Chapter 13: Grandfather Invites Her to the Birthday Banquet

"Stop reminding me over and over! I haven't forgotten! I never said I would abandon you!"

A wave of irritation surged through the man.

He had never forgotten Ethan's dying wish, but he loathed Kay's constant reminders.

Seeing Dillan's anger, Kay panicked, her voice trembling. "Dillan, don't be mad. I didn't mean anything by it. I'm just so scared of losing you..."

Dillan turned to look at the girl behind him. She was Ethan's only sister, someone he could never let down.

After all, Ethan had died a tragic death, and it was for him.

"Be good. I'll take you back. You just got out of the hospital and need rest."

"Okay... I'll listen to you. Just don't be mad, don't leave me."

Kay nodded obediently. It was rare for this man to show such an attitude, given how notoriously bad Dillan's temper was.

She followed him out of the conference room.

But the thought of the kiss marks on Dillan and Ivy's lips made her heart ache as if bitten by insects.

She would definitely get her revenge!

Ivy! Just wait! You'll never get Dillan back! You'll never remarry him!

...

Parking lot.

Henry looked at Ivy with concern. "Ivy, are you really okay? There's no one here now. Tell me what happened in the conference room. Did Mr. Zane bully you?"

From Ivy's appearance, it was clear to anyone that she seemed to have been bullied.

Henry couldn't understand it. Dillan didn't seem like that kind of person. How could he...

"I'm really fine. Help me take a leave from the law firm. I'm not feeling well and need to rest. I'll go to the firm in the afternoon."

With that, Ivy got into the driver's seat and quickly drove away.

All the way home, Ivy's mind was in turmoil, filled with images of being pinned down on the table by that man in the conference room and the kiss that nearly made her lose herself.

Once home, Ivy immediately took off her torn clothes and stepped into the shower.

She closed her eyes, letting the cold water clear her mind.

Suddenly, she cried out in frustration, "Ah!"

Why did she feel something when that scumbag kissed her in the conference room?

This couldn't happen!

She absolutely couldn't make the same mistake again!

But thinking about Dillan tearing her clothes and forcefully kissing her made her blood pressure rise uncontrollably.

After a while under the cold water, Ivy walked out of the bathroom and changed into a new outfit.

She put on light makeup and prepared to head to the law firm. After all, it wouldn't look good to miss work right after starting.

...

Equity Law Firm.

Just as she arrived at the firm, Ivy received a call from the nanny.

"Hello, Miss Yancey. I have some family matters this afternoon. Could you pick up the child today? I'll charge you less for one day's work. I'm really sorry."

She glanced at her schedule and saw she could leave on time in the afternoon, so she agreed.

"Alright, I'll pick up the child."

"Thank you, Miss Yancey. You're such a kind person."

After hanging up, she continued working, needing to speed up since she had to pick up that little rascal from school.

But before school ended, the kindergarten called to say Ian had gotten into a fight with another child.

Ivy rushed to the kindergarten.

She stopped at the gate when she saw Old Mr. Zane standing there...

Why was Old Mr. Zane at the kindergarten? Picking up a child? Whose child?

As she pondered how to enter, Old Mr. Zane turned around with a forlorn expression and spotted her immediately.

Seeing Ivy, Old Mr. Zane beamed and called out loudly, "Ivy!"

Ivy was thinking of how to avoid him but had no choice but to walk over awkwardly when he spotted her. "Grandpa, what are you doing here?"

Talking about why he was there made him angry.

"I wanted to see those lively children. If you hadn't divorced, my great-grandchild would be in school now." Old Mr. Zane complained.

Ivy could only smile awkwardly.

"Why are you here? This is a kindergarten. What are you doing here? Did you have Dillan's child four years ago?"

Old Mr. Zane suddenly became agitated as if trying to see through her.

"No! I... I have some business over there!" Ivy stammered in fear, pointing to the office building across the street.

Old Mr. Zane's guess was too accurate!

Ivy's heart pounded wildly, praying he wouldn't ask more questions for fear she'd slip up.

Hearing her answer, Old Mr. Zane sighed in disappointment. "I thought you secretly gave birth to my great-grandchild."

"I'm sorry, Grandpa, for disappointing you..."

Old Mr. Zane waved his hand dismissively. "Never mind. Once you remarry, you'll have one sooner or later. By the way, my seventieth birthday is coming up in a few days. You must attend. I'll be waiting for you."

"Grandpa, I can attend your birthday banquet, but forget about remarrying. We each have our own lives now."

Ivy wanted to correct his stubborn thinking; why was he always plotting their remarriage?

"Alright, alright, let's not talk about remarriage now. But you must come to my seventieth birthday banquet. You promised me, no backing out! I must see you there! Or I'll send someone to bring you over! It's settled! I'm leaving!"

Old Mr. Zane commanded and left without waiting for her reply.

His domineering style matched Dillan's perfectly; no wonder they were grandfather and grandson—such tempers ran in the family.

Watching Old Mr. Zane leave with his bodyguards finally allowed her to breathe a sigh of relief; now she could pick up her son.

Ivy hurried towards the school.

...

Inside the classroom.

Ian stood against the wall with his small body, pouting in grievance, his big innocent eyes full of defiance.

Meanwhile, the teacher held another little boy in her arms, comforting him.

This was the scene Ivy saw upon entering.

She went straight over to hug her son and asked worriedly, "Baby, are you okay?"

The teacher spoke harshly, "Ian's mother, your son hit another child. How could he be okay?"

Ignoring the teacher, Ivy patiently asked her son, "Why did you hit your classmate?"

The little boy said aggrievedly, "Because she said I don't have a dad and called me a bastard. Mommy, am I a bastard?"

Her son's aggrieved voice stunned Ivy and made her heart ache.

Ivy stood up angrily and looked at the teacher. "I want to know if it was you who taught that boy such words?"

"How could I teach such things!"

"Then why did you only punish my son? Why are you comforting the other child?" Ivy's anger flared up—what kind of kindergarten was this with such teachers?

"I... He started hitting first; I couldn't separate them..."