“Can I come in?”Ivory, to say the least, was surprised to see Lucien. Last she heard, he had gone on a business trip, so…“Y-yeah…” Snapping out of her thoughts, she stepped aside, giving way for Lucien to step in, before closing the door behind her.“So, what brings you here?”Lucien turned around and faced her, his hands stuffed in his pockets. He studied her for a few seconds, and the silence that hung between them was enough to make Ivory feel awkward and uncomfortable.But none the less, she forced a smile, a rather fake one, but one nonetheless.“Um, is there something wrong, Lucien? You’ve been staring at me for a while now.”“Nothing.” He replied and approached her.Ivory stood frozen on the spot, watching him as he got closer.“I just wanted to… apologize to you. I saw everything that happened on the news today. I’m sorry I wasn’t there to help you.”“Ah,” She muttered, finding it hard to hide the tinge of relief in her voice as she shook her head. “No, it’s fine. I’m capabl
“Alright.”The simple word was all it took to make Lucien’s heart skip a beat. And as much as he wanted to rush in and capture her lips in a kiss, he controlled himself.She was willing to let him, and he didn’t want to ruin the moment.Carefully, his lips descended on hers, and as soon as he had captured her lips, her body tensed.He felt her hesitation, and knew she wasn’t ready for more, but the control he had was slipping.“Ivory,” He whispered, breaking the kiss. His voice sounded rough and husky.He didn’t say anything else, but the emotion in his eyes was clear as day and it sent shivers down Ivory’s spine.Before she could react, he kissed her again, and this time, the gentleness from before was gone, replaced by hunger and eagerness.The previous kiss, Ivory would’ve considered a brotherly one; testing the waters, she would say.But, not this one.Her lips parted as he pressed harder, and when the tip of his tongue brushed against hers, her breath hitched.However, Lucien was
“What are you doing here?” Ivory asked, not even bothering to hide the hostility and annoyance in her voice.She watched as her father, took the seat in front of her and the frown on her face only deepened.Why was he here?Wasn’t she meant to be meeting with Father Declan?Did her…rat her out?Ivory felt her heart clench a bit at the possibility. Although she didn’t know father Declan and didn’t fully trust him, she had at least thought that since they had several common grounds, one of them being the love they shared for her mother and the disapproval he had towards the Remington’s, her supposed family, they could…work together?Well, now she knew that wasn’t the case, after all, if it was, her father wouldn’t be the one sitting in front of her right now.“Were you expecting someone else?” Her father asked, earning a glare from her the moment she was snapped out of her thoughts.Of course she was! And the fact that her father was here, had ruined her plan and the good mood she was i
Ivory stood frozen on the spot, her eyes widening as her chest tightened with each passing second as she watched the in front of her play out.Lionel was lying on the floor, blood sipping out of his head and mouth while the driver who had hit him, made no effort to stay, fleeing the scene like a coward that very second.Ivory, in that very moment, could hear the distant screams and calls of the people, could feel the stares and sense their shock, but everything felt like it was happening at a snail’s pace.But, despite the heaviness in her chest and the shock that coursed through her body, her brain was still functioning, and it took a second to snap her back to reality.Quickly, she rushed over and dropped to her knees beside her father.“Dad,” She called out, taking his head in her lap and examining the wounds dealt.When she saw her was barely breathing, struggling at best, panic shot through her at a rapid pace.“Call an ambulance!” She shouted, and the people who had been watchin
“Gadreel,” Samantha, as well as Evangeline, said, surprise evident on their faces.“What are you doing here?” Evangeline asked. “Aren’t you meant to be in the hospital?”He was meant to. Her question was very much valid, but he didn’t think that was the most important thing to be addressed at the moment.“I understand everyone is under tension, but,” taking a step forward, he gently moved Ivory to stand behind him.An action that surprised not only Evangeline and Samantha, but Ivory herself.“Don’t you think attacking someone while their father is fighting for his life, is a bit much?”The women fell silent while Ivory felt her heart flutter in her chest. The clench that had previously been present, reduced, giving way for her mind to function properly.What was Gadreel indeed doing here? She thought, staring at his back, the back she had seen countless of times during their marriage.Except today, it was for a totally different reason. He was… standing up for her?Perhaps it was the
“Lucien?” Ivory called, not bothered to hide the surprise, as she watched him approach. “What…how are you here?”“I heard what happened,” He stopped a few feet from where they sat at the end of the dock.For a little while, his eyes went on Gadreel’s direction and lingered before he flashed him a smile.“Mr. Ødegaar, I heard what happened to you…I’m pleased to see you’re getting better.”His words and smile, both of them weren’t genuine: Gadreel could tell, but for now, he choose to keep quiet.To observe.“I know it’s extremely rude of me to interrupt, but I need to take Ivory away for a little while.”Ivory frowned. “What? Why?” She didn’t mean to sound rude, or make it sound as if she were enjoying Gadreel’s presence.She simply just wanted to know why Lucien would show up out of the blues an
Gadreel had fallen asleep as soon as Evangeline dropped him off. However, she stayed back for a little while, watching as he slept with a frown on her face.Things weren’t going the way she wanted. Be it family or love life, things were spiraling out of control, and she needed to fix that.Standing up, she fetched a glass of water and mixed the Neurovex into it.“Don’t worry, Reel, I’m only doing this for the benefit of all.” Muttering underneath her breath, she placed the water on his night stand beside him and also left a note.As much as she’d love to stay back and watch his rest and even be by his side when he wakes up, she had family problems to attend to.Her love life with Gadreel won’t sail smoothly if she had problems with her family life.After placing a kiss on his cheek, she took her leave and shortly after, arrived at the hospital.She met her mother in the lobby, discussing somet
Even though she had driven back to Gadreel’s place immediately her mother had sent her off, Evangeline didn’t get out of her car.She remained seated, chewing bitterly at the tip of her fingernails.She couldn’t believe her mother had the audacity to hit her. Never in her life had she been hit and now this…this was what she had been reduced to?Her mother had dared slap her, and in public nonetheless.Her anger and resentment towards the woman spiked ever so slightly as she replayed the events in her head.It was now clear to her that her mother didn’t have her best interest in heart. She had become so blinded by that useless love for Lionel that she no longer cared for her own daughter.She didn’t care about her future, about the happiness and well-being of her family. All that mattered to her was Lionel and her position as Madam Remington.“Well,” Evangeline hissed as she pulled out h
“Ivory?” Calling out, Gadreel walked after her. “What’s wrong, Ivory?”Pausing Midway in the act of packing up the tea mugs, she turned and like before glared at him, but said nothing.Gadreel was utterly confused. But nonetheless, when she started moving, he chased after her. “Did I do something wrong?” He asked. “Or did I say something wrong? Please, talk to me, Ivory.”“Talk to you?” Dropping the mug into the sink, Ivory turned to face him, glaring, but now, looking closer, Gadreel realized there was no real anger in it. “How the hell do you expect me to talk to you, all sun shine and rainbows are the shit you pulled?”Gadreel blinked once, confused, but then, it ticked. “Oh.”“Yes, oh.” She huffed and turned, picking up a rag and wiping the already clean surface. “You can’t just jump in front of a gun and play Superman, Gadreel. You
Surprisingly, Gadreel had taken up the task of bandaging Elias’s wounded shoulder, while Ivory calmed down in the kitchen, brewing herself some calming tea.Gadreel had insisted she took a nap, but she had declined. The events of the past hour still fresh and raw in her mind, she doubted she could close her eyes without reliving that moment.“How did you know?” Elias asked, glancing above his shoulder and watching the young man work.Gadreel paused his actions, looking up from the wound.As the last wrap of the gauze was placed and the bandage secured, Elias took a look at the work and commented.“Surprisingly, a fine work.”Gadreel gave him a look, but said nothing at his feeble attempt of a jab. As he cleaned up, Elias turned around and looked at Ivory in the open space kitchen, a thoughtful expression on his face.“Thank you, for looking out for her,” He said suddenly and Gadreel stopped, f
The silence that followed the reveal was tense and filled with so many emotions lingering in the air. Surprise, confusion and betrayal.It was clear as day that the news hadn’t been received well.Ivory was the first to react.“Your father?” She repeated, disbelief in her tone as she looked from Elias, her master in the medical sector and someone she sees as a father and Lucien, the newest betrayer in her life.Lucien met her gaze briefly. An unreadable expression flashed in his eyes before he looked away.“You’re his father?” Her question was directed as Elias. She sounded angry, demanding the answers that the sudden reveal had brought to light.“I am.” The older man answered, keeping his gaze on Lucien.Ivory opened her mouth, wanting to ask more than one question, but in the end, settling for a plain old simple, “How?”Elias ignored her words, or rather, he just did
Gadreel reached the intersection between Ivory’s house and the main road. Pausing, he furrowed his brow and tapped his fingers against the steering wheel, deep in thought.Where had he seen that car? He wondered, searching deep into his mind until it clicked.Back at the conference, the one Ivory had held when apologizing for her actions, Gadreel had seen that same car, parking just as he took pulled into the premises.And the person who had been driving that car, who had stepped out of that car, at that time, was…Lucien.“Oh fuck!” He cursed.Without a second thought, he backed his car and drove straight for Ivory’s house. He had been an idiot, a fucking dumbass. He had known from the start that Lucien was not done with whatever sick trick he was playing, he knew the bastard would try and carry on, yet, he had actually left Ivory alone, given the man an open chance to take Ivory and who knows what.His jaws ti
A God damn high school teenager; that was what Ivory classified herself as she walked into her place, ears and neck burning hot.She was thankful that the lights were off, else, she would have seen her own reflection on the entrance mirror, red like a fucking ripped tomatoes and have to reprimand herself for acting like a hormonal teen.But, could she really be blamed? Gadreel had partial blame for this, after all, he was at fault for changing the way he had and making her experience things she never should towards him, again.Grumbling a few words underneath her breath, she headed towards her freezer, clapping her hands and turning on The lights as she grabbed a jog of water, a glass and turned to pour herself a glass.It was then, that she noticed second person in her house. A yelp of surprise left her mouth and she dropped the glass cup, shattering it.But her eyes didn't pay attention to the broken glass now at her feet. Her eyes, wide and fill
Lucien had never liked police stations. So, after three whole hour of being interrogated, he was more than happy, when the police found nothing on him and as a result, had to let him go.Hand massaging the wrist that had been cuffed for quite a while, Lucien walked out of the station, pausing almost immediately when he saw one of his mother's men waiting for him."Young master," The guard greeted with a bow."What's this about?" Lucien asked. The answer to his question, came in the form of a single note."Madam Varga has instructed that I give this to you."Collecting the note, Lucien unfolded it, read through it for a few seconds and frowned.His dearest mother always knew how to ruin his day, making it worse than it already was.What the hell did she mean by 'Ivory is now considered a liability'?He didn't need her to answer that, the answer it self, was clear as day. His mother now considered her a threat to their plan and w
The room was empty and the sky had darkened by the time Ivory woke up. The rumbling of her stomach, was the first thing that greeted her as her nose picked up on the enticing aroma that hung in the air.However, she made no effort to get up. Staring blankly at the ceiling, she allowed the events of the past few days, replay in her mind.Her chest ached and the back of her eyes burned. She made no attempt to wipe away the tears when they formed, allowing them to freely fall, rolling down her cheek.She hadn’t even realized that she had begun to cry.All her life, she had tried, tried so hard, to keep the pain at bay, to not allow it to break her and yet, the past few days had shown her that the walls she had built up, were nothing but a mere illusion.Her defenses were weak.The betrayal, the fear, the confusion, the pain, all those emotions, the very same ones she had tried to bury deep down, had resurfaced, stronger than ever, and now, the only thing they left her feeling, was helple
The sizzling sound of meat being fried and the sweet rich aroma of eggs, filled the kitchen. It’s maker, Gadreel, moved swiftly around the kitchen, an apron tied around his body with the sleeves of his shirt rolled up. It was a scene so adorable and cute, anyone who happened to catch sight of it, would be surprised.It was hard to believe that a man so cold, a man who previously only cared for his business and the woman who turned out to have deceived him, was capable of making a scene such as this.As the meat reached its perfect frying point, Gadreel scooped it out of the pan, and placed it on the dish, putting beside it, the eggs he had fried.A simple meal of meat, egg and toast. Easy on the stomach and the exact thing he believed Ivory would needs.“Ivory,” Turning around with the food in hand, he searched the living room for her, expecting to at least see her waiting for him on the couch.However, when he noticed she was nowhere to be seen, he tilted his head and placed the food
The quietness in the car settled quickly. Or perhaps, that was what Ivory thought it was. In reality, Gadreel had been saying words.His lips moved, he threw occasional glances at her, but Ivory far too deep in her own head to respond.“Ivory, did you hear me?”At the mention of her name, Ivory blinked, slowly and turned her head towards the source of the voice.Gadreel. She realized and slowly, she nodded her head. “Yes,” She replied, softly, almost weak. “You asked, if I’m okay.”“And, are you?” His voice was probing. There was a soft encouragement behind it, ensuring her that if she needed to speak or pour her heart out, he was here, willing and ready to listen.Ivory took a second longer to answer this time around. Was she okay? She really didn’t know how she felt. She had feelings roaming her chest, clashing against each other and the prominent urge to scream, was ever so present.Yet, all of those things made her feel numb. Like it was all too much, the betrayal, disgust, disapp