Michael gazed at Ivanka. He said nothing, but Ivanka spotted the obvious mockery in his eyes. She ignored him. Instead, she looked at the Planning Department’s supervisor. “Why was there a reshuffling of staff?”The supervisor said eagerly, “Everyone has different strengths. Since the plan changed, it’s different from before. That’s why we chose to work in the positions suitable for us.”Michael peered sharply at the supervisor and asked coldly, “And what happened?”The supervisor immediately sensed that something was wrong. Not daring to look at Michael, he looked toward Ivanka. When he saw that her expression had turned dark, his heart trembled. Oh no…No way…He thought that by reshuffling the staff, he could bring about even better results and even get Ivanka and Michael’s praises, but he just ended up being a smart-aleck and thought too highly of himself, didn’t he?!He was done for!At that moment, the supervisor’s knees trembled. Ivanka remained silent in her seat.
The supervisor felt relieved, but he still said, “No, this is my oversight. How can I possibly ask you to pay them? I—”But before he could finish talking, he felt a sharp gaze set upon him. Michael was the only one who could deliver such a sharp, intimidating glare. The supervisor was close to tears. It was not as if he had said anything wrong!But Ivanka no longer looked at the supervisor. She said, “Next person.”The next supervisor quickly gave his report. The work situation at his department was pretty good, so Ivanka’s expression became somewhat pleasant. However, Michael’s expression remained stormy.After everyone finished reporting on their work statuses, everyone fell silent. Evan had been the one who notified them about the meeting, and none of them were sure about what their next specific step was supposed to be. All of them waited for Michael and Ivanka to give their orders. As for Ivanka, she showed no intention to talk; she was also waiting for Michael to spe
But Ivanka still felt gloomy about this. After all, Waterbridge Street was far away. While it was in Bostone, the fact that Bostone itself was a city-county meant that they were basically traveling from one urban area to another. Hence, if they went over in the afternoon, they would only reach by night, and they could not inspect the site at all. They might even need to stay over. This fact made Ivanka really irritated. However, this was an order, and it was a work matter. She could not decline just because she could not keep her private life and work life separate. Otherwise, people would think that she was throwing a tantrum over something so small, and she could not afford to have people accuse her of such a flaw, not when she wanted to reclaim Lane’s Group. The collaboration with Michael was really important to her. Everyone in the conference room fell silent. Some of the women began envying Ivanka. How could she be so lucky? She got married to Michael in the past, and Mi
In the next moment, Ivanka said coolly, “I’ll sit in the front passenger’s seat.”Michael’s expression turned cold. That was all Ivanka said. She made to go to the front passenger’s seat, but before she could reach it, Evan said, “Young Master Ivan is sitting in the front passenger’s seat.”Speechless, Ivanka could only return to Evan’s side and get into the car. Why was Ivan going to Waterbridge Street?She had wanted to go to the front passenger’s seat because she did not want to sit together with Michael, but things did not turn out the way she wanted. After she got in, Ivan turned around to flash Ivanka a grin. “Afternoon, Ms. Ivanka.”He was calling her that in a joking fashion. After all, everyone referred to her that way at present and were treating it in the same vein as “Mrs. Barkworth”.Ivanka scowled and did not want to even acknowledge him. Ivan cackled. “Come now, we’re acquaintances, aren’t we? If you ignore me, you’re going to put me in a really awkward spot
The server began serving their food. Evan had already ordered their food beforehand, so they could start eating at the moment they arrived. After Evan parked his car, he came back, saw their seating, and lost his desire to go in. He had already pretty much figured out Michael’s feelings, and he knew that Michael would not want him to go over at the moment. While he was wondering about whether he should leave or go in, Ivan called out to him with a grin, as if he wanted more chaos for the fun of it. “Evan, come sit! Once we’re done eating, we have to leave! Time’s precious, and we have an important task ahead!”Evan did not know what to say to that. Even if they went over today, they were going to end up going to a hotel to rest first. They would not be able to do any sort of inspection, so they were not in a hurry at all. Ivan was clearly and very deliberately asking him to go over just so that he could watch the drama unfold. Neither Michael nor Ivanka spoke. Feeling re
“What the—! There’s nothing between me and Sandy! Also, she stole my mom’s stuff! Don’t talk about my mess with her like it’s the same with yours!”Michael smiled in clear mockery. Ivan bristled. “Seriously, what the hell?! I’ve told you guys plenty of times, but you just won’t believe me! I won’t ever spend the rest of my life with that tomboy! Don’t let me hear those things come out of your mouth next time!”Michael gave him a cool look. “You’ve never been so angry when we talked about other women before.”His rage was the issue in itself. If he was mad about it, that meant that he really cared about whatever was involved between him and Sandy, and his rage as well as frustration made Ivan look as if he was about to boil over. In his irritation, Ivan snapped, “That’s because I hate her. There are plenty of pretty ladies around. Why can’t you ask me to get together with a better woman?”“I did ask you to get together with a useless woman who’s much lesser than Sandy, but you w
Ivanka did not intend to sit in the back this time. Instead, she took the front passenger seat.Michael’s stern face darkened further.It was going to be a long journey. Ivanka got in and closed her eyes. She prepared to rest.However, her phone suddenly vibrated. Ivanka opened WhatsApp.It was her group chat with Sandy and Anna.Sandy: Iv, are you with Michael now?Ivanka was surprised. Who saw them together and posted on Twitter again?Ivanka: Yes.Anna: What are you doing together? Working?Ivanka: Yes. We’re going to Waterbridge Street today to handle some matters.Anna: Waterbridge Street? That’s far. Is it just you and Michael?Sandy: Damn it! It’s actually true! That jerk didn’t lie to me!Sandy sent a selfie of a disgruntled face.Anna: ?Ivanka: ?Ivanka: Evan is with us too.Ivanka kept typing on her phone. From his position, Michael could not see what was on her screen.He raised a hand and pressed his temple before leaning back into the seat to rest with hi
Ivanka did not bother to say anything to him. She set her phone aside again and closed her eyes to rest.Her indifference only made Michael’s expression darken further.Evan felt like the car might eventually explode from the tension in the air.He thought. “Why aren’t we there yet? Why?”Without realizing it, he pressed down on the accelerator a bit more.Finally, just as Evan had hoped for, they arrived at their destination.At that moment, Evan felt a rush of excitement. He was relieved that he no longer had to endure the tension in the car.As Ivanka stepped out of the car, she took a breath of the air of the place. She felt pretty good, except for the fact that Michael was there with her.Evan parked the car in the hotel courtyard.They made their way inside together.Evan naturally handled the check-in procedure.However, when he handed over the room key, Ivanka frowned. “Why is it a suite again?”She remembered the last time she traveled with Michael, they had stayed
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