Chapter 2. Wendy Jackson, you are so cruel

Ivy Jackson was looking for Wendy Jackson, but unexpected, she didn't find Wendy but stumbled upon him. Standing amidst the crowd, he stood out prominently. At a glance, she noticed his existence. He was so gentle, so handsome, so unlike anything else.

"Bryan!" Ivy approached the man quietly, gave him a slight smile, and those around them naturally stepped aside.

Bryan Oakley blinked, a hint of surprise sweeping across his face, soon replaced by a smile, "You took me by surprise. You look stunning tonight!"

Ivy's heart thumped rapidly. Suddenly, she regretted not wearing that aqua-blue evening dress. Her neck and even her ears were bereft of any accessories. It would have looked better if she had worn some.

"How come you're here? Our family....did we invite you?" Ivy suddenly thought about this question. Bryan Oakley, though her senior and a high-ranking police investigator, whom she'd been attracted to for five years, she had never invited him to her house. Hence, seeing him at home was quite a surprise.

"Indeed...I was invited." Bryan leaned slightly towards Ivy as he spoke softly. Ivy became tense, her ears slowly turning pinkish.

"Bryan" Suddenly, a voice came from behind, startling Ivy who promptly turned around. She grew even more nervous seeing that it was her father. When did he come behind them?

"Father!" Ivy retreated a few steps, looking at her father, also the head of the Jackson family, Blake Jackson.

"Ivy, Bryan is your superior and your senior. You should have invited him to our house a long time ago! Honestly, if I hadn't invited him, who knows when we would have met the Inspector?"

"Uncle, you're being too polite. It is I who should have taken the initiative to visit. My late arrival must seem improper."

The two men exchanged pleasantries, but Ivy suddenly began to feel guilty. Was it all happening too fast? Did her father find out about her thoughts, or... possibly even Bryan? Ivy became more and more nervous. She seemed to be both hopeful and anxious at the same time. Hidden beneath the seemingly indifferent and proud expression was her racing heart, anxious and uneasy.

"Father!" Wendy Jackson suddenly ran out and threw herself into Blake's arms.

"So you're Bryan, impressive indeed." The lady of the Jackson family, Ivy's mother, Othela Green, also came over with Wendy. She looked at Bryan with a satisfied smile, her eyes filled with approval after a quick glance.

"Mother." Ivy gave her mother a slight smile. Othela nodded back: "Why did you come down so late? Many people have not even seen you."

"Today is Wendy's party, they're more interested in seeing Wendy. I should be okay." Ivy made a faint excuse for herself, but when Othela's cold gaze pierced through her, Ivy could not take back her words.

But, considering the multitude of people, Othela did not chastise Ivy and Ivy evaded a potential catastrophe.

"Wendy, today is your big day. My second daughter has brought honor to me. I am proud of you as a father! So, whatever you want, your father will grant it!" Blake was not affected by Ivy's mood. Instead, holding his beloved second daughter, he voiced his happiness.

"Really? Then, Father, if I suddenly decide to get married, would you agree as well?" Wendy asked with a radiant, naughty smile. Looking ever so beautiful, so adorable like a sprite. Her white dress and the beautiful curls complimenting her looks perfectly, she looked like a princess.

She was a princess indeed, the princess of the Jackson family. And Ivy? Ivy was merely the eldest daughter of the Jackson family.

Othela gave a helpless smile: "That's a very forward request, don't you feel any shame?" Wendy was known for saying such things out of the blue and it didn't come as surprise. At least Ivy did not suspect anything.

The surrounding ladies burst into laughter, captivated by Wendy's honesty and charm.

"Promise or not!" Wendy's face turned red, but she continued to cling to Blake's neck and playfully act out. This was what Ivy was always envious of - Wendy's uninhibited charm that won over everyone's adoration and spread joy everywhere.

"Alright, alright, I promise, I promise!" Blake helplessly messed up his daughter's hair: "You are twenty-four now, how can I stop you from doing what you want?"

"Father, you are the best, I love you the most!" Wendy joyfully kissed Blake once on the face, earning a loud laugh from everyone. This caused Othela to pull her aside and quietly scold: "How many times have I told you, you're grown up now, you can't kiss your father in public!"

"Stop criticizing her. She's a good child who brings me happiness, my obedient girl!" Blake lightly rebuked Othela, causing her to close her mouth while Wendy wore a face of happiness and sweetness, suggesting she had something in mind.

Ivy, on the other hand, felt her heart slowly sinking...into an abyss of despair. Dad never gave her those smiles; her mom never showed such concern for her. She always felt like an outsider to this family.

'Gasp––' Amidst the gasps, everyone seemed to have sucked in a breath. Ivy didn't understand what had happened until she saw Bryan unexpectedly kneel in front of them.

Ivy darted her hand to cover her mouth. Oh my gosh, what... What was he doing?

Bryan took out a red silk box from his pocket, opened it, and inside was a shiny, one-carat diamond ring.

The entire Jackson mansion's reception hall caught the wave of excitement at that moment. Everyone surged forward to get a better view. Bryan, the inspector from the people's prosecution court was about to propose to a daughter of the Jackson family. But who was the lucky girl?

Wendy and Ivy were standing at the same place.

One was as cool as ice while the other was as warm as fire. Ivy was perceived as aloof, boring, cold, arrogant, and even a workaholic. However, Wendy was cheerful, adorable, naive, kind, and enthusiastic.

No one knew that Ivy's heart had stopped beating at that moment. She never imagined that one day Bryan Oakley would kneel down before her with a diamond ring. It all felt surreal like a dream, and she felt she was about to become the happiest woman in the world!

"Wendy, marry me!"

However, with these words, Ivy was brought back to reality and thrown into hell without any place to hide. Her face turned pale, the brilliance in her eyes vanished in an instant, her heart shattered completely. Only pain...only pain remained. Her head ached as she couldn't separate reality from dream.

"I accept!" Wendy's answer was so clear and entered her ears. Then Ivy saw the shining diamond ring slide easily onto Wendy's finger. She saw Bryan rise and enfold Wendy into his arms with a face full of happiness and a smile.