"Mr. Horne is interested in Lia Aiken? How is that possible? That bitch actually stole my Mr. Horne!" Violet Aiken's face changed dramatically when she heard Ivan Horne was interested in Lia Aiken. She had long known her father was eager to collaborate with the Valence Group and even wanted to take her along to discuss the cooperation, with the hidden intention of making Ivan Horne notice her.

Violet Aiken had never met Ivan Horne in person, but his name was thunderous, and she had heard many anecdotes about him.

Knowing her father's intentions, she had long thought of Ivan Horne as hers.

The last time her father changed his mind and took Lia Aiken to T City, she was upset because her father said Lia Aiken had offended Ivan Horne, so he wanted to take Lia to apologize. She couldn't throw a tantrum and didn't expect things to turn out this way.

No wonder her father instructed her mother to tidy up Lia Aiken's room.

It turned out Lia Aiken, that bitch, had latched onto Ivan Horne.

"Mr. Horne is mine!" Violet's eyes were filled with intense reluctance and she shouted, "That bitch dares to snatch my man? I will never forgive her!"

"Violet, listen to what mom says." Celine Taylor coaxed her daughter and quietly discussed with her how to proceed.

Violet listened grudgingly, yet she was helpless. Now that Ivan Horne had remembered Lia Aiken, she could only follow her mother's arrangement step by step.

Ivan Horne didn't know Celine Taylor and her daughter were dreaming wildly about breaking him and Lia apart or marrying into other branches of the Horne Family. He slept soundly that night and got up early the next morning.

As soon as he opened the door, he saw Lia standing at his door, looking like she wanted to knock. Seeing him come out, Lia was initially a bit embarrassed but quickly said generously, "Good morning, Ivan."

"Didn't I tell you not to get up to see me off? You went to bed late last night; you should sleep a bit more." Ivan gently reprimanded her, yet his heart felt a tinge of sweetness.

He somewhat understood why his father, every time when going out, always hoped his mother would see him off and upon returning, always wanted to see her first.

Lia smiled, "I woke up early and knowing you were leaving today, I thought I'd like to see you off."

She still had two packed breakfasts in her hand. While there was breakfast at the hotel, they didn't start serving until seven in the morning, so she found a nearby breakfast shop and packed two servings of wontons.

Hope Ivan Horne wouldn't dislike the wontons she packed.

"Got time for breakfast?" Lia lifted the packed breakfast, "I know the hotel doesn't have breakfast available early, so I went out and packed two servings of wontons."

Ivan stepped aside to let her in as he said, "There's food available on the plane."

Next time he goes on a business trip, he should use a private jet; that would be much more convenient.

No, he should act like others; using a private jet wouldn't allow Lia's concern for him to show.

"It's not a long flight, only a few hours. Even if there's no meal quickly available on the plane, I won't be too hungry by the time I get home." After all, it was only five thirty in the morning.

Breakfast shops outside probably hadn't opened for business yet.

Yet she went out to pack breakfast for him early, making the sweetness in Ivan's heart grow even stronger.

In the past, many women showed care for him, offered diligence, but none were accepted. Yet, when it came to Lia, he felt sweetness; that was the difference between being moved and not being moved.

"Thanks to your care these days, I had a great time and gained a lot." Lia was mostly grateful to Ivan.

She didn't dare fall for him too quickly, thinking Ivan's kindness towards her stemmed from Lena.

Ivan gazed at her deeply for a moment and smiled, "I didn't do anything, yet you thank me continuously; my face might turn red."

Lia looked at his face; it wasn't red but full of smiles.

He was incredibly handsome, and when he smiled, it was like his face was covered with glue, making anyone who looked at him unable to take their eyes off.

Facing his smiling, black eyes, Lia quickly looked away, not daring to look at him for too long, fearing she'd lose herself.

A serving of wontons didn't cost much, but Ivan felt it was the best breakfast he had ever eaten.

Lia didn't have a car and couldn't really send Ivan to the airport. She watched Ivan get in the car, watched the car drive away until it disappeared from view, then turned back to the hotel to catch up on some sleep.

But she hadn't slept long when her father's call interrupted her.

Seeing it was her father's call, Lia knew her time of freedom had ended.

Indeed, once the call was answered, her father said, "You've played outside for such a long time. If I didn't send someone to bring you back, would you ever think about coming back? Do I always have to make a big fuss and send someone to fetch you before you'd deign to return?"

Lia coldly replied, "Just tell me directly what's going on."

"I found out Mr. Horne will come back from his business trip today. Hurry back; I'm flying to T City tomorrow to discuss cooperation with Mr. Horne, and you'll come along." Mr. Aiken didn't know Ivan and Lia had just parted.

Lia frowned, knowing she had always been a pawn in her father's hand. Though she enjoyed spending time with Ivan, she didn't like to meet him in such a way again. How would he perceive her?

"I've said the Aiken Family's business has nothing to do with me. I won't accompany you to talk business."

Lia refused.

"You ungrateful girl, given a bit of color, you want to open a dye factory? Is it itching for you? Not afraid I'll desecrate your mother's grave?" Mr. Aiken instantly became furious, cursing at Lia, "If you don't come back today, you might as well prepare to marry Ethan Aibileen."

Lia hated it, grinding her teeth. Every time it was threats using her mother's deceased soul.

If ghosts really existed in this world, Lia wished her mother's ghost would turn into a vengeful spirit, return at midnight, and settle scores with that man. Her mother had been dead for nearly twenty years, yet he didn't let her soul rest, tormenting her year after year, not caring about others' ridicule.

If he cared about ridicule, how could he treat his former wife's daughter this way?

"I'll go back, but I won't accompany you to discuss business."

Lia could go back to River City but still didn't want to accompany her father to discuss business, fearing he would misunderstand Ivan's intentions and place her into Ivan's arms, leaving her no face to confront Lena in the future.

She also didn't want Ivan to look down on her.

"Seems like having a few days of freedom made you think your wings are hard enough to fly." Mr. Aiken coldly chuckled a few times, not waiting for Lia's reply, he hung up.

Lia's face changed dramatically; she bit her lower lip tightly, holding her phone, squeezing it tight, almost crushing it.

That man!

Was he really her father?

Lia returned to River City close to evening. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Upon exiting the airport, she unexpectedly saw the Aiken Family's driver.

"Miss, the sir asked me to come pick you up and take you home." The driver politely stopped Lia.

Lia didn't speak, carrying her belongings onto the car.