Chapter 296: The Prince Charming and the Princess

After a period of treatment, Sean's illness was completely cured—the cancer cells in his brain had vanished entirely.

This monumental news didn't just delight the Shaw family; it sent ripples through all of New York. The Shaws threw a party specifically to celebrate Sean's clean bill of health, and this party could arguably be called the biggest New York had ever seen. They invited practically every family in high society, regardless of rank.

And the star of this grand affair? None other than Ivy.

Ivy had never been one for crowds, especially not crowds this massive. She'd turned down the invitation several times, until Sean threatened to die on the Cooper family's doorstep—and proceeded to wail there for three days and nights straight. Only then did Ivy reluctantly agree to attend.

Now, she stepped out of the Cooper family's car with an unhurried grace. Today, she'd traded her usual casual look for a stunning limited-edition gown. Her hair was swept up in an elegant updo, and her already beautiful features were enhanced by subtle makeup that made her even more radiant.

Walking beneath the brilliant sun, she looked like a rose in full bloom—dazzling and impossible to ignore.

The Shaw estate was already packed with guests, but the moment Ivy appeared, every other woman in attendance seemed to fade into the background. All eyes turned to her.

Sean had been chatting with relatives and friends when he spotted the guest of honor. He immediately grabbed a glass of wine and made his way over, then announced loudly,

"Everyone, over here! I owe my recovery to this miracle worker—Ivy, head of the Cooper family!"

"If any of you need anything, have business opportunities, or projects in the works, feel free to partner with the Coopers. With the Shaw family backing them, you can't go wrong!"

Sean was about to continue when a cool male voice cut through his enthusiasm. "Your backing? What good is that? The Green family is the Cooper family's biggest supporter."

Philip strode forward slowly, impeccably dressed in a tailored suit, carrying a bouquet of gorgeous red roses.

Now all three of New York's most talked-about figures were gathered in one place. People immediately pulled out their phones to snap photos, and several media outlets started live-streaming.

"Oh my God, the chances of Mr. Shaw and Mr. Philip Green showing up at the same party are astronomically low. I can't believe I'm here for this—I'm taking tons of pictures."

"Wait, don't you think Mr. Green and Mr. Shaw are both incredibly handsome? Oh my God."

"They are, but they're both close to Ivy. Now I'm even more envious of her."

"What's the point of envying Ivy? You'd need her talent. She's only been head of the Cooper family for how long? And she's already multiplied their worth several times over. Plus she's got project after project, all in partnership with the Shaws and the Greens. That's terrifying."

Ivy's mouth twitched as she looked at the two impossibly attention-grabbing men before her. She was about to slip away when Philip caught her wrist. Then those deep, soulful eyes locked onto hers.

"Ivy, even though I'm not the one who organized today's event, I think it suits my purposes perfectly. I want to say something to you, right here and now."

Philip's words sparked immediate chatter among the crowd. "Oh my God, is Mr. Green about to confess? I'm going to pass out!"

"The prince is about to confess to his princess! Oh my God, I'm so jealous!"

Ivy froze, about to speak when Philip thrust the bouquet of red roses toward her and said tenderly, "Ivy, we haven't spent much time together, but I've liked you for a long while now. I know a lot about you, and you've seen many sides of me. I think we understand each other pretty well. But none of that matters. I don't care about your past—I only hope that your present and your future will include me. So Ivy, will you go out with me?"

Philip gazed at Ivy with heartfelt sincerity. Though he appeared calm on the surface, inside he was a storm of emotions. After all, confessing to a top-tier S-class assassin from a killer organization was an incredibly thrilling thing to do.

What if he said something wrong and she just... ended him on the spot?

That was a terrifying thought. And yet he loved it, because he felt that even if he died, dying by Ivy's hand wouldn't be such a bad way to go.

The crowd around them started cheering. "Ivy! Say yes to Mr. Green! Get together, get together!"

"The prince and princess are meant to be together!"

Ivy stared at Philip blankly, then a warm smile curved her lips. She accepted the roses, inhaling their intoxicating fragrance, and said with a soft smile, "Walking beside me won't be easy."

"That's okay. No matter how rough the road ahead, I'll walk it with you."

Philip spoke with gentle conviction. Instantly, applause erupted all around them. Confetti cannons fired ribbons that rained down from above, and flower petals drifted through the air.

Standing off to the side, Sean sighed helplessly. "What the hell? Today was supposed to be my hospital discharge celebration. How did it turn into your confession scene?"

Hidden in a corner, Tengu watched the couple standing beneath the applause and well-wishes, tears streaming down his face. His subordinate Charlotte quickly handed him tissues, trying to comfort him. "Boss, don't cry. Isn't this a good thing?"

Tengu blew his nose and continued, "You don't understand. This is the first time in all these years I've seen our boss fall for a man. This is such a joyous occasion! As long as our boss is happy in the future, that's all that matters! Philip, if you dare mistreat our boss, I'll bring every assassin in our organization and turn the Green family into Swiss cheese!"

Beneath the cheers, Philip opened his arms and pulled Ivy into an embrace.

His movements were careful and tentative, and only after Ivy showed no resistance or rejection did he relax and hold her close.

Warm body heat enveloped Ivy instantly. This was a first. Her life's first embrace. So this was what it felt like. How strange.

Ivy looked up at the azure sky. She suddenly felt something wondrous—this embrace was a first for both Blood Dove and for Ivy of the Cooper family.

Her revenge was complete. The past was behind her.

In the future, as an ordinary person, it seemed she'd have someone by her side. That seemed like a pretty good thing.

She turned her head to look at Philip beside her and said softly, "Philip, in the future I'll try to be good to you."