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,
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