tasteless. They ate their food like machines. Anna’s tears streamed all over her face while she ate her food.Sandy looked up and saw Anna’s tears fall into her lunchbox. “Ann…” Anna blinked and quickly turned her head sideways. Ivanka heaved a sigh. The sense of guilt in her heart only grew heavier. Sandy hurriedly said, “Ann, don’t cry. We need to be strong for this. Besides, it doesn’t mean that Hanson’s fate is sealed. He’ll wake. He’s the luckiest star among us. He always overcomes problems.” Anna was already very worried about Hanson. The moment Sandy comforted her, Anna put down her cutlery, covered her face, and sobbed. “I’m scared. Hanson is still very young. He has a bright future ahead. He—” Ivanka looked down. At that moment, she was at a loss for words. Sandy slowly put down her cutlery. Her e
Ivanka nodded without hesitation. “Yes. I won’t consider him to be my boyfriend.” Jonah kept bothering her. Even Michael started to go nuts as he, too, bothered Ivanka. If she got together with Hanson, she would only cause him trouble.“I genuinely treat him as my biological brother.” Ivanka slowly added. Hanson was especially upset when he heard this that day. Sandy’s lips parted to say something, but no words came out. She thought she was in no position to express herself. Both Ivanka and Anna were her good friends. They were as close as siblings. However, the duo and Hanson were involved in a love triangle. Sandy was confused about whom to advice. Anna inhaled deeply. “Alright. If he passes the critical stage and is safe and sound, I’ll confess to him. I know he’ll reject me, but I’d have expressed my feelings to him.” Sandy pursed her lips silently. Although both Ivanka and Anna were her best friends, she thought Ivanka and Hanson were a better match. Perhaps, this was
Ivanka looked at Jonah while struggling to find the right words. There was no longer any point in her asking him why he was here; she knew he was doggedly pursuing her. She would only be asking the obvious. Jonah smiled gently. “I thought you might need company while caring for him.” “No need!” Ivanka quickly refused. She feared Jonah’s presence would upset Hanson, who was currently very fragile. “I still need to go to the hospital. I’d prefer if you kept your distance for now.” “Do you care about him that much?” Jonah asked through narrowed eyes. “He’s like family,” Ivanka said. Ivanka emphasized the word “family” to show how important Hanson was to her. Jonah laughed. “So, you see him as family, not a lover?” Annoyed, Ivanka frowned. Jonah seemed pleased and said, “I came to give you something. I won’t disturb you for a few days. But if you don’t care for yourself, you can’t look after your cherished ones. After all…” He leaned in closer. Ivanka’s expressio
Ivanka nodded, “He’s probably getting close to me for his benefit.”Sandy was doubtful. “I don’t think so. With his prestigious status, there’s no reason for him to do that. While many want to curry favors with you, someone of his stature would only need to avoid antagonizing you. Why would he need to... win you over?”Anna agreed. “I agree. After all, he’s at the very top of the social hierarchy. If he wasn’t sincere about you, why would he try so hard?”Slightly exasperated, Ivanka forced a smile. “I’m divorced. Given his high status and the fact that I'm his arch-rival’s ex-wife, he has no reason to want me.”Going after a woman Michael Barkworth had turned his back on—would only make him look pathetic.Ivanka did not believe Jonah Sadler had any real feelings for her.In her eyes, it was all for personal gain.“Let’s see what he got for you,” Anna urged.With no other choice and knowing her friends wanted to lighten the mood, Ivanka opened the envelope.“This envelope is q
The group looked at Jonah’s bold words in the album.[My Princess: Knowing you’re a lawyer, I didn’t infringe on your portrait rights. I made all these photos myself without anyone’s help. I won’t share them; they are our private memories. Do you like them?]“How romantic!” Sandy exclaimed enviously. “If a man did this for me, I would definitely marry him.”Anna had a bittersweet smile. Deep down, she hoped Ivanka and Hanson Jackson would end up together.Yet, she harbored selfish feelings for Hanson and was secretly relieved that Ivanka would not reciprocate Hanson’s feelings.This contradiction tormented Anna. She knew she should prioritize Hanson’s happiness over wanting him for herself. It gave her an unbearable headache.Unable to stop herself from thinking about Hanson’s recovery, Anna turned away and pretended to get a drink with reddened eyes.Ivanka closed the album and put it back in the envelope.Sandy softly asked, “Ivanka, you’re not returning this album to him, ar
Theodore Lane rubbed his forehead in frustration while speaking sternly, “Do you think I want her to get involved? At this point, do you think I have any control over the situation?“The project is completely public now. Everyone knows what’s happening. If I stop Ivanka from getting involved, they’ll call us petty ingrates. How would you handle that?”Lyla inhaled deeply. She frowned in frustration, but could not find the words.After a pause, she said firmly, “What do we do then? We can’t let Ivanka keep this up. Eventually, she might completely ruin us. After all, she’s already suspicious of us; if she finds out anything more, our whole family won’t be spared!”Theodore’s expression changed, but he still spoke firmly. “Without proof, what can she find out? Stop being irrational. The collaboration is basically official. I’m just not sure yet whether to let her collaborate with Sadler’s or Barkworth’s.”“Not Barkworth’s!” Chiara immediately objected fearfully. “Her ties with Micha
“Then what exactly do you plan to do?” Theodore asked while frowning.“Don’t worry about this. I’ll figure it out on my own,” Lyla replied. She hung up without waiting for Theodore’s response.Chiara looked at Lyla worriedly. “Mom, what are you going to do?”Lyla frowned. “Other than going after her well-being, do you see a better way? As long as Ivanka lives, we won’t ever have peace.”Chiara’s expression changed slightly. “Y-you plan to kill her?”“How can we kill her now?” Lyla looked worried.“Then do you plan to make her ill first?” Chiara asked skeptically while frowning. “But what’s the use of a minor illness?”“We can’t delay this. The company will pressure your father to decide. We must be prepared in five days.”Chiara frowned in disbelief at her mother’s desperation. It was highly risky. If discovered, they could end up in jail. But she realized this was the only way to force Ivanka back.Chiara was agitated.…The critical twenty-four-hour mark was approaching fa
Frank sighed helplessly and nodded. “Alright then.”Ivanka lowered her head silently.Frank sighed again and turned to Ivanka. “Since that’s the case, Ivanka, tonight...”Ivanka nodded. “Yes, I’ll stay here. Uncle, you have other matters, and Auntie doesn’t know about this. You should go home early. Don’t worry, we’ll take good care of him.”Frank sighed resignedly. Past a certain time, only single visitations were allowed.After staying for half an hour, Frank left the room. He looked at Ivanka with a dejected, fatigued expression. “He won’t wake up anytime soon. Thank you both.”Ivanka nodded determinedly. “I’ll go in and see him now. I’ll stay with him all night.”Frank nodded and left silently.Ivanka carefully muted her phone and took all necessary precautions before stepping in.Sandy looked at Anna’s swollen, tearful eyes and held her hand firmly. “Anna, he’ll get better. He has to. You have to believe in Ivanka.”“And believe in Hanson’s feelings for Ivanka.” She thou