Ivanka inhaled and said softly, “It wasn’t a dream. I said it.”With that, she lowered her head and avoided Hanson’s affectionate gaze.Both Sandy and Anna were nervous. They knew that Ivanka was too sheepish to face him.But Hanson did not think that much. He thought Ivanka was shy, and the smile on his lips broadened.He refrained from staring at her with such a loving gaze. He feared that she could not take it.Anna gazed at Hanson with a longing look in her eyes. She found his eyes lingering on Ivanka instead. She inhaled and said thoughtfully, “Since… you’ve woken up, we’ll head out and leave the room to you two. We’ll be resting in the room next door. We have been looking after you all these days. It’s exhausting.”With that, Anna got up and grabbed Sandy’s hand.Sandy looked at Anna, who faked a smile. She felt terribly sorry for her. She could only pick up where Anna left off and smile at Hanson. “Yeah, we don’t want to be the third and fourth wheels. We’ll leave you two
Ivanka froze.Hanson was still holding onto her and seemed reluctant to let go.“Iv.”Some unidentifiable emotion shone in Ivanka’s eyes as she slowly turned to meet his gaze.His eyes were filled with deep affection. “Iv, I get it. You’re just saying all this to wake me up, right? You wouldn’t really tell me the truth while I’m still recovering, would you?”Ivanka’s heart skipped a beat as she felt his intense gaze upon her. She composed herself and frowned. “Do you think I’m lying to you?”Hanson hesitated speechlessly as he continued to stare at her.Ivanka inwardly sighed. She recognized that Hanson was simply grappling with insecurity. His words were a test and a way to gauge if she genuinely meant what she said, or if it was just an attempt solely to wake him up.At that moment, though Hanson was awake, an undercurrent of hope surged within him. He wished what he said was not true, yet he could not shake the fear that it was.He feared that all his recent struggles mig
Ivanka and Hanson looked toward the door simultaneously.Frank entered. Hanson greeted him with a smile, “Oh, Dad. You’re here.”Frank immediately noticed Hanson tightly holding Ivanka’s hand. He studied Hanson, who looked well and was in high spirits. His tense demeanor eased.He pretended not to see how affectionate the two looked. He simply gazed at Hanson and asked him in a softer tone than usual, “How are you feeling?”Hanson smiled and nodded. “I’m fine, Dad. No need to worry about me.”Frank nodded. On his way here, he had already talked to the doctor to make sure Hanson was fine, which made him feel relieved.However, the doctor had repeatedly emphasized that they must not stimulate Hanson’s brain. So, they had to go along with whatever he said.After all, Hanson was his son.So... he had to be okay with him being with Ivanka.As this thought crossed his mind, Hanson lifted Ivanka’s hand and smiled faintly at Frank.“Dad, Ivanka agreed to be my girlfriend.”Frank n
James stopped talking. Jonah knew what he was trying to say.It would only make it harder for Jonah to pursue Ivanka if they continued to make Michael detest Chiara. After all, the two were married for several years and had some feelings for each other. There would be no hope for Jonah if they reconciled.James could see Jonah genuinely liked her. That was why he advised him so earnestly.However, just when he thought Jonah would agree, Jonah simply said, “Just focus on finding out more about this stuff from now on. Don’t worry about the rest.”James was surprised. “Mr. Sadler, you...”He was genuinely curious. This was a very straightforward method, especially considering Jonah’s years-long rivalry with Michael, where they had used all sorts of tactics. This time, it was aimed at Michael, so there was even more reason to go ahead with it.James was puzzled.Jonah casually glanced at him and said, “Because it would hurt Iv.”James looked bewildered. “Huh?”Jonah was no lon
Ivanka sighed and shook her head slowly.“I’ve said it before, Hanson is like a brother to me. I’ve never considered him as a romantic partner. Besides, I used to have feelings for Michael, remember? Just because we divorced and I’ve moved on, it doesn’t mean... I can suddenly develop romantic feelings for someone I see as a brother.”Anna fell silent and sighed.Sandy seemed just as confused. “Anna, you like Hanson so much and are willing to do so much for him. Don’t you want to be with him?”Ivanka also glanced at Anna. She felt a great deal of admiration deep down.Truthfully, most people were selfish. The rare few were truly selfless.If they learned that other women were into him too, even if he did not reciprocate, they might feel a tad jealous. It was normal for women.But... Anna was not like that. She could make endless compromises for Hanson and go so far as to convince Ivanka to be with him... At that moment, a surge of complex emotions washed over Ivanka. But mor
Ivanka paused. She gripped the steering wheel tightly. While silent, her eyes hid a storm within. She did not know how to respond to Sandy.Sandy sighed. “Should we head to your place first? I’m thinking of just crashing there for the day.”Ivanka pursed her lips silently and started the car engine.Traffic was heavy. Their trip took more than an hour longer than usual.By the time they got upstairs, Sandy seemed utterly exhausted. She sat down at the dining table and suggested, “Let’s order some takeout.”Ivanka remained composed. “Takeout isn’t the cleanest. I’ll rustle up something quick. Won’t take long.”With that, she changed her attire and ventured into the kitchen.Sandy rushed to lend a hand, but Ivanka calmly intervened, “No need to fuss. It’s just pasta. Just sit down.”Sandy did not listen to her. She started washing some vegetables. Soon, two plates of pasta were ready.Sandy savored each bite as she thoroughly enjoyed Ivanka’s cooking. She had not had much of
Sandy sat in the passenger seat cheerily.“I’m glad to see Hanson’s condition improving day by day. It seems like he’ll be discharged soon.”Ivanka smiled. “Yes, I’m surprised by how well he’s recovering.”Sandy could not help but chuckle at Hanson’s reaction earlier. “Did you see how flustered he was just now? When he heard you were leaving, he was all frantic. He was just like a kid. He wanted to ask you to stay but had to stop himself.”Ivanka’s eyelashes fluttered as she sighed.“I don’t know what to do next. What if he still can’t accept it?”Sandy’s smile vanished instantly and was replaced by a concerned expression. “Yeah... What if he flips out like he did that one time?...”When someone’s feeling down and out, they rarely think straight.Back then, he lost his wits and wandered into traffic.What if he ended up getting drunk again in the future?Sandy sighed. “Well, let’s cross that bridge when we come to it. We shouldn’t dwell on it too much.”Ivanka pursed her lip
“There’s a truck behind us, Sandy! Roll down the window and tell it to back off!” Ivanka remained surprisingly calm in the face of danger.Sandy, though flustered, maintained her composure. She swiftly rolled down the window to warn the approaching vehicle.The oncoming truck was massive. The truck behind them had already sensed trouble. It attempted to reverse before Sandy could signal it.But it was too slow!Sandy’s complexion paled. “Iv, what do we do?! The truck in front is closing in, and the one behind us is too slow!”Ivanka pursed her lips and floored the gas pedal. While Sandy screamed, she steered quickly and drifted the car as it changed direction.She had reacted quickly, but there were still vehicles ahead and behind them, not to mention the dangerous road conditions.The truck driver seized the opportunity and accelerated!At the next moment, a deafening crash echoed.“Ahh!!” Sandy screamed in anguish.Their car was struck. Their rear end hung precariously over
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