Before Brooke Morrison could say a word, Ivy Holden stepped in front of her and glanced at James Zimmers.
“Well, well, back so soon?
Mikar Island is so beautiful.
You should’ve stayed a few more days.”
Leila Lane stepped forward and took Ivy Holden’s hand, a woeful look on her face as she asked, “Ivy, did I do something wrong?
Why did you just run back here alone without a word?
You had me searching all over Mikar for you.
I thought you’d been kidnapped!
I was about to call the embassy.”
“Oh?
And did you?” Ivy Holden asked, looking at Leila Lane.
“Ivy, was it because James Zimmers was talking more with me and ignoring you?
Is that why you got upset and ran off?
I know you’re crazy about him, but he’s a public figure.
If you two went public, it would be bad for both of you…”
Tanya Thorne came forward, slung an arm over Ivy Holden’s shoulders, and pulled her from Leila Lane’s grasp.
With a cheeky whistle aimed at James Zimmers, she said, “This handsome fella looks familiar!
Isn’t he the one who was trending at number one?”
“Who are you?
You have no manners at all,” Leila Lane demanded with a frown.
Tanya Thorne wasn’t offended.
Instead, she quickly clasped her hands before her chest, gave James Zimmers a deep bow, and said earnestly, “Thank you so much.”
“Huh?” James Zimmers couldn’t for the life of him figure out what this strange, fey girl was trying to pull.
“Thanks for trending last night right when I needed it.
You buried the story about me getting into a fight.
You’re incredible!
You saved my dad a fortune in hush money,” Tanya Thorne said, beaming.
“…” James Zimmers’s face instantly turned thunderous.
Ivy Holden burst out laughing.
She reached over to pinch Tanya Thorne’s cheek and grinned.
“Come on.
I’ll take you to get some shrimp dumplings.”
James Zimmers watched Ivy Holden walk away, a fleeting, sinister glint in his handsome eyes.
“Not now,” Leila Lane whispered, tugging on James Zimmers’s sleeve to stop him from doing anything rash.
On the way over, Kira Walton had repeatedly stressed that they had to use this opportunity to get on good terms with Ivy Holden.
Jensen Morrison, who had been discreetly watching the interaction, saw Ivy Holden and Tanya Thorne walk away.
He found a quiet corner to play a mobile game, but just as he was about to start a team match, he heard a sycophantic voice.
“Well, if it isn’t our very own King Morrison!
What are you doing hiding over here all by yourself?”
Jensen Morrison didn’t say anything, merely frowning in disgust as he continued to stare down at his game.
“King Morrison, could I ask you for a favor?” Leila Lane asked, sidling up next to Jensen Morrison with an ingratiating smile.
Jensen Morrison kept his eyes glued to his game, acting as if Leila Lane was completely invisible.
Leila Lane, however, plowed on as if she hadn’t noticed.
“I heard you’re getting ready to shoot the music video for your new single and you happen to need a second male lead.
What do you think of James Zimmers?”
Overwhelmed with annoyance, Jensen Morrison shot back, “Who’s James Zimmers?
Never heard of him.”
Before Leila Lane could say another word, James Zimmers had already approached them.
“Jenson, that video of us online has already passed five hundred million views.”
The air around Jensen Morrison instantly chilled.
He shut off his game, swept a frosty glare over James Zimmers, then stood up and walked away without a word.
“Hey, Jen—” James Zimmers awkwardly retracted the hand he had raised in greeting.
Watching Jensen Morrison walk toward Ivy Holden, Leila Lane gritted her teeth and hurried after him.
‘I only got back home safely thanks to James.
As payback, I have to get done what Kira Walton asked of me.
Besides, I like James, too.
I want to win him over.’ After steeling her resolve, Leila suppressed her resentment toward Ivy, took two quick steps, and latched onto her arm.
Her face was a mask of fawning smiles.
“Ivy, quick, help me put in a good word with King Morrison!
The two of them were laughing and chatting on Mikar Island, so why are things so weird between them now that they’re back?”
One of Jensen Morrison’s handsome eyebrows rose as he glanced at Leila Lane.
“Th-that…
King Morrison, please don’t get the wrong idea!
That is absolutely not what I meant.” Sensing the chill in Jensen’s gaze, Leila shoved Ivy Holden and scolded her, “I’m doing this for you!
Just the day before yesterday, you were chasing after James Zimmers, begging for his contact info!
Now that I’ve brought him right to you, how can you suddenly have a change of heart?”
Ivy Holden asked with a laugh, “You were clearly the one chasing him, so how can you turn around and say it was me?
A woman who says one thing and means another is bound to get dumped, you know!”
Leila Lane immediately put on her ‘big sister’ airs.
“You told me you liked him just the day before yesterday!” she said sternly.
“How can you deny it now?
Being fickle isn’t our family’s way.”
“Heh…
‘Our family’?” Ivy Holden chuckled, glancing around.
Her eyes accidentally met Jensen Morrison’s, who was clearly enjoying the show.
On a sudden impulse, she reached out, linked her arm with his, and declared with a smile, “The person I like is obviously him.
How could I possibly like anyone else?”
Jensen Morrison froze, the pads of his fingers turning white as they gripped his phone.
“You…
you like *him*?” Leila Lane’s eyes went wide with astonishment.
She looked from Jensen Morrison to Ivy Holden and back again, her face a mask of disbelief.
“That’s right.
So now that you know, you can give it a rest, can’t you?” Ivy Holden replied with a syrupy-sweet smile.
Just then, two sharp claps echoed through the hall, causing everyone to pause their conversations and look over.
A tall, long-haired man announced in a clear voice, “Everyone, to celebrate my esteemed teacher’s seventieth birthday, I have composed a special piece.
Please forgive my humble performance.”
The hall immediately erupted in applause, and someone shouted with a laugh, “If a performance from a concert-hall-level pianist is a ‘humble effort,’ then I don’t know where that leaves the rest of us!”
Someone else then shouted, “I wonder who the esteemed teacher will ask for the first dance!”
Following that, someone else immediately chimed in, “Is Mr.
Holden going to have the first dance?”
“The master is dancing?
I’ll do it, I’ll do it…!”
“Dad, your back…” Carson Holden said, looking at his father with concern.
“What?
Am I so old I can’t even move anymore?” Edison Holden shot his son a glare, then scanned the hall.
“Ivy?
Where’s Ivy?!”
“Grandpa, I’m right here!” Hearing her grandfather call, Ivy Holden quickly responded and ran over to him.
“Where did you run off to?
I couldn’t find you anywhere.” Edison Holden took his granddaughter’s hand, and though his words were a complaint, his eyes were filled with affection.
Ivy Holden leaned in and whispered in Mr.
Holden’s ear, “I got hungry, so I snuck off to find something to eat.”
“Oh?
Did you get enough to eat?” Edison Holden asked with a warm smile.
Ivy Holden gave a playful arch of her brows.
“The molten lava buns at this club are pretty good.”
“Well, if you’re full, it’s time to work it off.
Come and dance with your grandpa.”
Ivy Holden put on a show of being overwhelmed by the honor.
“My, to be favored by the esteemed Mr.
Holden!
This humble maiden is truly blessed!” she declared with a dramatic sigh.
“You little rascal.” Grandpa Holden took his granddaughter’s hand and led her to the center of the hall.
The piano music began to play, and the entire hall fell silent.
Edison Holden, with his white hair and youthful complexion, stood ramrod straight.
His dance steps were steady and nimble, exuding the dignified air of a nobleman.
Such was his presence that he completely overshadowed his young, beautiful granddaughter, Ivy Holden.
Watching his daughter’s movements, Carson Holden murmured to Brooke Morrison beside him, “Ivy took dance for two years when she was little, but her foundation is still too weak…”
Brooke Morrison smiled, whispering in Carson Holden’s ear so that only he could hear, “You’re too hard on her.
I think Ivy is dancing beautifully.
Grandpa Holden is a titan of the music world who has composed countless major musicals and ballets.
How can you possibly compare Ivy to him?”
Carson Holden and his wife were speaking in hushed tones.
Normally, with the cover of the music, there was no way a third person could have overheard them.
However, Ivy Holden now possessed superhuman hearing.
Not only could she hear their private whispers, but she could also clearly make out people bad-mouthing her by the entrance and in the lounge area in the corner of the hall.