Ivy's eyes widened as Emelia's concise whisper sent shockwaves to her core. Her heart was slowly racing in her chest, bringing her back to the same dreadful feeling she felt a few days ago."Who among them did it? Tell me..." she asked in a whisper, her inquiring gaze fixed on Emelia.Emelia's face scrunched up in discomfort, hesitant to answer. She slowly shook her head, her eyes scanning the whole place while her chest heaved. "I can't say who... but don't eat anything from the kitchen."Ivy couldn't understand why Emelia was making the subject more sensitive than it should be. Why couldn't she just point out the person? Or perhaps she was being threatened? Because Ivy couldn't find a better reason why she looked so afraid. She was practically trembling!"Emelia, who is it? Let me know so I can—""No, don't..." Emelia hushed, waving her hand frantically. "Don't retaliate now. It will only worsen the situation."Ivy's brow furrowed, realizing Emelia might know more about the situatio
Ivy's eyes widened in horror at the sight before her. Water cascaded from the wall like a miniature waterfall, pooling on the floor in a gleaming and treacherous sheet. Worst of all, precariously perched on the wall was the electric socket, its wires dangling ominously, threatening to snap free and plunge into the watery abyss. One spark, one misstep, and the entire room would become a deadly trap, electrifying the water and anyone who dared to enter. Instantly, she knew this was a countdown to disaster. "Oh my God." Ivy's voice was barely a whisper, her eyes fixed on the socket as if willing it to stay put. She took a cautious step back, her mind racing with the implications. Who could have done this? And why? The water, the socket—it was all too sinister to be a mere accident. She felt a chill run down her spine as she realized she was completely alone in the villa, with no one to turn to. Zack was gone, Emelia was nowhere to be found, and the staff seemed oblivious to the dang
"Where is Emelia?" she asked, standing up from the sofa, her gaze darting around the tons of maids lined up. The staff all exchanged glances, her eyes speaking volumes of obliviousness. Silence filled the room, with each of them unwilling to answer. "Are you all deaf?" Zack yelled, his gaze fierce with seething anger. He glanced at Xavier, whose eyes were rolling on the floor as if searching for an escape from the chaos. "Xavier..." At the mention of his name, he seemed to electrify his body. His limbs, helplessly laying by his side, stiffened; his head sprang up as his eyes widened with confusion and alarm. "Y... yes, sir..." Zack continued staring at him, expecting a response. His gaze was firm and piercing, sinking deep into him. Xavier blinked profusely as he had totally forgotten what the case was. "I told you to get all the staff; is this all of them?" Zack asked without breaking eye contact. Xavier's lips twitched as his eyes scanned all the individuals present.
Ivy's mind reeled as she entered the living room, the warm glow of the chandelier a stark contrast to the turmoil within her. She collapsed onto the sofa, her eyes scanning the room as if searching for answers. Her thoughts turned to Stella's betrayal and Emelia's near-death experience. Why was Emelia targeted? Was it to silence her, like Isabelle? Ivy's fingers drummed against her legs as she tried to piece together the events. She remembered Xavier mentioning Emelia wasting the first meal, prompting them to make another one. Emelia had saved her twice today. Ivy's gaze drifted to the dining room, where she recalled a maid peeking from the corner, looking exasperated while Emelia was being scolded. Could that girl be Stella? If so, she was the one causing chaos in the villa. Ivy's intuition screamed that Stella was behind the poisoning and the messed-up electric socket. It all pointed to Stella's doing. With newfound determination, Ivy shot up from the sofa, her eyes blazing w
Ivy glided to the dining table, attempting to pour herself a glass of wine, but her hand hovered over the glass bottle, her fingers hesitating like a bird poised for flight. She sighed, her breath escaping with a sharp whoosh as she laid her hand down on the table."How can I bring myself to eat or drink anything after what happened?"Zack glanced at her, rising to his feet, his gaze softening as he approached her. His comforting hand stroked her shoulders while he tilted his head toward her ear. "It will be over soon. Finally, we found a lead; it will be only a matter of time before the mastermind is revealed."Ivy exhaled, her eyes rolling incredulously. "I doubt that..." She shrugged his hands off her shoulders, twisting around to face him. "She might be the lead, but she won't spill any information..."Zack cupped her cheek to calm the raging tension building within her. "Ivy....""Didn't you hear what she said?" She interrupted him, her voice breaking slightly. "She won't talk...
Hours ticked by, and the once serene villa turned into a crime scene, with detectives scouring every corner, checking surveillance footage and whatnot. The staff were on high alert, cooperating with the team in any way they could.After what seemed like forever in their investigation, the detectives strode into the living room where Zack and Ivy were waiting.Ivy silently observed the expressions on the men's faces, especially Finn's. There was a hint of frustration on his face as he sauntered towards them. Callus, on the other hand, was emotionless, scrolling through his iPad with all seriousness."So, how did it go?" Ivy asked, snapping Callus's focus towards her.Callus put away the device, letting out a silent sigh. "She is very stubborn, but she will speak up with time."Ivy rolled her eyes, her back slumping on the sofa. "Just as I expected; she made it clear she wouldn't say a thing.""Like I said, it will only take some time... eventually she will say something..." Callus repl
Ivy sipped her freshly brewed coffee, gazing out the window of the cozy French bistro. She felt disconnected from the warmth and comfort as her mind was a thousand miles away. This was it, one of the final straws to pull herself from the clutches of danger... that's if the conversation with her sister went as she planned... She adjusted her posture in her seat as the sound of high heels clinked on the terracotta tiles. Irene approached her with a strut, her eyes gleaming with superciliousness as she pulled out the chair, cutting off pleasantries. Ivy overlooked her behavior; at least she showed up looking like herself without a guise to mimic her face. She exhaled softly with a bogus smile spreading on her face, her eyes squinting with feigned delight. "Thanks for honoring my invite..." "Oh please, cut the formality and bullshit..." Irene replied abruptly, settling into the exquisite chair. "And what's up with the choice of restaurant, huh? What are you trying to do?" Irene
A frown settled on Irene's face when she heard Ivy. A low chuckle escaped her lips as she stared at her incredulously. "What are you talking about? Drugged? When did I ever drug you..."Ivy didn't respond, her eyes fixed on her as if willing her to admit to it. While they continued their staring match, Ivy's heart thudded slightly while her mind raced, trying to ascertain what Irene might be thinking.Finally, after a few seconds of strained silence, Irene broke the impasse, her voice laced with defiance. "Okay, I admit. I did drug you. So what are you gonna do..."Ivy's expression remained unreadable, but inwardly her heart twisted with overwhelming emotions. As if betraying her wasn't enough, she continuously tried to ruin her career at any chance she got, but now she had gone overboard."Why?" Ivy asked, her voice barely audible. "What was your malicious reason for doing that...""And why are you asking me that? Stop pretending to be oblivious; you know the reason..." Irene replied
Ivy blinked incredulously as she stared at her father. Was he being serious? "You want me to lie under oath and perjure myself to save Jeremy's skin?" she spat, her voice trembling with rage.Steve's expression remained impassive, as though nothing else mattered to him. "I'm not asking you to lie, Ivy," he said, his voice smooth as silk. "I'm asking you to... refrain from testifying for the sake of our family, and I promise I'll make sure that after Jeremy serves just a few years, he will never bother you again."Ivy laughed in disbelief. "You're kidding, right? After everything he has done, you want to manipulate the whole situation and lighten his sentence?"Steve's face darkened, and for a moment, Ivy thought she saw a flicker of anger in his eyes. But then, his expression smoothed out again, and he spoke in a tone that was almost... reasonable."Ivy, listen to me. Jeremy made a mistake, okay? He's sorry for what he did, and he's willing to face the consequences. But if you testi
Susan's eyes widened in surprise, but she quickly nodded and signaled to the host that Ivy was ready to continue. Ivy took a deep breath, smoothing out her dress and pasting a bright smile on her face. She was determined to get through this, no matter what.As she walked back onto the stage, the audience applauded again, and Ivy waved, her smile never wavering. The host greeted her warmly and introduced the next segment of the show. Meanwhile, Ivy's eyes scanned the audience, her gaze locking onto her father and aunt, who were still sitting in the front row.Instantly, Ivy's anger and resentment simmered again, but she took a deep breath, determined to keep her cool. She was going to get through this, and she was going to make sure that her father and aunt didn't ruin it for her. They really had guts showing up here; whatever the reason, it didn't seem good.With a newfound sense of determination, Ivy refocused on the show, answering the host's questions with poise and confidence. She
Two days flew by in a whirlwind of preparations for the talk show. Ivy's days were filled with rehearsals, interviews, and wardrobe fittings. Susan was a constant presence, guiding Ivy through the process. Zack, on the other hand, kept a low profile, but Ivy could sense his eyes on her, watching her every move. It was as though he was scrutinizingly waiting for any mishap.As the day of the talk show approached, Ivy's nerves began to fray. She had always been comfortable in the spotlight, but this time felt different. She couldn't shake the feeling that facing an audience was a terrible idea. It wasn't supposed to be the case, but with everything that had happened lately, she needed time to heal. The nightmare and recollection had been haunting her; it worsened, and it was taking a toll on her appearance.Her eyes were always moist from crying late in the night despite her resolve not to shed tears. She couldn't brush off the pain, grief, and guilt that was eating her up.With thought
Zack shot out of bed and made his way to the door. Meanwhile, as Ivy watched him go, she felt a sense of trepidation. Who could be visiting her now?As Zack opened the door, he spoke in a low tone to Xavier. Ivy couldn't quite make out what they were saying, but she could tell that Zack was not happy.After a moment, Zack turned and walked back into the room, his expression grim as he locked eyes with Ivy."It's your manager."*****Meanwhile, Susan had already made herself at home in the living room, sitting on the couch, sipping a glass of water that Xavier had offered her.As Zack entered the room, Susan stood up, a bright smile plastered on her face. "Zack," she said, extending a manicured hand. "It's so good to see you."Zack's expression remained grim, and he ignored Susan's outstretched hand. "What are you doing here, Susan?" he asked bluntly.Susan's smile faltered for a moment, but she quickly recovered. "I came to see Ivy, of course," she said matter-of-factly. "I've been tr
Zack and Ivy exchanged glances, wondering who it could be. But then Ivy began to have a sinking feeling in her stomach. "I can take a rough guess," she said, slumping back on the bed and mouthing, "Judy." Zack's expression hardened, and he quickly got up from the bed and strode out of the room. "Let her in," he instructed Xavier, and Xavier nodded and hastened down the stairs. Zack followed suit. Judy was allowed in shortly meanwhile Zack had already taken a seat in the living room, his expression twisted in annoyance as he locked eyes with her. "What do you want?" he asked, his voice flat, as if bored by her presence. Judy's eyes were soft and gentle, scanning the whole room, expecting to see Ivy, but there was no sign of her. "Where is she?" Judy asked, her voice slightly trembling, her eyes scanning the room again as if hoping to catch a glimpse of Ivy. Zack's expression remained impassive, his arms crossed over his chest. "She's not available to see you right now,"
Zack's arms wrapped tightly around Ivy, holding her close as she sobbed uncontrollably. He knew a storm was raging within her. He had somewhat expected she would feel broken, but this—it was way more than he had anticipated. She wasn't just broken; she was shattered. The pain and anguish that ravaged her face was evident.Zack held her close, trying to absorb some of the pain that seemed to be tearing her apart. The truth behind her emotions seemed to be consuming her.Ivy's sobs slowly began to subside, and she pulled back from Zack, her eyes red and puffy from crying. She looked up at him, and for a moment, their eyes locked in a silent understanding."Ivy," Zack whispered, his voice barely audible. "I'm sorry about your mom. Irene told me everything."Ivy's eyes searched Zack's face for a moment before she wiped her tears. "She did?"Zack nodded and took her hands in his, his eyes locked on hers. "Whatever happened was devastating, and I'm extremely worried about you." He hesitated
Ivy tossed and turned relentlessly in her bed, her eyes fluttering open to a scene that felt all too real. She was standing in her living room, but it wasn't the warm and cozy space she knew. It was cold and tense, with police officers looming over her dad."Mr. Steve, I'm afraid with the evidence we found, we need to take you in for questioning," one of the officers said, his voice firm but polite.Steve's face was pale with shock, his eyes wide with fear. "What evidence?" he demanded, his voice trembling.The officer hesitated, his expression unreadable. "We can't disclose that right now. But we do have enough to arrest you on suspicion of murder."Steve repeated, his voice shaking, "Murder? No... I didn't kill anyone."The officer's expression remained stern. "Steve, please turn around and put your hands behind your back. You're under arrest."Ivy watched in horror as the officers handcuffed her dad and led him away. She tried to scream, but her voice was frozen in her throat.She
Irene stepped into her house, closing the door behind her as if trying to shut out the world. She stood still for a moment, her eyes scanning the familiar surroundings as if seeing them for the first time.Everything around felt hollow. If she knew recollection of the past would cause her this emptiness, she wouldn't have done it. Now she felt like she had traveled back to the past experiences she wanted to shut out for so long."Hey, why are you back so late? It's midnight," Dave sprang up from the couch, but then he noticed the distant look in Irene's eyes. "Irene?"Irene didn't respond. She just walked past him, her feet carrying her on autopilot to the bedroom. Dave's eyes followed her, concern etched on his face."Irene, what's wrong?" he asked, getting up from the couch to follow her.Irene stopped in front of the bedroom door, her hand on the doorknob. She turned to face Dave, her eyes empty and haunted."Nothing," she said flatly, "just tired."With that, she slammed the door
Fifteen-year-old Ivy's feet wobbled, drained from all the running, as she pushed through the door of her home. She panted heavily, catching her breath and meeting the stunned silence in the house.It was odd; she had expected to see her mother standing in the doorway, ready to scold her for running off like that, or perhaps to be welcomed by her sister's taunts, but there was nothing.She raised her head only to find the living room empty."Mum? Irene?" she called, scanning the room, but then someone else emerged—someone she didn't expect to see."Dad? Dad!" She kicked off her shoes and enveloped him in a tight embrace. "I've been looking for you, Dad. Where were you?"Steve pulled away, his expression somber. "I, um..." he began, his gaze on Ivy's face faltering. Ivy noticed the way his voice quaked; her eyes scanned his face, and she caught his hand trembling at his side."Dad, why the face?" Ivy asked, concern etched on her face.Steve looked away without responding; his eyes seeme