Chiara’s pupils contracted slightly, but she kept her face down and out of view.Ivanka did not bother to glance at her. She knew full well what Chiara was thinking.When Chiara remained silent, Ivanka simply smiled. “If you truly wish to wallow in self-pity like this, by all means.”It sounded like she was deeply disappointed at her, but to the three of them, her words carried a different weight.It was highly likely that this was Ivanka’s genuine intention. She wanted Chiara to spend the rest of her life in this state.Lyla’s expression grew grimmer. She took a deep breath. “Iv, how could you say such things? You two are sisters!”Ivanka smiled indifferently and replied, “That’s just how the world works. It’s survival of the fittest. If you don’t have the ability, you’ll be eliminated. If Chiara chooses to wallow in self-pity and melancholy like this, then it’s better for her to stay here. It could become her refuge, where she can isolate herself in her own world and perhaps fi
Chiara bit her lip and exclaimed angrily. “I know! But that woman is despicable!”She was confident of outsmarting even police interrogations, but Ivanka easily got under her skin!She harbored deep-seated resentment and hatred toward Ivanka!Her restraint from the recent encounter was already commendable!There was intense anger in Theodore’s eyes. “I’ll teach her a lesson one day!”Lyla glanced at him wordlessly. Ivanka had changed. She often led them by the nose.Several times, she left them unable to resist. How could they possibly teach her a lesson next?...Ivanka and Sandy laughed heartily as they left. “Iv, you really have a knack for this! I nearly died from laughter! But Chiara really knows how to disguise herself. You can’t tell anything’s wrong with her at all.”Ivanka sneered. “If she gave herself away that easily, the police would have already noticed something by now.”“Are we just going to let this slide then? Would she keep pretending to be crazy?”“No way.
She finally spoke after some hesitation. “Where are you?”“I’m heading out of the airport. Let’s meet up somewhere nearby. Just find a place and wait for me.”Jonah must be aware of the current situation’s development, yet he had not intervened. He had always respected her decisions. Ivanka was grateful for this.If Jonah had interfered, the situation could have become much more complicated, or their plans could have been thwarted.“Okay.”With that, they hung up.Sandy’s lips curled up. “Wow, looks like you’ve got another admirer knocking on your door.”Ivanka lightly tapped Sandy’s forehead with a hand. “What’s going on in that head of yours every day?”“I think about important matters, of course! But seriously, have you never considered Jonah? He’s handsome, powerful, wealthy, and he’s at the top of the pyramid.”Ivanka sighed. “I’ve said it before, I’m not considering him. I’m meeting him later, so let’s find a restaurant nearby.”“All right. I’ll go with you, but I’ll wa
“Iv, do you know why Barkworth’s Group was able to snatch your proposal so easily?”Ivanka pursed her lips. “Yes.”Jonah handed her a spoon and spoke softly, “Lane’s Group is your biggest priority, so I’m willing to help you, but I won’t let you rekindle things with him.”Ivanka looked calmly at Jonah. “I’ve said this before. We will never go back together.”Jonah sat opposite her. His gentle smile remained, but the danger in his eyes was palpable. It would frighten others.Well, except for Ivanka, of course.Sandy, who was sitting in the adjacent room, suddenly felt a chill in the air. Puzzled, she looked outside. It was a bright, sunny day and most definitely not winter....Jonah narrowed his eyes silently.Ivanka looked at the dangerous man before her and said, “Nothing will ever happen between Michael and me or between you and me. Jonah, if possible, we can be friends.”“Friends,” Jonah murmured.After saying that, he chuckled and smiled faintly. “Seems like I’ve made s
Ivanka never liked playing games or leading men on. It was a matter of integrity.“All right, I understand.” Jonah chuckled. He did not seem uncomfortable at all. He even seemed oddly pleased.Previously, she used to address him as Mr. Sadler, but now, whether it was out of guilt or for some other reason, she was calling him by name. It was already a significant improvement. He was very satisfied.Ivanka frowned slightly. She was unsure of what he was thinking. However, she had made herself clear. If she emphasized further, she would be overreacting.She dropped the matter and spoke calmly, “I’ll come up with a project within ten days. What aspects are you interested in, and when do you want to execute it?”“We can wait until you have some free time to execute it, and it can also involve substantial investment. However, it must be kept confidential. I don’t want anyone to sabotage our collaboration.”Jonah implied that he did not want Michael to know.Ivanka did not object to th
Ivanka did not move.Jonah’s phone was ringing.Jonah glanced at Ivanka, gave her a light nod, and picked up the call.“What’s the matter?”“Mr. Sadler, Miss Munroe is here for you. She said she’s got a project that interests you greatly.”When Ivanka heard that name, she immediately knew who it was.Miss Monroe was Athena Monroe.She was the heiress of the Munroe family. Munroe’s Group was also a well-known corporation in Bostone. Although they were not as famous as Barkworth’s Group and Sadler’s Group, they were much bigger than Lane’s Group.Besides, Athena was the only daughter of the chairman of Munroe’s Group. Adored and pampered, she was inarguably the heiress-apparent. She was smart and competent, but she was also a steadfast romantic. She had fancied Jonah for many years.Although Jonah was known for his playboy persona, he never had any intimate contact with Athena, who had both beauty and brains.They were not close, but Athena never stopped trying to win his hea
Ivanka picked up her phone and called Sandy.Sandy answered immediately. “What is it, babe? Are you done?”“Yeah, you can come over now.”“Sure!”Sandy rushed over. When she opened the door, she did not take a proper look at the people in the room and immediately said with a grin, “Hey, look how considerate I am! I was worried that I’d be too big of a third wheel and get in your way!”Ivanka was dumbfounded.Sandy, too, was speechless.She only spotted Jonah sitting in the chair the moment she finished talking. He looked at her with a slight smile. “Yeah, you’re considerate indeed. I’m glad that Iv has a bestie like you.”Sandy was even more flabbergasted.Ivanka was speechless.Embarrassed, Sandy put a hand on her forehead. “Ugh…”Jonah’s smile seemingly broadened. He looked over at Ivanka and said gently, “Let’s have dinner together?”“No, thanks. I’m a patient, and I need rest.” At that moment, Ivanka turned down his invitation without hesitation.Jonah raised his brows
Lately, she had been keeping in touch with Hanson. As she thought of him, her phone rang again. Ivanka could only answer it helplessly. “Hanson.”“Iv, are you home? Shall I visit you?”“You’re still recovering. Don’t run around and worry us. Once you’re healed, we can meet as many times as we want. I’ll visit you then.”Hanson’s eyes darkened with desire. “Iv, I really miss you.”Ivanka clutched her phone subconsciously. The ominous feelings in her heart grew.If they kept it up, Hanson’s love for her would only grow, and she would break his heart sooner or later. What should she do?“Hanson, be a little patient, okay?”She could not tell him that she would visit him. It would only make him even more obsessed with her…There was a conflicted look on Ivanka’s face. By right, she had almost recovered, and she was supposed to visit him, but…When should she reveal the truth about their relationship to Hanson?She pursed her lips and was at a loss for what to do.Since Ivanka ha
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