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's body led the way, her mind at ease, letting her longing take over into a sync of appetency. Her fingertips lickishly traced his arm up to his neck. Gripping his hair, she spared no space between them; they were not inches apart as they basked in proximity.Zack was taken aback by the sudden kiss but was quite responsive at the same time. His hand crawled up to her waist, pressing her body against his hard chest, her heartbeat pulsating against his as their lips locked with burning lust.The feeling he had suppressed for long, buried under the abyss, finally erupted like a volcano spewing a torrent of emotions he could no longer contain. He explored the depth of her mouth, his tongue skillfully reveling in every sweetness, leaving her breathless and wanting for more. Consumed by sheer pleasure, his hold on her waist tightened. He squeezed her soft flesh with gentle yet insistent pressure, sending tingles of electricity all over her body.He suddenly spun her around and pressed he
Ivy understood the particular discussion was unavoidable. She would have to explain herself now at this moment as Zack seemed insistent and wouldn't accept any deviation from the main subject. "Please... I don't like the silence..." Zack said, ambiguously commanding her to begin speaking. Ivy shifted closer, ready to comply. "Okay, here it goes..." She listed her suspects and explained how she planned on fishing out the culprits, with the help of the detective and security team. Zack listened silently, fighting the urge to interrupt her halfway through her explanation, his brow furrowed in distaste, clearly not liking the idea at all. "Ivy... that's...." "Risky... I know," she cut him off, completing the statement. "It's quicker that way. I know my enemies' motivations, and I can use that knowledge to my advantage..." Zack shook his head in disapproval. "No, I disagree. It's too much of a risk..." he said firmly; he couldn't bring himself to let her carry out such a hazardous pl
"It's 7 AM and everything is still not ready?" Xavier, the butler, admonishingly yelled at the maids lined up in the dining room. His wrinkled brow quirked in displeasure as he vehemently scolded them for being gastropodous with their duties. "Where is Stella? Cooking should have been done by now." The maids exchanged knowing glances, their faces drooped to the floor without replying to the yelling old man. "I asked a question," Xavier hollered, his voice echoing throughout the whole place, exasperated by their silence. One of the maids exhaled deeply, slowly raising her head, her lips twitching as she found it difficult to respond. In the end, she replied anyway, "Stella and the others were already done with the meals, but Emelia wasted it all." "How?" Xavier asked, expecting more of an explanation, but they were interrupted by a morning visitor. "Xavier, it's too early to be yelling like this. I wonder why he hasn't come downstairs by now from your loud scoldings." Bryan said
Zack stared at his tablet for what felt like forever, hesitant. He was finally going to see the one who was behind his accident. But now the weight of the moment pressed down on him. He knew this call could change everything, reveal a face he might recognize, or a stranger he would despise. He wasn't sure he was ready for either.Ivy was by his side, squeezing his arm tightly and encouraging him to do it. "Come on, Finn made this possible for you, so... let’s get it over with," she said, wrapping her arms around his neck and nudging him to tap on the screen."Alright," he said finally, but as Ivy attempted to speak, a loud cry came out from the room."Lucas again," she growled and got up, placing a soft kiss on Zack's cheek. "Be right back."With that, she left, and Zack decided to get it over with as Ivy had said. He tapped on the screen, and there just what he had feared stared right back at him.Those familiar emerald eyes..."Chris. So it was really you," Zack whispered, disbelief
THE NEXT MORNING, Ivy and Zack made their way downstairs, luggage in tow, with Lucas giggling in his stroller. Lucas was babbling excitedly, clearly sensing the adventure ahead, and Ivy couldn't help but smile at her little boy's enthusiasm. Although she was still a bit hesitant about leaving, Zack's and Lucas's enthusiasm was infectious.But she had to agree a vacation would benefit them all.Just as they were about to head out the door, Xavier, their butler, rushed in, looking flustered."Wait, please!" Xavier exclaimed. "We have a visitor."Ivy's eyes narrowed, her smile faltering. "Who is it?"Xavier hesitated before responding. "It's... your..." Before he could finish, a voice cut in."Zack has woken up all this time, and you didn't bother informing us," Henry walked in, the old man right beside him.The moment he set eyes on Zack, he went straight to him and hugged him tightly. "I'm so glad you're okay, son..."Zack, caught off guard, returned the hug, a mix of surprise and conf
"Ivy, remember when I took Roy outside?" Zack said, and Ivy frowned. "Yes, of course." "I thought... I thought I saw Chris. Briefly. Just a glimpse." Ivy's eyes widened in disbelief. "Chris? But... he hasn't called since that day..." "Exactly," Zack said, his brow furrowed. "But what if... what if... I don't know...?" Ivy shook her head, dismissing the idea. "Zack, that's impossible. Didn't you say he was an imposter?" "I'm starting to doubt that 'imposter' theory," Zack said. "It's too convenient the way he operates in the shadows... it's shady." Ivy's eyes narrowed, having a hard time processing everything. If he wasn't an imposter, then why hadn't he reunited with Zack? Why was he hiding? "What if... he has a vendetta? Against you?" Ivy sprang from the bed, her head filled with fear gnawing at her. She knew what it felt like to be wanted dead, and now Zack, this childhood friend... if it's true, then it's even worse than she imagined. "Maybe we should tell Finn every
"Lucas, I'm home!" Zack announced as he stepped into the familiar warmth of their living room. Ivy smiled and quickly got beside him. "Careful, Zack," she cautioned, her hand lightly touching his arm. "Remember, you're still recovering." "Now you want me to be treated like a fragile piece of glass, huh?" Zack said with his usual smirk, and Ivy couldn't help but roll her eyes. "Yeah, that's what you are right now." Zack smirked, closing the short distance between them. "Is that so?" Ivy stepped back, a blush creeping into her cheeks. "Zack, this isn't the right place to... you know, do your usual thing..." She then said with gritted teeth, "Maria and Lucas are coming." Zack turned to find Maria smiling his way. She bowed slightly and then placed Lucas on the ground. "There he is," Zack said, his voice softening as he knelt down. He extended his arms, a wide, welcoming smile on his face. "Come here, buddy. Daddy's home." Lucas hesitated, his gaze shifting between Zack and
"Zack, tomorrow's a big day. Lucas is hitting nine months," Ivy said, her voice soft as she gently ran her hands over Zack's. "Can you believe it? Nine months already?"She tried hard to grin, but what came out was a pathetic smile. "I... started him on complementary foods, you know. He seems to really like mashed sweet potatoes with a little cinnamon. He makes the funniest face when he tastes something new, but sweet potatoes are definitely his favorite."Ivy chuckled, despite knowing that Zack couldn't hear her. The sound was more for her own benefit, a way to release some of the tension and sadness that had been building up inside.But as she looked at Zack's still face, her expression shifted. Her smile faltered, and her eyes welled up with tears.Ivy's sigh turned into a sob, and she buried her face in her hands, letting the tears flow.She had hoped Zack would wake up before their son turned seven months, but now he was nine months, still trapped in this limbo.He didn't get to
SIX MONTHS LATERIvy's hands trembled as she held the phone, Bryan's voice sounding at the other end."Ma'am, we found him last night," Bryan said, his tone gentle but firm. "The driver who hit Zack. We've got a positive ID."Ivy's breath caught in her throat. Six months of waiting, wondering, and fighting for answers. Finally, she was going to get some justice."Who is it?" Ivy asked, her voice barely above a whisper.There was a pause before Bryan responded, "Marcus Thompson. The police are bringing him in for questioning. They're going to push him hard to see if he'll talk."Ivy's grip on the phone tightened. "Will he talk?""There's a good chance he might," Bryan said. "Thompson's got a history of criminal activity. He's been in and out of jail for various offenses. If the police can leverage that, he might be willing to cooperate."Ivy's mind was racing. "How soon can they get him to talk?" She wanted to wipe that smug look off Albert's face.Bryan hesitated before responding, "W
Ivy's car halted in front of the Anderson mansion. It was the early hours of the morning, and Ivy decided to seize this opportunity to get answers.She slammed the door behind her, took a deep breath, and stepped into the mansion. She didn't bother to knock before entering.A sliver of light spilled out from the lounge, the air thick with the smell of stale liquor."Albert!" Ivy yelled, scanning the whole place. "Albert, where are you?"Footsteps sounded, and Henry appeared coming down the stairs, draped in a robe and his hair a bit messy."It's too early to yell," he said, but as his eyes landed on Ivy, a frown settled on his face."What are you doing here?""Where is Albert?" Ivy asked, and Henry's brow deepened."Ivy, why are you here? Shouldn't you be sitting with Zack at the hospital?""Where is Albert?" Ivy's expression turned serious, the one that tells you, "I'm losing my patience."Henry's eyes lingered on her for a moment before finally pointing to a corner."Turn left."Wit
"I never should have let you leave." Ivy whimpered, squeezing Zack's hand, as if trying to coax life back into his fingers. "I should have forced you to eat breakfast... maybe... maybe..."She choked on tears trickling down her cheek... "maybe you would have escaped it..." she sniffled, trying to hold back her tears, but it was no use. The dam broke, and she let out a heart-wrenching sob, her body shaking uncontrollably."How long are you going to stay like this, huh? How long before you wake up..." she mumbled. "It's only been a few hours, and I can't keep seeing you like this..."He had always been the strong one, the rock that held her together when she broke down. But now he was the one who was broken, and she was left to pick up the pieces. All she could do was hope he would wake up sooner.Ivy's sobs slowly subsided as she wiped away her tears and took a deep breath.Her chest tightened, but she pushed through, squeezing his arm with all the strength she could muster."Please w
"Shhh, baby, it's okay," Ivy murmured, pacing back and forth in the room with the crying Lucas in her arms. "Mommy's here." The nanny, Maria, sat on the couch, watching them with concern, occasionally standing up and sitting back down on the couch in frustration. Lucas's cries only intensified, his small body writhing in discomfort. He was unusually fussy, refusing his bottle and arching his back in distress. Ivy had tried everything – changing his diaper, offering him a pacifier, singing lullabies – but nothing seemed to make him calm down. Maria got up and approached Ivy. "Let me try, Mrs. Anderson," But Ivy shook her head. "No, I've got him. I just need to... figure out what's wrong." She continued to pace, trying to rock Lucas to sleep. "What's wrong, my little one?" she whispered, her heart throbbing slightly. Lucas usually didn't cry this way for this long. She glanced at the clock, wondering if she should call Zack and tell him about Lucas's behavior. But it would b