"Henry, never forget that I granted you and Aunt Sandra the life you have now." Ivy's voice carried a cold, cutting edge. "If it weren't for me, your reckless fight that left crippled someone would have landed you in prison." Sandra, sensing the rising tension, hurriedly intervened. "Ivy, calm down. Henry remembers it. We'll do everything we can to assist you." Sandra gave Henry a gentle nudge, signaling him to speak up. "It's useless to blame me now. With the terrible situation now, how can we salvage the company?" Henry responded. Despite the boiling rage within her, Ivy shot a piercing glare at Henry. "Aunt Sandra, please leave us," Ivy commanded. With a sigh, Sandra exited, leaving Ivy and Henry to face each other. "Don't act oblivious. Not even divine intervention can save the company now. Do you how much money I've invested in this project?" Ivy's voice was sharp with accusation. "All these losses were because of your negligence. You must bear the consequences!"

Shane's demeanor soured at the mention of his name. "The doctor rattled off a list of his health issues. But after consulting a specialist, they seem to be merely minor issues." Craving a breath of fresh air, Shane retracted the car's roof. The atmosphere lifted instantly, transforming the sports car into an open-top convertible. "I wonder who told Dad about my ongoing feud with Ian, prompting him to summon me back." Despite his refusal to tell her earlier, Sage's curiosity was piqued. "Why do you have such a strong dislike for Ian?" Shane's voice turned icy. "He owes me, and I plan to settle the score." "What could he possibly owe you?" Sage probed. Knowing it couldn't be financial, given the affluence of both the Morrisons and Holcombs, Sage pressed on. Shane drove on in silence, clearly reluctant to elaborate. Growing impatient, Sage cleaned her hands with a tissue. "Shane, if you've got something to say, just spill it. What's the point in being cryptic?" As luck wou

The woman was strikingly beautiful, and her voice was soft and gentle. A glint of concern in her dazzling eyes stirred a protective instinct in anyone who looked her way. Sage flashed her a reassuring smile. "No worries." "What's going on?" Shane ended his call and approached the ladies.Observing the woman's concern for the kitten, Sage chose to keep the minor incident to herself. "It's nothing. Let's go." With a nonchalant shrug, Shane followed her into the teahouse. The teahouse exuded an ageless charm and radiated an air of grace and antiquity. On the ground floor, a harpist played amidst soft fountains and a delicate mist, lending an almost otherworldly atmosphere to the main hall. A waiter led them upstairs to a private room. The second floor was a sanctuary, with antique furnishings and the comforting aroma of tea, which provided an immediate calmness to the soul. Perhaps it was an illusion, but Sage detected another faint fragrance—a subtle, sweet scent. It was per

Marcus seemed remarkably well-informed if he was aware of Sage's recent divorce from Ian within just a few days. Sage responded with candor. "I haven't given it much thought. I've just ended a marriage and have no plans to dive into another relationship." "That's okay. I'll wait for you," Shane promptly declared, punctuating his words with a flamboyant romantic gesture. Sage shot him a wry glance before turning to Marcus. "Mr. Rosethorn, it's getting late. We should head back.""Marcus, let's catch up when you're free," Shane added. Marcus offered them a warm smile. "Sure." After bidding Marcus farewell, Sage and Shane made their way to the car. As they exited the parking lot, Sage glanced into the rearview mirror. A subtle change in Marcus's expression caught her eye. It was a hint of detachment she hadn't noticed before. Turning back to Marcus, he appeared as composed as ever. "Why are you staring at him?" Shane asked. "Marcus isn't guided by emotions. He's a typic

Soon, Ian approached the elevator with his effortless stride, his long legs carrying him swiftly. When his eyes met Sage's, his expression was inscrutable. "Tiana, I'm in the elevator now. The signal's quite weak. I'll catch up with you later," Sage said, ending her call. After pocketing her phone, she turned to the woman by the elevator. "Excuse me, I'm headed out." Though the woman seemed puzzled, she obligingly stepped back into the elevator to make way for Sage. But just as Sage was about to leave, Ian blocked the doorway, halting her exit. "Could you move, please?" Sage frowned, slightly irritated. Ian's tone was cool and detached. "I'm not stopping you. Go ahead." Despite his words, his imposing stature and stance effectively blocked her from leaving. With a steely gaze, Sage shot back, "How do you expect me to go when you're blocking the way?"Ian's expression remained impassive. "You do you, and I'll do me. Whether you can leave isn't my concern." Growing frustra