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
BACK AT THE BISTRO Irene's chest heaved slightly, suppressing her anger. "You are such a daredevil. You know how your claim riles me up, and you keep repeating it over and over again...." she said through gritted teeth, her face scrunched up in annoyance. They were staring at each other, just a few inches apart. The air was filled with heavy tension and unspoken emotions. Ivy still had her hand on her cheek; her fingers began sliding down her face as her gaze remained fierce. She walked closer to her, each step reverberating with defiance. "I will keep saying it until you finally see the truth... our father was never a murderer..." she said, her tone firm and provocative. Irene raised her hand again to slap her, but Ivy quickly predicted her action. Swiftly, she gripped Irene's hand, her eyes shooting daggers at her. "Let go of my hand," Irene warned, her eyes twitching from sheer anger. A smirk curved up Ivy's lips, a smug reflection visible in her eyes. "You know what you
That reminiscence seemed to have triggered her emotions again. She hastened to the limo, her heart racing with soft thuds as she blinked back all the tears threatening to stream down her face. She never expected her plan of confronting her sister would lead to her mental breakdown. NO, SHE REJECTS BREAKDOWNS; SHE HAS TO BE STRONG TO FIGHT WHAT'S AHEAD.She shut her feelings out, despite them still creeping to the surface, and strode to the limo parked on the side. The door was opened for her, and she hopped in, burying her face under her palm without glancing at the men seated beside her.Zack instantly wrapped his comforting hand around her, hoping to make her calm down, but it was futile. She remained in that posture, making no sound.Finn and Callus exchanged glances, holding back the report they wanted to give as they sensed her distress.Finn cleared his throat while Callus took the initiative to pack up their belongings, ready to leave them to their privacy."Um... we should pro
Arriving at the villa took less than an hour. Ivy quickly stepped out of the limo, her heart heavy with sorrow—one that never seemed to fade away over the years. Unfortunately, her sister had ignited the old flames, and it was burning in its wake. Despite changing the subject to Jake Black while they rode back home, she couldn't get her conversation with Irene out of her head. It deeply reminded her of her past ordeal, which was filled with death and anguish.She tried brushing off the memory constantly clouding her mind so she could focus on the battle ahead. Yet her efforts to conceal those emotions were futile.She hastened to her bedroom, purposely ignoring Zack, who was calling her and following behind, wondering what was wrong. Yeah, he knew what was wrong, but he didn't know which of the situations was overwhelming her more. Was it about her sister claiming her father as a murderer or the imminent danger lurking in the shadows with the mastermind unknown?He couldn't pinpoint w
Zack was fed up waiting, so he pushed open the door only to find out it wasn't locked as he had initially thought. Ivy was seated on the bed with her arms crossed, her expression unreadable. Zack stared at her for a bit before pointing to the door. "I thought you locked it..." Ivy shook her head, retaining her expression as if forcing herself to be neutral. Zack sighed and sat beside her, his soft gaze fixed solely on her as his hand wrapped around her shoulder.Ivy had her head turned to avoid meeting his gaze, and Zack quickly understood what was going on. A small smile tugged up the corner of his lips, and his face drew nearer until they were a few inches apart. His hand delicately framed her chin, pulling her face closer to his.As much as Ivy wanted to resist, she couldn't. She found herself yielding to his unspoken command with no room for defiance. Her eyes locked into his, wandering over his impeccable face, putting aside her earlier tantrum. Zack's smile slowly faded, his
Ivy emerged from the sleek matte black Aston Martin, its gullwing door swooping open with a soft whoosh. As she stepped onto the crimson carpet, the golden ray of the morning sun danced across her polished stiletto. Her white V-neck suit-like top and loose pants shimmered with luxury, coupled with a matching short veil adorning her face.Walking towards the modern facade of the 'Aurora Museum of Art and Culture,' the plunking sound of her heels reverberated as if announcing her arrival to the world. This place signifies her last resort... where she might pull herself from the clashes with her enemies...With a warm smile, she walked off the carpet, making her way to the VIP area.As she settled into her seat, a low voice rang out from her earpiece. "Have you spotted him yet..."Ivy squinted, her eyes scanning the whole plaza. "Not yet. Didn't you say he has arrived?""Yes, look further; he is coming your way..." Finn's voice sounded again.Ivy crossed her legs, her gaze wandering abou
Her words were like blades cutting through the air, and instantly Jake's face darkened, his body stiff as his gaze remained fixed ahead.Ivy, upon noticing his reaction, shortened the distance between them, a self-satisfied smile playing on her lips. "It pains me that the poor child was given no justice..."Initially, Jake was avoiding her gaze, but upon hearing her, his eyes automatically snapped to her, his jaw clenching. "You are playing with fire, young woman...""But I don't feel the heat..." Ivy responded fairly quickly with a snide remark, her heart slightly thudding in her chest as she anticipated his next reaction. The more she dipped deep, the more her heart raced. Still, she wanted to see how far she could go in the conversation to make him confess, even if only a bit.Jake exhaled exasperatedly, his gaze never faltering, with anger flashing in his eyes. "You don't regret ratting me out; you think you're some kind of hero, don't you?" He took two deliberate steps forward, e
Jake stared silently, consumed by every word that left her mouth. His composure was slowly fading, almost at the brink of an outburst; he composed himself right away. Still retaining her triumphant smile, she added, "Don't play dumb; I know your little secret..." "I don't know the Stella you speak of..." Jake denied abruptly after recovering from his trance-like state. His heart raced slowly, betraying his outward composure. "And I don't have time to..." A buzzing sound interrupted him. Ivy shrugged, picking out her phone from her purse, her eyes fixed on Jake as she studied him intently; every bit of his body language screamed nervousness. Though his jaw was tense and his face serious, Ivy saw past the facade. A hint of fear flickered in his eyes; his motion of dipping his hand into his pocket was just a ruse to intimidate her with superiority, which was otherwise the case. She smiled, her lips curving with smugness as her phone buzzed in her hand. One gift she was grateful for,
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