Ch. 1051..1060

Chapter 1051

Bonnie asked, "Is your last surprise for me a candlelight dinner?"

"Yeah, it is," he said smilingly. "I cooked all the dishes you see. Make sure to eat them all, okay?"

Before she could say anything, he added, "I should've started with dinner. It's been a while since I cooked, so you can't complain if some dishes taste funny."

"Why would I do something like that?" Bonnie pulled out a chair and sat down. "Let's dig in and see if your cooking skills are as good as they once were."

"All right." Ivor sat down and put a piece of cut steak on her plate.

Bonnie wasted no time and ate the steak. However, Ivor feared he did not cook it well enough, so he asked, "How is it?"

She met his nervous gaze and deliberately kept him on the hook. "Well, I—"

As expected, his body stiffened. Bonnie's eyes sparkled with joy as she said, "It melted in my mouth, and you seasoned it perfectly."

Ivor sighed in relief when he realized she was teasing him. He could not help but chuckle and say, "Jeez, Bonnie. I can't believe you made fun of me when you know how much I care about your opinions."

"Hey, you've always done the same to me. I didn't know you couldn't take a joke," Bonnie retorted before eating more of her steak.

Ivor was delighted to receive her approval regarding his cooking skills. He noticed how much she enjoyed the steak and dug into his meal. Of course, he remembered to offer her more throughout dinner.

The couple created a heartwarming and romantic atmosphere. Soon after, Ivor uncorked a bottle of red wine and poured some of it into his wife. He said, "I took this wine from the cellar. It had plenty of time to mature, so it tastes best now. Here, have some."

Bonnie swirled her wine glass and said, "I remember how potent this wine is. Are you trying to get me drunk? That must be why you chose this one."

Ivor grinned. "I seem to recall you being a good drinker. How can I make you drunk with just a bottle of wine? The timing just feels right for this wine, that's all."

"Are you sure about that?" Bonnie knew what he was trying to do but did not say it aloud.

"Of course I am. Do you think I have an ulterior motive?" Ivor raised his glass and clinked it with hers. "Cheers."

"Cheers, Ivor." Bonnie clinked her glass with his and downed her wine.

Ivor was stunned when he saw that. "Why'd you drink it all?"

She looked at him, puzzled. "You said cheers, didn't you?"

He facepalmed. "It's just a saying. I didn't think you'd down the whole glass. You can be so weird sometimes, honey."

She rolled her eyes. "Are you sure I'm the weird one here, or is it another of your tricks?"Chapter

A moment later, she massaged her brows and felt her temperature rising. She even felt a little dizzy as she said, "You said I was a good drinker earlier, but just one glass made me a little drunk."

Ivor rose from his chair and went to check on Bonnie. "You wouldn't feel like this if you hadn't downed it."

He grew worried when he saw his wife's pink cheeks. "How do you feel? Should I move you somewhere to rest?"

 

Chapter 1052

"Th-that's okay. I can walk just fine." Bonnie felt dizzy, and her body was burning up. She tried to stand but involuntarily staggered and fell instead.

Ivor quickly caught her to prevent her from falling. "Stop acting tough. You're drunk. Come on, I'll help you to the bedroom so you can rest."

"Burp!"

The scent of red wine mixed with Bonnie's natural fragrance, creating a seductive sensation. "Fine, but you must carry me, or I'll have to walk to the bedroom myself. That's too troublesome."

Ivor looked at her lovingly when he saw her hazy eyes and blushing cheeks. "Sure, I can carry you if you don't want to walk."

Bonnie wagged her finger at him and said, "Come here."

He did as she said. "All right, I'm here. What is it?"

Suddenly, she wrapped her arms around his neck. "All right, that's good enough. Now, I won't fall. Let's go."

She was not as calm and collected as she usually was because she was drunk. Instead, she behaved like a helpless girl.

Ivor grinned before carrying her. "Come on, I'll take you to the bedroom to rest."

Meanwhile, Alfred, hiding in the corner, saw everything. He gestured at the housekeepers.

As Ivor carried Bonnie upstairs, he was so close to her that he could feel her warm breath on his neck. He could also smell the red wine from her breath. Although he did not drink much, he was also a little drunk.

On the other hand, Bonnie sensed something before gently touching his cheeks. "Why do you feel hot? Do you have a fever?"

"I don't have a fever." Ivor lowered his gaze and stared at her profoundly. "Do you want to guess why I'm hot?"

Bonnie lifted her chin and thought about something. She was about to answer him, but her drunkenness made her forget. She could not keep a clear mind, causing her to shake her head before responding, "I don't know. Why can't you just tell me?"

He chuckled and tapped her nose lovingly. "You made me like this, silly."

"Huh?" Bonnie glanced at him. Suddenly, she understood what he meant when she realized she was still in his arms. "I get it now. You're hot because you carried me upstairs. You can put me down now. I can walk by myself."

Ivor scoffed. "Do you think I'll let you go now?"

She was still in a daze, asking, "Hmm? What do you mean?"

He grinned and carried her to the bed before setting her down. Before Bonnie knew it, Ivor pinned her to the bed. He looked at her blushing cheeks and said charmingly, "Do you get my drift now?"

Bonnie was stunned as she met his profound gaze. Her eyes became misty, too. "Oh, I get it. You're trying to—"Chapter

Before she could finish, he pressed down on her and asked, "Tell me, what am I trying to do to you?"

She scoffed and blushed even more before turning away.

 

Chapter 1053

Bonnie said lowly, “Save it. I know you’re trying to make me say something embarrassing. Well, I refuse to fall for that.”

Ivor chuckled. “We’re so close with each other now. We should be able to say whatever we want without feeling embarrassed.”

She rolled her eyes and asked, “Do you think everyone’s as shameless as you?”

He cupped her face and smiled as he stared into her eyes affectionately. “It looks like you know what I mean. I guess there’s no point pretending anymore.”

A moment later, Ivor lowered his head and kissed Bonnie’s lips. Then, he pressed his body on hers. “Can we do it?”

She blushed and grumbled, “I can’t believe you’re asking me that. You’re just doing it on—”

Before she could finish, he kissed her again. This time, it was more intense than before. Bonnie felt like Ivor could suck her breath away. Her legs weakened as she tried to push him away, but it was futile.

He continued to kiss her intensely while caressing her body.

“Mmm…” She could not help but moan as she gripped his collar.

Thud, thud.

Their clothes fell to the floor, piece by piece. The moon’s gentle beams shined through the windows momentarily before the clouds floated by.

…

Ivor’s phone rang the next day, causing Bonnie to wake up.

Buzz! Buzz, buzz!

‘Ugh, that’s annoying!’

Bonnie's brows furrowed as she reached for Ivor's shoulder. She intended to pat his arm to wake him, but her hand fell on the bed instead. 'Wait, he's not here. Where'd he go?"

She propped up her sore body and reached for his phone. She wanted to silence it, but she saw that it was a call from Yale. Bonnie had just returned from Yale, but she thought it was just a coincidence that they were calling.

Then, Ivor entered with a breakfast tray. He realized Bonnie was awake and in a trance, so he asked, "Why do you look so out of it? Is something bothering you?"

She shook her head and returned to his senses before handing the phone to Ivor. "There's a call for you. It's from Yale."

"Yale?" He frowned.

'Is it news about Falcon?"

Ivor's expression changed so abruptly that it roused Bonnie's suspicion. She asked, "Yeah, why did you react that way? Is your branch company facing some issues?"

He realized he was so anxious that he had forgotten to hide his emotions. However, it was too late because Bonnie had seen through him.

Ivor composed himself and responded calmly, "I was just a little surprised, that's all. I don't know why anyone from Yale would call me. It's probably a prank call. You can reject the call for me." Chapter

Initially, Bonnie was suspicious of the call, but his calm demeanor made her dismiss it. She said, "I think you should answer it. What if it's urgent?"

Ivor kept up his act and nodded. "All right, I'll answer it. Here, have your breakfast while I'm at it."

She waved at him. "Okay, bye!"

Ivor took his phone and answered the call on the balcony. Meanwhile, Bonnie looked at him through the window and frowned.

'Why does it look like he's hiding something from me?"

 

Chapter 1054

The man on the phone said, “We found where Falcon is in District Nine. There are plenty of big and powerful organizations there. It won’t be easy to catch him there.”

Ivor frowned menacingly. “Falcon’s one cunning bastard. I can’t believe he ran to District Nine. Keep an eye on him, but don’t do anything rash. I contact the Nidhoggs’ leader and discuss our next move with him.”

The man on the phone responded respectfully, “Understood, Mr. Ivor.”

Simultaneously, Bonnie received a call from Collin. She glanced at the balcony to ensure Ivor was still there before tiptoeing to the bathroom. Then, she closed and locked the door before answering the call. “What’s up, Collin?”Chapter

“We found Falcon.”

She frowned. “Where is he?”

“He’s in District Nine,” he replied solemnly, “Still, we only know his general location and not his exact one. I’m confident a significant organization is helping to cover his tracks. That’s the only reason we can’t pinpoint Falcon’s location despite our best efforts.”

“Collin, don’t bother stating the obvious. Falcon has the chip. Of course, countless organizations would want to protect him. I knew this would happen. It’s not news to me.” Bonnie frowned and rubbed her chin thoughtfully.

She added, “Don’t be rash. I’ll contact the Dark Knights’ leader and see if he knows what we know. If he doesn’t, I’ll share our information with him. That’ll allow me to form a plan with him.”

Collin asked, puzzled, "Why don't we move in on Falcon ourselves, Chief? We tracked him down first, after all Why must you inform the Dark Knights about it? Their leader is wicked and does nothing but drool over our chip."

Bonnie explained, "He might be desperate for our chip, but we can't deny that he's one of our most capable allies. Most of District Nine's organizations are influential and prestigious. The good, the bad, and the ugly are there.

"Although we're no pushovers, we'll be in their territory. If we barge into District Nine thoughtlessly, they might wipe us out. Things will be vastly different with the Dark Knights on our side.

"The minor organizations will be wary of us and think twice before helping the major organizations to take us down. That's why telling the Dark Knights what we know will benefit us."

Finally, Collin understood the reason behind Bonnie's actions. "Wow, you've thought of everything, Chief let my emotions get the better of me. Fortunately, I have you to pull me out, or I would've endangered our men."

"It's okay. Just stick to me and learn how I handle situations like these. You'll pick up soon enough," Bonnie said casually.

'It's a good thing Collin is loyal. That's why I kept him beside me and made him my assistant. He has never disappointed me and has done an excellent job overseeing my organization over the past several years."

Although Collin sometimes let his emotions lead him, his strengths compensated for that insignificant shortcoming.

"You got it, Chief. I'll stick beside you and learn everything I can."

Suddenly, Bonnie heard Ivor knocking on the bathroom door. "Bonnie, are you in there? What's taking you so long? Does your stomach hurt?"

 

Chapter 1055

Ivor twisted the door handle but realized Bonnie had locked it.

‘That’s odd. I know Bonnie never locks the door in her own place. Why’d she lock it this time? Is she on the phone with someone? Still, she wouldn’t need to lock the door. Is she discussing something she doesn’t want me to know about?’

Bonnie’s heart raced as she strained her voice, making herself sound uncomfortable. “Um, my tummy hurts. Don’t come in here, Ivor. It, uh, stinks in here.”

Ivor grew suspicious, not wholly believing her claims. He asked, "Should I get you some medicine?"Chapter

"I'll be okay! I just need to stay in here for a little longer. You can do what you need to do. I'll just be here until the smell clears." Bonnie faked a groan, trying to make herself sound more uncomfortable.

Ivor did not pry. Instead, he said, "Okay, I'll wait for you out here. You can come out whenever you're ready."

Bonnie observed the frosted glass door and saw his shadow disappear. Only then did she sigh in relief. She was glad he did not insist on coming inside, or he would have seen through her lies.

Meanwhile, Collin overheard their conversation through the phone. He could not help but ask, "Is Mr. Ivor gone, Chief?"

She responded, "Yeah, he's gone. That should be it for now. Go ahead and make the preparations. We'll head to Yale again in a few days. We'll catch that son of a bitch this time."

"Understood," he responded respectfully before hanging up.

Bonnie wanted to make her tummy ache look more genuine, so she clutched her belly as she exited the bathroom. She even said, "I'm not sure if it's because I downed the wine last night, but my stomach is upset.

"I just ate breakfast, and my stomachache was unbearable. My feet even fell asleep because I took such a long time sitting on the can."

Ivor noticed her cheeks had paled, even though they had been rosy. His suspicions disappeared when he saw that. He felt worried instead, asking, "Is it that bad? Should I take you to the emergency room?"

Bonnie shook her head. "Must I remind you that I'm a doctor? I know what's happening to my body. It's just a minor tummy ache. I just need to avoid eating spicy and oily foods for now."

Ivor approached and helped her to the bed. "I'll rub your feet. That should make you feel better."

 

Chapter 1056

Bonnie shook her head, saying, “It’s okay. I just need a minute.”

When Collin called, she told Ivor a bald-faced lie. Although it was not too severe, she felt guilty and did not deserve a foot rub.

“I have to rub your feet, or they might cramp up. You said they fell asleep because you were on the can for too long, right?”

Before Bonnie could reject him again, he lay her on the bed and gave her a foot rub. He was gentle yet firm, relieving her exhaustion from the strenuous activities they shared last night. She felt so comfortable that she decided not to fight it. Instead, she let her husband do whatever he wanted.

The couple had done unspeakable things to each other into the night. Bonnie felt overworked, but Ivor helped her relax with his foot rub. She fought to keep her eyes open as she lay her head on the pillow. Even so, she soon fell asleep.

"Okay, honey. That should do it. You haven't finished your breakfast, so you should eat. If your stomach still aches after that, I'll give you another-" Ivor looked up and noticed her eyes were closed, and her breathing was even.

'It's my fault for indulging in my lust too much last night. I'll have to control myself next time. Bonnie can't keep going through this.'

Ivor collected his thoughts and tucked her in. After kissing her forehead, he stood up and cleaned the breakfast tray.

'It looks like she'll be asleep for a long time. I should clean the dishes and make her some food again when she's awake."

As he cleaned, he accidentally touched her phone and woke the screen. He saw that she had received a text from an unknown sender but could not see its contents because of Bonnie's privacy settings.

Then, Ivor remembered Bonnie locking herself in the restroom. He took her phone, trembling as he motioned to unlock the phone to see if she was keeping a secret from him. However, he froze.

Ultimately, he did not unlock her phone and put it back on the table instead. After all, Bonnie told him that trus was essential in a relationship. Even if she hid something from him, he was sure she had her reasons. Otherwise, she would have told him about it.

'Bonnie won't hurt me, so why should I bother with unnecessary thoughts?'

With that in mind, Ivor felt more cheerful. He removed the breakfast tray from the room and discarded his thoughts about checking her phone.Chapter

When he left, Bonnie abruptly woke up and turned to look at her phone. She sighed in relief when she realized no one had touched it. She took the phone and deleted Collin's text before encrypting her phone. Only then did Bonnie feel safe enough to continue sleeping.

Chapter 1057

Bonnie slept until the afternoon. She yawned as she went downstairs. Then, she saw Sydney and Gunnar sitting on the couch chatting with Sigmund. The trio laughed as they talked, creating a wholesome atmosphere.

However, Sydney and Gunnar's expressions stiffened when they saw Bonnie. It shattered the trio's harmonious moment.

Sigmund noticed the duo's expressions and realized something was amiss. When he turned and saw Bonnie, his expression softened and turned tender. "Bonnie, you're up! Are you hungry? I'll tell the chef to prepare some food for you."

She smiled and shook her head. "That's okay. Grandpa. I slept for so long that I lost my appetite. I just need to rest for a while more. I'll join you for dinner, though."

"Hey, you can't just starve yourself," Sigmund said before yelling toward the back, "Alfred! Tell the chef to prepare some spaghetti for Bonnie! We need to put some food in her belly!"

Alfred peered out from a corner and immediately responded, "Right away. Mr. Sigmund."

He was about to head to the kitchen when Sigmund added, "Wait, Bonnie says she doesn't have much appetite. Tell the chef to make something light. Don't make the food too oily."

"Understood, sir. I'll tell the chef." Alfred said before striding toward the kitchen.

Since Sigmund had said so, Bonnie did not argue. Instead, she sat beside him and snacked on some fruit slices.Chapter

Meanwhile, Sydney and Gunnar grew upset when they saw how much Sigmund doted on Bonnie.

Sydney was already furious when she saw Bonnie coming down the stairs. The former felt much more rageful as she watched Bonnie enjoy the fruits.

"Dad, have you met anyone with a daughter-in-law who sleeps until the afternoon? vor works hard daily, yet she doesn't even consider helping She's a sloth, so why did you tell the chef to prepare food for her? In my opinion, you should let her starve. That'll teach her to sleep in."

Sydney sounded like an annoying aunt lecturing her niece. Her hateful tone was unmistakable.

At that moment, Bonnie glared at Sydney and said sarcastically, "What, you've never slept in once because you felt sick? Did Gunnar punish you by starving you to death if you did? That must be why you're veriting your frustrations on me. You must want me to suffer the same mistreatment you did."

"Why would my husband do anything like that?!" Sydney retorted, "Also, are you sick? You look fit as a fiddle with your rosy cheeks, you little brat." Bonnie scoffed. "I didn't know you're capable of telling whether or not someone's sick based on their looks alone. You're making the miracle doctor look like a chump."

Sydney's face reddened, and her breathing became unstable.

Gunnar noticed the fury in his wife's eyes and patted her hand to comfort her. He said, "Dad, you shouldn't dote on Bonnie so much. She might start acting like a spoiled brat before you know it. I'm Ivor's uncle and am upset on his behalf for marrying someone like her. I'm sure he's frustrated, too."

Suddenly, Ivor's voice sounded behind, "Feel free to get upset, Uncle Gunnar, but that's your opinion. I've never regretted marrying Bonnie. Instead, I'm delighted to dote on my wife. I'd give her the world if I could.

*Please never speak for me again, Uncle Gunnar. I'd hate for you to drive a wedge between me and my wife."

 

Chapter 1058

After Ivor said his piece, Bonnie stood beside him to show he protected her.

Gunnar knew how much Ivor doted on Bonnie. The former said those things earlier because he thought his nephew was not around. Gunnar never expected Ivor to rebuke him so blatantly.

Sydney’s expression grew cold as she said, “Ivor, we’re your aunt and uncle. Gunnar said that with your best interest in mind. It’s only a matter of time before you regret doting on Bonnie.”

Ivor held his wife’s shoulder and smiled. “I appreciate your kind reminder, Aunt Sydney, but I have no use for it. Bonnie and I know how to handle our marriage. Although you might be my aunt and uncle, that doesn’t mean you can intervene in our relationship.”

Sydney was furious when he twisted her good intentions. She wanted to retort but could not find the words.

Gunnar knew his wife would only get angrier if they stayed. So, he said, “That’s it, Dad. We’ll be leaving now. We’ll see if we can visit you tomorrow.”

Sigmund waved at him and said, “See you soon.”

When the older couple left, Sigmund looked at Bonnie and said apologetically. "Those two have the wrong idea about you, Bonnie. They're decent people. You just have to brush off what they said about you."

Bonnie giggled. "I'm not that petty, Grandpa. That's the worst they can do to me. They've never done anything too severe, so I get what you're saying."

Gunnar and Sydney could badmouth her all they wanted, but they would never benefit. Since that was the case, Bonnie did not care about them. Sigmund felt relieved. "That's the spirit. I'm old and only want to see my family be peaceful. The last thing I want is for you to hate each other."

Before Bonnie could respond, Ivor held her hand and chuckled, saying, "She knows, Grandpa. You don't have to tell her twice."

Sigmund nodded. "That's great."

Although he did not say much, he was figuring out how to help Bonnie, Gunnar and Sydney get along. After all, the older couple was family-it would not be good if they had bad blood with Bonnie.

Ivor finished breakfast the following day and told Bonnie, "I have to work today. I won't be able to accompany you, okay?"

She waved. "That's okay. I'll play some chess or admire the flowers with Grandpa."Chapter

"I want to stay with you, but my workload has piled up a lot during my time overseas." He looked at his wifedongingly. "Come over here for a second."

Bonnie followed her husband's instructions and looked at him. Puzzled, she asked, "What is it?"

He held her waist and kissed her intensely. "Wait for me, and I'll be home before you know it."

She blushed and pushed at his chest, saying, "Jeez, there's a time and place for everything. The housekeepers are just over there. They could've seen that. Don't you feel shy?"

Ivor motioned to leave for work, intending to let Bonnie deal with the housekeepers' suggestive looks alone.

 

Chapter 1059

Bonnie felt awkward just thinking about it. Before Ivor left, he kissed her cheek and said, “We’re married. It’s normal for us to do these things, right? Okay, I need to leave now. Wait for me to get home.”

Bonnie blushed and rolled her eyes at him. “Okay, you can go now. Stop embarrassing me.”

Ivor hugged her tightly before finally leaving. She grumbled as she watched, “He’s just going off to work but has to be so dramatic. He made it sound like he’s going off to war. I don’t know what else to say about him.”

Soon after, Bonnie turned away and went to look for Sigmund to play chess with him. “Grandpa, it’s been a while since we’ve played chess together. How about a match?”Chapter

He waved smilingly. “No, thank you! I refuse to play against you since you’re much better than me. It won’t do my pride any favors.”

“That’s not true. Don’t you think you’re a good chess player, too?” she asked. Then, she realized he was adamant about not playing and asked again, “Are you sure you won’t play with me, Grandpa?”

He shook his head. "No way in hell. I meant what I said."

He knew he was not her match. Moreover, he had made other plans. With that in mind, he checked the time and wondered where Sydney was.

Bonnie stopped insisting since the older man genuinely did not want to play. "Should we do something else then? Do you want to go fishing or admin the flowers?"

Sigmund was about to respond when he saw Sydney. She said, "Gunnar's busy with work today. He told me to come and accompany you."

Then, she frowned when she saw Bonnie.

Sigmund knew Sydney cared about him. Otherwise, she would not have visited frequently and chatted with him whenever Ivor and Bonnie were not around. Sydney and Gunnar's shaky relationship with Bonnie bothered Sigmund greatly.

'I'd love it if they got along better."

He gestured for Sydney to come nearer, saying, "It's perfectly fine for you and Bonnie to chat with me. It's a good thing you're here, Sydney. Come sit here-I have something to tell you."

It was rare for Sigmund to look so solemn, so Sydney could not help but do as he said. She sat down and asked, "What is it, Dad?"

He asked, "You're having a tea party this afternoon, right?"

She nodded, puzzled. "Yeah, that's right. What about it? Is there something wrong with the tea party?"

"No, not at all, Sydney," Sigmund said before turning to Bonnie, "I want you to take Bonnie along to expand her social circle. She can make some friends there. Otherwise, she'll get bored if she stays home alone."

That was the last thing Sydney expected her father-in-law to ask. She frowned and said, "But Bonnie's so nasty. Who would want to befriend her?"

 

Chapter 1060

Bonnie glared daggers at Sydney. “You think I’m nasty? Did I do something to offend you or make your life miserable?”

Sydney was furious but did not know what to say.

‘It’s true that Bonnie has never done anything to make my life miserable. However, she turned my son against me and my husband. That said, I can’t mention that in front of my father-in-law. I can only bear with her and hold it in.’

Meanwhile, the coldness in Bonnie’s eyes intensified. “Go ahead, Sydney. Why aren’t you saying anything?”

There was one more reason Sydney did not want to take Bonnie with her. The former feared she would not be able to handle the young lady. Sydney did not have what it took to clean up after Bonnie if she made a mess at the party.Chapter

“That doesn’t matter. I’m still not taking you with me.”

Sigmund frowned and looked at Sydney in disapproval. He said, “You and Bonnie have married into my family. That makes you two family. Don’t you think you’re crossing the line by defying me, Sydney?”

Her brows furrowed as she said, “I’m sorry, Dad, but I must insist. You know Bonnie and I have bad blood. Why are you making me take her to the party? Aren’t you worried we might fight?”

"We're family. Why would you hold any grudges against her?" Sigmund frowned solemnly.

He was about to continue, but Bonnie said, "It's okay, Grandpa. If she doesn't want to take me, I'll drive myself there."

Bonnie knew what Sigmund was trying to do, and she had no intention of making things difficult for him. Either way, she was bored.

'It's just a tea party. What's the big deal?"

Sigmund was surprised. "Wh-what did you say? You're willing to go there by yourself?"

Given the situation and the duo's characters, he thought Bonnie would skip the party altogether. He never thought she would drive herself there.

Bonnie said smilingly, "There's nothing wrong with that, right, Grandpa? I can take care of myself, afterall. Are you worried about me going there alone?"

"N-Not really, but..." Sigmund glanced at Sydney, saying, "Since Bonnie said she's willing to drive herself, you won't have to take her along. That said, she rarely goes to such parties. Look after her while you're there, and don't let anyone pick on her."

The last part of his sentence made Sydney speechless. She grumbled under her breath, "She's ruthless when arguing. What makes you think anyone can pick on her?"

'Still, I might make Dad upset if I reject him again."

Ultimately, Sydney could only agree. She said through gritted teeth, "I understand, Dad. Don't worry about it. I'll look after her the best I can!" Bonnie glanced sidelong at her and waved. "I'll manage. I don't need you to look out for me. On the contrary, you might need my help instead, right?"

Sydney bolted from her seat and glared at Bonnie. "If you can manage, I can, too! Stay away from me at the party. Otherwise, you'll just get in my way."

Immediately after, she turned and left.