Lia Aiken's eyes were confused, Ivan Horne whispered softly in her ear: "Lia, I love you, truly love you, love you and respect you."
"Ivan, thank you, having you in this life is my blessing for three lifetimes!"
The two stayed overnight in Lia's gallery, though Lia slept in her small room, while Ivan pushed together a few benches outside to make a bed, compromising for the night.
Lia wanted him to stay in a hotel, there was one nearby the gallery, but he refused.
His dark eyes fixed on her, silent, yet letting her understand, making her feel guilty.
He feared she might leave him again and run away.
Hmm, this man indeed holds grudges.
The next day, Ivan accompanied Lia to the cemetery to pay respects to her late mother.
The media in River City once came to block Lia, but with Ivan as this Flower Protector, Lia faced the public media calmly, not being overwhelmed.
Celine Taylor learned through the media that Lia had returned to River City, and immediately came to Lia's gallery.
She drove over, seeing from afar that the gallery entrance was filled with cars, Celine thought she might have come to the wrong place.
Previously, Lia's gallery was so quiet you could hear a pin drop, with hardly any visitors buying paintings, thanks to Tom Aiken.
Now, Lia's gallery was bustling, crowded with people.
At first, Celine thought it was the River City media, drawing closer she realized it wasn't journalists, she then assumed Lia's negative news made her famous, hence people flocked to see Lia's gallery.
Getting closer, after struggling to find a parking spot, she got off her car and saw people leaving the gallery with paintings they had bought.
It turns out they really came to buy paintings, not to mock Lia.
Looking at the rows of cars, they were evidently luxury cars.
This means those buying paintings at Lia's gallery were wealthy, either rich or powerful.
Celine felt unsettled.
She came to see Lia's tragic end, not her thriving success.
Celine entered the gallery with a stern face, it was full of people—men and women, young and old—appreciating the paintings inside, the one helping Lia sell paintings was Ivan.
Celine had never directly interacted with Ivan, yet she recognized him, someone outstanding like him, whom Celine had long set as her prospective son-in-law, she naturally remembered his face clearly.
Meanwhile, Lia sat before her easel, seemingly unaffected by everyone, intently painting her canvas. Occasionally, Ivan would walk over, whispering to her and pouring her water in a considerate manner, which pricked Celine's eyes.
Celine knew Ivan was an exceptional man and families with available daughters hoped theirs would catch Ivan Horne's eye, Celine considered if her precious daughter could marry Ivan, it'd be a blessing for the Aiken family's ancestors, luck earned from a past life.
However, the fortunate woman was none other than the thorn in Celine's side, Lia Aiken.
Celine walked up to Lia with her head held high, looking down on Lia, she said: "Lia, I have something to tell you, will you let them leave, or will you follow me out?"
Lia paused her painting, looked at Celine coldly, and asked indifferently: "Whatever you want to say, you can say it here."
Celine looked around the gallery at the many people, stated haughtily: "We can talk here, but you need to make them all leave, I don't want our conversation overheard, I certainly don't want to become an Internet Celebrity like you!"
She emphasized the words "Internet Celebrity" heavily.
Lia indeed became an online sensation due to her late mother's scandalous private photos, especially as she resembles her mother so much, often mistaken for her. Without Ivan's protection, who knows how others would cause chaos for her.
Although Ivan wasn't from River City, his presence ensured the media dared not block Lia again after several attempts, news about Tom Aiken's former wife ceased to be reported.
These were results of Ivan's influential efforts.
Those in Lia's gallery now appreciating and buying paintings, were mostly acquaintances of Ivan.
He fulfilled his promise to Lia by bringing those who appreciate and understand art over.
"Lia." Celine's attitude towards Lia prompted Ivan to set aside a customer and stride over, standing by Lia with a Flower Protector's presence, glancing at Celine, recognizing her identity, he asked in a deep voice: "Mrs. Aiken, do you need something with Lia?"
"Mr. Horne, I want to talk with Lia, but it's inconvenient here, that's right, I'm discussing with Lia where to talk." Celine was wildly jealous inside, yet confronted by Ivan, she dared not act arrogant and had to carefully appease him.
Lia stood up, "They're all my guests, I won't make them leave, say whatever you have here."
With that, Lia walked toward her guest table.
"Mrs. Aiken, please."
Ivan made a polite gesture inviting Celine to sit.
Celine took several deep breaths, finally suppressing her anger, not daring to trouble Lia in front of Ivan, with her designer bag in hand, head held high, she walked to sit opposite Lia, placing her bag on the table.
Ivan poured each of them a glass of water, then sat down as well.
Celine paused, looked at Ivan, tentatively asking: "Mr. Horne, may I speak with Lia alone?"
She came to warn Lia not to dream of dividing Tom Aiken's estate, that the Aiken family's assets belonged to her two children. Ivan's protection of Lia, witnessed through the media, coupled with her daughter Violet already back from T City, Celine learned from Violet's words that Ivan was very fond of Lia.
If Ivan overheard her warning Lia, would he spare her?
"You two talk, I'm tired of standing, I'll sit and have some water, it won't disturb your conversation." Ivan's face was thick as a city wall, until Lia asked him to leave, he stayed firmly seated, unless Celine had the ability to move him.
Celine: …
Never seen such an unperceptive man.
She looked at Lia, hoping Lia would ask Ivan to step aside.
