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
Sandy sighed helplessly. “Hanson must have assumed that he will meet you alone tomorrow. He doesn’t know we’re here either. Why don’t I post a WhatsApp update?”Anna sighed. “Although Hanson’s brain trauma has mostly recovered, he still shouldn’t get agitated and emotional. He can’t drink either. I’m worried that if we tell him the truth, he will start drinking uncontrollably. Even if he doesn’t drink, he’ll still get upset. What do we do then…”This situation stumped them.It was of great concern, or else Ivanka would not have stalled for so long.She narrowed her eyes. She did not know what to say or do.Sandy could not help sighing either. “Forget it for now. Let’s tell Hanson that we’re also at Iv’s place.”With that, she posted the pictures she took of their food to the group chat they shared with Hanson.Sandy: @Hanson. Bro, take a look at this. We were here to make Iv cook for us, then we decided to stay and look after her.Hanson: You aren’t looking after her at all. Yo
Anna furrowed her brows. “But he’s in no condition for any shock. Didn’t you hear what the doctor kept telling us?”The room fell silent again.No one said a word.But shockingly, their phones vibrated at the same time.Hanson sent another message to their group chat.Hanson: Why didn’t you invite me for dinner? I would’ve dropped by.Then, he even sent a pleading-face emoji.Ivanka pursed her lips and eventually sent a message.Ivanka: It was getting late. You shouldn’t stay up late and run around given your condition. We’ll see when you’re well again.Sandy: Yeah. Just look at yourself. Even if Iv agreed to date you, you shouldn’t be so eager and impatient. What if you scare her away?When Hanson saw this message, his heart immediately sank. Had he been holding onto Ivanka too tightly?Would she be repelled by his behavior?Lately, he sensed Ivanka being more distant than usual.After a moment of hesitation, he sent Ivanka a private message.Hanson: Iv, am I scaring you
Ivanka walked out. She was wearing a simple, light yellow casual outfit. With her hair down, she looked like a naive college student. It was a refreshing sight to behold.Hanson was mesmerized.“Iv.”Sandy was dumbfounded. She suddenly realized that she should go away and brush her teeth.Anna was speechless as well. She had been sitting on the couch for a while, but Hanson did not even see her.Ivanka nodded to him and said with a smile, “You’ve arrived. Come over and take a seat.”As she spoke, she walked over to the couch.Anna occupied the middle seat, and Ivanka went over to the seat next to hers. There was no empty spot next to Ivanka for Hanson.He did not mind. Instead, he found another spot nearest to her and sat down.“How do you feel now?”These words had seemed to become Hanson’s catchphrase. Ivanka nodded. “I’m more or less recovered.”Hanson nodded with a gentle smile on his lips and tenderness written all over his handsome face. He only had eyes for Ivanka.
The man was startled, but he dared not overthink. Evan stepped aside. The man walked out of the office.Michael’s gaze fell on Evan, who closed the door and stepped forward. He said with a somber expression, “Mr. Barkworth, Mr. Hanson is at Ms. Ivanka’s house.”Michael’s expression darkened further.He stared at the person before him coldly and said in a grim voice, “Just the two of them?”“No, Miss Baldwin and Miss McNeil are around, but Mr. Hanson is there as Ms. Ivanka’s boyfriend.”As soon as he said that, Evan sensed Michael’s sharp gaze landing on him. It felt as if he was cut by a knife.“Mr. Hanson was in a critical condition a while ago, so everyone fed him a lie. Due to his brain trauma, he could not afford to get emotional. That’s why they haven’t told him the truth. But I’m worried that if they keep this on, Mr. Hanson might just win over Ms. Ivanka with persistence and devotion.”Michael tightened his grip on his pen.In the next second, he let go of it right away.
“What do you want?”“Mic, you have to believe me! I didn’t do it!”Michael frowned. “Do you really think I’d believe you?”“You have to! Mic, I swear I didn’t do it!” Chiara’s voice cracked frantically. The next moment, he heard Lyla say helplessly, “Mr. Barkworth, Chiara has been really manic ever since that incident. Every day, she’s either moping around in silence or insisting on talking to you to explain herself. Mic, Chiara has a good heart. She could never bring herself to do such a thing. You need to know this.”At this point, Michael lost his patience. “Don’t bother me anymore. My patience is limited.”With that, he hung up.He was fed up and did not want to deal with Lyla and Chiara’s act anymore.As he put down his phone, he found himself thinking about Ivanka again. His expression turned sour as he started imagining Ivanka and Hanson being intimate.Michael massaged his temple in frustration and tried to immerse himself in work again.However, he quickly realize
Ivanka smiled and nodded, “It’s all in the past now. Let’s not dwell on old matters. We’re good friends. You don’t need to sweat the small matters. I get you, and you get me.”Anna sighed in relief. She solemnly nodded and fell silent. She made a mental note that she would never act so rashly again.Being forgiven once or twice was okay, but if she continued to act like this in the future, it could still cause tension and conflict between them, even if Ivanka did not mind. She did not want to lose her good friend.With that, they chatted a little while more before parting ways. After that, Ivanka headed back.Unexpectedly, as soon as she stepped out of the elevator to get back to her floor, she saw Michael standing by her door.Ivanka frowned. Michael’s gaze was icy cold as he stared at her with a smirk.“Hey, Ivanka,” said Michael deliberately.She did not want to talk to him, let alone let him into her home. She turned around and headed back to the elevator.But before the do
Michael’s behavior was becoming increasingly erratic and left her speechless every time.He casually locked the car and turned to Ivanka.Ivanka stared at him and waited for him to speak. She wanted to see what he was up to this time!After a pause, Michael spoke in a deep voice, “What’s your relationship with Hanson?”Ivanka was stunned and looked at him in surprise. “What does this have to do with you?”Michael’s expression turned frigid. He glanced at her in cold, exasperated fury. “What does this have to do with me?”Ivanka frowned. She wondered if she had misspoke.Michael gritted his teeth. He grabbed Ivanka’s wrist and lifted it before saying, “Ivanka, have you lost your mind?”How could she be so ignorant after all that he had done?!She could not possibly not know!Ivanka frowned as she looked at him with confusion. “What are you trying to say?”Michael was acting strangely.“Grandma wants to see you.”Ivanka looked at him with a puzzled expression. This again?
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