Michael opened the door without hesitation, but he could not find Ivanka inside the room. Michael’s expression darkened. He checked every room inside the house but could not find her. That meant she had left the house from upstairs. She had jumped out of the house. Michael thought. “Damn her!” At that moment, the veins on Michael’s forehead bulged. Clearly, he did not expect Ivanka to do that. He seethed in anger. Ivanka did not even leave him a message. It was clear to see that she hated him to the core. Through her actions, she had explicitly warned him not to interfere with her life. At that moment, Michael even had the urge to strangle Ivanka! He contacted Ivan. Right after Ivan answered his call, Ivan heard his bone-chilling voice. “Find out Ivanka’s whereabouts now.” Ivan was stunned. He became stupefied. He wondered. “Hasn’t she been staying in his house? “Did she sneak out? “If Mr. Barkworth is at home, he would certainly know if Ivanka has left th
A hint of bitterness flashed in Anna’s eyes. “I haven’t seen him for a long time. After he learned that I had a crush on him, he has been intentionally avoiding me. Perhaps he doesn’t want to give me hope.” Sandy frowned. “You can’t go on like this. The three of you are in a complicated love-hate relationship, but we’ve been best friends for a very long time. Shall we ask Hanson over and have dinner together tonight?” Complicated emotions flashed in Ivanka’s eyes. She recalled Hanson’s words. He had asked her not to ignore him. However, at that moment, he avoided Anna. Human relationships were complicated. Ivanka thought about it before nodding. “Okay. I’m fine with that.” Anna was eager to see Hanson, so she said, “Me too.” Sandy nodded. “Good. I’ll inform Hanson now.” Anna was extremely nervous. Soon, Sandy’s call was picked up. “Hello, Sandy.” “Hello. What are you doing now? Am I interrupting you?” Hanson chuckled. “No. To what do I owe the pleasure?” “I miss
Michael had been staying in Ivanka’s house and never left her house. Evan touched the tip of his nose in embarrassment. He wondered how he should convey Sandy’s words to Michael. If he conveyed Sandy’s words to Michael bluntly, it would only make Michael feel even worse and directly affect everyone’s lives. But if he did not, it would mean lying to him. Hence, Evan was in a dilemma. He hesitated for a while before saying, “Mr. Barkworth, I called Ms. Sandy. She said Ms. Lane is staying with her. Ms. Anna is with them too. The three of them are together, so nothing will happen to Ms. Lane.” Michael’s expression turned icy cold. He said nothing. Evan was embarrassed. For a moment, he was lost for words. Since the situation had reached this state, he continued, “Ms. Sandy said she can take good care of Ms. Lane, so you don’t need to look after her. She doesn’t want you to have your work affected because of you taking care of Ms. Lane.” At that moment, that was all Ivan could
Sandy nodded. “That’s right. You need to stay with us. If not, you can have Michael take care of you.” Ivanka was speechless. Sandy hesitated. In the end, she could not help but say, “I more or less know what sort of person Michael is now. Based on his actions over the past few days, he has grown more humble. Although it’s because of him that you got hurt, you have explicitly shown him through your actions that you don’t need him. If he doesn’t care about you, he should be living a carefree life. He could simply get a caretaker to take care of you. Or, he could just ignore you. After all, you’ve got us.” Anna nodded. “Right. I also feel the same. Iv, it could be because you’re different from last time, so he started to pay attention to you.” Ivanka’s lips twitched. “I don’t care. He can do whatever he wants. I won’t entertain him. Everything is good so long he doesn’t interfere with my life.” “Tsk. Since you decided to stay with us, he’ll certainly have someone to keep an eye
Ivanka nodded with a smile. “Quick. Wash your hands and eat dinner.” Hanson nodded. He entered the washroom. After Ivanka picked her seat, Anna sat beside her. Sandy could see what was going on, so she sat opposite Ivanka. She deliberately saved the seat opposite Anna for Hanson. A hint of uneasiness crossed Anna’s eyes. “Sandy…” Her voice was very soft. Only the three of them could hear her. Sandy chuckled and winked at her. “Don’t be afraid. Be brave and win his heart!” Anna fell speechless. At that moment, Anna did not know what else to say. She looked forward to talking to Hanson. At the same time, she was nervous. She wondered why Hanson did not like her. After Hanson came out of the washroom, he noticed only one seat left. A hint of disappointment darted across his eyes. He was not able to sit next to Ivanka or opposite her. When he noticed he had to sit opposite Anna, he believed the trio must have arranged it on purpose. He sighed in resignation. He
A thought came across Hanson’s mind, and he asked in puzzlement, “Why didn’t you prepare wine?” “That’s because we know you drove yourself here. Besides, too much alcohol is bad for us. I have had many pimples growing on my face recently.” “Then you should reduce eating spicy food.” After he finished speaking, he noticed there was no chili on the table. He instantly laughed. “When did you guys become so concerned about your health?” “If not now, when?” Anna sighed in relief. Luckily, she had mentioned pimples as an excuse. After that, they had a good chat. The atmosphere was harmonious. Suddenly, Hanson looked at the trio and said, “Actually, I have something to say.” “Go on.” Despite saying that, Sandy was worried. She wondered why Hanson made the atmosphere so solemn all of a sudden. Anna became tense. She was worried about what he was about to say. Hanson continued, “Our friendship is no longer like it was in the past. I know it’s all because of me.” Ivanka’s
Ivanka nodded. “It’s alright.” That was it. She said nothing else. Hanson seemed relieved. Then, he laughed lightly. “I might have been too stubborn in the past. Or maybe I just loved you too much. Every day, I was only thinking about how I could get you to say yes to me. But then, I went so far as to use my injury to tie you down into staying with me. “To be honest, in the days when I was in coma, when I heard you say yes to me, I was so happy I felt like I was on cloud nine. But I was also worried. After all, you only agreed to be with me because of the accident. So, something is inevitably not right. But still, I want to be blind to it and keep lying to myself.” Hanson could not help but laugh and shake his head as he said this. Anna wanted to say something, but she did not know what to say. Instead, Sandy spoke up. “No matter what happened at the time, at least you’re awake. Do you know how upset we all were when you stubbornly stayed asleep?” Hanson nodded hasti
Hanson then smiled and said, “It’s because I was not attentive enough. I didn’t notice many things about you. Also, I even pursued Iv countless times right in front of you. In fact, I even discussed ways to pursue Iv with you. You had to endure the sadness while helping me brainstorm. I’m sorry, Ann.” Anna hurriedly shook her head again. “No, this has nothing to do with you. It’s because I didn’t mention it before. None of you knew about it.” She just did not want to trouble everyone and was afraid that they could not even be friends once she said anything. Anna took a deep breath and dipped her head. She did not dare to look at Hanson’s face. Hanson then said softly, “I’m sorry, but I know that it’ll be harder for you if I say more. Even though I’m saying that I’m giving up on Iv right now, I still can’t get into a new relationship anytime soon. It’s hard for me to get into another new relationship. Ann, can we still go back to being friends?” In fact, with these words, he h
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