On the day of my mom’s birthday, the scene was bustling. Crystal Dawson, Leah Lane, Tiana O’Connell, and I sat in the corner, eating and chatting.
Silas Lockwood naturally ca as well, and sohow his close friend Jason Forrest tagged along.
The two of them were chatting with others not far away when suddenly Tiana poked , "Isn’t that Ivan Underwood?"
I looked over and couldn’t help but be impressed.
Ivan Underwood’s looks and physique, along with his aura, were undoubtedly outstanding in the crowd. However, due to work, he rarely wore formal attire, mostly donning a white coat or opting for casual and comfortable clothes in his free ti.
Today’s black suit was particularly eye-catching, with an aura completely different from his usual chill doctor vibe.
"Zoe, did you invite him?" Crystal Dawson asked.
"Yes," I replied.
"Oh, so Henry Preston is the only one not invited?" Leah Lane chid in.
Tiana tapped her on the forehead, "Of course, we wouldn’t invite Henry Preston!"
Leah Lane realized her faux pas and smiled awkwardly, "I just find it odd. With Ivan Underwood, Silas Lockwood, and Jason Forrest all here, and yet no Henry Preston? Maybe he’s putting all his attention on Azure Vaughn now, neglecting even his friends?"
Crystal Dawson rolled her eyes dramatically, "He’s just prioritizing romance over friendship!"
"Henry Preston is so strange," Tiana said, puzzled. "If he’s sentintal, why does he treat Zoe with such indifference and disdain for ten years? If he’s not, why is he so obsessed with Winter Tate’s heart?"
Crystal Dawson blurted out, "He just doesn’t love Zoe!"
Realizing she might have misspoken, she quickly comforted , "Zoe, don’t be sad. Leaving him ans you’ll et a better man. He’s not worthy of you."
"Why would I be sad? I’ve co to terms with it," I replied with a smile.
As soon as I answered, Crystal Dawson suddenly stood up and marched toward Silas Lockwood aggressively.
It turned out a woman was flirting with Silas Lockwood, who left as soon as Crystal approached.
Leah Lane, Tiana, and I watched the scene unfold, while, out of the corner of my eye, I saw Ivan Underwood approaching.
"Tiana, let’s go outside for so fresh air!"
As soon as Ivan arrived, Leah Lane stood up, grabbing Tiana and leaving.
The two of them, like Crystal, were convinced that Ivan had feelings for and even secretly urged to just accept it. Not only could it spite Henry Preston, but I’d also get a good man.
Of course, I refused, not wanting to exploit Ivan Underwood’s feelings at all.
The more sincere others are to , the less I want to take advantage.
"Dr. Underwood looks so handso today!" I gave him a thumbs-up, genuinely complinting him.
"How handso?" Ivan sat down beside , smiling faintly.
I teased, "Handso enough to have half the young won here sneaking glances at you. Didn’t you notice? Hey, what’s your eyesight prescription?"
Ivan gazed around. Indeed, there were many affluent young won here.
There was no ripple in his gaze; he then turned to look at , "So, did you sneak a glance too?"
I awkwardly avoided his gaze. I definitely did, but my glances were different from those of other won. I was purely observing Ivan Underwood’s popularity.
With such easily captivating looks, he was smitten only by Azure Vaughn in the past life. Even thinking about it now, I couldn’t help but admire Azure.
Azure had the perfect timing, advantage, and everything needed to win over both Henry Preston and Ivan Underwood. Winter Tate’s heart and her tactics were indispensable.
This ti, Ivan Underwood didn’t fall for Azure, yet he was interested in . Although I felt slightly awkward, deep down I felt a bit vain, confirming my own attractiveness through others’ affection.
"Considering our relationship, sneaking glances doesn’t seem right, does it?" I replied with a smile.
"Indeed, not quite right," Ivan quirked a grin, "You didn’t invite Henry Preston?"
Speaking of it, my family and The Preston Family still have so business collaborations. Business isn’t a marriage—breaking up with a tantrum would be mutually damaging, though we’d suffer more.
Not inviting The Preston Family was my mom’s deliberate provocation. When others hear about it, it’s gossip.
"Why invite him?" I casually retorted.
"Is there not even a slight chance of going back?" Ivan seed to be probing .
I answered earnestly, "No, don’t you know about Winter Tate?"
Although I hadn’t told Ivan, I believed big-mouth Silas would have ntioned in private that Winter Tate’s heart was transplanted into Azure. It’s quite a shocking revelation.
Indeed, Ivan knew. "I know. I didn’t expect such twists. I feel that Henry Preston isn’t genuinely fond of Azure; it’s just guilt and self-bla for Winter Tate, preventing him from letting go."
"Is a heart that significant?" I suddenly asked.
"It’s hard for you to understand, right?" Ivan didn’t show disdain but carefully explained, "If you deeply loved Henry Preston and he left, and later you found soone else with his heart, how would you feel?"
I listened silently, pondering from his perspective, and indeed could understand Henry Preston’s feelings.
If none of this had happened between Henry and , if we were a pair of lovers, his departure would feel like the sky had fallen.
"I think I kind of understand," I nodded, smiling, "But understanding doesn’t an turning back. The fate between people is truly magical. I pursued Henry Preston for five years, yet he still fell for Winter Tate shortly after eting her, and it cost another five years. That’s enough."
Ivan’s eyes brightened, and his smile widened, "You’re still young, with many choices ahead. Start a new life."
Of course, I’ll start a new life, but before that, I need to expose Azure’s deceitful facade.
I wanted to tell Ivan about my plan but held back. Besides Joel Sutton, I hadn’t shared my specific plan with anyone else.
The more who know, the less safe it is.
After my mom’s birthday party ended, Lane told there was a birthday gift from Henry Preston in the car. He stayed downstairs for a while but didn’t co up.
In the car was an exquisite gift box, which I didn’t open, just hefted—heavy.
When my mom learned it was a gift from Henry Preston, her face was complicated. My dad flatly said, "We don’t want his gift. I’ll have soone send it back to his company later!"
Neither my mom nor I had any objections.
After returning ho, my dad sent Lane to return Henry Preston’s gift. About two hours later, he ca back.
"Miss Hathaway, Mr. Preston wasn’t at the company. His assistant accepted it and placed it in his office," Lane reported.
"Alright, that’s fine," I nodded, casually asking, "By the way, Lane, how’s your father’s health?"
"He’s doing well now, thanks to the tily rescue he recovered well. If it weren’t for you letting go ho early for New Year and lending the car, who knows..." Lane’s face was full of gratitude.
I smiled, "You should pay more attention to your parents’ health."
"Yes, I will," Lane nodded.
Just a few days after my mom’s birthday, I learned from Crystal Dawson that Azure Vaughn was discharged from the hospital.
Her unyielding body truly impressed ; so fragile yet resilient, like an indestructible cockroach.
Unlike , in the last life, I was diagnosed with late-stage breast cancer, which deteriorated rapidly, and it wasn’t long before I lost my life.
It’s been a while since I dreamt of those past events, but recently I’ve been haunted by nightmares, waking up in tears and drenched in sweat.
An uneasy feeling sprouted within , but I couldn’t pinpoint its source.
Until a photo of Joel Sutton and hugging appeared online, revealing that that unease was a premonition.
Not only were there photos of us hugging, but also a spicy picture of dancing passionately at The Nightingale Garden. My shirt hem was tied up, showing a bit of my waist. Having drunk, my expression seed off.
The photo was sowhat blurry, as if taken from above with a zood-in lens. The angle clearly was from above.
My eyelids twitched dramatically. Comparatively, the dancing photo posed a bigger threat. If it spurred external chatter, it would surely affect my dad’s work negatively.
Then Ryan Rhodes sent a ssage: Miss Hathaway, there’s news on what you asked to investigate. Those photos were indeed taken by a peer who admitted it. Initially, he wanted to extort money from you, but later he decided to cut a deal with Henry Preston, so the photos are with him.
Could the current news be released by Henry Preston? To exact revenge on and my parents?
He’s no saint. A man taking over The Preston Group at a young age won’t be soft-hearted and has used countless tactics on various rivals.
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