Ivy River shyly lowered her head, fiddling with her rice with chopsticks, "Eat, eat, it’s time to eat, no talking!"

Emmy became even more curious!

She rarely saw Ivy River shy! 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

She stopped eating, got up, and trotted over, clinging to Old Lady Blake’s leg, acting spoiled.

"Grandma Zane, just tell me, am I still your little sweetie, your little fairy?"

Old Lady Blake kept her mouth shut, changing the subject, "Your mom is thinking about whether to remarry your dad, would you be okay with that?"

"That’s boring!" Emmy’s attitude made a 180-degree turn. In a disappointed tone, she said to Ivy River, "Mom, have you lost your mind?"

"Your Grandma Zane is tricking you, didn’t you notice your brother didn’t say anything? You’re the only one silly enough to be fooled."

Emmy turned to see Grandma Zane holding back a laugh, and instantly realized she had been played.

She huffed, then turned away, not speaking anymore.

Old Lady Blake suggested, "Hurry and eat; it’s getting late. Why not stay here tonight?"

"We’ll see, Grandma."

All five around the table lowered their heads, eating, not speaking, creating a very tense atmosphere.

Everyone was lost in their own thoughts.

Ivy River was still worried about finding clues about Harrison Blake.

From what she’d learned outside, Harrison Blake was quite famous in transactions and collecting items, considered a genius of his generation.

Sadly, he fell apart for a woman.

Fatty occasionally glanced at Ivy River, his eyes filled with doubt and caution, fearing she might, against better judgment, remarry Edwin Blake.

Old Lady Blake pondered when the two children would reunite with their ancestry, and when Ivy River and Edwin Blake could remarry.

As for Emmy, it was simple; with her angry face and dissatisfied words, she lightened the mood, making everyone with burdens laugh out loud.

Butler Lee’s eyes were darkened.

She was waiting to go upstairs to check the bookshelf after dinner; if she wasn’t mistaken, another row of books might have been disturbed...

The next day.

Old Lady Blake yawned as she got up, "Fatty, Emmy, you must think about Grandma Zane. If you don’t have time to visit, I can come to your house to see you."

"Grandma, stop nagging. Quickly go take a nap—last night, you got worked up by the two of them—no need to see us off."

Ivy River spent the night at the Blake family’s old house.

On the surface, it was because she couldn’t resist persuasion, plus it was late, and the kids—Fatty and Emmy—wanted to play there.

In reality, Ivy River wanted to check the study again.

Unfortunately, after going in, she found nothing and returned empty-handed.

"Say goodbye to Grandma Zane; we’ll come and visit her next time."

Ivy River gently patted the heads of the two little ones and instructed them.

Both little ones said in unison, "Goodbye, Grandma Zane!"

Old Lady Blake looked at the two little attachments clinging to her, full of reluctance, "Will you come play with Grandma Zane on the weekend?"

Ivy River spoke softly, "Not this weekend. I need to take them to Riverland City."

"Going back to your hometown?"

Old Lady Blake suddenly remembered Ivy River’s hometown was in a village in Riverland City.

Ivy River didn’t say much, just nodded, "Yes, they’re grown up now. I want to take them on a trip and will bring them to visit you when I can."

Old Lady Blake could only watch with regret as she sent off the trio.

Time passed quickly.

Ivy River stood at the school gates to pick up the two kiddos, preparing to go to Riverland City.

Thinking back to this time asking Lewis Chadwick for leave.

She could only sigh inwardly.

Lewis Chadwick’s eyes widened upon hearing Ivy River taking leave again.

In a huff, he spoke, "Why are you asking for leave again?"

Ivy River immediately replied, "What’s this ’again’? Could you explain this term clearly? Remember when we first signed the contract—what did we say? You haven’t forgotten, have you? I think you haven’t. Think hard."

This questioning and pressuring tone.

Made Lewis Chadwick reluctantly give in.

"My dear lady, all right, all right, I can’t refuse you. It’s just that you’re asking for leave too much, and your number’s been hard to get lately. Complaints have reached me!"

Seeing Lewis Chadwick take out a complaint letter from the drawer.

She felt a bit awkward.

Opening it up, it was full of complaints about her not working overtime, sticking strictly to nine-to-five, hard-to-reach appointments.

She thought for a moment and smilingly said:

"It’s not my problem. I’m a person too, aren’t doctors people? I don’t need high pay. Sometimes I don’t even need you to pay me for working overtime, did you go over the procedures? No, did you? I just want to stay healthy—is there something wrong with that?"

"Ruin your health because of work, President Chadwick, what do you say?" Ivy River tossed the question back to Lewis Chadwick with her last sentence.

Lewis Chadwick had no choice but to endure!

He gently said, "I think you’re right; health is the real capital of the revolution."

"That’s good, just mark it as leave when I’m not here, all right? Be mindful." Ivy River finished and swaggered away.

Leaving Lewis Chadwick alone in the office, petrified and crestfallen.

How could Ivy River be so unyielding!

Others crave fame and compliments.

But this lady just wants to slack off anytime she can, and lie low whenever possible.

Treating money like dirt, could it be that she despises the salary and overtime pay for being too low?

Thinking of this, Lewis Chadwick turned around and called Alexander Hodges to vent.

...

Ivy River watched as the teacher brought the two kids out.

She smiled and said to the teacher, "Next week, we have some family matters. I need to take Vincent and Elsa on a two-day leave to visit their maternal grandfather."

Teacher Eulalie nodded and smiled, "Okay, but too bad for Ann. This kid has become quite lively recently, but will probably be back to her silent self on Monday and Tuesday."

"It’s okay, I’ll try to get them back to school early, and this is an opportunity for Ann to become a bit independent. Everyone needs to grow up."

Fatty complained, "Ann’s not even four yet, she’s starting school so early, and you have high expectations?"

"You haven’t grown up and married yet, so you’re already standing up for Ann? Vincent, how come I never saw you being so protective before!"

Ivy River said displeasedly, giving Fatty a light tap on the head.

Emmy clapped her hands happily, "Good hit, nice hit, make brother wail! Mom, hit harder~!"

"I’ll deal with you later. For now, I need to take you away."

After saying goodbye to the teacher, Ivy River led them to the car and drove off.

"Hungry? We’ll get something quick to eat later, no stopping along the way, Mommy will drive straight through."

Fatty, seeing her drive, earnestly advised, "Don’t get distracted while driving."

"Che," Emmy whacked Fatty, "You’re not hungry, doesn’t mean others aren’t. Mom, I want McDonald’s! Their new toys are related to Little Flower, I want them!"

Ivy River glanced in the rearview mirror, "I’ll stop somewhere to get it for you."

Fatty was concerned, "Mommy, where are we going? And how long will it take? I’m worried about you driving alone, maybe find someone to help."

His words warmed Ivy River’s heart.

"It’s only a few hours, I can manage alone. Your Uncle Peterson is already in Riverland City waiting for us. I’m taking you to see your grandfather, who is your maternal grandfather."

"Grandfather?!" Fatty and Emmy were startled.

In their minds, Lucas Woods was their grandfather, so how was there another grandfather all of a sudden?