In the face of Luke's reaction and attitude, Mariko suddenly found herself at a disadvantage, feeling anxious and afraid. She wondered: What's happening here? Everything was unfolding completely contrary to the scenario Mariko had envisioned. It was nothing like what her mother had predicted, boosting her morale before going into battle. Everything was messed up, not to mention being turned back to attack Mariko's spirit. Indeed, human plans are no match for divine arrangements. Unconsciously, Mariko swallowed hard under the pressure that Luke had just put on her. Mariko should have known better than to get involved with such a resolute man, one with a cool head who always carefully considers his words and actions before speaking or acting. Standing directly in front of Luke was already difficult, let alone dealing with him. "I just wanted to help you see through that deceitful person," Mariko said, feeling confused and hesitant. "I thought you would open your eyes and see who truly
Returning to the main issue, which is more important, how does Ivy's scandal relate to Ryan's company? Of course, it does. In the post, there's a very concerning detail. Ivy allegedly got hired at the company by sleeping with Ryan, the CEO. This rumor tarnished his reputation and devalued the company. However, it seems that Ryan hasn't noticed that detail yet, prompting the lawyer to remind him. "Do you notice the detail that connects to you?" the lawyer asked. "What is it?" He feigned innocence. Was he kidding? If he pretended to be naive, he better watch out for Mason. Stirring up trouble unnecessarily amidst a crisis. Disappointed by his boss's blank expression and attentive waiting, Mason silently thought, Sometimes Ryan's mind doesn't function optimally. Understandably, he had to deal with a lot as the boss. "What's wrong? It looks serious, isn't it?" Seeing his friend unnaturally silent, Ryan anxiously pressed for an answer, guessing the scale of the situation. "There's a
Mason observed Ivy's reactions, ranging from astonishment to confusion and then indifference, before returning to normal. There was a palpable tension in the air, with nobody knowing what Ivy was contemplating."Ivy, are you still there?" Jena called out.She heard but didn't respond."Hey Ivy."She remained lost in thought."Ivy," Mason gently called, patting her shoulder. Ivy glanced at him before returning to her phone call."Sorry, I was a bit distracted." Ivy maintained her steady tone, as if the situation had little effect on her emotions."What are you planning to do now? Are you okay?" Jena probed with concern."What do you mean by 'what am I planning to do'?" Ivy calmly countered, maintaining a demeanor that left others speechless, notably Mason, who had been observing her."Are you sure you're okay?" Jena persisted, seeking to ascertain that Ivy's nerves were intact and not shaken to a concerning extent due to the shock."I'm still fine, boringly fine," Ivy said cheerfully,
After a period of tense and exhausting contemplation, when she had come to a decisive decision, she felt she needed rest to treat herself to a bit of relaxation. Most importantly, Ivy, despite facing difficulties and seriousness, never skipped her lunch. Therefore, she didn't hesitate to stroll downstairs for a meal. It was no surprise that when most people in the company, including building staff, saw Ivy appear at the restaurant on the ground floor, they made snide remarks, showing disgust. Even the person behind the counter openly treated Ivy unfairly when trying to order food. They deliberately took the leftovers from the pot instead of giving her delicious food like everyone else. Today, Ivy had forgotten to pack her bento, which is why she had to eat here, or else she wouldn't have become the focus of public attention.Honestly, it was utterly boring. But she just shrugged it off. She was not going to get angry with these foolish people.After picking up her meal, Ivy glanced ar
With keen observation of his surroundings, Mason noticed that many people were intrigued by Ivy's gossip. This meant that half of his plan had succeeded. Relying on this achievement, Mason proceeded to implement his idea.Clearing his throat, he spoke. "You're exaggerating; I'm not like that at all." Mason waved his hand, shaking his head. "Compared to many others, I'm far behind.""Don't be modest," Ivy encouraged earnestly. "Among the 999 men I've met and had the chance to interact and work with, you are one of the few who have received high praise from me. You should be proud of that. My friends know that I'm quite discerning and picky when it comes to trusting others, especially men."With an emphasis on her tone and somewhat imposing words expressing her personal thoughts, Mason felt Ivy seemed to be facing a serious issue regarding her own beliefs and personal perspective. However, in this situation, amidst the unpleasant circumstances, it wasn't convenient to delve deeper into
After witnessing the entire conversation between Mason and Ivy, Ryan had some related reflections. Assuming Ivy had succeeded in clearing her name in front of everyone in the company, however, in the end, public opinion still held the greatest sway, causing him to lose his direction. Unlike Mason, who easily brushed off everything, showing no interest or curiosity, he reached the point of itching to update himself on the latest news about Ivy's scandal. Ryan was completely the opposite; he found himself intrigued by the developments in the situation. He couldn't explain why he had become like this. He only knew it had something to do with Ivy that he couldn't ignore. However, what's noteworthy is that after knowing, instead of thinking wisely, he let himself be swept away by the current. Ryan admitted he was someone who found it very hard to trust others, especially women. Therefore, despite the wise saying that "words are wind," he still had negative thoughts about her. It was all ju
Mason calmly held Ivy's hand, helping her apply ointment. He also told sarcastic stories to distract Ivy, helping her forget about the pain. Meanwhile, Ivy laughed cheerfully at Mason's remarks. Ryan witnessed this scene and felt unjustifiably angry, silently seething. How could Ivy casually joke with Mason like that? What was their relationship? Then Ryan retraced his memories, remembering that Mason had once admitted to liking Ivy. Could it be that they had developed a romantic relationship? If so, it was all quite normal, and it shouldn't concern Ryan. However, why did Ryan feel uncomfortable? Unless... But he quickly dismissed any vague feelings of attraction and instead felt displeased. He believed Ivy wasn't worthy of Mason. Ryan was determined to oppose their relationship and find a way to advise Mason to stay away from Ivy.At this point, in Ryan's eyes, Ivy remained the villain. It was truly disheartening.After Mason left, Ryan immediately called Ivy into his office."You ca
Through the day. It seemed like everything would be under control, but no, increasingly unfavorable news is being revealed, seriously affecting Ivy and even implicating Ryan. It could be said that Mariko's side has moved on to the second step in destroying Ivy's life. In just a few hours, a series of social media pages spread evidence of Ivy's affair with her boss, specifically Ryan. There were even pictures showing them at a hotel. In no time, the entire company caught wind of the situation, and both Ryan and Ivy were reminded by others.Honestly, ever since he found out about the news, he couldn't focus on work. He just received a call from the corporate office, demanding to clean up the rumors about him and Ivy to avoid further damage to the corporation's reputation. Ryan is thinking about how to handle it, starting with convincing arguments before the board of directors, once summoned. The truth is, there's nothing between her and him beyond spending one night together at the X ho
That night, in a dark corner behind the school, Luke was ambushed.He hadn’t seen it coming. No one had ever dared to lay a hand on him this way before. But tonight, the darkness became a hiding place for the cowardly.A metal rod swung up from behind. Luke only heard the whoosh of the air before a sharp pain hit the back of his head, blurring his vision.He collapsed to the ground, but before he could react, another punch landed hard in his side."Damn it..." Luke staggered, trying to stand, but was kicked violently in the chest.A shout echoed through the silence."Ivy..."His voice barely left his throat when a figure rushed toward him.Ivy.Without hesitation, she kicked the person who was about to strike Luke again. Her movement was quick and precise, causing the attacker to fall to the ground. The remaining attackers froze for a moment before realizing that, despite being a teacher, Ivy was not someone to be easily bullied.She grabbed Luke’s arm, helping him to his feet."Are y
After several failed attempts, Luke still didn't give up and was determined to get back at Ivy. Knowing she often went to the storage room after school to collect teaching materials, he came up with a plan to lock her inside and teach her a lesson.One late afternoon, as the sunset painted the sky red, Luke quietly followed Ivy. When she entered the storage room, he quickly moved to shut the door behind her. However, before he could do so, a strong push from behind made him stumble and fall inside the room. The door slammed shut behind him, and the sound of the lock clicking shut echoed coldly.In the dim light, Luke heard footsteps fading away and a soft giggle. He realized that someone else, possibly someone with a grudge against him, had played a prank on him."Who's there?" Ivy's voice called from the corner of the room, wary."It's me, Luke," he replied, trying to stay calm."What are you doing here?" Ivy asked, moving closer."I... I came to check if you fell into my trap," Luke
The cafeteria of the juvenile detention center was always noisy and bustling at lunchtime, filled with those who didn’t care about the rules. In the middle of the crowd, Luke and his group were mocking a weak boy, knocking his food tray to the ground.“Pick it up, or do you want me to help you lick it clean?” One of the guys sneered.The sound of cruel laughter echoed as the poor boy bent down to pick up the crumbs, his hands trembling in fear. His eyes were red, but he bit his lip tightly, trying not to let the tears fall. The crowd around them stood by, some with their arms crossed indifferently, some laughing mockingly, but no one spoke up to help. A few others looked away, as if afraid that if they interfered, they would become the next target.Ivy had just entered, and the scene immediately caught her eye. A surge of anger rose in her chest, making her grip her food tray tightly. She hated this kind of bullying—hated the silence of those who only watched. With a deep breath, she
Mason and Tegan officially became husband and wife after a journey that was anything but rushed. At first, their marriage was merely an arrangement, not born out of love. But instead of letting the distance between them grow, they chose to take the time to understand each other, little by little, day by day. What started as simple conversations became the threads that connected them, and even their disagreements helped them see each other more clearly. Love did not come from obligation but from the moments they shared—quiet yet profound.On their special day, beneath the soft glow of the sunset on the beach, they exchanged vows in the presence of family and friends—those who truly wished them happiness. Gentle waves kissed the shore like a soothing melody, and the ocean breeze carried the sound of joyful laughter. When Mason took Tegan’s hand, their eyes met, speaking volumes without words. This was no longer just an arranged marriage—it was a choice of the heart.…One gentle morning
Ryan sat silently in the large armchair in the spacious living room, his eyes unconsciously drifting over the family portraits hanging on the walls. They captured the glorious moments of his lineage—lavish parties, strategic handshakes. But no matter how many times he looked, he couldn’t find himself in any of them.The sound of hurried footsteps interrupted his thoughts. His father, William, entered the room with his usual commanding presence. His face was stern, his sharp eyes fixed on Ryan. There was no need to guess—Ryan knew this conversation was inevitable."Ryan, you must understand that your marriage to Jena is not just a personal matter. It concerns the family's honor, the interests of the entire corporation," William’s deep voice carried weight with every word.Ryan lifted his head to meet his father’s gaze. There was no hesitation in his eyes, only a firm and unyielding determination. "I understand that very well. But I cannot marry someone I don’t love. I refuse to live a
Under the fading twilight, the soft melody from Ivy and Luke’s wedding still echoed behind, mingling with the laughter of the guests. But Zoe had no intention of staying any longer. This event had not gone the way she had hoped. Ivy had truly become Luke’s, and Ryan could do nothing but stand there, silently witnessing it all.Clenching her lips tightly, Zoe left the banquet in silence. She knew for certain that Ryan was drowning in despair and disappointment at that very moment. This was the perfect opportunity to approach him, to feign sympathy and understanding, and slowly make him forget Ivy and turn to her instead. If she was patient enough, she believed she could have Ryan.However, just as she stepped out of the wedding venue, a tall figure suddenly appeared in front of her, blocking her path. Zoe frowned as she recognized Mason."Get out of my way," she snapped, trying to sidestep him, but Mason stood firm like an immovable stone, his sharp eyes locking onto hers."Zoe, stop t
Amidst the whispers, the stares, and the uproar of a hall shaken by shocking news—her world suddenly fell silent.There was only him.Only his gaze.Only his words, reaching the deepest part of her heart."I'm an imperfect woman," Ivy confessed bravely."I'm also a man with many flaws," Luke responded immediately."I'm older than you," Ivy continued."I like mature women.""I can't have children.""I don't care where the children come from, as long as you're their mother.""You’re hopelessly stupid.""I love you, Ivy. Even if the whole world turns its back on you, I will still stand by your side. So, please, don't doubt my love."Luke gently tightened his grip on her hand, his eyes unwavering as he continued to pour out his heart."Ivy, please give me a chance," he said, his voice rough with emotion. "I don't ask for anything more than to fill the emptiness in your heart. I know you've suffered too much, endured too many losses that have made you unwilling to love or trust anyone agai
As announced, the wedding between Luke and Ivy took place the following morning. Ryan had initially refused to attend, unable to accept the reality, but in the end, he relented under Mason’s reasoning and forced himself to be there.The wedding reception was held at one of the most luxurious restaurants in the city. The venue was dazzling, adorned with fresh flowers and bathed in the warm glow of crystal chandeliers. Everything had been arranged overnight, a testament to the immense power of Luke’s family.Guests dressed in extravagant attire raised their glasses in celebration, but behind their polite smiles, whispers spread like wildfire, igniting a wave of speculation.On the large screen in the center of the hall, a series of images appeared—photos of Ivy intimately interacting with various men. One showed her holding hands with a man at a café, another captured her linking arms with someone as they left a hotel, and one even depicted her embracing a stranger in the dark.The enti
Before leaving, she suddenly paused and turned back to glance at the table beside her—where Ryan still sat, the wine glass in his hand trembling slightly under the warm glow of the lights.She tilted her head slightly, a gentle smile gracing her lips, yet it carried an unmistakable hint of provocation."Oh, right, Ryan," she spoke slowly, her voice soft but laced with sharpness. "I’d like to invite you to my wedding tomorrow. After all, we used to know each other. It would feel incomplete without you there."Ryan tightened his grip on the glass, his knuckles turning white. His eyes darkened, as deep as an abyss, yet his face remained composed, forcing an air of indifference.Luke said nothing, merely pulling Ivy away with effortless ease.Zoe, sitting beside Ryan, sneered as she noticed his tense expression."What’s wrong? Didn’t you always claim you didn’t care about her anymore? Then why are you so mad? I’d bet Ivy did that just to get back at you.""Shut up."Ryan’s sudden outburst