Finally, Mariko let go, and Luke immediately distanced himself from the girl. Everyone could see Luke's intention. Not stopping there, he deliberately let out a sigh of relief, letting everyone know how incredibly comfortable and even amused he felt. Mariko couldn't believe he would do that, pretending to be relieved to be free from her. His actions indirectly admitted to the world that he didn't like her, inadvertently embarrassing her in front of everyone. But that's the way it was; he didn't like her. Admitting the truth—what's wrong with that? It was because Mariko stubbornly deluded herself about his feelings. She imposed her personal thoughts on others, so now she had to bear the consequences. Who's to blame? The girl looked pitiful, but it's her own fault. If not loving someone is a crime, then everyone in this world would be condemned. If Luke's behavior is judged as unworthy of a man, then it's a misunderstanding. Luke is not wrong to push away other women when they try to a
"You can't make me silent because everything I say is the truth," Mariko mischievously mocked Luke. "The 'truth' you speak of is nothing but your own fabrication. Stop manipulating and meddling in Ivy's affairs," Luke disregarded the onlookers, openly rebuking Mariko. "When I used to behave decently and honorably towards you, you should apologize to Ivy as well as the guests present tonight and quietly leave. Otherwise, I will escort you out of here in unprecedented disgrace." "Luke, do you dare? I don't believe." Mariko openly challenged him. Before Luke could respond to Mariko, Ivy quickly intervened. "Hey, please focus on the person you need to converse with. Don't ignore me like that; it's very disrespectful." Ivy's voice cut through the tension, interrupting the battle between the two. She decided it was time to end it; she was exhausted. Ivy wished she could go home, take a shower, and rest. All the energy she had accumulated just to deal with this mess was truly wasted. I
No one can believe what's happening. The Yamagi household must be in turmoil over Mariko's immature behavior. "Mariko, You..." Ether started to move forward, but Tegan stopped him. He looked at his older sister in confusion. Tegan simply requested that he stay put, believing Ivy could handle things gracefully. And as Tegan predicted, Ivy quickly took action appropriate for the situation. "Black rose fragrance, mesmerizing and intense, a high-end perfume brand from France," Ivy chuckled, history demanding her poise. "I happen to be allergic to perfume, so please excuse me if I keep my distance." Ivy waved her hand, and Mariko understood that Ivy was criticizing her unglamorous behavior. Mariko felt embarrassed and reluctantly complied with Ivy's request, stepping back. However, Mariko's eyes were like daggers, poised to pierce Ivy with their intensity. The enmity no one wanted had already surfaced, eager to vanquish the opponent; if not promptly restrained or extinguished, I fear t
The entire room seemed frozen, everyone immobile as they watched Ivy's graceful and dazzling steps. Only when she disappeared from the entrance did they awaken. The crowd murmured, some expressing admiration, others praising Ivy. Luke seized the opportunity to quickly hand over all the belongings to his old sister, then hurriedly followed Ivy as she vanished from the elegant room. Mariko had tried to stop him, but neither Tegan nor Ether hesitated to intervene. They could only endure so much. If Mariko continues to act impulsively and irrationally according to her own whims, the situation will indeed become irreparable. Tonight ends here. It's enough for scandals and controversies. Luckily, the guests were all close acquaintances, carefully chosen and invited, so discretion could be ensured. There weren't any reporters, media outlets, or paparazzi sneaking in here. Abe rarely dealt with the media, preferring a low-profile approach. "I think we can't leave her alone, especially at th
"I'm telling the truth; no lies here." Seeing Ivy's skeptical look, Luke immediately defended himself. "Think about it; why would I deceive you? I don't gain anything from it. I'll even have to give you some money as a reward." In a moment of contemplative silence, Ivy smiled, thinking simply that helping others made her happy, even if what she did wasn't grandiose. Moreover, he was right; she didn't lose anything by trusting him. "So essentially, I've resolved my part; the rest is entirely up to you, isn't it?" Luke nodded in agreement with her opinion, showing his personal desire. "Will we have a chance to have tea together?" He hoped to establish a connection for the future. Because he knew that once Ivy left, he wouldn't have any reason to seek her out anymore. Not meeting clients after a deal ends was a principle that had to be followed. And he was sure Ivy always adhered to principles, not only at work but also in her personal life. "As friends." "I don't think so." Ivy shoo
The audience erupted into a commotion again following the correction announcement from the chosen heir of the Evans family estate. Mr. Evans had demonstrated his talent by controlling the guests and then smoothly resolving the scandal, ensuring it didn't leak out. Meanwhile, Luke stepped into his hotel room only to be assaulted by his older brother. "You're out of your mind, Luke," Ether said, glaring at him with accusation, advancing and grabbing Luke by the collar, shouting into his face. "What possessed you to act so recklessly, causing harm to Mariko, do you even realize?" "I don't care about her, no matter what she is like. She did it all herself, not me," he replied indifferently. Luke hadn't forgotten being betrayed by his own flesh and blood, leaving him vulnerable in front of everyone. If it weren't for Ivy's quick thinking, he might have lost control, letting the demon within awaken. The consequences would have been unpredictable. "What do you mean, you don't care? She's
"No, Father. I will change that myself," he finally declared with firm determination, lifting his head high to meet his father's gaze. "Until now, I have always followed your guidance and direction, but that ends now. From this moment on, I will live my own life." It was a tense battle of wits, with neither conceding to the other. For the first time, Mr. Evans witnessed Luke's absolute determination and unwavering resolve. Mr. Evans wondered what had caused Luke to become like this. Then he chuckled, perhaps? He suddenly remembered the remarkable girl tonight, Ivy, who had indeed gained the favor of many, including Luke's father. Mr. Evans was truly curious to know more about their relationship, but now was not the time. Instead, Mr. Evans probed about Luke's audacious plan. "It seems you've made preparations. Any regrets?" Mr. Evans inquired. "None," Luke affirmed confidently. "Absolutely none." Leaning back in his chair, his father appeared contemplative. "Tell me about your p
Seeing Ivy, Mason exclaimed excitedly, "Secretary Ivy, you're here!" Listening to his voice, one could tell that Mason was very cheerful. Of course, he had every reason to be happy, as Ivy had appeared at the company safe and sound. Honestly, both he and Ryan had thought that Ivy wouldn't come to work today. They assumed she wouldn't be in the right mindset, or perhaps she'd fallen ill. Who would have thought she'd overcome last night's dreadful incident so easily? "Good morning," Ivy greeted as he stood before her. Mason's smile made her feel a bit flustered. "I just got here. What are you doing at my desk?" "Oh my goodness, I'm so relieved to finally see you. I was worried that something bad had happened to you," Mason brushed off her question and explained, "I couldn't reach you last night; I searched for you everywhere." Talking about not being able to contact makes Ivy feel extremely worried and sad. This morning, upon waking up, she remembered leaving her purse at the hotel,
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