CHAPTER 170: CHAPTER 170: LEAVING WITH IVAN UNDERWOOD

How can this person never take the easy way out?

I said I didn’t see it clearly, and yet he’s making me so embarrassed.

"I didn’t see it clearly, really!" I kept smiling cheekily, "My dad and Uncle Hawthorne are old friends, and I was in a hurry to deliver a gift to him, so I didn’t pay much attention."

"I’ll go with you, coincidentally, I’m here to buy a painting for my dad," Ivan Underwood raised an eyebrow, no longer exposing my lie, yet still making me feel very awkward.

What could I say? He didn’t openly confess anything yesterday; can I reject him just because I overthink? No, I can only nod, "Alright."

The art exhibit is on two floors. Ivan and I walked around appreciating the paintings while chatting. In reality, I didn’t know what to talk about. Initially, I wanted to discuss Azure, but now I felt too constrained to bring it up.

However, I discovered that he knows a lot about traditional Chinese paintings and shared a lot of insights with me.

Evan Hawthorne was on the second floor. As we were just starting to climb the stairs, we saw Henry Preston coming down from above, followed by an assistant I had seen a few times before. The assistant was holding a packaged painting.

I really shouldn’t have agreed to my dad’s idea of coming here to cultivate my taste; not only did I fail to do that, but I also ended up repeatedly falling into embarrassing situations.

The incident that happened yesterday at the teahouse practically announced the crumbling of the many years of friendship between Henry and Ivan.

I felt that they were destined for each other, destined for their friendship boat to capsize, whether it was because of Azure or because of me; even if it wasn’t me, it could be some other woman.

"Let’s step aside," Ivan looked up at Henry, with an expression very neutral. He withdrew his gaze, putting his arm around my waist, guiding me aside.

Henry looked coldly at Ivan’s actions, then stepped down a few more stairs, stopping next to me.

His gaze was like an iceberg in the North Pole, emanating a bone-chilling coldness.

"I never knew you were so popular with men," Henry’s thin lips moved slightly, and his words were loaded with sarcasm.

"Now you know, it’s too late," Ivan smiled gently, his reply equally unfriendly.

I had a moment where everything seemed to go dark; has their relationship already plummeted to freezing point just overnight?!

I was racking my brain for a way to defuse the situation when Azure’s voice mischievously broke in, "Henry!"

She stood at the top of the stairs, looking up slightly at Henry, her eyes filled with obvious excitement. Her obsession with Henry is deep; even after what happened before, she’s back, trying to reclaim this man.

Unfortunately, Henry was no longer interested in her like before. When he saw Azure, a flicker of surprise crossed his cold features. The next second, his brows furrowed, his gaze icy, without even a single word of reply.

This level of coldness made Azure’s face go pale, the excitement in her eyes quickly fading away.

I didn’t want to watch what was happening between them. Ivan, understanding my thoughts perfectly, guided me upwards with his arm around my waist, "Let’s go."

"Yeah," I responded.

But just as we stepped onto the first stair, Henry grabbed my hand, nearly pulling me out of Ivan’s arms.

Luckily, Ivan tightened his grip in time, and I steadied myself.

Ivan warned Henry, "Henry, let her go!"

"Zoe Hathaway." Henry focused on my eyes, calling my name, but said nothing more.

I deliberately ignored the emotions in his eyes, twisting my wrist, "Henry, don’t forget who you are. Watch your conduct in public and don’t give others a show."

I twisted my wrist again more forcefully, urgently wanting to break free from Henry’s grip. Seeing my resolute demeanor, he finally released his hold.

In that instant, I caught a glimpse of loneliness in his eyes.

"Henry, I told you long ago they’d end up together, why didn’t you believe me?" Azure looked at Henry with resentment, "Now you should understand, Zoe Hathaway hasn’t been the woman who only has eyes for you for a long time."

Henry’s voice was chillingly cold, "Shut up!"

This scene drew the gaze of onlookers. Not wanting to become the subject of gossip here, I quickly sped up the stairs with Ivan.

Evan Hawthorne was upstairs, chatting with several old friends. He paused in surprise when he saw me, not recognizing me at first, but he recognized Ivan, "Oh, Ivan’s here, come again to support me on behalf of your dad?"

"Uncle Hawthorne, my father admired one of your paintings, and specifically asked me to purchase it, saying cost is no issue as long as you’re willing to part with it," Ivan said with a polite and warm smile.

"Hahaha... every time I hold an exhibit, your dad asks me to part with a painting, as if I don’t know it’s his special way to support me? Whichever painting he wants, he can take it. If your dad thinks highly of me, it brings me joy." Evan Hawthorne laughed heartily.

Ivan chatted with him for a while longer, then Evan led him to retrieve the painting. Once it was packaged, he turned to me, "Oh, this young lady looks familiar! Your girlfriend?"

I immediately responded, "Uncle Hawthorne, I’m Zoe Hathaway, my dad is..."

Before I could finish, Evan Hawthorne exclaimed with joy, "Hathaway’s daughter?! My, how you’ve grown. I held you when you were a child! But these years, I’ve been away more, seeing your dad less often. Didn’t expect him to send you today. Such a good kid, and so handsome!"

"Uncle Hawthorne, my dad initially wanted me to bring a gift, but a mishap occurred, so I’ll bring it next time," I said apologetically.

To my surprise, Evan took the gift box from my hands, "Is it this? It’s definitely an ink stone, your dad always gives ink stones, knowing I like them. No worries, anything he sends pleases me, even if it’s a bit damaged."

At that moment, Azure and Fern Tate also came up.

Azure’s face looked quite poor, her eyes slightly red. No idea what had transpired between her and Henry downstairs.

"Master Hawthorne, how much for the ’Winter Snow River’ painting? I’d like to take it home." Azure forced a smile, despite looking unwell, her voice was steadily assertive, lacking the humility she once had.

Evan Hawthorne, unaware of the tension between Azure and me, answered kindly, "I’m sorry, young lady, that painting has already been reserved. It will be picked up in a few days."

Azure assumed I was the one who reserved the painting. Her beautiful crescent-shaped eyes looked at me, filled with hostility, "Master Hawthorne, my mother really loves your artwork. Her birthday is coming up soon, so I came specifically to buy the ’Winter Snow River’ painting. No matter the cost, name your price, I’m willing to pay."

Sounds so filial!

Evan Hawthorne shook his head regretfully, "Ladies, if you insist on the ’Winter Snow River’ painting, you can try negotiating with the person who reserved it. He bought it as a gift, maybe he’ll be willing to exchange it for another."

"Where can we find this person?" Fern Tate looked at me too, both clearly assuming I was the person who reserved it.

Evan Hawthorne replied, "It was Henry Preston from the Preston Group. He just took another painting. ’Winter Snow River’ won’t be picked up until five days later. You can try finding him."

Upon learning that Henry reserved the painting, surprise crossed Azure’s eyes, soon followed by a hint of delight.

She seemed happy about the fate between her and Henry, but I just felt she was out of her mind.

"Got it." Azure nodded, then turned to leave with Fern Tate.

From start to finish, Azure deliberately avoided looking at me, a stark contrast to her earlier provocative demeanor. I could clearly feel it.

"Uncle Hawthorne, I have some matters to tend to, I’ll be taking my leave." Subsequently, I also mentioned leaving, as I was no longer in the mood.

"Alright, alright, Ivan, you’re—" Evan Hawthorne inquired of Ivan.

"I’m going with her." Ivan answered.

Evan Hawthorne smiled, patting Ivan’s shoulder warmly, seeing us off as we left The Moonlit Promenade before he returned inside.

"Did my words frighten you yesterday?" Ivan suddenly asked me once we reached the car.

Is there even a need to ask? The psychological shadow cast is nearly of a three-bedroom apartment size.

I’ve never been interested in being a femme fatale.

"No, I just think men and women should maintain discretion, and you’ll need to find a girlfriend eventually anyway." I chuckled, explaining, truth be told, I have always hoped Ivan would find someone. If he had a girlfriend or fiancee, I wouldn’t have to worry about these sensitive issues anymore.

Besides, I don’t understand, since he didn’t fall for Azure, he should find someone else suitable with marriage in mind, right? Could his family be that open-minded, not pressuring him at all?

"The problem is, I’m currently single. What discretion?" Ivan looked down at me, his height similar to Henry’s, both standing out in a crowd. Looking them in the eye required tilting my head up, quite stressful.

"Can’t help it, I’m just a traditional person. By the way, Dr. Underwood, I need to head back for lunch now, bye, talk next time!" Unable to handle the pressure of Ivan’s gaze any longer, I randomly found an excuse, opened the car door, and sat in.

Then Ivan followed right in, taking the passenger seat, speaking casually, "Perfect timing, I’ll join you for a meal at your place, make it a patient follow-up visit."