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 nailed the audition; her raw energy and convincing portrayal of the rugged character impressed the judges. As she exited the audition room, she exhaled deeply, her face flushed with excitement. She felt a sense of pride and accomplishment.As she approached Susan, a satisfied smile tugged at her lips, and Susan immediately caught the hint."I know you will rock this. I'm sure there saw no need for a callback," Susan said, flashing her a thumbs-up, her eyes shining with pride. "You owned that audition room, Ivy! I'm so proud of you."Ivy's smile widened, her confidence soaring. "Thanks, Susie."Susan nodded. "Now, let's get out of here." Then she leaned closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Remember, your hubby is waiting outside."As they walked out of the audition room, Ivy spotted Zack Lamborghini at the corner of the window, the wind down revealing his warm smile as he beckoned her over.Ivy smiled back, knowing there had to be more than one reason why Zack would pick her u
The air livened with excitement as the esteemed guests gracefully glided through the crimson carpet, making their way to a luxurious celebration within. Tonight, Lux Perfume empire marks the commemorated 50th anniversary, a milestone marking five decades of elegance and sophistication. As all the VIPs stepped into the venue, they were greeted with flashing cameras as reporters eagerly approached them, clamoring for exclusive quotes and photos. Irene and Dave weren't left out; their smiles widened at the cameras, feeling a sense of pride as their hands intertwined. Just then, the velvet curtains parted, and Ivy and Zack emerged, commanding the attention of the entire room. The reporters immediately stepped onto the crimson carpet to welcome the particular esteemed guest. Ivy stunned in a daring red gown, her raven hair cascading down her back as she flashed a captivating smile. Beside her, Zack stood tall in his tailored tuxedo. His piercing gaze swept the room. They had th
Irene's cryptic words etched on Ivy's mind, leaving her wondering what Irene could possibly be up to this time. She figured Irene would never get tired of causing havoc in her life and didn't plan to stop.Taking a sip of her drink, she scanned the crowd and caught Irene mingling with the rest of the guests and Dave. When they locked eyes, Irene didn't smile nor smirk as usual; instead, she averted her gaze.Her feelings of unease still lingered, making her wary of what could erupt at any time since it had become a normal occurrence for unwanted situations to arise out of nowhere.She turned back to the barman, requesting another glass. She decided to focus on the event, successfully brushing off her feelings of unease.Upon noticing the old man had fewer people swooping over him, she sprang from the stool, attempting to grab his attention, but then she began to notice something strange.Some of the guests were sneaking glances at her, immediately looking away when she met their gaze.
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