The Billionaires Bartender Bride

Ivy Ruan awoke to the sound of commotion downstairs, her light sleep easily disrupted by any noise. Opening her eyes, she took in the unfamiliar surroundings, realizing she was no longer in the small house off-campus she had purchased, but in the Ruan Family home.

The Ruan Family?

At the thought, Ivys heart raced with a mix of warmth and softness. This was her home now; she was no longer an orphan, but someone with a family, with parents.

Dressed, she opened the door and descended the stairs. The spiral staircase was covered in soft carpet, and Ivys steps were light, making no sound as she moved closer to the increasingly clear voices downstairs.

In the spacious living room, a well-preserved middle-aged couple and a tall teenager were gathered around a crying girl, trying to comfort her.

"Grace, dont cry, its not a big deal. Dont cry so much or your eyes will swell, and you wont look pretty," said the woman.

"Its not a big deal, we are family, she wont do anything to you. Besides, it was not intentional," added the man.

"Right, sister, Ivy Ruan is fine, shes not dead!" the teenager chimed in.

Hearing this, Ivy understood the situation fully. The soft anticipation in her eyes dissipated, replaced by a chill.

Before returning to the Ruan Family, she had been through an accident. Busy with her scientific research, Ivy often worked late into the night, ordering takeout from a local couples shop when she had no time to cook. That night, instead of the familiar couple, a strange man delivered her meal, pushed his way in, and attempted to assault her.

Fortunately, Ivy was agile and trained in martial arts. She dodged, grabbed a baseball bat by the door, and knocked the man unconscious. After tying him up, she used a relaxing incense to interrogate him.

The results shocked her; it was orchestrated by Grace Ruan, the Ruan Familys eldest daughter, who intended not only to assault her but also to take compromising photos.

At that time, Ivy had no connection with Grace Ruan and was unaware of any offense she might have caused. Soon after, Grandpa Ruan found her and revealed that she was the Ruan Familys long-lost daughter, the true eldest miss, while Grace was merely an adopted daughter.

Upon returning to the Ruan Family, Ivy threw the mans signed confession in Graces face. With her parents absent, Grandpa Ruan suggested they wait for their return to address the issue.

Now they were back, and this was how they chose to handle it!

Lost in her thoughts, Ivy was startled by a glass of cold water thrown at her. Instinctively, she dodged, avoiding the direct hit, but the water still dampened her shoulder.

Seeing he missed, Jack Ruan, filled with anger, hurled a glass straight at her. The throw was forceful and aimed at her eyes, intending to blind her.

At such close range and with the force of a mans vengeful throw, if Ivy had been hit, her eyes would have been severely damaged. Barely dodging, she stumbled backward, her foot catching on the stair, causing her to wince and instinctively bend over.

Satisfied, Jack Ruan, with his arms crossed, looked down at Ivy with undisguised contempt. "Youre Ivy Ruan?" he asked.

Ivy looked up at the tall, sturdy teenager, recognizing him from the family photos as the Ruan Familys youngest son, Jack Ruan, her own brother.

Her eyes welled up, but she quickly blinked away the moisture, extinguishing all expectations of family and the Ruan Family.

"Why arent you speaking, cat got your tongue!" Jack Ruan, dissatisfied with her silence, stepped forward to grab her hair and force her to look up.

Before his hand could touch her, a stern voice from upstairs stopped him: "Stop!"

It was Grandpa!

Jack Ruan froze, retreating a few steps back and standing like a well-behaved child.

"How could you raise a hand to your sister!" Grandpa Ruan was furious, tapping his cane.

Seeing the old man angry, Ivys father and mother quickly defended Jack Ruan.

"Dad, Jack is still young, he didnt mean it," said Ivys father.

Then, Ivys mother nervously approached Jack and explained, "Jack is just protective of Grace, he has a quick temper, but he means no harm."

Earlier, when Jack hit Ivy, Ivys parents had watched in silence, tacitly approving and indulging his actions.

Now, with Grandpa Ruan merely reprimanding Jack, Ivys parents were quick to defend him.

Sitting on the stair, Ivy looked at the maternal love and filial piety before her, unsure whether her leg or her heart hurt more.

Grandpa Ruan gave Ivys mother a deep look and did not continue to pursue Jacks assault. Instead, he changed the subject to Grace Ruan.

"Do you know about Grace Ruan hiring someone to assault Ivy?"

"Dad," Ivys father interjected, not wanting Grandpa Ruan to scare Grace, "it didnt happen, Ivy is fine. Since everyone is fine, lets just move on. We are family after all."

"Yes," Ivys mother added, "Grace has been crying, she didnt mean to hurt Ivy, she just wanted to scare her. It was that bad person acting on his own."

"Scare!" Grandpa Ruan sneered, his tone stern and unyielding. "Even attempted murder carries a sentence."

This meant that Grace Ruan must be punished.

Hearing this, Ivys mother was heartbroken. She dared not argue with Grandpa Ruan and turned to Ivy instead.

This was the first time she spoke to Ivy: "Ivy, since you are fine, there is no need to be so unforgiving. Grace is already scared."

Ivy looked up, studied her for a moment, then lowered her head.

She thought, so this is what having a mother feels like.

But why did it feel so uncomfortable?

Ivys father also said, "Ivy, now that you are part of the Ruan Family, you probably dont want to make everyone unhappy. If you are sensible, forgive Grace."

What did this mean, a threat?

If she did not forgive Grace, she would be the one who was unforgiving and unreasonable?

Ivy stood up, walked over to Grace, and said, "Sister." Grace looked at her with watery, innocent eyes, "Im sorry, please forgive me."

Forgive?

Ivy smirked, then with a sudden motion, put all her strength into a slap across Graces face.

"Alright, I forgive you!"