“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?
Amused, Ivanka chuckled at Michael’s remark. Her annoyance was replaced by an amused smile.Her eyes lit up as she revealed a gentle smile.This made Michael stunned momentarily as her cold aura softened.He observed her silently, awaiting her response.With a faint smile, Ivanka spoke, “Michael, I know you have ulterior motives for wanting to reconcile with me. You want to cooperate with me, sure, but I didn’t know you’re someone who goes back to your ex.”“I’m not that type of person,” Michael retorted pointedly.Ivanka chuckled. “Fine, you’re not. You’re just the type who won’t mind working together with your ex.”But even those sorts of people would not get back together with their exes.Michael’s demeanor became increasingly intense.Ivanka casually chimed in, “Lane’s Group is still willing to cooperate with you, regardless of your private motives. You’ve also managed to obtain information about them while knowing they intend to keep this going for a year. You’ve given La
Michael unlocked the car and said in a deep voice, “Get out.”Ivanka’s eyes twitched. She did not like this location and was reluctant to move.She even contemplated staying in the car, even though it was Michael’s.Seeing her hesitation, Michael exited the car first and then circled around to the passenger side to open the door for her.When she still refused to move, he repeated, “Get out.”Ivanka frowned at him and asked, “Why did you bring me here?”“Don’t you want to take a look? It’s been a while since you’ve been back.”His tone was mysterious.Ivanka, still frowning, said, “I don’t need to come back. I don’t belong here.”“Get out,” Michael’s tone was heavier than before.Feeling hesitant, she understood she could not stay in his car indefinitely. She eventually got out.“So, Mr. Barkworth, what’s the deal with bringing me here? Do you think playing the emotional card will work for me? Or are you just being childish?”Despite her words, deep down, she still believed
Michael closed the door and gently set Ivanka down.She did not want to stay there at all. Instantly, she turned to leave. However, he had changed the password lock. It required a fingerprint to exit from the inside.Furiously, she looked at him and screamed, “What are you up to?!”She felt like a shrew herself.Regardless of whether she spoke to him calmly or frantically yelled at him, Michael remained unresponsive and unfazed by her actions.This made her so mad that she fell silent momentarily. She never expected Michael to have such self-restraint.However, she could not help but observe her surroundings.This was once her and Michael’s marital home, or rather, her own marital home, as Michael had never lived here.But she had once meticulously decorated this place all while tirelessly asking Rosie about his likes and dislikes.There were things she really liked but did not put up because Michael found them annoying.She had lived in this mansion for three years. Naturall
Ivanka looked at Michael in puzzled silence.She walked over to the plants and carefully inspected them. They were indeed the ones she had previously cared for. Many of the small markings and growth shapes matched perfectly.There were no surveillance cameras or servants around, so it would be impossible for Michael to have found identical plants to deceive her.If he truly had a reason behind trying to reconcile with her, why did he have someone care for the plants she had been tending to before?What was Michael really up to?This time, she looked straight at him with a calm and collected expression.“So, what exactly do you want to do? You know we’re never getting back together, right? Let’s face it, you don’t have any feelings for me either. I don’t want to be trapped in a situation like that for the rest of my life. Michael, I’m tired of feeling stuck. Doesn’t that bother you at all?”Michael suddenly laughed. His handsome face bore a faint smile as his deep-set eyes were
Tears spilled down Ivanka’s cheeks. She could not stop them. Although memories of her father’s death remained fresh in her mind, she thought she had managed to keep her emotions under control. She did not expect to still hear her father’s voice at the moment. Her father must have realized Theodore and his family’s wild ambitions and was deeply disappointed with them. Nonetheless, Ivanka’s father did not want her to take revenge for him. He did not want her to get too involved in their family’s mess. On the other hand, he wanted her to beware of the trio, as he was worried that the trio would lay their hands on her.Ivanka’s father was called Fernando Lane. Fernando knew her daughter was smart. The moment he said that, he knew she could instantly figure out what had happened. But he did not want her daughter to take revenge for him, hence he could only say this much. “Iv, I hope you’ll listen to this recording. I do, however, pray that you never have to. In any case, I only
Ivanka did not pay him any mind and got into the car. If Michael dared to chase after her again, she would most definitely kick him out of the car! She would do what she said she would!Michael did not catch up, but he blocked her with his arms wide open. His stance was clear: You can leave. But over my dead body! Ivanka could not possibly drive over Michael. But it was not a problem for Michael to keep blocking her way. Plus, she had just politely rejected his parents. So, it was even more impossible for her to turn back. Ivanka ran out of patience. She held her forehead and frowned. Michael had already drained her last bit of patience. She never imagined that Michael would actually cling to her to such an extent! How would she put it? All her positivity had been drained clean! “Michael, your parents are still at home. Aren’t you afraid they’ll see and laugh at you? I know Grandpa and Grandma are standing by our side now. It’s not like you and I haven’t been in
Ivanka would neither accept the carrot nor the stick approach. Michael had no choice but to persuade her with reason and win her over with affection. Ivanka snorted. “Have you ever given me a chance to have a meal with you before this? As the saying goes, Rome wasn’t built in a day. It takes time for things to come to this state. Things might have passed for you but not for me!” Ivanka’s gaze was razor-sharp. Michael felt his heart clench up. At that moment, his throat was in so much pain that he did not know what else to say to her. Ivanka did not wait for his response. She pushed away his hand and headed out without hesitation. Michael did not stop her. Nonetheless, he went after her and followed behind her. Meanwhile, they heard the sound from the kitchen. Mindy prepared dinner in the kitchen, and Jay helped her out. They had heard their conversation. Out of courtesy, Ivanka went to the kitchen and greeted them. She said with a smile, “Uncle Jay, Aunt Mindy, I’m
Ivanka clenched her fists. Her gaze was filled with ferocity. She looked like she was really going to punch Michael. Michael noticed the anger in her eyes. But since the person was none other than Ivanka, he was willing to take the beating. He even took a step forward and held his head high. “Strike me if you want.” “You!” Ivanka glared at Michael. He truly annoyed her. She reminded herself to keep her composure. She sucked in a deep breath before saying, “Michael, I’ve treated you with respect. You’d better behave yourself.” Right after she finished the sentence, Ivanka left. Before she even took a step forward, Michael grabbed her. “My mom is preparing the dishes inside the kitchen. If you leave now, you’re not showing me any respect. Please stay around to have dinner. Even though we’re already divorced, and it’s impossible for us to get back together again, we’re still friends,” said Michael. Haha! He had been adamant. He was using the same approach to draw close
Mindy’s expression instantly darkened. “What’s with us being prejudiced against her? Had I ever targeted her when she married Michael from the beginning? “She knew how well Rosie had treated her. It’s her own fault for failing to bond with Mic. How could you blame us?” Mindy had always disliked Ivanka. She believed Samuel’s intervention had been the reason for their marriage. It was an arranged marriage. There was no need for the Barkworth’s family to have an arranged marriage. At the end of the day, it was all up to Samuel to choose the bride for Michael. Ever since Ivanka married Michael, aside from the deliberate arrangements, they had hardly shown up together as a couple in public. Mindy did not have any particularly hard feelings for Ivanka. She believed the two would live happily together after getting married. After they divorced, Mindy thought Michael could start all over again. But she did not expect to see their current relationship was no different from when they
It was Jay and Mindy. When Ivanka saw them, a thought came across her mind. She took out a syringe and inserted it into Michael’s arm to unmute him. Michael felt like he had been stung by a bee. It was as though he had been put in jail, only to be freed all of a sudden. Ivanka took away the syringe and gave him a glance with displeasure. “Get out of the car now. Your parents are here—” “Aren’t you entering the house?” Before Ivanka finished her sentence, Michael interrupted her. When he looked at her, his eyes were filled with sincerity and seriousness. But Ivanka rejected him coldly. “Quick! Get out of the car! I’m not joking with you. Get out now!” “Let’s go in together. After all, you’re already here. Are you worried about seeing them?” Michael was undaunted by her emotions and tone. Instead, he stretched out his hand to try to grab Ivanka. Nonetheless, she avoided him with ease. Meanwhile, Jay and Mindy saw them. They walked over to them. Mindy glanced at th
It was no wonder Jonah asked for so many details. All these were facts.Ivanka did not avoid answering his questions. She gave a light smile. “The longest will be half a year.”If the treatment was ineffective after half a year, she would go to Silvania with Vincent.After all, it was not just about her.Upon learning of Ivanka’s decision, Jonah smiled wryly. “Iv, I don’t think it’s an easy feat to treat my legs. How about you go and deal with your stuff first? You can always treat my legs afterward.”Ivanka initially planned to do it that way. But George, Florence, and Margaret had interrupted her plan.Since she had returned to Bostone, why was there a need to travel back and forth again?She might as well treat Jonah’s legs.Besides, Vincent had informed her that it would be highly uncertain whether they could still return to their home country after arriving at Silvania.Ivanka said, “No. I don’t want to make so many trips. I’ll treat your legs for half a year and see if i
It was not an overstatement to say Michael was crossing the line. Nonetheless, Ivanka could not just sit there and watch the two men get into a conflict. Hence, Ivanka pulled Michael to the side and glanced at him. “If you don’t want to be kicked out, you’d better wait here.” But Michael was undaunted by Jonah. Although Jonah had the power to rebuke him in his own territory, Michael refused to allow Jonah to get the upper hand. Ivanka saw the determination in Michael’s eyes. She was very worried that the two might get into a fight. She quickly pulled him back. “Stop making me worry about you. Just wait here! If you dare to come after me, I’ll…” Although she did not finish her sentence, her intention was clear enough. If Michael disobeyed her, she would make him a statue! Understanding this, Michael did not follow Ivanka. But when Jonah turned around and left, the provocation in his eyes was evident. Still, Michael listened to Ivanka. He did not want to offend her. He
Jonah narrowed his eyes while questioning Michael. Still, Michael did not respond to him. Ivanka pursed her lips. She looked displeased when she answered Jonah, “Jonah, there’s no need to speak so harshly. Do you still want me to treat your legs?” She had temporarily made Michael mute. She did that to stop Michael from talking endlessly about those things. Nonetheless, he had still insisted on coming along with her, only to end up being targeted by Jonah. Ivanka had no intention of making Michael mute in front of Jonah. Upon hearing Ivanka’s words, Jonah looked at where she currently stood. She stood in front of Michael. It looked like she was trying to protect him more. As the saying went, true love was portrayed in hard times. This saying was true indeed. It was true that Ivanka cared about Michael. Jonah said gently to Ivanka, “I want you to treat my legs, and I only speak harshly to specific people. I already showed him much respect when he barged into my terri
Michael remained resolute.Ivanka rolled her eyes. “Then stay stubborn. I’ll only fix it when you stop pushing me away.”After she was done speaking, she turned to leave.Michael followed.He even opened the passenger door and got in her car. He was determined to follow her.But Ivanka would not go easy on him.Once inside, she warned him coldly, “Not being able to speak is harder than you think. Follow if you want. Michael, are you sure about this?”Even after her warning, he kept staring straight ahead.She said nothing more and started the engine.Within half an hour, she arrived at Jonah’s mansion.Jonah came out to greet her personally. The moment Ivanka parked the car, Jonah immediately spotted Michael in the passenger seat.The sight of him stirred up bitterness in Jonah. Yet there was nothing he could do.Before Ivanka exited the car, she said to Michael, “Wait here.”Without glancing at him, she walked straight toward Jonah.Her attitude made Michael decide t