Julian secretly breathed a sigh of relief. His gaze involuntarily drifted toward his phone on the side.

Half an hour ago, he had just given instructions to his assistant.

For the recent project in collaboration with the Wang family, he offered a five-percent profit concession in exchange for Old Master Wang stepping in personally.

Calculating the time, Old Master Wang should have arrived by now.

Presumably, that scumbag Wang Shaocong wouldn't dare to do anything to Clara anymore.

It was nothing more than scaring her, not to mention that he had his own men planted outside; it was impossible for any accidents to occur.

Thinking of this, the irritability in his heart dissipated quite a bit.

However, he completely failed to notice one thing.

Ivy, in the passenger seat, had long since seen through his entire demeanor.

Back at the villa, while Julian went to take a shower, she unlocked his phone.

When she saw the message: 【No matter how much the other party asks for, nothing must happen to Clara.】

Her bright red fingertips dug deeply into her palms, and an intense jealousy and coldness flashed in her eyes.

Why is that bitch Clara still clinging on like a ghost?!

She didn't know what kind of spell Clara had cast on Julian to make him still unable to forget her.

He would rather have a falling out with the Wang family than fail to save her.

It’s just a pity that this time, he won't get his way.

She took out her phone and dialed a number, her twisted, ferocious face full of hatred.

"Call off all the people outside and keep it from Old Master Wang. I want to make sure Clara never leaves that room for the rest of her life!"

But as soon as her words fell, a sudden, cold, and deep voice came from behind her.

"Ivy, what did you say you wanted to do to Clara?"

Ivy’s figure stiffened, and she hung up the phone almost immediately.

Turning to meet Julian’s probing gaze, she pouted, squeezing a few tears from her eyes.

"When I thought about Clara having to go and apologize to that Young Master Wang for me, I felt really guilty, so I just wanted to find someone to ask if there were any ways to make amends."

The coldness in Julian’s eyes dissipated quite a bit.

"Don't worry, she will be fine."

Ivy silently clenched her palms, suppressing the hatred in her eyes, pressing her body tightly against his, and lightly running her fingertips across his chest.

"Honey, the baby is gone, so should we try for another one?"

Having said that, she stood on her tiptoes, about to kiss his lips.

But the next second, she found herself grasping at air.

Julian raised his hand to press on her shoulder, a flash of unnaturalness in his eyes.

"The baby has just passed, and your body hasn't recovered yet. There will be plenty of time later; there’s no rush to have one now."

After all, only he knew that Ivy getting pregnant last time was actually just an accident; he had never intended for her to bear his children.

In his original life plan, he was going to have several children with Clara before the age of thirty.

Being with Ivy all these years was merely for a momentary sense of novelty.

His heir would only ever come from Clara’s womb; it was a pity that those three children had passed away unexpectedly...

When he first found out Ivy was pregnant, he originally didn't want the child.

However, during an accidental trip to a temple to pray for those three children, he met a monk who offered him some guidance.

Keeping this child was merely to pray for the well-being of the other three.

Hearing this, Ivy became anxious instantly.

"Honey, what do you mean? Do you despise me—"

"Ivy."

Julian suddenly spoke, interrupting her, and looked straight at her.

"Next month, I’ll send you abroad. It’s best you don't come back."

Chapter 11

"Abroad?"

Ivy’s breathing hitched, and she stared at him in disbelief.

"You want to send me away? Honey, didn't you promise me that we would always be together—"

"You believe what a man says in bed?"

Julian chuckled, wearing a roguish smirk on his face.

Ivy’s nose turned red, and rows of tears fell instantly.

"Honey, how can you say that?"

She eagerly grabbed his hand, her voice filled with pleading.

"Did I do something wrong to upset you? Tell me, I’ll change everything. Please don't drive me away, okay?"

Julian watched her quietly for a while, his rough fingertips tracing her cheek.

Just when Ivy thought his heart was softening.

The man in front of her suddenly withdrew his hand, the smile on his face dimmed completely, leaving only the scrutiny and assessment of someone in a position of power.

"Ivy, don't tell me you really don't know?"

His sharp eyes peered straight into her, as if he could see through all her deep, hidden thoughts.

Ivy felt a lump in her throat, a flash of unnaturalness crossing her expression.

But she quickly covered up her panic, pretending to be ignorant and oblivious.

"What are you talking about? I... I don't understand."

Julian didn't look at her again; he merely slowly extinguished the cigarette that was about to burn his fingertips.

Then, he leaned in close to her, his thin lips curling into a playful smile.

"You’ve known about me having a wife for a long time, haven't you?"

Ivy’s ears buzzed; she could hardly believe he had just said it so bluntly.

A long while later, she recovered from the shock, clutched her chest, and trembled, feigning incredulity.

"Julian, what do you mean by that? If you have a wife, then what am I?"

She cried until her eyes were bloodshot, as if she truly knew nothing.

"I’ve spent so many years with you, and I just had a miscarriage for you last week. Is this how you treat me?"

A trace of impatience flashed in Julian’s half-narrowed eyes, and he forcibly pried off her hand that was tightly gripping him.

"Ivy, I like girls who are pure, but when you overdo the act, it becomes boring."

He scanned her lightly, smiling with effortless indifference.

"Don't forget how we started?"

Ivy’s sobbing halted abruptly, a flash of evasion crossing her eyes.

"I don't understand what you mean. Regardless, it was clearly... it was you who took the initiative to approach me."

"I took the initiative?"

Julian sounded as if he had heard some kind of joke, his tone mocking.

That year at the hospital, Ivy was being harassed by a patient's family, and he happened to witness it.

Ever since that day he saved her, Ivy had frequently come to see him under the guise of repaying the debt.

The young girl was chatty, always chirping in his ear about what bad things happened to her today or what pretty dress she had bought.

Just at that time, Clara was about to give birth, and he was under extreme emotional tension, unable to find an outlet.

As it happened, Ivy took the initiative to approach him, and he just went along with it without refusing.

However, that "hero saves the beauty" drama at their first meeting was too clichéd.

Truth be told, Julian had actually noticed something off the very first day he saw Ivy in the garage.

Later, it was indeed confirmed that those people who harassed her were merely hired actors.

He could read the ambition in the girl’s eyes, but he couldn't be bothered to expose her.

But now, he suddenly felt quite annoyed; he was in no mood to play games with her anymore, and his voice involuntarily took on a cold edge.

"Ivy, don't force me to burn my bridges."

"Tell me how much money you want, and I'll buy you out."

Ivy’s face turned pale instantly, her lips moving weakly.

"Impossible. You were so good to me in the past. You lied to your wife for me for so many years and spent so much money on me; how could it just be for fun?!"

But even after she said all that, Julian remained unmoved; instead, he curled his lips into a teasing smile.

"Baby, you really are naively cute."

"I chose you simply because—you offered yourself up voluntarily; it would be a waste not to take it."

Chapter 12

"Even if it weren't you, it would have been someone else."

"Don't go thinking you're the exception just because you watch too many idol dramas."

He clearly still had a smile on his face, but the words he spoke sent Ivy's heart plummeting straight to the bottom.

She sat slumped on the floor, dazed and in disbelief.

"Julian, you can't throw me away, I don't—"

But before she could finish, Julian raised his hand and pushed her away forcefully, striding out the door.

Walking out of the villa, under the dim streetlights,