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
After a while of silence, Ivy spoke hesitantly."What? Do you want to?""Tell me, how much do I need to pay to sleep with you?"What? Looking at her face, she seemed utterly shocked. He was just too blunt. He didn't bother to consider Ivy's feelings, whether she was hurt or not.Ryan's patience had run out. He couldn't contain the desire of a man for her anymore.As for herself, Ivy really should have been angry at the insult, but instead, she was confused by his unusually strange tone. There was no contempt in it; instead, it was affectionate, something quite noteworthy.Faced with the boss's expectant gaze, Ivy had to provide a sincere answer."It depends." Ivy finally regained her composure. "It depends on who it is, and the simple yet crucial thing is that person has to be someone I like. Otherwise, no matter how much you pay, it won't mean anything. I have principles in some matters, and choosing a lover is one of them. There are always certain criteria."She ended with a gentle
Their eyes still locked, and suddenly Ryan's heart beat faster than before at the close-up beauty of Ivy. The current sensation ruling his heart felt entirely unfamiliar, appearing for the first time, causing Ryan to feel slightly disoriented in perception."Are you teasing me?" She suddenly asked seriously, and just like that, all of Ryan's romantic feelings seemed to vanish."Stop right here." Ivy raised her hands in a gesture, creating distance. "I will hand over everything to your new secretary as soon as possible."Ryan disagreed. Deep down, he didn't want Ivy to leave.After speaking, Ivy slowly freed herself from his hold, but Ryan wouldn't allow it. He insisted on keeping her in place, even bringing his face closer to hers."What do you want? Let me go," Ivy softly requested."Right now, I want you," Ryan gently declared, his tone and choice of address changing casually. "And I don't like rejection."Words turned into actions as Ryan's mischievous hand gently held Ivy's stubbo
Despite her reluctance and feeling the need to speak up, Tegan gathered her courage to begin."How can you treat Mariko like that? Where's the fairness when you mistreat your unmarried wife while vigorously defending another girl?" Tegan's tone was slightly accusatory."If you forget, I'll remind you that the engagement is off. I've made the news public," he emphasized, visibly irritated. Each mention of the forced marriage seemed to infuriate him. "And I trust my judgment about people just as much as you insist on the innocent, saintly appearance of the person outside that door. Tegan. Be careful not to be fooled." He seems to refer to Mariko, but Tegan ignores his warning.Luke added, "If you need evidence for what I'm saying, I'm ready to provide it for you.""Evidence? Evidence for what?" Tegan furrowed her brow in confusion."Someday you'll see for yourself," he said cryptically. "For everything that happens.""Luke, what's gotten into you? Tell me, What did that girl do to make
Even though Luke's demeanor was completely serious, affirming Tegan's prediction as accurate, she still found it hard to believe."How could this be?" Tegan exclaimed after a moment of confusion, her disbelief evident. "It's like a joke. Not funny at all, Luke."Luke simply smiled, using the opportunity to gracefully conclude the discussion."Well, I have nothing more to say. It's best for you to get back to work."He didn't want to delve too deeply into the past, as he wasn't ready to share with anyone how wonderful Ivy truly was. It wasn't that he enjoyed hiding things; rather, there were enemies out there. Walls have ears, and Luke wanted to avoid bringing trouble upon himself and Ivy. He wasn't afraid of anything bad happening to him; he just couldn't bear the thought of anything related to Ivy. "And don't forget to escort that wicked girl outside to help me." He requested. "Pass on to her that when I'm still kind, she should take note, or else it will surely be a sad story."Luk
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