Shirley didn't say anything more and suddenly burst into tears.

The soft sobs crackled through the phone, reaching Carlisle's ears and filling him with a deep sense of heartache. The thought that his beloved woman was suffering while he was away stirred a wave of anger in him. He spoke in a comforting tone, "Shirley, don't cry. Whatever happens, I'll handle it for you. You don't have to worry.

"You and Ivy can stay at the Zachman residence with peace of mind. As long as I'm here, no one will be able to force you out."noveldrama

Shirley hesitated before replying, "But I don't want to make things more complicated for you. You're already at odds with Mrs. Zachman Senior because of me, and now, your wife is angry and even threatening divorce. "If I stay at the Zachman residence any longer, people will just call me a shameless vixen.

"It doesn't matter what they say about me, but Ivy is still young. If they start spreading rumors about her, it'll ruin her reputation. And if you're still fighting with your wife because of me, I'll feel guilty."

"Shirley..." Carlisle's voice was thick with emotion. "It's all my fault for not handling things better. I've let you and Ivy suffer. Don't worry. I'll come back as soon as I can and support you both. I won't let anyone bully you again." Once Shirley heard that Carlisle was coming back, her eyes lit up with a glimmer of joy, though she pretended to hesitate. "Won't that interfere with your work?"

"Work can wait. You're more important."

"Carlisle..." Shirley's voice was soft and emotional. "To have known you in this lifetime, I can die with a full heart."

"Shirley, don't say that," Carlisle replied, his tone laden with regret. "I let you down back then. We could've been together long ago. I owed you this."

They lingered in affectionate words for a moment before the call ended.

Shirley quickly wiped away the tenderness and tears from her face, her expression turning cold and calculating. "It's settled. Carlisle said he'll I be back soon. You'd better do well fater. Be kind to that old hag and gether to loosen up so she let you in?

Ivy's face was marked with impatience and resistance, but when she thought of the Zachman family's wealth, she reluctantly nodded.

Yet, unease crept into her chest when she remembered Wren's recent behavior toward her. "Mom, do you think Wren might've sent someone to tell that old hag, trying to stop us from getting engaged?" Shirley's expression immediately darkened. "If that's the case, does that mean everything Wren did for you before was just an act?"

Ivy froze, instinctively rejecting the idea. She didn't want to believe it. "Impossible! You saw how good Wren was to me. If it weren't for that bitch Clara, he wouldn't have missed the engagement party."

"Well, that little bitch was raised by him. If she suddenly disappeared, it's normal for him to worry. You'd form a bond even if you raise a kitten or a puppy for ten years. It's impossible to just disregard it. You're definitely overthinking it."

Was she really overthinking it? Shirley began to doubt. But as she recalled what Wren had done for lvy, especially in critical moments when he instinctively chose to protect ivy over Clara, she started to waver.

Could it be that she was just overthinking? Was Wren really just delayed, or, as Ivy said, couldn't make it back in time for the engagement party?