"Irene, you okay?" Dave quickly wrapped his arms around her as Ethan guided her into the car. Dave's face was filled with concern, yet his eyes flashed with a hint of anger as Ivy's words were like a constant taunt in his head. After his conversation with Ivy—more like an argument—he swiftly hurried to Irene's location to get her out of the situation.Irene didn't respond; instead, she just relaxed onto the leather seat, her eyes fluttering closed. She took deep breaths, her chest heaving as she fought the urge to break down.Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. The tension in her body began to dissipate, yet her anger simmered, overshadowing her exhaustion.Ethan, who was seated in the front seat, tilted his head back. His concerned gaze lingered on her face before he returned his attention to the road. "Calm down already; we'll figure this out," he assured, but suddenly Dave snapped, his eyes blazing with anger. "This is all your fault, Ethan—
Ivy lounged on her plush bed with her head nestled in Zack's lap as she spoke into the phone. "How does it feel to be stabbed in the back, sister?" she purred, a sly smile spreading across her face. "I bet you're fuming right now.""You think destroying my reputation will make me stop?" Irene's voice came out sharp and stern. "You have no idea how far I'm willing to go to make you regret."Ivy crossed her legs, swaying gently, her expression bored as she listened to Irene's empty threats. "Oh, I'm scared," she taunted, pretending to shiver. "Irene, you're so predictable."Zack's fingers traced gentle patterns on Ivy's scalp as he listened to their conversation. His face was blank, yet his eyes sparkled with amusement."As I go down, I'll take you down with me." Irene's furious response was palpable, even through the phone.Ivy just rolled her eyes at Irene's empty threats; it seemed that retaliating was all she could do, and it was obvious based on her current situation. Alternatively
Chris's words hung in the air like a deadly promise. The silence on the other end was palpable as the voice knew Chris's words were firm and resolute. "Understood," the trembling voice replied. "I'll... I'll ... get him before the police do." "Good." Chris ended the call, his gaze lingering on the dark wall. His mind was racing with possibilities of how Jake would escape his cell. Perhaps he got outside help; whoever it was, he had no idea, but he refused to take the risk of leaving him to roam freely. Jake knew too much, and he couldn't afford to keep him alive. It was either prison or death. "What's going on, Chris?" Suddenly, Kate's voice snapped him out of his thoughts. She had entered the room, her face etched with concern. Chris tossed her a brief glance; his serious expression disappeared, replaced by a wry smile. "Nothing. Go back to bed; we have another round," he said casually, his smile turning sly as he guided her out of the room.*****Ivy's eyes drifted toward Susan,
Ivy stepped out of the bathroom, her hair styled and makeup applied, ready for a night out at the cinema with Anna. They had plans to watch *Tomboy Donna* together.However, as she reached for her purse on the bedside table, her hand brushed against something unexpected—a movie ticket.She picked it up, her brow furrowing in confusion as she scanned the front. "*Tomboy Donna's*" was printed on the ticket. The particular ticket wasn't hers, as she was very sure she had one inside her purse. Then who had bought the ticket?Just then, Zack emerged into the room, wearing a black hoodie that cast a shadow over his face. "Hello, wifey," he said softly, holding out another hoodie. "Put this on."Ivy's eyes narrowed, curiosity getting the better of her. "What's going on?" she asked, a small smile curling up her lips as her eyes sparkled with amusement. "When did you even get back?"Zack's smile widened as he tossed the hoodie. "Come on, quick! We don't want to be late!" he urged her as he gen
As they stepped out of the car, the cinema's cozy atmosphere enveloped them. Soft golden light, plush seats, and the scent of popcorn set the stage for a relaxing movie night. The distant hum, muted murmurs of hushed conversations, and occasional laughter filled the air, building excitement for the feature presentation."Let’s go get popcorn," Zack whispered in her ear as they slowly approached the glass cases displaying an assortment of snacks. With a smile, Ivy wrapped her hands around his arm, pulling him closer as they walked. "I'm so down for that," she whispered back, her eyes sparkling with excitement.As they entered the cinema, Zack and Ivy blended in with the crowd, enjoying the anonymity, making sure their hoodies covered their foreheads properly to avoid unwanted attention. As they reached the concession stand, Zack, ever the gentleman, asked Ivy, "What would you like, my love?""My love?" Ivy raised an eyebrow with a mischievous smile. Then her expression turned thoughtfu
AT THE PARKING LOT "IVY. IVY!" Zack called out, his voice laced with urgency and concern as he searched every nook and cranny for Ivy, but there was no sign of her anywhere. "Where did she go just now? How could she leave without telling me?" Zack complained as he stood by the side of the road. He let out a frustrated sigh, his eyes still scanning the whole place; yet it was as if she had suddenly disappeared. How come he didn't noticed it immediately? Or was she playing tricks on him? It wouldn't be so surprising if she were teasing him. Typical wifey, as for the last few days she had learned the habit of teasing him. "Ivy, this isn't funny. Come out wherever you're hiding!" Zack pleaded, his voice tinged with worry and frustration despite concluding it was a sick joke of hers. He searched between cars, thinking she might be hiding somewhere close by, yet there was no sign of her. Upon sensing no response despite his pleading tone, a faint unease crept up his spine; the silen
"How have you been... emerald?" "Emerald." The name mentioned has piqued Zack's curiosity. His brow furrowed as he leaned in closer to get a better view of the man's face. The more he tried, the more Chris repelled backwards, denying him a direct view. And the voice. It was oddly... familiar. He was certain it must be the same man who had called him at the time Ivy was discharged from the hospital after her accident. And the voice had also addressed him as Emerald. "Who are you?" Zack demanded, his voice stern and low, as he stepped closer, his eyes narrowing into slits. "And how do you know that name?" He bit out each word, his jaw clenched. Chris's expression remained impassive, but a flicker of amusement flashed in his eyes. "I'm someone who knows more about you than you're comfortable with," he replied, his voice smooth as silk, dripping with an air of confidence. Zack's gaze intensified, irked by the stranger's tone. He seemed to be toying around, and he hated it. "And thi
Ivy cursed silently, her eyes widening in horror. Her mind was too preoccupied with thoughts of the stranger to be mindful of her disguise. Now her hood had slipped off, her identity exposed. "I messed up," I muttered, sighing in frustration as the girls bombarded her with excited questions. "Are you really Ivy, the movie star?" one of them squealed, her voice piercing the air as she bounced up and down. "Oh my god, I love your movies!" another fan exclaimed. Ivy's face burned with embarrassment as she hastily tried to adjust her disguise, but it was too late. The damage was done. "Can I get a selfie with you?" a third girl asked, already posing beside Ivy. Ivy was so tempted to roll her eyes. Why ask now when most of them had already taken her photo without asking for her permission? The girl shifted closer, ready to tap on the camera, but Ivy quickly pulled away. "No, no, no," she protested, attempting to ward off the enthusiastic fans, but they swarmed her, cameras
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