"Sorry for the interruption; I'm bringing in some coffee."From outside, Ivy announced, then gently opened the door without waiting for any response or permission from those inside. As soon as Ivy stepped into the room, still standing by the door, Ryan visibly displayed his dissatisfaction. Ivy's delay in bringing him and his esteemed guests their coffee annoyed Ryan."Why did it take you so long to make coffee?" Ryan criticized me irritably. "Don't use the excuse of running out of coffee grounds and having to go to the grocery store to buy them."Knowing that Ryan was intentionally trying to make things difficult for her in front of the guests, Ivy didn't show any anger. Instead, she remained calm and composed, tactfully explaining:"I apologize; I took a bit longer due to personal reasons.""Is your personal issue more important than my satisfaction, as well as that of my guests?" Ryan continued to nitpick. "Remember, my time is very valuable. You're just a regular secretary, so you
"Sigh, come on, you two," the mediator interjected to prevent things from escalating further. "It's just a minor issue, not worth arguing over. I'm fine, so..."It seemed neither of the two men were paying attention to Jacob's advice, their tension palpable as they glared at each other."Hey, are you guys even listening to me?" Jacob sighed in frustration and disappointment at being ignored."I just can't understand why you trust her like that, Mason," Ryan pressed on, his frustration evident."My gut tells me Ivy didn't have any ill intentions in that situation," Mason admitted."But you know she's capable of deceiving everyone," he insisted firmly. "Acting is her nature. I can't stand her arrogant attitude, thinking she's better than everyone else and doesn't see anyone as anything.""Why don't you just fire her then?" Mason asked, exasperated by Ryan's stubbornness, which sometimes irks others."I was just about to do that," Ryan exclaimed, extremely frustrated. “But you jumped in
When alone in the room, Ryan dared to show concern over the news that Ivy might be pregnant.He was sure that it wasn't his child but someone else's. Ryan was certain of this because he had been using contraception before meeting Ivy and up until now. Therefore, the likelihood of Ryan impregnating someone was very low.So, what was Ivy's purpose in revealing her pregnancy? Was she planning to toy with Ryan to frighten him? Or Ivy would carry out the plan just as Ryan had anticipated, and he only needed to close his eyes to envision every detail clearly.If that were the case, how should Ryan deal with it? Still unsure of what to decide, he first had to find out the truth and determine Ivy's intentions.After much thought, Ryan finally took action. He immediately called Ivy into the room to talk. As usual, Ivy didn't bother knocking. Without announcing anything, she just calmly rushed into the room."What do you want to say?" Upon entering, Ivy immediately spoke up, refusing to allow h
Unfortunately, Ivy never granted Ryan's small wish. Ivy asked a clever question while teasing Ryan at the same time."How can you be sure that the child in my womb is not yours? We spent a night together in a hotel, remember? And I dare to guarantee that you are the second man in my life."After Ivy finished speaking, she winked mischievously at Ryan. Truth be told, Ryan was quite surprised by Ivy's seemingly truthful revelation, and there was something new stirring in his heart. Ryan wasn't sure or couldn't pinpoint exactly what that novelty was. He only knew that he didn't dislike it, nor was he particularly infatuated with it. However, to maintain his image of authority and coldness, he firmly refused to let emotions overpower his rationality and composure. In a calm tone, Ryan reaffirmed once again."Even if we did spend a night together, that doesn't guarantee the child in your womb is mine." Remembering the memories of that night, Ryan suddenly felt his heart flutter."Why?" Ivy
At 10:30 at the Aberdeen Technology, Construction, and Real Estate Group, Luke Evans, the interim CEO of the conglomerate, is grappling with a looming issue. The company is gearing up for a very special event, commemorating its 38th anniversary. What's noteworthy here is not that he's obliged to attend the event, but rather the arranged marriage orchestrated by both families, to be officially announced during the ceremony. A marriage of convenience, like buying and selling. Even though the families have a longstanding relationship, Luke himself is acquainted with the chosen girl, his future wife. However, Luke harbors no romantic feelings towards her whatsoever; their relationship is purely social, lacking any depth. Yet she has feelings for him, complicating matters for Luke. Nevertheless, Luke is fully aware of the situation and absolutely detests this arrangement. Therefore, he is struggling to find a way to break free from the suffocating cage that he's about to be locked into.Lu
Ivy thought everything was over, but no sooner had she set her phone down on the table than another call came in from the same familiar number. Ivy wanted to ignore it, but she felt restless and uncomfortable inside. She felt that deliberately ignoring the caller would be rude and wrong. On the other hand, not wanting to be bothered further, Ivy reluctantly answered the call again, intending to put an end to this."What now? I've already made myself clear to you. I can't," Ivy deliberately sounded irritated when she answered the phone the second time, hoping that Mary would give up her persuasion attempt."Why not? Give me one convincing reason." Contrary to Ivy's wishes, Mary remained calm and determined, wanting to understand why Ivy was refusing."I don't have the time," Ivy said without thinking, partly true, partly false. "I'm currently working as a secretary for a big company. So, I'm really busy with work lately."Ivy hoped that Mary would let her off, but once again, Mary didn
In the face of Ivy's indifferent attitude, Ryan didn't react much upon hearing the news. He simply pretended to ignore her, swiftly heading straight to his room, leaving Mason standing there with Ivy. Upon seeing Ryan leave, Mason exchanged a few words with Ivy before he followed Ryan.Mason spoke up after carefully closing the door to the room."So Ivy is about to leave here soon." Mason was probing Ryan's attitude and thoughts regarding Ivy's departure. "It's indeed quite a surprising piece of news. I didn't expect this to happen so quickly. I've only known Ivy for a short time. I haven't even had the chance to woo her yet," Mason sighed, feigning disappointment."So what?" As predicted by Mason, Ryan responded with annoyance. "That's normal; there's no need to overreact like that. Take a look at yourself. You look disgusting." "I look that bad." "Yeah," Ryan confirmed."What about you then?" Mason asked straightforwardly. "How do you feel about Ivy leaving?""I'm fine," Ryan repl
Ryan didn't notice his friend's surreptitious glances at the other family's daughter because he was too engrossed in watching the upper-class crowd indulging themselves in diamonds, dazzling outfits, and the scent of high-end perfume from famous brands. Among them were a few acquaintances, but mostly strangers."They're all smiles and chatter on the outside, but inside, everyone is trying to conceal their true nature," Ryan remarked with a fleeting smile, his bright black eyes continuously observing. Then, he replied nonchalantly, "I have to admit, I'm not exactly thrilled to be here either.""Well, we'll just have to endure it together," the lawyer patted his shoulder, taking two champagne glasses from the tray as the server passed by and handing one to Ryan.Ryan calmly accepted the glass and continued to scan the surroundings. Currently, both of them were standing near the corner of the wall, in a position perfectly suited to oversee the spacious room filled with numerous guests. O
Despite Ivy's generous efforts, Ryan ignored everything and continued to do as he pleased."No one is foolish enough to abandon wealth and fame to pursue love," Ryan asserted loudly, as if his words were entirely accurate. "Not to mention love with someone..." He paused, observing her deeply furrowed brow, choosing his next words carefully, more gently. "someone who is not of the same social standing. Furthermore, the two of you look quite mismatched together."It was infuriating to hear, even though she already knew it. He could have said it outright; the truth often hurts, but Ivy was upset by his attitude, which was completely disdainful and contemptuous. He indeed wanted her to react strongly, but as mentioned earlier, she wasn't in the mood today. She wanted to end this peacefully, or at least amicably."You're not him," Ivy calmly retorted. "So don't draw any arbitrary conclusions. Don't you find it ridiculous? Speak only when you're certain; then your words will be persuasive."
Ivy had just put her bag down on the desk when he stood at the door, loudly calling out. It wasn’t a coincidence; Ryan had been deliberately waiting there for her. Ryan felt a vague annoyance, clearly standing right there, yet Ivy didn’t see him. Was she intentionally ignoring him, or did she really not notice the boss's office? Whatever the reason, it wasn’t the main issue. The main thing was that Ryan wanted to know where she had been and what she was doing with Luke.Unable to contain the curiosity churning inside him, Ryan ignored the wise words of reason and acted on the urging of his emotions.“Where have you been?” His voice was like an interrogation, followed by strong criticism. “Do you know what time it is? You’ve arrived late for the afternoon shift.”Don’t blame the rain; Ryan didn’t like that. He’d rather Ivy be honest; he would have behaved less straightforwardly and less jealously. Unfortunately, Ryan’s wish was neither heard nor fulfilled by Ivy.When called, Ivy turne
Ivy waited for so long, but the rain didn't stop, time was passing quickly, and the afternoon shift was approaching. Worried about getting scolded, Ivy decided to brave the rain and walk back to the office. Actually, Ivy could have called Ryan, making up an excuse to take the afternoon off, or she could have done as she usually did and provoked Ryan. But she didn't do that. How should I properly describe Ivy's current condition? Maybe, Today, Ivy wasn't in the mood to argue, debate, or reason with her boss. She just wanted peace. Today was May 15th, one of the saddest and most gloomy days for Ivy.However, Ivy's intention to return to the company was interrupted by Luke.Luke had offered to take her home. Ideally, Ivy should have known to keep a safe distance from him, not giving him any opportunity or hope to get closer to her. She should have shown reluctance, politely declining his concern. Yet she inexplicably agreed. Perhaps Ivy feared the feeling of loneliness and emptiness whil
"Up until now, I still haven't seen a single dollar transferred from you," Ivy said sternly, without any further delay, addressing Luke's anticipation and eagerness. "Your delay makes me anxious and worried, thinking I might have been scammed. Since we happen to meet here, please settle your debt with me. Rest assured, I won’t charge any interest, even though it's overdue by a week."What? Oh my, so that's the reason for Ivy's restlessness and irritation. Luke had seriously misunderstood and even had wildly inaccurate assumptions. Honestly, if Ivy hadn't bluntly reminded him, he might have forgotten.Having said that, Ivy calmly held out her hand towards him, patiently waiting. Luke didn't feel annoyed at all; on the contrary, he was genuinely impressed with her impeccable straightforwardness. She didn't fear offending anyone or worry about what others thought of her. Some might even look down on her, assuming she was materialistic and money-driven. As for him, he certainly didn’t fee
In recent days, Luke has been busy with company projects, with no time to attend to personal matters. After finishing his main tasks, he's feeling restless, unable to find a way to contact Ivy. He tried calling the service center but was told they had no information. Since Ivy left her job, all contact has been cut off, leaving only her personal phone number. Frustratingly, every time he calls, no one answers because Ivy's phone is in his possession. Her phone is locked by security, so he can't access her contacts. After waiting for days, no one bothers to contact her number.Feeling down, Luke suddenly receives good news: a subordinate informs him that someone has come to the hotel to inquire about Ivy's bag. That someone turns out to be Jena, who, upon receiving a request from Ivy, took the opportunity of her free time to come and retrieve the bag for her. Unfortunately, she arrived late, and the luggage department staff informed her that Ivy's bag had already been sent directly to
"Mason, you know what to do, right?" Ryan suppressed his anger as he turned to the lawyer."What are you talking about? I don't understand." Mason pretended to be clueless in this situation."Quickly get her into jail for me. She's committed defamation, framing me." Ryan calmly made his decision, giving orders to the lawyer while glaring at Jena. Hearing this, Jena smirked cynically, and Mason shook his head in disdain. Ivy remained indifferent, showing no interest.So tired; it's only morning and already so noisy. Ivy's peaceful morning sky was once again disrupted by Ryan, just like last time. Seriously, there's something to criticize about these two grown-up kids. They're grown up but behave like ten-year-olds. There's something to say; you have to control your emotions and think carefully. Because if you keep arguing recklessly like that, you'll ruin your image. Adults are different from kids in that they know how to think, deal with situations, and not just forget about their bra
This morning, Jena impulsively stopped by Ivy's house. On her way up, she caught Mason asking Ivy's neighbor where she lived. Feeling suspicious, Jena boldly approached to strike up a conversation, investigating whether he had any ill intentions.After a while of getting acquainted, Jena enthusiastically led the way for Ryan. Because she often visited, Jena had a spare key to Ivy's house, and Ivy had personally allowed her to freely come and go. As usual, there was no knock on the door to announce their presence to the couple inside, so both of them were caught off guard.Embarrassed, angry, bewildered, and shocked... This mix of emotions created a stifling atmosphere that was hard to breathe in.After an awkward silence, Ivy awkwardly stood up, while Ryan hurriedly pulled up his pants.Oh God, what a terribly awkward situation! Ryan wanted to die; he wanted to vanish into thin air right away."I apologize; did we disturb your intimate moment?" Mason regained his composure and made a
"If you're not going to criticize the food I made, then breakfast is done. You can eat a little. And it would be better if you showed gratitude instead of being unappreciative or disdainful. After all, the food here isn't as fancy and upscale as at your home."Ivy spoke up, deliberately reminding Ryan not to refuse and not to express criticism about what Ivy had taken the trouble to prepare. After saying that, she sat down at the table and quickly devoured the sandwich slices.Understanding Ivy's implication, Ryan didn't dare to express his opinions or make excessive demands. He couldn't refuse, so he ate everything because he was hungry. It must be admitted, the flavors weren't bad, especially the tomato jam Ivy made herself.Throughout the meal, an unusually quiet atmosphere prevailed. One would have expected some banter or attempts to understand each other, but Ivy seemed uninterested in conversation. Seeing this, Ryan had no reason to provoke her. If it had been before he knew the
Ivy thought she would have a peaceful morning like any other day, but unfortunately, that was not possible in Ryan's presence. Around 5:45, she was startled by a loud noise. She quickly jumped up and rushed towards the source of the sound. It was the bathroom."What happened?" Ivy barged in, forgetting to knock. Her panic subsided when she saw Ryan crawling on the floor, soaking wet. Above him, the sink was incessantly dripping water. When he saw her, he pretended to grope around as if he couldn't see properly.How funny! Ryan had gone this far, Ivy thought with a sigh. In fact, she knew he was pretending to be blind to play a prank on her. His unnatural behavior the night before had given away his poor acting skills. Especially since he had found his way to the bathroom quite easily while she was asleep. The truth was, she hadn't gotten a wink of sleep. Partly because Ivy had a sleep disorder, partly because of her wandering thoughts. She had slept very little, and even the smallest