When Beck suggested a check to test Izabe, she pondered for a moment before agreeing to go with him.


    Sitting on the side, Wendy, a bystander, pretended not to care, but inwardly, she was as sour as vinegar, wishing Izabe would take that five million and leave her brother. But she knew Izabe wasn''t like that. Her pride wouldn''t stop at a measly five million.


    What happened next, however, took Wendypletely by surprise. She hadn''t expected Izabe to be the executive director of the Maple Group, a huge secret identity, and to be willing to give the wholepany away for Casey.


    She felt like a clown sitting under an apple tree, as if she had swallowed a dozen sour apples.


    Even though her brother was handsome, had a good physique, could cook, was a great actor, was gentle, and could make money, none of it seemed enough for Izabe. To Wendy, Izabe was like a fairy. How could she date a mere mortal?


    Wendy fumed as she got dressed, her bed piled high with discarded clothes. After much deliberation, she settled on a sky-blue dress.


    She opened her door to find the maid tidying the room. She approached her and asked, "Gina, does this dress look good on me?"


    The maid nodded as she assessed Wendy''s outfit. "Yes, you look beautiful in anything, Wendy. This blue dress especiallyplements your fairplexion." ttered, Wendy twirled in her dress. "Really?"


    "Really," Gina confirmed. "Are you dressing up for a date?"


    "Hardly," Wendy replied. "This is much more important than a date. I''ll wear this dress tonight, and I need to put on some makeup."


    Wendy returned to her room to get ready. The woman in the mirror was fair and beautiful, with sparkling eyes and long, curledshes that added to her allure.


    She applied her lipstick, fuming over the injustice of it all. Why should her brother get Izabe? He was just an old man, after all. Wendy was as beautiful as Casey, if not more so. She was his sister, after all. She plotted to get closer to Izabe, making her shiver from miles away.


    When Casey noticed Izabe''s slight shiver, he immediately turned the heater up a few degrees.


    "Are you cold?" he asked, concerned. "How about now?"


    "I''m fine now, thank you."


    "Be, my father just called. He wants you to have dinner with the Dempsey family. Judging from his tone, he might want to apologize to you. If you have something else going on or you don''t want to go, I can decline."


    Izabe set her cup down, perplexed. "Apologize for what?"


    "Rememberst Christmas when he tried to humiliate you with money?"


    "That was a misunderstanding, and it''s all in the past. Besides, it''s not right to make an elder apologize."


    "Why not?" Casey retorted, "If he did something wrong, he should apologize. Are we supposed to indulge him? My mother once made him kneel on a washboard, but I still think that wasn''t enough."


    Izabe had heard this washboard story from Casey more than once, and every time she heard it, she couldn''t help butugh.


    "Then," Casey hesitated before asking, "will youe home with me today?"


    Izabe nodded. "Yes, I''ll go with you."


    Casey''s eyes twinkled as he beamed. "My parents are in R City, we can drive there after you''re done with work."


    Izabe looked at her watch. It was three o''clock. "How long will it take to get there?"


    "If there''s no traffic, it''ll take about an hour and a half."


    "Then I''ll finish these documents and we can leave. We don''t want to get stuck in rush hour."


    "Is there anything I can do to help?" Casey didn''t want Izabe to overwork herself. She was juggling too many roles - executive director of the Maple Group, actress, and even overseeing post-production on a movie.


    Casey didn''t know how Izabe managed it all.


    When Izabe heard Casey''s offer to help, she couldn''t think of anything he could do. But seeing his concerned expression, she handed him some non-critical documents. "You can go over these for me and sign them if everything''s okay."


    "Okay." Casey set to work on the papers.


    By the time Izabe was finished, it was already four o''clock. She called her secretary in to clean up her desk.


    Casey naturally handed Izabe her mask and sunsses, adjusting her hair and making sure everything was perfect. Then, holding her bag in one hand and her hand in the other, he asked, "Aren''t you tired from working so much every day?"


    "Tired?" Izabe echoed, also questioning herself. She seemed to have gotten used to it. She didn''t feel tired, but rather fulfilled. Watching her business grow and herpany expand was rewarding.


    In just one year, the Maple Group had risen in the national rankings, and its executive director had made it to the top of the rich list.


    "I''m used to it," Izabe finally answered. "I love this life, Casey. This is who I truly am." She turned to look at him, her expression serious.


    Casey knew about Izabe''s past. She was the former richest woman in R City, wealthier than all the other womenbined.


    Old Mr. Salotti was on his deathbed, the Salotti Group on the brink of copse. It was Izabe who stepped up, taking over the reins and miraculously pulling thepany back from the edge of the cliff in just three months.


    In those days, Izabe was untouchable in R City, outshining even the men.


    But in the end, she was undone by a man. Her star fell, her life tragically cut short at the tender age of twenty-seven.


    Brett was the towering skyscraper that brought down her world. With just a flick of his wrist, her world crumbled.


    After Izabe''s death, there was never another woman in R City who could match her brilliance.


    Until Izabe reappeared. When people saw her, memories came flooding back. There was a woman back then, also named Izabe, who lived life just as vibrantly.


    Many people started to reminisce about the old Izabe, thinking about her.


    Casey ruffled her hair gently, "I like who you are now. But don''t overwork yourself."


    Izabe shook her head. She could handle this pressure. Once upon a time, she barely slept for a few hours a week, managing the Salotti family business that was worth billions.


    When she arrived at the Dempsey''s, Bunny Dempsey had already instructed the household to prepare for her arrival.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    As soon as Izabe stepped into the house, she could smell the aroma wafting from the kitchen.


    This was her fourth time meeting Bunny, but her first time visiting the Dempsey''s. Yet, she didn''t feel like a stranger at all. She smoothly changed into house slippers and made herself at home.


    Bunny''s expression was always so


    gentle. Whenever Izabe saw her, she would think of her own mother If her mother was still alive, she would probably be just as gentle as Bunny, always checking on her health and whether she was


    overworking or being bullied at work.


    She would also gently pat Izabe''s back and shoulder, the warmth of her palmforting.


    Upon hearing themotion downstairs, Wendy scampered down the stairs in her dress. She had a dozen different scenarios nned out in her head, all of them involving an enthusiastic embrace as soon as she saw Izabe.


    But when she did see Izabe, she froze, standing off to the side, nervously twirling her hair and blushing.


    Izabe saw Wendy in the corner and walked over with a bag in hand. "Hey, Wendy."


    "Hmm, what is it?" Wendy''s tone was cold, and she didn''t even nce at Izabe.


    Every time Izabe saw Wendy, she was like this. Cold, giving one-word answers, or just sitting in a corner ying with her phone and ignoring everyone else. Sometimes Izabe wondered, did Wendy not like her?


    Butst time, Wendy had asked to take a picture with her and even gave her a chance.


    She thought their rtionship would have improved, but why didn''t it seem to have changed at all today?


    Izabe handed over the gift bag she was holding. "This is a gift I brought for you. I didn''t know what to get you, but I heard from your brother that you might like this."


    Wendy hesitated for a moment before reaching out to take the bag, murmuring a quiet, "Thank you."


    "I hope you like it."


    "I really like it." As long as it was a gift from Izabe, even if it were a pile of dung, she would love it!


    Wendy wanted to have a one-on-one chat with Izabe, but Bunny came and whisked Izabe away. With a pout, Wendy took the gift upstairs to unwrap it. It was a limited edition dress from her favorite luxury brand.


    She had her eye on this dress for a while and had nned to have someone buy it for her, but the limited edition sold out, and she couldn''t get her hands on it. She didn''t expect Izabe to have bought it for


    her.


    The white dress was of excellent quality, even more beautiful than she had imagined. She decided to wear this new dress to impress Izabe tomorrow.


    Downstairs, Izabe asked Casey in a whisper, "Is Wendy usually introverted?"


    "Introverted? How could she be?" Casey was taken aback, thinking about the time Wendy asked for his autograph to sell, and how she had even suggested taking a naked picture of him.


    "Does she not like me?"


    "Who in this world would not like you?" This question was even more shocking than thest.


    The surprise on Casey''s face was genuine; even his pupils were shaking.


    Izabeughed and reminded him, "Have you forgotten about all those haters online?"


    "Those people have problems with their eyes and brains, don''t they? They can''t even distinguish right from wrong, they are just stupid and shamelessly rude."


    Casey was a master at praising Izabe. He could do it with his eyes closed. When he heard others praise her, he would look even more proud, as if the praises were for him.


    "Don''t worry, my sister is fine. Didn''t she suddenly hug youst time?" The thought of that made him shudder.


    Beck also showed up at this point. Izabe personally handed him the gift she brought, and politely called him "Mr. Beck."


    "I heard from Casey that you like to drink tea. I chose this one, but I don''t know if you''ll like it."


    Beck looked at the gift box. This tea was not cheap. His good-for-nothing son had never given him such a valuable gift. Thinking of these annoying things, he couldn''t help but give Casey a sideways nce.


    In the end, it was Casey who was marrying up.


    "Why are you bringing coffee? Just


    come and sit down, make yourself at home." Beck said, but his hand was already on the gift box, admiring it with satisfaction. "I watched the movie you recently starred in. You were excellent. I watched it five times. But that ghost face was a bit scary, gave me nightmares for several nights. By the way, Izabe,


    do you y chess?"


    "I know a little. I used to y with my grandfather."


    "That''s perfect. I just got a new chessboard today. It''s still a while before dinner, so why don''t you y a few games with me?"


    Izabe nced at Casey next to her and nodded. "Sure."


    As dusk fell, the city was bathed in a dim glow. Beck had the chessboard set up on the balcony of the living room. ying chess revealed one''s character. It was only then that Beck realized how much he had misunderstood Izabe before.