The looming landscape of the villa stretched out before them like a giant cloud beckoning them ahead. The admirable view caused a warm smile to plaster on Ivy's face. From the car window, she watched the endless stream of moving scenery as they approached their home a short distance away. "Go without me; I'll be back soon," Zack said as the car halted at the villa driveway. Ivy turned to him, confusion etched on her face. "Where are you going? I thought we were heading home together." Zack's expression was distant, his eyes fixed on some point beyond the horizon. "I need to take care of something. I'll catch up with you later." Ivy's smile faltered, feeling a pang of concern. "Is everything okay?" Zack's gaze snapped back to hers, a reassuring smile spreading across his face. "Of course, everything's fine, I promise. I just need to attend to something. Go ahead; I'll be back soon." Ivy nodded hesitantly, still feeling uncertain. "Okay then, come home early; don't keep me waiting
Susan arrived shortly; Ivy was just climbing down the stairs, a welcoming smile spreading on her face. "I'm glad we don't have to deal with tight security any longer," Susan said, settling on the plush sofa, her eyes scanning the room. Ivy responded, her voice low and distant, "Yeah, me too." She then sat beside Susan, her wide smile fading. When their eyes locked again, they exchanged a silent sense of euphoria, their faint smiles never faltering. "I am so happy you're finally free, Ivy. We don't have to worry about your safety anymore," Susan broke the silence, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "Yeah..." she said slowly, nodding, her mind a bit distant. "Everything that has happened so far has been terrible, and I can only hope a battle as intense as that doesn't resurface again." She mused, her voice barely above a whisper. Susan placed her comforting hand on hers, giving her a reassuring smile. "Hey, nothing like that will happen again. Now is the time to think of some
Ivy led Susan into the garden, where daffodils and wildflowers bloomed amidst a lush lawn. The sweet scent and vibrant colors enveloped them, creating a serene atmosphere just as she suggested for a comfortable discussion. Susan stood in awe, admiring the design of the garden. She couldn't contain her amazement as her eyes kept darting around the whole place. "Seriously, Susan, we came here to talk, not wonder..." Ivy chuckled, nudging her toward the plaid mat on the lush lawn. "Come on, make yourself at home." Susan's gaze landed on the plaid mat; then it shifted to the whole garden, a slight smile playing on her lips. "Ivy, are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Ivy, who had already settled on the mat, frowned, confusion etched on her face. "What..." Her voice dipped with curiosity. Susan crossed her arms, her smile ambiguous. Ivy's eyes narrowed, trying to figure out her hint. Then she finally remembered. "Picnic." "Took you long enough," Susan teased, her eyes sparking
Zack approached them, his hand dipped in his pocket as he flashed Ivy a slight smile. Ivy chuckled, raising one eyebrow. "You know street fighting?" she asked incredulously, standing up from the lawn. "You are kidding, right?" Zack's shoulders rose and fell in a careless shrug. "There's still so much you don't know about me, Ivy," he replied, his voice low and husky. Ivy's brow furrowed, her expression turning thoughtful. The locked room filled with equipment flashed in her mind, and her curiosity piqued. "What else are you hiding?" she asked, her voice laced with intrigue. Zack's smile grew, his eyes darting in confusion. "As in?" "Never mind." Ivy waved casually and sauntered towards Zack, her hands slipping around his neck. Their faces a mere inches apart, the air thick with anticipation. "We'll talk about that later," she whispered, her hot breath fanning his face. She then brought her lips closer, shortening the small distance between them. "It will be an honor to ha
Ivy stuttered, caught off guard by Zack's fluid movement; her chest heaved slightly as her heart raced, all from the effect of the unexpected retaliation. Zack raised an eyebrow, grinning. "Am I being a man now?" he asked, his tone taunting. Ivy bit her lips, unable to respond. She had to admit she had underestimated him a little, and now she had to pay for it. "Yes, you've proven your point," she rolled her eyes mischievously as she struggled to break free from his grip. Zack smirked, leaning closer, their faces mere inches apart. He peppered kisses all over her neck, leaving trails of goosebumps on her skin. Instinctively, she wrapped her hand around his neck, his body swaying subtly under her touch. Zack's gaze locked onto hers, his eyes burning with intensity. "As agreed, I get what I want first before your..." He trailed off, rolling his eyes. "...training." Ivy rolled her eyes, mimicking him. "Not gonna happen. We didn't agree on that," she objected, a smirk tugging up her
Ivy reached out, her hands sweeping across the empty bed, searching for Zack's presence beside her."Where did he go..." she murmured, rubbing her eyes as she rolled to the other side of the bed.Her eyes fluttered open only to find Zack's side of the bed cold and unoccupied. He was nowhere to be found.She sighed in disappointment and reached out for her phone on the bedside table."5 a.m. Has he already gone to the office by this hour?" she muttered to herself, exhaling deeply as the memories of the night came flooding in.She rolled her eyes when she recalled what he had said to her before they fell asleep. "He was whispering sweet nothings into my ears last night, promising me he would escort me to the audition... now where is he?" she muttered, tossing off the bedcover.She sat up; the silence was oppressive, punctuated only by the soft hum of the air conditioner. As she scanned the dimly lit room, her gaze lingered on the bedside table, and that's when she saw a folded piece of
"Ethan." Ivy's eyes widened in delight as her gaze locked on his. Ethan was her and Irene's childhood friend; the three of them were inseparable back in the days of kindergarten and Hill School. A wry smile curled up her lips, but then her delight crumpled as her mind slowly began to drift. Memories of the recent betrayal flooded in—how Ethan had chosen Irene's side and had joined in scheming against her. The pain of Ethan's betrayal still lingered; it was like an open wound, a slow and burning ache piercing her heart as her thoughts darkened. A smirk tugged at the corner of Ethan's lips, his gaze still fixed on her. "You don't seem happy to see me," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. Ivy's lips twisted in a pang of sadness, her gaze fierce and piercing. "Wrong timing, Ethan. I don't have time to catch up with an old friend," she said, clinking the door open and pushing him away. "Ivy, who is he?" Susan, who had been observing her expression, asked as she a
Susan, who had been watching the argument from the sidelines, burst into quiet laughter, the sound rich and exuberant. Her shoulders bounced as her body swayed. Her eyes were fixed keenly on the trio as she watched, eager to see how the influence of Zack's appearance would play out. Zack’s gaze was relentlessly steady on him, his face calm but his eyes flickered with a dangerous aura, as if he was willing to hurt Ethan at any moment. The typical Zack Anderson that many felt intimidated by. Ethan took a few steps backward, clearly intimidated by Zack's imposing demeanor, but still, his face was devoid of fear, his movement coming to a halt. "You came here to threaten my wife? You’ve got guts, boy." Zack said, his tone calm and deadly. Ethan faced Zack’s stern gaze head-on, ignoring the effect of his looming presence. "That wasn't a threat; it was just a friendly piece of advice." He interjected, barely keeping his voice steady. "I thought we agreed we aren't friends anymore."
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