She continued, "Ivy, I am unmarried but we know what a child means to a family. As long as a woman
has her child, her status in the family would be consolidated."
A sincere look was on Amanda's face and she sounded so thoughtful.
"It is true. But Lionel has been quite busy. We... It has been a long time since we last..."
Ivy stuttered with a little embarrassment.
She had a hunch that Amanda might be able to help her and even help her to restore her status in the
Tang family!
Ivy noticed a gleam of bashfulness flashed across Amanda's face. 'After all, she is a virgin, unlike me
who is experienced.
Alas, how unfortunate my fate is!' she sighed internally.
Amanda thought for a while before she went on with sincerity, "Ivy, we know men need a little passion.
Probably it is because you are too familiar with each other, and he got some so-called aesthetic fatigue
for you. How about making a change of yourself? Or change an environment when you are together,
perhaps you will have different feelings about each other," she suggested.
Amanda's eyes were full of concern for Ivy.
"I also think it might be a factor that we are also confronted with the seven-year itch. But I just have no
idea how to make the change," Ivy confided.
She had tried a variety of fashionable clothes, attempting to seduce Lionel by her appearance. Still, it
would only take Lionel two days before he returned to his coldness again.
"I have an idea. One of my friends has an open villa hotel at the seaside of G City. It is fairly romantic
and made especially for couples. Would you like to go for a try? I can arrange a service package for
you,"
Amanda suggested, pleased. She knew that Ivy was seriously considering her suggestion. She totally
gained her trust.
"Lionel and I have traveled to many places. I am afraid he wouldn't be interested in the seaside villas in
G City,"
Ivy hesitated, with an apprehensive look on her face.
"Don't worry, I will fix this. It is not only about a seaside villa vocation. Use your inner awesomeness to
touch him, given his fatigue of your looks!"
Amanda added with assurance, smiling. Her eyes and eyebrows radiated her triumphant elation.
Ivy couldn't help but reminisce that she once had been as proud as Amanda right now. At those times,
Lionel's intense eyes were always glued to her, and so to speak, she was the center of his universe.
But as Lionel began to know Cassandra, she could sense his passion for her fading bit by bit until none
seemed to have remained.
"My inner... For Lionel, I am afraid it has always been my appearance that he has fallen in love with..."
Ivy muttered with a wry smile, a bleak look on her face.
When she was a little girl, she made a big bet on her youth and beauty for her marriage into a mega-
wealthy family. And at one point, she felt so close to her goal and she was almost there but
Cassandra's marriage with Lionel messed all of it up! Her ideal situation began to turn worst and worst.
Youth and beauty were so transient. Would she still be able to regain Lionel's heart with her present
looks? She doubted with dejection.
"Don't underestimate yourself. I believe that every woman has her own unique strength. You, for
instance, are quite sociable. Look, in the elite circle of G City, who hasn't heard of your name?"
Amanda tried to cheer Ivy up. The smile on her face seemed to show an admiration for her. Ivy couldn't
help but feel gratitude toward Amanda.
Who was Amanda, after all? She was a famous pianist both at home and abroad. And look at Ivy, she
was nothing more than a mistress of Lionel. Amanda went out of her way to show her care and help to
solve her problem. The thought made Ivy to side with Amanda instantly.
"That is a thing of the past. Actually, I have no virtue other than being versed in socializing with vain
women which makes no difference in how things are between me and Lionel," she reasoned.
The eyes of Ivy were full of gloom although she was still grateful for Amanda.
"No, Ivy, you can do better. Trust me, I'm here to help you out of this!"
Amanda looked at Ivy in earnest. Her insistence lighted up the hope in Ivy's heart.
"Miss Ke..."
Ivy wanted to express her gratitude toward Amanda but was interrupted by the latter.
"It's Amanda," she corrected Ivy. "We are friends now."
A sweet smile spread over her mouth. The innocence of a child and the charm of a woman were
perfectly mixed in her smile by which even Ivy was enthralled.
"Amanda, you are so nice!"
Ivy's eyes turned moist. For so many years, she had no true friends who could sincerely help her. The
celebrities she knew were a cluster of women pursuing nothing but fame and vanity.
For so many years, all her efforts had been spent on catching Lionel's attention. She traded her own
youth and body off for the villa, money, handbags, and countless clothes and jewels.
What she wanted most, however, seemed to be getting farther and farther, more and more out of reach
for her.
"Remember, Ivy? We are friends! Ivy, listen. What Mr. Tang needs is a competent assistant, a good
wife who can give him support both at home and at work. The man of his age needs the success of his
career," Amanda explained.
Ivy listened attentively.
"But what can I do? I haven't engaged in any work before my present post. I have no idea what to do
for him,"
Ivy said with a look of confusion on her face. She thought of Cassandra who had expertise in design,
even Horace thought highly of her.
"Don't worry, let's play patiently,"
Amanda placed her hands on Ivy's shoulders with sincerity.
'A woman who is indulging in her own world and wants to get a man's favor through beauty is doomed
to get nowhere.
But... this is exactly what I want and I will make the most of it, ' she thought secretly to herself.
"So... What should I do right now?"
Ivy asked, gazing at Amanda with her eyes full of eager pleading. She held Amanda's hands as if she
were clutching a lifeline.
"Well, I am about to arrange a meeting with Mr. Tang about the project of a piano school. You can come
along for that meeting. I have a friend who wants me to introduce them to the Tang Group to inquire
about the construction of an office building. When I declare that it is you who won this case, I believe
he will look at you with fresh eyes!"
Amanda smiled, artlessly and innocently.
"Really? Can this change the way Lionel thinks about me?"
Ivy asked, with an air of uncertainty. After all, without any experience in negotiation, she feared she
would screw up.
"This friend and I are in good terms. I recommended only the Tang Group. He will definitely sign a
contract with us. It is only a matter of time. I will teach you what to say, don't worry about it!"
Amanda's promise dispelled the anxiety and fears inside Ivy who became more grateful to Amanda.
"Amanda, I don't know how to express my appreciation for your help,"
Ivy said, so grateful to Amanda who possessed beauty and virtues.
"Ivy, you know, I love Rufus. Though there is some discord between Mr. Tang and Rufus, they are still
brothers. And they will get over that eventually. If we are lucky, we will become sisters-in-law and
family. So it is my pleasure to help you."
Amanda's remark echoed in the heart of Ivy, reminding her of her ultimate purpose of marrying Lionel.
Amanda wanted to marry Rufus, therefore, in a sense, they were alike.
But Ivy failed to notice a hint of slyness flashing through Amanda's eyes.
'What a stupid woman! I have thought it would be more difficult to deal with her. Instead, it was easy as
pie, ' she thought to herself.
Yes, she was going to marry Rufus, but she didn't want to see anyone vie with Rufus. For her, Ivy was
no more than a handy weapon which could serve to remove those people standing in Rufu's way.
62fb1bb41dcb31934bd49bda