Lyla had uttered her last few words in loud determination.Samuel was furious. He sneered. “Lyla, we tried to save your family’s dignity, but you don’t seem to appreciate the gesture. Go home and reconsider the meaning of your words. If the Lanes move on us, don’t blame us for retaliating!”“You! You people…”Lyla was so furious that she nearly lost her mind. Her whole body was shaking. “Are you even human? My daughter was weak and frail all these years. We had to look after her. Not only did you not feel bad, you even called off the engagement without our permission. My daughter almost couldn’t wake up from her coma! She was so upset that she has become mentally unstable. You’ve done this to her! Her heart is broken, and she wants to kill herself! If she does, I’ll make you pay for this!”Lyla’s voice was sharp. She seemed to be threatening the Barkworths and venting her anger at the same time.However, none of the Barkworths believed her. After all, the Lanes were great actors.
Theodore pondered silently. Something was off, but…If he did not retaliate, what should he do then?As he was deep in thought, he received yet another call.Frustrated, he said, “When are you coming back?”“Twenty minutes.”“Be quick then. I’m going to ask my people to watch over Chiara. I keep getting calls on my phone. I have to return to the company for a meeting.”“It’s an important matter. You have to step up and deal with it, after all. Go then. I’ll be back soon. Tell the people watching Chiara to take good care of her.”“Alright.”With that, Theodore hung up in a hurry.…An hour later, he showed up in the meeting room at Lane’s Group.The executives were sitting in their chairs with darkened expressions.Theodore rubbed the spot between his brows. He was reluctant to say another word.Thomas glanced at the others and said flatly, “Now that this has happened, we can’t complain and pin the blame on others. If anyone has any ideas, out with it. We’ll figure out what
Sandy had just finished washing the dishes and planned to play with her phone for a bit. She did not expect to stumble upon the trending post on Twitter.“Iv! Big news! Your aunt dropped a bombshell! Hahahah! I wanted to see their reaction!”Her voice was filled with excitement. There was an indescribably expectant look in her eyes.Ivanka was holding her phone at the moment, so she opened Twitter.The top trending post was Lyla’s.Ivanka clicked on it and immediately saw the righteous rant she wrote.Lyla: “Hi, everyone. I’m Lyla, wife of Mr. Lane, chairman of Lane’s Group. I’m also the mother of Chiara Lane, who is the victim of this incident.”Here’s what happened.”A few years ago, to save the CEO of Barkworth’s Group, my daughter was injured and fell into a vegetative state. After learning about this, the Barkworths were grateful and swore they would repay her kindness. Later on, the marriage between Michael Barkworth and my niece Ivanka was on the rocks. He intended to
Sandy’s expression changed slightly, and she looked at Ivanka with sympathy. “Iv…”Ivanka smiled. “Don’t worry about me. Regarding this matter, I’m already certain about something, and I’ll avenge my father. But I have also accepted my current situation. I won’t wallow in sorrow over this matter like I used to.Sandy looked at Ivanka’s expression and was certain that she was telling the truth. Ivanka simply mentioned her father’s murder to take a jab at Theodore. Sandy nodded and said with relief, “Yeah, and we’ll always support you!”She said “we”.Naturally, it included Hanson and Anna.Ivanka smiled again and took her hand. “I know. You’re the best.”“Then… we can sit back and watch how everything unfolds? The conflict has become so heated. The Barkworths no longer want to work with the Lanes. Are you sure you don’t plan to intervene?”“I don’t plan to, but there is still this project collaboration…”A glimmer of emotions flickered in Ivanka’s eyes. Due to this sudden incide
“What the hell! Iv may be your girlfriend, but I’m your childhood friend! We practically grew up together! You only have eyes for her. What about me?! Ever since Iv became your girlfriend, you’ve been showing favoritism! You used to at least hide it well, but now, you don’t even bother pretending! Hanson, don’t you think you’re in the wrong here?”Anna burst into laughter. Even Ivanka could not help but chuckle.Hanson cleared his throat and smiled wryly. “You always say the most surprising things.”“Seriously?! You really weren’t keeping us in your mind at all?! We both pulled an all-nighter last night and didn’t even get a wink of sleep. We rushed to see you as soon as we got off the plane today! We should just break ties with your sorry *ss!”Anna’s eyes flickered. Sandy sure was a quick-witted lady!With that said, they would not have to wait much longer.Hanson obviously caught on. He looked at the two of them with surprise. “How long has it been since you two rested?”Ivan
Sandy quickly looked up. Hanson’s expression had turned serious. His gaze was fixed on the Barkworth family’s Twitter post.Flustered, she handed her phone to Ivanka. Ivanka lowered her head to read it. In just a glance, two sentences caught her attention. Her expression subtly changed as well.Anna, on the other hand, speechlessly held her phone.Hanson did not bother looking at Anna and Sandy. He gazed concernedly at Ivanka. “Iv, you were the one at the scene that day?!”Ivanka’s eyes flickered as she remained silent.The Barkworth family had already made the situation very clear. There was no use for her to refute it.Hanson grabbed her hand. “How are you now? Why didn’t you tell me? You haven’t fully recovered, have you? Why did you come to visit me, anyway? You even came up with such a lame excuse!”He had sensed something was off when he heard what Sandy said earlier. He felt something off when Ivanka did not show up recently. He had never seen Sandy so busy before.Now,
The posted recordings included some that Ivanka provided and others that the Barkworth family discovered themselves.Ivanka was surprised to see them. She did not expect Michael to have gathered evidence even against the person who pushed her into the water during the Springvale banquet.She pursed her lips and said, “Michael really is resourceful.”Hanson instinctively glanced at Ivanka. He felt somewhat concerned. “Iv, are you...”Sandy and Anna also looked at her. Ivanka looked back at them strangely. “Why are you all staring at me?”Hanson sighed. “Nothing.”Anna chuckled. “Hanson is afraid you might have a change of heart about Michael. After all, he protected you and helped you solve the case.”Ivanka snorted coldly, “You’re giving me too much credit.”Hanson frowned. “Don’t say that.”Ivanka smiled wordlessly. She was sure Michael deemed her worthless. She knew that this time, the Barkworth family just wanted to expose the Lane family’s true nature to more people.Afte
Ivanka twitched her lips and ignored her.Sandy could not help but laugh out loud as she continued to read the comments, “Oh damn! That’s so vivid! Iv, if that day really comes, you’ll have to slap him hard! Make him kneel and beg for you. Did he think wooing his wife back was that easy?! Hahaha!”“Enough already.” It was starting to get on Ivanka’s nerves.Michael would never try to coax her back.She found this whole thing laughable.Sandy, on the other hand, was smiling. “I didn’t do anything wrong, okay? I’m just telling the truth. Haven’t you noticed how much more attentive Michael has been to you lately? He used to ignore you. But now, he’s here protecting you himself.”“He has his reasons.” Ivanka smiled sarcastically. She would rather believe that Jonah was sincere to her than think Michael had feelings for her. Even if he was willing to help her, it was for Rosie.She had already seen through it. She would not be as naive as before. She would not let anyone trample on h
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