At that moment, there were only two people left in the room, and the young woman displayed profound disappointment. She had to let out her frustration, so she didn't hesitate to voice her objections and argue with Luke, disregarding what might be improper or whether she should or shouldn't do it, despite her prestigious background. "Luke," Mariko called out. "Why did you treat me like that in front of everyone? Do you know how embarrassed I felt? It's humiliating for someone of my status to be humiliated like that." “If you dare to do something, you dare to bear the consequences. Why turn around and blame me?" Luke responded calmly and frankly. "Luke," she protested indignantly. "When I speak kindly, you should know how to control yourself," he lectured sternly. "You crossed the line I allowed. The punishment is justified." "But I didn't do anything excessive!" the girl argued. "I just..." "Are you not listening to me?" He cut her off. "I said there is no relationship between us
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