Zack's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched as he gazed at the reporters. He never liked being questioned by them, especially at a desperate time like this. What irked him more was that they were blocking his exit from the hospital. They were like annoying flies buzzing around his eyes. He motioned for them to step aside, but they were too busy throwing questions at him to understand.His annoyance grew at their stubbornness and persistence."Mr. Zack Anderson, please update us on her condition."They kept pressing on, even though he didn't seem to be in the mood to provide answers.Zack stepped forward; his patience had run out. He pushed himself into the crowd, and they quickly moved out of the way for fear of him losing his temper. His anger was simmering, threatening to boil over."Zack Anderson, please answer..."Some reporters behind him were insistent. They followed him to the parking deck.Right there was his car, which made him realize Bryan must have brought it along with him and
Zack shut his eyes and buried his face in his palms. Another bad news he was very aware of, the 'another' Bryan was referring to. "He lost a lot of blood," Bryan said, his expression solemn. "He couldn't make it during the surgery." "This is getting out of hand, who is toying with me," Zack's voice trembled in anger. He was so tempted to strike the glass table in front of him. "We just lost Edmond and now...Louis," he clenched his fist, his mind drifted to the state of Ivy. If Louis couldn't make it, then how serious is Ivy's condition? He could only hope there would be no serious complications in her health. Bryan noticed his mood had shifted to worry. "Don't worry, sir, she will get through this," he assured. "She is a strong woman." If he could place his hand on Zack's shoulders to comfort him in this desperate situation, he would have, but he opted to offer words of encouragement instead. "I know she will," Zack responded, assuring himself. He lifted his face, feeling more det
Zack's eyebrow quirked, his eyes narrowing at her, trying to comprehend what she meant. Of course, he knew what she wanted to end, the awful situation devouring their tranquility. But what begged the question was what she planned on doing. How did she want to end it? Whatever it was, it didn't seem to be a good idea as she was certain he would disagree. Zack's gaze softened as he stared at her for a while, not knowing how to calm her down and relax without dwelling too deeply on her past ordeal. "Ivy, your safety is my priority, so get some rest and let me handle this," he said, his voice calm and gentle. Ivy shook her head weakly, her jaw still clenched. Zack, seeing her reaction, knew she wasn't ready to yield to his words. He let out a frustrated sigh. "Just come here." He sat upright and wrapped his arms around her. "Relax and don't worry. Focus on making a full recovery." Ivy remained silent with an unshakable resolve. Despite Zack assuring her of handling the situation,
The news of Ivy's accident has spread like wildfire. The media never gave up on finding updates on her health. They swarmed the hospital, and the management was fed up with their pestering. They would roam around the premises, sometimes of the day, checking to see if anyone related to her exited or entered the hospital so they could get an interview. A blue car halted at the parking deck, the media were alert as their eyes shifted to the new arrival. They immediately recognized the car's driver. Susan stepped out, her mind a blur as all her focus was on Ivy. Ever since the news of her accident, she had been trying to reach her, and now when she discovered the hospital she was admitted to, she rushed down to see if she was alright. Due to her being unsettled, she didn't realize a swamp of reporters was gathered at the entrance, all coming over to her direction. She was surrounded by the crowd and had no way to squirm away, so she opted to play along, give answers, and hurry to see I
Now that her mind has drifted to Louis, she began pondering about his current state. She totally forgot to ask Zack about him as she was so focused on how to get on with her plan and solving the situation."When will you be discharged? You seem fine now." Susan's voice jolted her from her thought. She snapped out of it and decided to reserve the questions she had for Zack."Yeah, you seem very okay," Anna chimed in as they both stared at her waiting for her reply."I don't know yet," she responded. "Maybe within the week, I would love to be discharged as soon as possible."Although Ivy responded to their questions, Anna sensed Ivy's mind was elsewhere. Her terse smile quickly faltered, and she couldn't help but notice the constant subtle surveillance from one of the bodyguards. Every few minutes, someone would discreetly peer in their direction, making her increasingly certain they, especially Susan, were being monitored. She couldn't hold back her inquisition anymore. Her curiosity w
Ivy sighed silently; she knew Susan was right. There was someone else who would stop her from doing anything reckless, and that's Zack. But that won't make her change her mind. She was firm on her decision, not regarding the risk to be taken. She just had to wait for her full recovery and discharge before getting ready to execute whatever she planned on doing. Susan stayed bedside her for quite some time; they changed the topic, happily chatting before Zack arrived. The moment Zack stepped into the room, Susan gathered her belongings, flashing Ivy a warm smile. "I should get going now, take care, okay?" As she left, Zack's serious expression softened. He sat on the bed, wrapping his hands around Ivy. Ivy was growing accustomed to the newly developed intimacy and connection between them, and she was truly grateful for having someone like Zack by her side. Cuddling her made her feel relief. "You will be discharged tomorrow. A personal nurse will assist you at home," he said, his voi
Zack would have disconnected the call, but the caller's words played on his mind; they clearly insinuated a hostile undertone. "Who are you?" he asked, his memory not reflecting the caller's voice.Silence followed in the background; it was both irritating and suffocating. Deep lines etched his face as he listened to the silence until his patience ran out."Answer me. How did you get this number?" he demanded, expecting a response soon, but there was none. The call disconnected from the other end, followed by a series of sharp beeps.He placed the phone away from his ears, his knitted brow quirked, his mind trying to ascertain who the mysterious caller was, but no matter how deeply he thought about it, he still couldn't recognize him. It seemed the caller certainly knew him."What does he want?" Ivy asked, her eyes penetrating through Zack; she overheard a bit of the conversation.Zack's contemplative gaze wandered. "I don't know; he's just another troublemaker," he replied, not sure
With a sudden gasp, Ivy's lips parted, and her eyes sparkled with astonishment. She had completely forgotten it was her birthday; the date slipped her mind amidst the chaos of her current worries. But now, a warm flutter erupted in her chest, and her fingers intertwined with unbridled joy. "Oh, Zack... that's incredibly sweet of you..." she whispered, her voice barely audible yet brimming with emotion. "Thank you." Zack's face radiated satisfaction, his smile still stretching as he offered her the bouquet. Ivy accepted it, her own smile unwavering, feeling truly blessed in this moment. A surge of warmth coursed through every fiber of her being, leaving her breathless. When was the last time someone surprised her with such a thoughtful, dramatic gift on her special day? She couldn't remember; the particular date to her was just like every other day for the past nine years. "Shall we?" Zack gestured toward the plaid mat and nice treat waiting for them. "Of course..." Her hands intert
Ivy sat on the edge of the bed as Dr. Harrison examined her. Meanwhile, Zack watched anxiously from the corner of the room, his heart pounding in his chest. "Well, let's see," Dr. Harrison said, his brow furrowed as he checked Ivy's vitals. "Your blood pressure seems a bit low, and you're a bit pale. Have you been experiencing any other symptoms?" Ivy shook her head. "Just nausea and this… this bleeding from my nose." Dr. Harrison nodded thoughtfully. "And when was your last period?" Ivy hesitated, suddenly remembering she hadn't really considered that. "I… I'm not sure. Maybe a week ago?" Dr. Harrison's eyes widened slightly. "Mr. Anderson, I think we should run some tests. Just to be sure." Zack's heart sank. "What kind of tests?" Dr. Harrison hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "Well, given Ivy's symptoms and the missed period, I'd like to rule out a few possibilities. We'll need to do a blood test and a pregnancy test." Ivy's eyes widened in disbelief. "A pre
ONE WEEK BEFORE THE TRIAL The blanket stirred, ripping like a wave, as Zack and Ivy's bodies moved in sync. Their lips were pressed tightly together, their breath mingling in the quiet room. Ivy had her hand wrapped around Zack's neck, deepening the kiss. Her soft moans filled the room. But just as they were getting lost in the moment, the shrill ring of Ivy's phone shattered the intimacy. Ivy pulled away, reaching for her phone on the bedside table, but when she saw who the caller was, she cut the call and let out a frustrated sigh. “Judy again, isn’t it?” Zack asked, irritation creeping into his voice. Ivy nodded and slumped back on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. Judy had been blowing up her phone nonstop, sending her a barrage of texts and voicemails. It had become increasingly annoying by the day, and Ivy felt like just meeting with her and giving her a piece of her mind. On the other hand, she didn’t feel like it, as she knew Judy wouldn’t stop apologizing. “I
FEW DAYS LATERIvy sat in the therapist's office, fidgeting with her hands as she tried to process the events of the past few weeks. Firstly, discovering her father was alive, then his repulsion, then the truth behind her mother's death. She sighed. It was all too overwhelming—Zack was right, she needed help if she wanted to dive into the road of vengeance. She had to be emotionally stable to handle the heat. That's why she had agreed to visit a therapist, as the nightmares were becoming unbearable. Ivy couldn't shake off the feeling of helplessness that had consumed her for so long.Dr. Thompson, a middle-aged woman with a kind face, took a seat across from her with a warm smile on her face."Welcome, Mrs. Anderson," she greeted, and Ivy returned the smile, forcing her lips to curl up.She looked up at Dr. Thompson, who was watching her with a compassionate gaze, and she asked, feeling a sense of desperation wash over her, "Where do I even start?"Dr. Thompson leaned forward, her eye
"Ivy, Ivy," Zack called softly, standing at the door to their bedroom. Ivy had locked herself in again and refused to answer.It made Zack wonder if he had been too pushy, too insensitive. He knew Ivy was strong and capable, but he also knew that she was still vulnerable, still hurting from her past. And it was like a thorn to his heart to see her suffering.He hoped that she would forgive him, that she would understand that he was only trying to help. But as the minutes ticked by, Zack couldn't shake the feeling that he had made a mistake—one that might take some time to repair."I'm sorry, Ivy," he whispered. "I promise to listen to you, to understand you. Please, just let me in."Zack paused, hoping that Ivy would respond, but there was only silence. He sighed, feeling a pang of regret and worry. He didn't want to lose Ivy, not even for a moment. He wanted to be there for her, to hold her, to comfort her.He tried again, his voice softer, more gentle. "Ivy, please. Don't shut me ou
Once the kitchen was spotless, Ivy and Zack got to work cooking up a storm together. They chatted and joked, with Ivy doing most of the work, supervising Zack on what to do."I'll start chopping the veggies," Ivy said, picking up a knife and heading to the cutting board."What do you need me to chop?" Zack asked, standing beside her."Can you chop the bell peppers and onions?" Ivy replied, starting to chop some broccoli.Zack nodded, taking the knife from Ivy and beginning to chop the bell peppers and onions. The sound of sizzling vegetables and the aroma of stir-fry filled the air as they worked together.As they chopped and cooked, Ivy felt a sense of calm wash over her. This was what she needed – a normal, quiet evening with her husband, away from the drama and stress of her family's secrets. She wished every day could be like this, problem-free.But as they cooked, she couldn't help but think about her conversation with Irene earlier that day. She knew she had to tell Zack about i
Upon hearing Irene, Ivy recall what she had gone through a few months ago with Jake's situation. The danger, fear, and anxiety all came flooding back. Her eyes glazed over as she stared blankly into space. Was she ready to face that kind of situation again? It seemed her father's cruelty was beyond her imagination. "Having second thoughts?" Irene's voice cut through the fog, snapping her back to reality. "It would be better if we don't do anything rash, at least not now." Ivy shook her head in disapproval. She refused to sit back and do nothing while he had threatened her about Jeremy's trial. Upon drifting to this thought, she tugged on Irene's sleeve and forced her to sit back down. Irene didn't resist Ivy's pull but sighed in frustration. "We can't just sit back and do nothing, Irene," Ivy continued. "He's threatening me with Jeremy's case." Irene's brow furrowed in confusion. "Jeremy's case as in—wait." She paused, her eyes widened in shock. "Jeremy is back!" Ivy nodded a
Ivy refused to sit back and let things unfold before her eyes. Though she hadn't recovered from the trauma of her past, she had to take action.Ivy concealed her plan from Zack and her decision to investigate on her own. She needed Zack, but there were actions to be taken without Zack's help.So, the next day as Zack left the office, Ivy put on a brave face, not wanting to arouse any suspicion and also to avoid the retort of a therapist. She waited until Zack was out of sight, and with a sense of purpose and trepidation, Ivy dialed Irene's number.The line went through, and Irene's voice sounded with a hint of irritation."What do you want now?"Ivy ignored Irene's icy tone and got to her point."Let's meet up at the French bistro," she said flatly, leaving no room for protest.Irene chuckled at Ivy's slightly commanding tone, intrigued by whatever reason Ivy might have."What do you want?" Irene repeated, exasperation creeping into her voice."I'd rather discuss that in person, and I
As Zack swept her into their bedroom, Ivy's heart skipped a beat, racing with anticipation. She felt the wall against her back as Zack's strong hands pinned her in place."Late noon sex won't be so bad after all," Ivy teased as she felt Zack's hands cradle her hips, lifting her higher, his fingers digging gently into her skin.Ivy was breathless as her body was pressed closer to Zack's, their faces merely inches apart. The movement sent a thrill through her, and she felt her body responding at all turns."I'm glad you like the ideas," Zack finally spoke, a soft whisper in her ears, as he held her suspended, her hips at his mercy.Ivy's lips parted slightly, her body leaning into him. Her heart throbbed. Instinctively, she found her hand already wrapping around Zack's neck, pulling him close.She knew she should probably pull back, as it wasn't their usual position, but she couldn't help herself. She was drawn to Zack, and she didn't realize it at first, but she needed him right now. H
"Yeah, I don't see tears on your cheek," Susan said, her voice laced with sarcasm as she gently wiped away the tears streaming down Ivy's face.Ivy's eyes widened in embarrassment, and she quickly looked away, trying to compose herself.Susan's expression softened, and she wrapped her arms around Ivy, pulling her into a warm hug. "It's okay, Ivy. Let it all out. I'm here for you."Ivy's resistance crumbled, and she buried her face in Susan's shoulder, sobbing uncontrollably. Susan held her close, whispering words of comfort and reassurance as Ivy finally allowed herself to release the emotions she had been bottling up for so long.As Ivy cried, Susan stroked her hair, murmuring softly, "That's it... Don't worry about the time; we have all day."After what felt like an eternity, Ivy's sobs finally subsided, and she pulled back from Susan, her face red and puffy from crying. Susan handed her a tissue, and Ivy blew her nose, feeling a little more composed."I'm sorry," Ivy said, her voic