The deep sigh from Ivy caught Luke's attention. He immediately looked at her, concerned.
"What's wrong?" Luke asked gently.
"It's nothing," Ivy shook her head, dismissing it. "I'm just lost in thought; you don't need to worry about it."
Knowing that Ivy didn't intend to share her thoughts and worries, Luke couldn't force her. So, he decided to pretend to trust what Ivy said, even though he felt deeply concerned for her.
"Why don't we join in the fun with everyone?" Luke suddenly suggested, aiming to lift Ivy's spirits and help her blend into the atmosphere. He suspected that she might dislike such fancy parties that are difficult to approach like this one. "How about dancing? It can help clear your mind of all worries."
She smiled brightly, timidly nodding her head and slipping her arm into Luke's waiting one, just as the band started playing the familiar party tunes.
"It was thought to be someone else; turns out it's Ryan Blake," a familiar guest greeted Ryan, taking the liberty to welcome him. "Please feel free to sit."No one at the table objected to Ryan's presence. The previously serene atmosphere was shattered, and everyone quickly reverted to an uneasy, anxious demeanor.With permission granted, Ryan casually pulled out a chair and sat down. He deliberately chose the empty seat to Ivy's right and took his time settling in. Mason swiftly took the seat right next to Ryan.Ah! This unforeseen situation is truly a nightmare!Ivy suddenly felt a knot in her stomach, discomfort creeping in as Ryan sat down. On the other hand, Ryan keenly noticed Ivy's tension and silently mocked her. Ivy's concern was justified; who would have expected to be caught here, especially by Ryan, someone who never missed a chance to corner her and undermine her?Th
Returning to the crux of the situation, no one seemed to care or show interest in the newcomer; all attention was focused on the main couple, Ivy and Luke.Under the pressure and urging of the crowd, both Ivy and Luke understood that remaining silent would only make things harder to control. As if in silent agreement, Ivy turned to offer him a sweet smile, and he nodded in agreement. Luke decided to let her answer, as it was the job of an acting and scriptwriting expert. Ivy exuded confidence in her expertise, so Luke chose to trust her."It was a fateful afternoon," Ivy began, her voice tinged with excitement, setting the stage for the story. "We first met at the Suna orphanage.""Suna?" Tegan exclaimed, a hint of surprise coloring her voice. She couldn't believe what she had just heard. How could there be such a coincidence? Suna was a forbidden name in the Evans family. No one was allowed to let outsiders know, and even family members were strictly forbidden to mention it.Suna bro
"I made a mistake; I was surprised to find out later, when I learned that he also visited the orphanage." The silence was broken as Ivy continued her story. "That's how we met. He looks fierce and hard to approach on the outside, but he's very kind and gentle." "The kid got stung by a bee on his hand; I just helped him out." Luke interjected, clarifying. Ivy turned to him with a smile. "Because at that time, he looked like a bully; he even threatened and scolded me." "That's because someone recklessly hit me without knowing the whole story." He argued. "And then I called others to come and catch me." "Don't hold grudges over past matters, little one." Luke poked her round cheek as she pouted, showing her annoyance. "Ouch, that hurts." Immediately Luke rubbed his hands on her chubby cheeks as she groaned. They're both grown-ups but acting like children, making the onlookers feel embarrassed for them. "Who was the one pursuing whom first?" The question was raised by Luke's old
Ryan acknowledged that Mason was likely speaking from a place of concern and wisdom, but due to his own pride and stubbornness, and most of all, his own uncertainty, Ryan wasn't entirely convinced. Therefore, he simply offered an answer that aligned with his current thoughts and feelings. "Of course, that's true. I'm not crazy enough to like Ivy. Who do you think I am? I have my own sense of aesthetics and high standards," he replied half-heartedly. Instead of getting defensive, he just brushed off the issue. He truly didn't understand himself. How do you explain it? It's hard to say. In short, there was a lot of turmoil within him at this moment. However, amid the chaos, anger was clearly evident. Ryan's conclusion that Ivy is despicable for dating Luke while still casually sleeping with him. He perceives Ivy's behavior as hypocritical and disrespectful, as she is seemingly leading a double life by engaging romantically with Luke while maintaining a physical relationship with many o
"It turns out the child in your belly belongs to him, huh? The father of the child has quite a reputation; you're indeed quite impressive, with a refined taste, and successfully flirt with a successful, high-value man." The words were heavy, with deep implications, and the attitude was deliberately offensive. It was clear that Ryan intended to provoke Ivy both emotionally and mentally, filling her with anger and frustration. Ivy's face darkened as he suddenly appeared behind her, making her choke on the sushi she had just swallowed. Not only did Ryan not care whether she was okay or choking, he didn't even bother to ask, just saying whatever came to mind. While Ivy was struggling to catch her breath and gulping down water to ease her choking, Ryan continued to babble on about things that were hard to hear. "So what kind of person are you exactly? Sneaking into bed with someone else while your boyfriend is away? Are you just thirsty for sex?" Ivy, still surprised by Ryan's sudden ap
Swallowing his rage, Ryan quickly deployed another tactic in hopes of regaining the upper hand and ultimately defeating Ivy. "Do you think I don't dare?" Instead of intimidating her, he dared to be bold, bolstering his bravery. "Let me tell you, Ryan here can say it can be done. Don't forget I warned you: I'll make you wish you were dead." Ivy laughed with a sense of exhilaration, goading him on. "I haven't forgotten; your words are etched deep in my memory. So go ahead, do as you please, and you'll get what you want. But let me remind you: If I'm hurt, you won't be unharmed either; I can assure you of that," Ivy added assertively, emphasizing the reciprocity of consequences. "Do you think I'm bluffing, just trying to scare you?" Ryan growled in warning. "And don't think you can do anything to me." "I don't underestimate you; I just think you lack wisdom," Ivy retorted, delivering a verbal blow that subtly implied his foolishness and uselessness. "You might not mind the notoriety
Luke's heart was now flooded with chaos, and his chest weighed heavily. He regretted involving Ivy in this mess a thousand times. Thinking of Ivy, Luke suddenly looked her way, finding her gaze fixed upon him. The agony etched deep within his eyes was starkly evident on his face. As a perceptive individual, Ivy easily discerned Luke's unstable emotions. Meanwhile, the girl standing beside Luke continued to enthusiastically greet the guests, her smile bright and cheerful, but it flickered out as she stopped beside Ivy, her gaze towards Ivy deep and inscrutable.Oh God, the very thing Luke feared had finally happened.Silence engulfed the banquet hall, no applause resounding too loud or too long, then the reaction of Luke, the male protagonist of the event. Immediately, all eyes suddenly turned towards Ivy, the unexpected focus of attention, standing somewhat dazed near the entrance.How would the girl to whom Luke had personally declared his love react to this shock?"Ivy!" he whispere
"Luke, what on earth were you doing?" Tegan scolded loudly, but Luke seemed indifferent. Tegan hurriedly ran up to the stage to assist the girl. "Are you okay?" Tegan asked with concern, and the girl shook her head, her face filled with sadness. She never expected Luke to act like that, especially in front of so many people. Luke's older brother also berated him. "Do you realize how foolish you've been? Take a look at your behavior!" Luke remained indifferent, not bothering to argue, acknowledging that it was his fault, so he would remain silent and listen to the heavy words. It seemed like everyone's attention was focused on the stage, except for Ryan and Ivy. While Ivy was lost in her imaginary world, Ryan concentrated his attention. After exhausting all possible words to express Luke's stubbornness, the Evans siblings sighed helplessly. As a moment of quiet settled, Luke remembered something more important and looked down, deciding to approach Ivy again. "Luke," Mariko hurri
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