If the bystanders heard Rosie say this, they would probably look at her oddly.Only Rosie would dare to say such a thing. Who else would dare to?Mr. Barkworth was not attractive? What a joke. The line of women who liked Michael would overflow Bostone, and it would even spill into multiple states around it. How many women would kill to get married to Michael, but they never caught his eye? Rosie glanced at her grandson and said with mild concern. “So, what’s the situation in the company now?”Ivanka was silent. Michael, on the other hand, said calmly. “Everything is fine. The other party cracked up to the last layer and gave up.”“Gave up on the last layer? They could get to the 19th layer but gave up on the last one?” Rosie felt like something was amiss there. “Mm.” Michael did not go into the details. “You don’t need to worry too much about things in the office.”“Hmph. I’m just curious. What does the company getting bankrupt have to do with me? Things are not as goo
Rosie truly felt that it was a pity, but she already knew that she could not continue persuading her. “Alright then, it’s late. I won’t keep you any longer. Go home earlier. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be safe too late at night.” Ivanka smiled and nodded. Just as she was about to say something, Michael had beaten her to it. “I’ll send her back. There’s some work matters I need to discuss with her.” Ivanka frowned. She balked at this. But at the thought of their partnership soon, he might really need to brief her as her boss. She did not say anything either. Rosie was suspicious and wanted to say something. But at the sight of Ivanka’s mood, she kept quiet and did not make a sound. Ivanka smiled at Rosie. “I’ll take my leave then Grandma” “Alright. Come over when you’re free, Iv. But you don’t need to come to visit when you’re very busy. Your work comes first.” Ivanka smiled and nodded. “Yep. I understand.” Just like that, with some small talk, Michael and Ivanka left toge
Immediately afterward, he saw a man in a royal blue suit with a slender and upright figure. He was looking straight at Ivanka. Ivanka saw him stride over once she turned to look. There was a food box in his hand too. She was stunned. Why was he here?Michael had just opened the car door when he heard that man’s soft voice. “Why are you home so late?” Michael’s expression turned absolutely chilling! Ivanka spoke with a calm expression. “I had something to do. Why have you come here?” “I’m here for you.” There was a gentle smile on Jonah’s face. Michael looked at Jonah coldly. “Do you think it’s appropriate at this late hour?” The voice suddenly rang out abruptly, but it did not surprise Jonah. After all, he knew this was Michael’s car. Jonah narrowed his eyes, as he kept smiling elegantly. “What a coincidence, you are here too, Mr. Barkworth.” Michael’s sharp gaze flashed toward him. His gaze was chilly. He had no intention of paying attention to Jonah. Jona
Michael looked at Jonah coldly. He did not want to waste time with him here. But at the thought of Jonah looking for Ivanka again once he left, he frowned. Suddenly, he stood still and did not move.Jonah seemed to have the same thought as Michael. He just smiled. “Why don’t we have supper together?” Michael frowned slightly. Clearly, he did not want to agree, much less spend time with him. However, his desire to defend Ivanka was stronger. He took a breath and said calmly, “Okay.” Jonah smiled wordlessly. The two of them each went back to their respective cars and drove off together. Ivanka went to the balcony and saw this scene until she could no longer see their cars. Then she withdrew her gaze and pulled the curtains back. She was going to take a shower and then rest. It was also kind of satisfying now that everything was going in the direction she had hoped. On the other hand, the two men were not so happy. Michael simply did not want to eat with him. However, he
Chiara understood her own mother. She would not be acting like this if something big had not happened. She could usually handle them. Moreover, whenever she ran into trouble, her mother kept trying to find ways to help her deal with all kinds of things. Her mother’s state of mind was still good, regardless of whether she succeeded or not. But now, she was completely off. Even Chiara could feel that she was holding back.“Nothing much happened. All you need to do is just to get well. You don’t need to worry about them.” Lyla forced a smile at Chiara and spoke with a calm expression.“At this point, what can’t I accept? If you don’t tell me, it’s one less person to bounce ideas off of. No matter when or where we are, we’re family. How many outsiders could be of help?”Lyla’s anger seemed to grow even more. Did they still need outsiders to do anything else? Theodore alone was enough! If not for him, how could something like this happen at home? Now that she thought about it, sh
Therefore, she was completely cut off from contact with the outside world. Every day, all she could see was trash on her phone. So, she had no idea what was happening at the company.“Where is Dad? He hasn’t come to see me lately.”She asked casually, but Lyla looked slightly annoyed as she said, “He’s been tied up with a lot of things lately. He probably doesn’t have time to visit you.”Chiara frowned again. Lyla could only sigh. “The company has a lot on its plate right now. Ivanka is still running amok. She has gained many supporters. Your dad has been worrying about these things lately. Chiara, he really doesn’t have time to come see you.”Lyla was really worried that Chiara might get too worked up again. After all, even if she did not lose it this time, she was teetering on the edge.Chiara frowned. “Was this all that was bothering you earlier?”“Yes.” Lyla sighed resignedly.Chiara continued to stare at her. She still felt that something was off.Her mother’s expression w
Lyla did not believe for a moment that Mindy had any genuine intention of visiting her daughter.As she spoke, Lyla scrutinized Mindy. She felt a level of nervousness that perhaps no one else could comprehend. While she worried, Mindy spoke up.“Nothing much.”Lyla sighed in relief. It seemed that Mindy was unaware of it, or perhaps she had no intention of holding them accountable, maybe due to lack of evidence?“I just wanted to drop by and see how you all were doing. If it’s not convenient, I’ll leave then.” Mindy’s tone was nonchalant, but beneath the calmness of her eyes lay an inscrutable depth.Lyla furrowed her brow instinctively. She wanted to ask what exactly Mindy meant by coming here, but she could not ask her directly. Saying too much might arouse suspicion, and Mindy may be here today to test her.With that in mind, Lyla decided not to engage in further conversation with Mindy. She simply nodded.“Thank you for making the effort to come, Mrs. Barkworth.”Mindy glan
He was dressed in a black tracksuit, with sunlight bathing on him. At this moment, he looked even more like a radiant youth. He was dazzling and impossible to look away from.“Hi, what a small world.”“Darn it! You scared the hell out of me!” Sandy was genuinely startled. She could not help but punch his shoulder after she said that.Ivan burst into laughter. Flashing his bright white teeth, he grinned at Sandy and said, “You’re getting rougher and rougher. But I get it, hitting is affection, scolding is love. Am I right?”Sandy glared at him angrily. “Are you insane?”“Look at you, I just said, hitting is affection, scolding is love! And now you’re scolding me again. I can tell, you truly love me.”Sandy was fuming!“You’re crazy! You keep popping up out of nowhere, saying these weird things. Aren’t you afraid this would upset your girlfriend?”Ivan casually rested his hand on the back of Sandy’s chair, which caused her to immediately shift forward as she was afraid of being p
Egbert stormed off in fury, but Sandy’s rage had not cooled in the slightest. She even lashed out at Ivan. “You shouldn’t have stopped me just now! If I’d given him a good scolding, or even a beating, maybe it would’ve finally knocked some sense into him. Otherwise, he’ll keep coming back. He’s always trying to use me for his own purposes!”She was so angry she was practically grinding her teeth. Ivan pressed his lips together and let out a long sigh. “With the way you looked like you were ready to kill someone, what did you expect me to do? Just stand there and watch you commit murder?”He was really worried when he saw how Sandy was losing control. “What’s the point of that old b*stard still being alive anyway?” Sandy said coldly. If she could really get rid of that old man, she would do it so she could avenge her mother and let go of that grudge she had been holding on.Ivan shook his head and said in a low voice, “Then think about it, how hard did you work to get to where yo
Sandy exploded. “Eighty million? Why don’t you go rob a bank? Or better yet, see if that wrinkled old face of yours is worth anything as collateral!”Sandy was fuming.Egbert had not expected Sandy to be so vulgar. He turned back, enraged.His black eyes shot daggers like he could rip her apart on the spot. Sandy did not flinch. Instead, she lifted her chin and gave him a cold, mocking smile. “What? Are you so mad that you’re thinking about hitting me? Do you want me to remind you of the law? We have no legal ties anymore. If you so much as touch me, that’s assault. And let’s not forget, you barged into my workplace to cause a scene.”“Sandy, I don’t know what kind of twisted morals your birth mother and adoptive mother taught you, but just look at yourself now! Do you even resemble a proper human being?”Egbert was extremely disappointed in Sandy. The one thing Sandy hated most was when people brought up her birth mother and adoptive mother. Those two women were the most import
Egbert snapped at Sandy coldly. His gaze was pressing.However, that had no effect on Sandy. Her lips even curled into a mocking smile as she said, “I’m not one of your McNeil pets. That look, your words, they cannot intimidate me at all.”At the mention of “pets,” Egbert was so furious that he slammed his cane against the floor with a loud crack. “Listen to yourself! Is that any way for a lawyer to speak? Do you even understand the meaning of respect, decency, and manners? Is that how your mother raised you?”Sandy had been mean and harsh on purpose to kill whatever sliver of hope he held onto.Just as she wished, he was angered.Watching him lose his composure, Sandy even felt a flicker of satisfaction rise within her. Her mother and herself were thrown out and lived a tough life while her father stood by uselessly. Who else was to blame, if not this old man standing before her?“My mother raised me to be a decent person. She taught me never to push away what’s rightfully mine,
Thomas stated his purpose.Sandy’s reaction, however, was full of repulsion. She frowned. Even her tone was curt. “Uncle, I made it very clear about seeing him the last time we spoke. He never once considered me part of the McNeil family. If it weren’t for my mother taking me in, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Now that I’ve grown up and suddenly seem useful, he wants to claim me back? I was abandoned by the McNeil family the moment I was born. I’m not stupid enough to become a pawn for your family!”Sandy was furious.She had always treated Thomas with a certain courtesy, but at the moment, that line had clearly been crossed.Thomas, though only the messenger, could feel the weight of her resentment. “It may not be as bad as you think. If you won’t go, Dad will come find you himself.”That was the truth. Yet Sandy did not spare the old man a shred of respect. She scoffed. “He might be your dad, your head of the family, but he’s nothing to me. From the moment I was abandoned, th
Sandy was really surprised to see Ivanka. “When did you get back?”“Today,” Ivanka answered honestly.“You have quite a packed schedule for just one day.” Sandy teased her.When they had planned to take down Coco last time, Ivanka was not around. Then Michael returned. From what Sandy could tell, they were always either together or closely following each other.Ivanka did not respond to her teasing. “I’ll only be here for a day or two, then I would have to leave again.”Sandy was speechless. She rolled her eyes at Ivanka. “Are you going to become a full-time jet setter?”“She can’t help it,” Anna answered for Ivanka. Just as she finished saying that, Anna’s phone rang. It was another case to follow up on. She had to step away to take the call.Only Ivanka and Sandy remained in the office. “You look exhausted. If you keep going like this, I’m worried you’ll wear yourself out!” Sandy shook her head and expressed her concern for Ivanka. Ivanka chuckled. “I wouldn’t go that fa
When she heard what Anna said, Ivanka immediately teased. “Why, can’t I even come to the firm?”“Well, of course, you can come. You are an important partner; why can’t you come?” Anna laughed and looked at Ivanka, annoyed. Immediately after, she made a cup of tea for Ivanka.The tea was also of fine quality. She had bought it.Ivanka also remembered how she, Anna, and Sandy, the three of them, used to work hard together in the firm after she divorced Michael. Originally, she wanted to live on her own. However, one thing happened after another, and her plans got delayed. “I don’t see Sandy. Has she gone to handle cases?” Ivanka sipped a mouthful of tea, and immediately after, she asked Anna about Sandy’s whereabouts.Anna told Ivanka truthfully. “Sandy recently took over a very tricky case. She wants to make a not-guilty defense for that person. But the father of the deceased is the Groethe family, a rather prestigious family in Bostone. How could a commoner fight with a rich ki
But as time went on, things happened one after another. While they were in contact with each other, she also slowly understood Jonah’s personality.The most important thing was that Jonah was also honest with her later on.When Jonah mentioned this again, Ivanka could not help but scrutinize Jonah again.He was starting to become unhinged!“Jonah, you need to stabilize your emotions. Sometimes, when you feel impatient, you should just close your eyes and take a good rest. You should not have such emotions.”Ivanka spoke solemnly toward Jonah and advised him. When he saw Ivanka’s serious expression, Jonah instantly also realized that he had lost himself.Ivanka was not like Chiara, who could accept him losing control. If he lost control in front of Ivanka, it would affect Ivanka’s mood. That would make him courting death too! This would put a halt to all his opportunities!Jonah also realized this problem. He was very distressed. He could not even explain why his emotions had
When Ivanka said this, she pressed her hand on Jonah’s shoulder. There was no other meaning, she wanted Jonah to calm down.But this instead gave Jonah an opportunity. He grabbed Ivanka’s wrist. Then he tugged forward forcefully… Ivanka was caught off guard, and her whole body fell on top of him.He then took advantage of the situation and held Ivanka in his arms.The faint scent entered his nose, Jonah was intoxicated for a moment.But at that moment, he felt like he was waking up from a dream.Ivanka could not be so intimate with him. The sensations of touch and warmth in front of him were so real again. It was not an illusion, it was his compulsion!After realizing this, Jonah hurriedly pushed Ivanka away. He even more quickly apologized to Ivanka. “Iv, I’m sorry. I lost control. I didn’t mean to…”“I know.”Ivanka uttered softly, but her tone was cold.She knew. Neither did she blame him. But why was she using that tone, with that look on her face?“No, Iv. you’re blami
“Jonah, I don’t like you. I told you, I only see you as a friend. When I’m unwilling to do something, no amount of moral coercion would work on me.”Ivanka spoke up bluntly. She did not want Jonah to cling to something impossible.Jonah was silent.This was where Jonah and Michael were different.“Look, you still have so many things to do. By the time you remember me, we have already missed the best time. This time when you leave, did Michael go with you?” Jonah raised his eyes to meet Ivanka’s. He wanted to hear Ivanka’s answer from her mouth.Ivanka did not reply. But the look in her eyes already said it all.Her silence confirmed it all.Jonah felt that his heart grow incredibly heavy at the moment. He had a crazy thought: Was it true that if Michael died, Ivanka would be able to focus all her attention on him?However, he was an invalid and did not even have a chance to get close!“The way you treat Michael and the way you treat me has always been so different. I know. A