Ivory wasn't the type to suffer in silence. If she was mad about something, she would take it out on someone on the spot.
So, she kicked the door to the room next door down, looking arrogant as she held her head high. She asked, "What is the lesson that I need to be taught, Wilson? If you have something to say, do it to my face. Don't talk badly about me behind my back."
Despite being caught red-handed, Wilson wasn't flustered in the slightest. He didn't even bat an eye, remaining as calm and composed as always. He drawled, "For example, you need to learn not to drink anything that just about anyone gives you."
Ivory laughed. She wasn't a child—of course she knew that. Still…
"Aren't you supposed to be keeping an eye on me?" She looked at him coldly. "I can't drink to my heart's content even with you around. What am I paying you for, then?"
He fell silent. Then, he said, "I'll admit I shirked my duties this time."
She smiled. "So, you shouldn't be the one teaching me a lesson. I should be the one doing it to you. Now, hold out your hand."
He frowned as hints of displeasure flickered in his eyes. Still, he did as told and held out his hand.
Ivory grabbed it and chomped down on it so hard that she drew blood. However, all Wilson did was furrow his brows slightly. He didn't even grunt.
"That's your punishment," Ivory said. "Even if your conscience isn't weighed down when you throw me to the wolves again next time, at least your hand will hurt."
With that, she turned and left without another look back.
…
That afternoon, Ivory attended her best friend's birthday party.
It was a lively pool party. The invited scions and heiresses wore skimpy swimwear as they played in the pool, and the atmosphere was light-hearted and cheery.
But just then, four attendants pushed a gigantic object hidden by a red cloth in. One of them bowed his head politely toward Ivory and said, "Ms. Stone, this is a gift to you from Mr. Fuller."
Mr. Fuller? Ivory cocked an eyebrow. Her future husband?
She said, "It's my best friend's birthday today, not mine. Why has he given me something?"
"Mr. Fuller cares about you and doesn't want you to feel neglected," the attendant said with a smile.
That was a nice explanation, but Ivory couldn't help feeling uneasy. She instinctively looked around for Wilson, but as soon as she turned her head, she saw Belinda getting out of the pool in a relatively conservative swimsuit. Wilson waited for her with a towel.
He wrapped it around her as soon as she got out. "Be careful not to catch a cold, Ms. Belinda."
Just the night before, he'd abandoned Ivory in a bathtub full of ice-cold water. He hadn't bothered asking whether she was fine. She'd developed signs of frostbite on her legs, yet he hadn't shown the slightest bit of concern or heartache.
Now, the sun hung high in the sky, and the pool wasn't even cold. Belinda had merely been in the water for a swim, yet Wilson was worried about her catching a cold.
Ivory clenched her fists and looked away. Then, she said loudly, "I accept the gift. Thank Mr. Fuller for me!"
The crowd was abuzz. Though the gift was covered by a red cloth, its size hinted at it being an expensive car.
"Ivy, hurry up and lift the cloth." Her best friend, Ginny Wright, was curious about the gift. She kept urging Ivory to unveil it.
Ivory didn't want to leave her hanging, so she stepped forward and yanked the cloth covering her "gift". The moment the cloth slipped off, a beast roared, making everyone gasp in fright.
Beneath the cloth wasn't the expensive car everyone anticipated. Instead, it was a gigantic cage with an adult male lion in it!
"What kind of gift is that? It's monstrous!"
"I've long heard about Simon Fuller being a psycho. I thought that was just a rumor, but it seems he's worse than I imagined!"
"How is this considered a gift for his fiancee? He's obviously trying to scare and threaten her!"
"I suddenly pity Ivory. What's life going to be like for her when she marries a freak like that?"
The crowd was abuzz as they looked at Ivory with pity. Meanwhile, Belinda approached with Wilson, blinking innocently as she asked, "What's happened? Why's there a huge lion here? Is this part of a circus act?"
The lion went berserk inside the cage at her words. There was no telling whether Simon had done this on purpose or whether the cage itself wasn't sturdy. After a brief struggle, the lion managed to ram the cage door open!
The crowd screamed and scattered. Wilson didn't even hesitate as he pounced on Belinda, protecting her with his body.
However, Ivory was the one who was closer to the cage.
