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
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