Ivy decided to meet up with Irene at the restaurant. She instructed her driver to drop her a good distance away from the restaurant to avoid giving away too much information that would be saved for later, but right now, she needed to make Irene believe in her own assumptions.Irene really thought Ivy would be nothing without Dave......Ivy saw her seated at a table for two with a waitress by her side. "Over here....." Irene waved."What is it? Why do you want to see me?" Ivy said as she sat down, gazing at her facial expression."You know, in your present situation, you should learn to speak a little nicer. You never know who might help you..." Irene curled up with a sneer.Ivy didn't respond to her disdain, nor showed her any emotions that she wanted to see."I would like to have the same food she ordered." Ivy told the waitress who was standing beside Irene. The profound look given to Ivy from the waitress made Irene chuckle. "Do as she says." The waitress bowed before leaving to br
Ivy's refusal was an unexpected outcome for Irene; she has grown a lot more different than she was before. Not to mention Ivy's change of attitude towards her."Oh, before I forget, congratulations. I wish you a happy married life in advance," Ivy said, keeping a straight face.Irene smirked, "Thank you," leaving disappointed as she signaled someone seated at the far end of the restaurant with a nod.The person understood and nodded in response.Kate was patiently waiting in front of Irene's car; the expression on her friend's face told her things didn't work out. She predicted this; after all, she still remembered how Ivy surprised her at the clothing store. Since then, she hadn't told Irene about it, too ashamed to tell the real truth about her bankruptcy."Did it work?" Irene ignored her and got into the car. "Let me guess, her attitude...""Do you still have it?" Irene cut her off. "Ye..." Kate was unsure of what she was asked for. "What exactly?"A glare from Irene jogged her me
[A kiss from the billionaire.Famous actress found with Zack Anderson. She refuses to accept defeat after her infidelity.]In a few minutes, the article became a hot topic on the news, leading to speculations about their relationship. A kiss from a billionaire of that caliber wasn't insignificant. A man that has never had any sexual relationship with any woman suddenly gave one a kiss in public, even though it was on the cheek, it still carried meaning.The once-famous actress who was involved in a scandal two days ago was suddenly seen with her ex-uncle. It was indeed something to gossip about, especially when his ex was getting married.The hotel entrance was filled with reporters all waiting for a particular figure to arrive. The day before they were excited about the wedding of the famous perfume company's heir, but now there was more interesting news.Every reporter was anticipating his presence, getting their equipment ready to receive his statement, but the issue was, he was usu
Irene snatched the phone to take a good look just as Kate insisted, it was indeed something to see."But...." Speechless, she sat back on the chair in thought. 'The reporter......'"Irene, I think things have turned around for the better, right? Dave is all yours now, she is no longer your rival.""JUST SHUT UP!" Her voice boomed in the room and all the assistants flinched. Ivy was never her rival in any way, she had her particular reason she wanted to ruin Ivy's life. Kate froze, with her hands gripping to her chest. Irene was usually calm; all of a sudden she exploded. Wasn't getting married to Dave always what she wanted? She couldn't understand her friend anymore.The day at the restaurant was supposed to be the day Ivy would be completely ruined for good, but a turn of events changed everything... And she didn't see that coming..."So what are we going to do?" Kate, having recovered, asked to lighten the mood. "Let her be and forget she even exists, right?" Kate made things worse
"Well, what? Did you see anyone take it?" Kate's heart was thudding in her chest not because she was worried her phone was lost but because the video was Irene's trump card, and she lost it! If she didn't post the video before the wedding ended, she would be done for. Irene wouldn't let her off..."It was you who stole it...""Why would you say that, ma'am? I... I... didn't take it, I swear." The woman refuted, ready to walk away. Staying any longer might make her suspicious."Come back here!" Kate pulled her hair. "Return my phone!" Kate was on the brink of breaking down. Where would she go if Irene threw her out of her apartment?"Ma'am, let go of me." The assistant struggled to break free from her tight grip. Kate was huffing as she held onto her hair. She had a feeling she took her phone, and she would do anything to get it back. She would have nowhere to go if Irene abandoned her. "Give me back my phone...""I didn't take it." There was no way she was telling the truth. Bearing t
The news of the billionaire and once-famous actress marriage was still hot on the search buttons. Many would have doubted their marriage, but since the words came from the billionaire himself, it was a confirmation beyond doubt. Many view her as a seductress, seducing the billionaire just to gain wealth. Since the rich heir wasn't good enough for her, she found a way to cling onto his uncle. But many still wondered how? She was attractive but there were other women with better social standing that came from a reputable family; she doesn't even have a good background. She was just an actress who backed out, out of the blue with unknown reasons and since then they never heard anything about her; within a few days, she was involved in a scandal with her as the hot topic with the Anderson family. It was truly something to gossip... "How did she end up with him?" "So he really wasn't gay after all..." "At first, we thought she was miserable, but now she is the luckiest woman on eart
The Anderson family was known as legends in the perfume industry for more than decades, producing expensive and the best fragrance across the country. As the founder, Roy Anderson, he was old and the company was presently run by the eldest son, Albert Anderson, the father of Dave, with the second eldest son, Henry Anderson, as one of the shareholders. Zack, being the youngest, built his own business empire from scratch to gain his achievements rather than living off someone else's company. Although he invested from his shares and expanded his business far and wide, gaining wealth from multiple businesses. His wisdom in performing business was one of the many things Roy Anderson loved about him. But one thing that made him upset was that he cared too much about money and his business that he never considered marriage as an option. So when he picked the statement 'my wife,' he was overjoyed that he told him to come over for a family dinner to celebrate, even though he didn't inform them
The onlookers' eyes widened at the sight in front of them. The public display of affection was too surprising to believe. Are their marriage really based on love? Ivy's head was placed on Zack's shoulder as her hand was hooked around his arm, slowly walking to the living room like they were alone in their world. Zack, in turn, had a slight smile on his face as he approached the eyes that were darting back and forth between the two. The sound of glass shattering made everyone turn their gaze, "I'm sorry, I…" "Are you okay, Donna bring the first aid box quickly!" Henry, seeing her bleed, had to call the maid for help. Albert saw her blood dripping on the glass table, quickly took out a handkerchief from his pocket. Irene stretched her hand so he could help her wipe off the blood in her hand, but his next action made Ivy release her restrained snort… Albert wiped the blood on the exquisite glass table instead! Irene was too stunned that she left her mouth wide open in surprise
The question hung in the air, thick and heavy. Ivy’s breath hitched as Nadia’s words landed like a direct blow. The anger that had fueled her outburst at the cemetery now mingled with a chilling dread. She looked at Nadia, really looked at her, seeing the raw grief and desperate need for answers reflected in her tear-filled eyes. This wasn't just about her own loss anymore; it was about Nadia's too. "I…" Ivy started, but her voice seemed lost. She wanted to deny it, to protect Nadia from the harsh reality, but the lie wouldn't come. How would she even explain that? She had let her anger take over, and now she had Nadia hearing her accusations. "Answer me. Is it true?" Nadia pressed firmly, her voice trembling... Ivy froze, her eyes wandering over Nadia's face. Her anger was long gone, now replaced by uncertainty. Should she tell her? But there was no proof yet, and she didn't want Nadia to get involved. "Ivy, answer me. 'Cause it seems like an accident to me. Why would you acc
As Ivy's screams echoed through the cemetery, Steve's face turned pale as he had become the center of attention. Ivy's words about him being a killer sent the mourners murmuring, whispering among themselves. Zack continued holding Ivy back, with Irene later stepping in. The fire in Ivy's eyes continued to burn fiercely, something Steve had never seen in her eyes before. This wasn't the same sweet, innocent daughter he used to know; he usually compared her to her mother, but Ivy had proved to be different—a drastic gap that sent his head spinning. He could no longer keep his cool; neither could he stand the scene unfolding, so he silently slipped out of the crowd, casting a brief yet menacing gaze at Ivy. "Ivy, please! Stop!" "You are not thinking clearly..." Zack and Irene's words faded into the background as Steve made his way to his car and slid into it, as though trying to shut himself off from the world. He couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that lingered inside him. Ivy
The sky was a deep, foreboding gray, as if it too were mourning the loss of Judy. The air was heavy with the scent of damp earth as Ivy walked behind the hearse, her eyes fixed on the polished wooden casket adorned with a spray of white lilies, Judy's favorite flowers.As they reached the gravesite, the mourners gathered around, their faces etched with grief and sorrow. But Ivy's eyes were fixed on one person alone, one person she wished she could crush, melt, break, or kill if it wasn't against the law. Steve stood in front of everyone else, his face showing the grief more than anyone else. Many would relate, after all, it's his sister that died, but Ivy saw through that facade. It seemed Steve enjoyed killing; he should start bracing himself for his own death!"Ivy. Ivy! Snap out of it, okay?" Zack called, pulling Ivy from her thoughts. "Don't cause a scene, at least not now."Ivy didn't even realize her face was scrunched like a ball that had been crushed by a hydraulic press. She
Ivy trudged through the front door, feeling emotionally drained. The image of Judy’s lifeless body repeatedly flashed before her eyes as she blinked back the tears that had threatened to fall.She felt like she was drowning, unable to escape the overwhelming ache that had settled in her chest. It stung so much that she could hardly breathe. With a shaking hand, she reached for the sofa, collapsing into it, craving the comfort that it should offer, but it never came. All she felt was numbness that refused to go away. The pain of losing a loved one... it was so familiar, so daunting, bringing back old painful memories. Judy was gone just like that? Now she was nothing more than a memory, one she wished she could bring to life once again. Tears flowed down her cheeks, having lost the will to fight them.She took a deep breath and pulled out her phone to call Zack, the one she could lean on.Zack picked up on the first ring, his voice sweet and casual. "Hey, how are you?"Ivy sniffled, tr
The courtroom erupted into chaos, and Steve's face turned beet red with anger and frustration. He abruptly stood up and stormed out of the room. Ivy watched him go, a mixture of emotions swirling inside her. She felt a sense of vindication, knowing that Jeremy had been found guilty, sooner Steve will be next.Ivy pushed the thought aside and turned to Zack, a smile spreading across her face. "We did it," she whispered, her eyes shining with tears. Zack grinned back, pulling her into a tight hug. As they hugged, Ivy's mind began to wander to Judy. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. The call from the hospital had seemed so urgent, so real. What if it wasn't a ruse? What if Judy was hurt? Ivy's smile faltered, and she pulled back from Zack. "I need to go to the hospital," she said and Zack's expression changed from celebratory to concerned. "What's wrong?" Ivy hesitated. "I don't know if the call from the hospital was real or not. But I need to check. What if Jud
The courtroom was packed as Ivy and Zack took their seats behind the prosecutor's table. Steve arrived shortly and sat across from her, his eyes cold and calculating. Ivy's heart raced as she avoided his gaze, focusing instead on the prosecutor, who was shuffling through his notes.The judge, a stern-looking woman, entered the courtroom, and the bailiff called the room to order."This court is now in session," the judge declared, her voice firm and commanding. "The case before us today is the state versus Jeremy Hale. Mr. Prosecutor, you may proceed with your opening statement."The prosecutor, a tall, imposing man with a confident smile, stood up, surveying the courtroom before beginning his statement."Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, the case before us today is a heinous crime. A young woman's life was almost cut short due to the reckless actions of the defendant, Jeremy Hale. We will present evidence that shows his actions were not only negligent but also intentional."Ivy felt a
The ride to the court felt like an eternity; it was as though the car was moving at a slow pace, which wasn't the case at all. Ivy let out a big gush of air, her mind a whirlwind of emotions. She was determined to see justice served, but the news about her aunt's accident weighed heavily on her heart.She glanced at Zack, who was seated beside her, his expression a mask of calm determination."Hey, you okay?" Zack asked, noticing her gaze.Ivy nodded, taking a deep breath. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just a bit nervous."Zack's eyes narrowed slightly. "I can tell by the way you're playing with your nails."Ivy's expression faltered for a moment as she stared at her hand and realized she had indeed been fidgeting with her nails. She dropped her hand, feeling a slight flush rise to her cheeks. "I guess I am a bit more nervous than I thought," she admitted, trying to laugh it off.Zack smiled reassuringly and took her hand in his. "It's okay to be nervous, Ivy. This is a big day. But you're prepare
Ivy stood in front of the mirror, adjusting her blazer for what felt like the hundredth time. She took a deep breath, exhaled deeply, and nodded to herself. Today was the day she'd finally face Jeremy in court and put him to justice.The door creaked open, and she turned around to find Zack dressed in a crisp, navy-blue suit, his tie perfectly knotted. He caught her eye and smiled, his expression confident."You okay?" he asked, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her close."Yeah, I am..." Ivy responded, her voice low but laced with steel. "I'm ready."Zack smiled softly, spun her around, and enveloped her in a reassuring hug. "You're going to do great."Ivy's warm smile faltered as she leaned into the comfort of his shoulders. The silence between them was soothing, filled with the gentle sound of his breathing. But the shrill ringtone of her phone pierced the calm, jolting her upright.She pulled away, her eyes locking onto the screen as she hesitated. The number was unkn
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