"I think we should go out there and help her," Mason suggested, unable to bear it any longer. But Ryan remained rooted in place. The lawyer bit his lip and turned away, resigned to his cowardice. Both Ryan and Mason knew the situation wasn't simple, which left them feeling helpless despite their desire to assist her. As for Ivy, she knew there wouldn't be any knight in shining armor coming to her rescue in her life. And she didn't even wish for it to happen. The handsome hero only exists in romance novels, and romance novels aren't real. Now Ivy felt true loneliness—a bit of hurt. But she wouldn't cry because these matters weren't worth shedding tears over. As for Luke, disregarding all obstacles, he chose to trust her. Firmly brushing off the hand of the girl beside him, Luke strode confidently towards Ivy, facing her and ignoring the perplexed glances around him. "Luke, what are you doing?" Tegan spoke up, genuinely surprised that her younger brother would defy everything, espe
“So, tell me, what's going on?” Ivy couldn't control her volume; her command was fierce. “Explain this vile situation that's unfolding right now.” Luke was taken aback, mouth agape, but no words came out. He was genuinely stunned by Ivy's explosive reaction. While his relatives were visibly angry, how could she dare to raise her voice at him, let alone act so openly in front of everyone? Amidst the chaos, a deeply ingrained memory suddenly resurfaced in his mind, helping him regain composure. Luke chuckled, a naive smile that left the audience bewildered. Yes, that was indeed Ivy's way of handling challenges and difficulties. Therefore, he decided to remain silent to let her vent freely. “Well,” He began in a way that even Ivy couldn't refute. Ivy muttered, “I can't even talk.” She intended to stop, but the frustration was too much to contain; she had to speak her mind. “Do you know that since we've been together, this is the first time such a cursed event has happened to me?” Iv
"Have you all said enough?" Ivy's voice rang out sharply. Ivy's powerful intervention caused the chatter to abruptly vanish. All the guests turned their gazes toward Ivy. Some openly showed curiosity, while others challenged her, waiting to see what Ivy intended to do or what she was capable of achieving. Having garnered everyone's attention, Ivy smirked and sarcastically asked: "So this is the style of the upper class, huh? One person speaks, and the whole group follows suit. Wow! Truly expanding horizons, so sophisticated, unmatched in class. If you have any sense, keep your mouths shut, or else the stench of decay will affect the atmosphere around you." The crowd roared with anger at Ivy's public insult directed at them. Are they crazy? Ivy wondered, dejectedly criticizing: The bunch of freeloaders, hearing her scold him, isn't enough; they want her to lecture the whole group for enlightenment. Fine, she'll grant their wish. "You all have nothing better to do than organize thi
Not stopping there, Ivy continued her tirade, her voice firm and sharp. "I may be poor, not as wealthy as many of you with loads of money. But at least I have enough to get by day to day. I don't have to sell my integrity or toss away my dignity. You rich folks can do whatever you want, say whatever you want, and have the right to degrade others, huh? Wrong. Let me tell you, this society strives for balance through the impartiality of the law. And the laws enacted are to protect those without money or a voice like mine. Open your ears and listen carefully. Talent is no match for character, and character is no match for morality." "Take a look at yourselves; have you been more ethical than others? Do you have the right or the qualification to look down upon or insult others?" Ivy interrogated with a steely tone, and no one responded. The atmosphere became silent, as if everyone only knew to listen to Ivy speak. She wasn't done yet. She would deal with it thoroughly. She turned to fi
Seeing that things seemed to have calmed down, Luke breathed a sigh of relief. He glanced over at her, determined that it was time to take decisive action. Since the issue at hand involved him, it was only natural that he should step up to handle everything, including the consequences. "Ivy! I'll take you home," Luke called out to her, grabbing her attention. Ivy immediately nodded in agreement. It was time to make a safe retreat. He moved closer to her, but once again, Mariko intervened. The Japanese girl held onto his arm tightly, stubbornly insisting on keeping him in place. Looking at the scene, everyone knew that things weren't over yet. Whether Ivy or Luke stopped their performances, this Japanese girl wouldn't cease her efforts to disrupt everything, just to create some chaos tonight and keep the two of them apart. Who knew what disadvantages awaited Mariko after he and Ivy left? Mariko couldn't help but worry. It was better to be safe than sorry; prevention was better than c
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