When Mandy came out of the coffee shop, she acted surprised and said, "Essie, I just came across
Hanson. Did you see him?"
Essie nodded and said, "Yes, I've greeted him already." It seemed as though she didn't want to talk
about it.
An indescribable darkness appeared in Mandy's deep eyes and said, "Since you have Zac now, you
could finally let go of Hanson."
"Hanson and I are just friends now," said Essie, while she shrugged and waved her hand. She decided
to drag Mandy to go shopping to finally end the conversation. There was a deep rooted resentment that
was instilled in Mandy's heart. She wouldn't let Essie go so easily and vowed to take revenge for
robbing her of the man she truly loved.
By the time she arrived back at the Rong Mansion, Essie noticed that Ivy and Valery had already
arrived back home.
When Ivy saw Essie walking towards the living room, her face immediately darkened with gloom. She
stood up from the couch and left to go upstairs, completely ignoring Essie's presence. Valery watched
with an insidious and sinister smile on her face. She was glad that her plan had worked and
successfully turned Essie into Ivy's rival for love. As long as she pushed even harder, she was sure that
Ivy would eventually cooperate with getting rid of Essie.
When Essie saw this, she decided to follow her upstairs and visit Ivy's bedroom. The door was wide
opened, so she knocked and asked, "May I come in, Ivy?"
"No, I don't want to associate myself with hypocritical people," said Ivy bluntly without reluctance. It
seemed as though Essie had been blacklisted.
However, Essie proceeded to walk directly inside and closed the door in case someone might hear
them.
"Would you like to hear the story about Hanson and me?" she asked with a soft voice.
Ivy didn't respond and instead pouted in displeasure. With a subtle sigh, Essie decided to continue and
said, "Hanson was my first love. I fell in love with him when I met him in college. At that time, I was just
like you and had admired him so much. I figured that as long as I had a man like him, I already got
everything that I needed from this world. I have done a lot of unusual and crazy things so I could win
his love. Now, when I think about it, it's actually quite remarkable that I got myself to do those things for
him. Despite my drive, it felt tragic because I could never understand his intentions. I never knew if he
loved me as much as I loved him. One day, I finally summoned up the courage to admit and express
my feelings to him, but in return, I found out that he had just been engaged and was bound to get
married with Sunny. It was so sudden and at that time, that I was left completely devastated. I felt my
whole world crashing down, and thought that I could never get back up. That same day was when I met
Zac. We had a confusing relationship at the start, as it felt like we were rivals who always just quarreled
with each other. However, thanks to him, I was able to forget Hanson completely and was able to turn
over a new leaf."
Ivy looked up to her, with a tinge of doubt in her eyes. Her story sounded different from what she heard
from Mint Coffee House. She asked, "Wasn't it you who dumped Hanson?"
"It was over before it even began." A melancholic smile appeared on Essie's face and she continued,
"By the time I found out that Hanson also loved me back, I had already been married to Zac. Since it
seemed that fate was against us, I figured that we were simply not meant to be together. I would rather
have him think of me as a materialistic and vain woman, so that he would be able to move on and find
new love," she explained lightly. It was unnecessary for Ivy to know all the nitty gritty details of the
entanglement between the three of them.
"So, today you said that on purpose to drive him away?" When Ivy heard this, her eyes widened with a
stupefied expression. Essie gave a subtle nod and said, "Since there was no future between us, I just
wanted us both to forget it completely."
"Do you still love him?" Ivy asked. She didn't expect that their story would be so complicated and
heartbreaking.
"It's not right to be too greedy. I already have Zac, so there is no reason for me to think about anyone
else," said Essie with a soft sigh. She thought that her worries would only do more harm to him.
"Does my cousin know about what happened between the two of you?" Ivy asked with raised
eyebrows.
Essie nodded and said, "Zac is an overbearing man, I'm not even allowed to bring Hanson up or talk
about him to anyone, not even you." This was her way of explaining why she had concealed her
relationship with Hanson. Since Zac had forbidden her to talk about it, so she couldn't.
Ivy finally understood why her cousin had always looked so vicious whenever she mentioned Hanson's
name. She noticed a resentful look on his eyes every time.
"Hanson must be really sad right now," she said while she looked down with a sad face. It seemed as
though she was so affected with his pain that it hurt her as well.
Essie placed her hands on Ivy's shoulder and said, "When people are unhappy, that is when their
psychological defense is at the most vulnerable. If there would be someone who can comfort, care and
heal his internal wounds, it would be very easy to capture his heart."
A starlight flew into Ivy's eyes, turning on a light bulb. Essie was right, how could she not have realized
earlier. She could easily use this information to her advantage so that she could win Hanson's heart.
This way, no one would be able to take him away from her.
When Essie noticed the change in her expression, she seized her opportunity and said, "Ivy, you're a
beautiful, kind and noble woman. I think you would be a perfect match for Hanson. I genuinely hope
that you can be together."
"Really?" Two red clouds appeared on Ivy's cheeks, and she felt like her heart was about to float away.
Hanson was also his first love, so she really wanted to be with him and was devoted to do so.
Essie appreciated Ivy's simplicity and frankness, and above all, she could see that Ivy loved Hanson
just as much as she did in the past. She genuinely hoped that fate would bring them together and that
things wouldn't turn out like it did for her. Hanson and Essie always seemed to be accidentally missing
each other, which made everything seem like it was just a dream.
"I know all about Hanson's likes and dislikes when I was trying to win his love. I can now leave you all
those secrets. I'm sure we could do this. Don't let Christina steal him away from you."
Ivy was completely glowing with cheerfulness as she held Essie in her arms. After giving her a hug, she
said, "Sister-in-law, you're so kind and supportive towards me. I completely misunderstood you earlier
on, but I hope you don't take it against me."
"Of course not. We are good sisters, so no small thing should get in between us," Essie gently
answered with a genuine and kind smile on her face. She continued, "By the way, how did you end up
in the same coffee shop as me, Ivy? It seemed like too much of a coincidence..."
"I was studying my lessons at home but Valery managed to force me to go shopping with her. When we
arrived at the Times Mall, she said she had to take a bracelet from the shop and asked me to wait for
her in Mint Coffee House. As soon as I got inside, I saw both you and Hanson sitting there," Ivy
explained.
"Well isn't that such a coincidence?" A rush of thoughts came across Essie's mind, but she simply
smiled slightly. There was a tinge of darkness that cast a shadow over her eyes.
Ivy and Essie both came down the stairs together. When Valery saw that they talked and laughed just
as happily as they used to, she was shocked that they still got along together so well that her eyes
nearly popped out with her mouth hanging open.
There was no way that they could just make up so easily. She had already planned to visit Ivy's
bedroom after dinner and discuss how to deal with their rival in love.
The sly fox, Essie must have said something to manipulate her. Valery had to find a way to block her so
that she wouldn't succeed.
As soon as dinner ended, Valery pulled Ivy to take a walk in the garden with her.
The two of them walked along the gravel path that led to the pavilion. When they sat down, Sage
brought over some fruits for them.
After swallowing a red grape, Valery said, "Ivy, I just found out something, but I'm not sure if I should tell
you." She alluded mystery in her face.
"What is it?" Ivy asked in a hurry as she was easily curious about gossip.
"Hanson and Essie, they aren't just some ordinary senior and junior classmates. In fact, they are each
other's first love," said Valery slowly and clearly, word by word.
Ivy was a little disappointed as she thought she was going to hear some interesting news, but it turned
out to be something Essie had just told her. Uninterested, she replied, "I already know. It's all in the
past now. Everyone has their own first love." She didn't seem to look like she cared about it at all. After
Essie had explained their situation, she was completely relieved of all her worries.
Valery pouted and said defensively, "That's not true! Just some time ago while Essie was in Yang City,
my paparazzi friend took photos of them. They seemed very intimate. If she still keeps in touch with
Hanson, you will lose your opportunity to be with him."
"The paparazzi always makes groundless accusations. It's totally plausible that the paparazzi only
wanted it to sound like there was an affair going on when they are really just friends," said Ivy as she
waved her hand. She already heard what Essie had told Hanson in the cafe, and knew that she
belittled herself so Hanson could believe that she was the kind of woman who wanted a man just for
their wealth and power. It was clear to Ivy that Essie had made up her mind to break up with him for
good.
"I'm only saying this to you out of kindness and concern. I'm well aware that Essie is still completely in
love with Hanson. Even if she is now married, she still can't seem to let him go. Sunny and Hanson's
wedding was postponed again and it was said that she was the one who caused them trouble. There is
no way that she would allow you or any woman to get close to Hanson. As long as she is there, you
won't have any hope with him at all." While Valery spoke, she purposely released a deep, heavy sigh
and showed Ivy a sympathetic expression on her face.
Ivy cast a sidelong glance at her. If she had seen what happened earlier between Hanson and Essie
with no knowledge about the story and history between them, she would have been completely
enraged at Essie by now.
However, because Essie had talked to her already, she was nonchalant and composed.
"Valery, there's no need for you to overthink it. Essie is already married to my cousin, and based on
their intimate relationship right now, I'm sure they will have a baby together soon. It's impossible for her
to be with Hanson," she said with a cunning smile. She continued with a smirk, "I'll make sure to ask
my cousin to keep my sister-in-law by his side for the rest of their lives so that Hanson wouldn't have
any hope to be with her. Then, of course, he will finally give up on her and fall in love with me."
When Valery heard this, she almost fainted. She thought Ivy was going insane. She wondered how Ivy
came up with such a ridiculous idea.
It didn't seem like they would be able to form an alliance against Essie because they were not thinking
in the same wavelength whatsoever.
She ate a few red grapes, completely dismayed, so she decided to just stop talking.
Around the same time, Essie was watching 'Gourmet Paradise' in her bedroom. On today's episode, it
featured a world class chef showing how he made his special Sautéed Crab in Hot Spicy Sauce.
She was completely enraptured with the screen and looked at it wide-eyed while she licked her lips.
Her desire for the food made it seem like she was ready to pounce at the screen.
Zac reached out to wrap his arms around the greedy cat and said, "Honey, I can tell that you really
want to eat that spicy crab right now."
Essie nodded her head at a fast pace and said, "How about I go shopping to buy some crabs and cook
them ourselves tomorrow?"
Placing both his hands on the back of his head, he leaned against the sofa and said, "There's no need
for you to buy it. There are crabs in the pond behind the mansion. You can ask the kitchen to cook
them the way you want tomorrow."
Essie was so ecstatic that he placed her arms on his shoulder and said, "You have such a lovely home.
It's self-sufficient and you're free to eat anything that you want. And they are also always spotless and
clean!"
A subtle smile appeared on Zac's face while he held her chin between his fingers and said, "Honey, this
is also your home."
Essie didn't say anything and shrugged. It was way too early for her to feel like this was her home. As
there was a ferocious mistress and a proud mother-in-law who had spent all their time trying to get her
out of the house as soon as they could.
However, most importantly, her husband didn't even love her. She didn't feel like she belonged in this
home at all.
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