The hall was buzzing with excitement and soft music yed in the background as everyone awaited the main program for the event- Ryan Kingsley and Ivy Williams'' engagement.


    Lora suddenly received a text message on her phone. She took out her phone from her purse and smiled when she saw that it was from Bianca.


    Bianca: [Help! E and Ethan won''t stop throwing tantrums. It seems they wanted toe with you to the engagement party.]


    Lora frowned when she saw that message. Bianca had offered to stay with the kids since the nanny had gone to visit her rtives, however, she didn''t expect them to trouble her for the first time. She replied immediately. [I''m sorry, Bee. They are usually well-behaved. I don''t know why they are like this tonight.]


    Bianca: [Ethan keeps saying he has to be by your side to protect you from Ivy. I''m surprised he knows she''s evil. Perhaps they heard about the giarism case.]


    Lora''s heart felt warm. It felt good to have little humans who cared so much about you. Replying, she wrote,


    [Tell them I''ll be fine. No one can bully their mommy.]


    The phone went quiet for a few seconds before Lora''s phone buzzed again.


    Bianca: [It seems the twins don''t want to listen tonight. Ethan is just as stubborn as his father. Is it because they look alike? E is also angry but she''s sweet and cute.] Just below the text, Bianca sent a photo. In the picture, Ethan looked grumpy. He sat on the couch with his arms crossed, his small face sporting a defiant pout.


    Even Lora couldn''t deny how much Ethan resembled Ryan, especially when his face was serious like this.


    On the other hand, E was hugging Bianca around her neck, a grin tugging at her lips.


    Lora''s heart melted when she saw her kids. A small smile crossed her lips. She was so blessed to have these cutie pies.


    Bianca: [Please talk to them, or I''ll bring them over.]


    Although Lora knew Bianca wouldn''t do that, she nced at Jason and excused herself, "ed to talk to the kids. I''ll be back soon."


    "Should Ie with you?" Jason offered.


    "No, I''ll just go to the balcony and then use the restroom," Lora replied.


    Lora made her way toward the balcony, her phone in her hand. She made sure the music couldn''t reach the area and initiated a video call.


    A few secondster, the twins'' faces were stered on Lora''s screen.


    "Mommy!" E remarked, grinning. "Are you ok, Mommy? Is that woman bullying you?"N?velDrama.Org owns this.


    Lora chuckled. She smiled to show her children that she was ok and replied, "Your mommy is strong, sweetie. I can''t be bullied by just anyone." "What about the handsome uncle? Is he bullying you?" E asked and Lora''s heart skipped a beat.


    Why would E think that Ryan would bully her?


    "Honey, no one can bully your mommy. Don''t worry and go to bed. I''ll find you," Lora urged.


    Ethan frowned. He moved closer to the screen and remarked, "Tell the driver to bring us there, Mommy. I''ll protect you from that woman."


    This made Lora smile. What protection could her little son give her? She was the protector here...


    However, she yed along and said, "Not tonight, my love. Next time, I''ll bring you with me. You can protect me all you want."


    "Do you have to be at the party?" Ethan suddenly asked.


    "Of course, I was invited, sweetie. It''s rude to note. Don''t worry, I''ll spend time with you some other time, ok?" Lora remarked.


    Ethan sighed. His expression suddenly turned serious as he stated, "Be careful, Mommy. Don''t trust anyone over there. Especially the vicious woman."


    For a moment, Lora had a sense of foreboding creep into her. Sometimes, she forgot that Ethan was five years old from the way he carried himself. She chuckled and said, "I''m always careful. Ok you two, be good for Auntie Bee, ok?"


    "Ok, Mommy. We love you!"


    "I love you more!"


    When Lora cut the call, she breathed in and out to calm herself. Ethan''s words kept ringing in her mind.


    However, she brushed those


    thoughts away. The reason Ivy targeted her was because of Ryan Now that Ryan was making things official with her, she didn''t have à reason to try and hurt Lora anymore.


    With that thought, she left the balcony and walked towards the restroom.


    However, the moment she stepped into the restroom, a cloth covered


    scent filled her nose. Her eyes widened in panic as she lost


    her mouth and nose and a P


    strength in her limbs, her phone slipping from her hand and dropping to the floor.


    It didn''t take long for the room to spin and within seconds, Lora was plunged into darkness.


    Meanwhile, back in the hall, the MC got on the stage and announced, "Ladies and Gentlemen, this is the moment we''ve all been waiting for Please wee Ryan Kingsley and Ivy Williams to the stage. It is now time to officiate their engagement. A round of apuse for the couple please!"


    The crowd erupted in apuse, looking at Ryan and Ivy.


    Ryan pushed Ivy''s wheelchair towards the stage. His face was emotionless, hiding the whirlwind of emotions that was swirling within him.


    This was supposed to be a happy event, yet his mind was elsewhere. His grandfather didn''t even attend to show his disapproval.


    Was he really going to go through with this?


    At the same time, Ivy couldn''t stop smiling from ear to ear. Finally, Lora or Larisa or whatever her name is had lost! Ryan was going to be hers forever.


    So what if Larisa is alive? In the end, she still managed to keep Ryan to herself.


    ''You''re no match for me, Lora,'' Ivy smirked in her mind.


    Just as Ryan was about to help Ivy up the stage, Adan''s voice stopped him in his tracks.


    "Ryan! Wait... you need to see this," Adan said, rushing to Ryan and showing him his phone.


    Ryan looked at the screen and when he read the conversation between Lora and Bianca on the phone, his heart sank.