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," Zack exclaimed, pushing through the crowd. "You okay?" Ivy breathed a sigh of relief as she quickly dispatched from the group that surrounded her, striding in Zack's direction. "I'm fin—" but before she could finish, Zack interrupted her. "Where were you?" he demanded, his brow furrowed in concern as he wrapped his hand around her. The crowd made way for them, but among all of them, some of the girls were observant enough to notice the person who had come to rescue Ivy. Though he still had his hood covering his head, the way he held Ivy so protectively was enough to get people to realize who he was. "Isn't that Zack Anderson!" one remarked, tugging at the sleeve of her friend. "Oh my God..." The others, upon hearing the girl, glanced in their direction but didn't dare take a step, as it was common knowledge that Zack never condoned any rowdy behavior, especially from fans or nosy members of the public as a whole. Meanwhile, Zack guided Ivy away from the crowd, their wh
Zack could feel the bed sheets ruffle as Ivy turned in her sleep. It had been like that for the past few minutes, and it was causing him concern. He tossed around only to find Ivy in a different condition. She was dragging the sheets, her eyes closed, her body squirming as she twisted back and forth. "Ivy, Ivy!" he called, cupping her cheeks. Her eyes fluttered open, and a single tear strayed down her cheek. Zack was taken aback for a split second before holding her close, burying her face inside his chest. "Are you okay?" he whispered, stroking her back as he kissed her hair. "I'm sorry I disturbed you," Ivy's voice came out weak and almost inaudible as she nestled deeper into his chest. "It's alright; it's just a nightmare," Zack whispered in her ear, gently lifting her face. Ivy wiped the tear from her eyes and pulled away from Zack's embrace. Leaning on the pillow, she looked away, still reeling from what she had seen. "It wasn't just a nightmare; it's a reoccurrence of the past
Ivy knew Zack was right, but it was hard to forget, even when she was willing to let go of it. She had tried locking away the memories and had succeeded for a few years, but this particular year brought back a lot of old wounds. The situation that had led to another and spiked up the ache consuming her, despite her best efforts to move on, felt like a fresh cut.She sighed deeply, her gaze still fixed on Zack's as she reached out with her hand to find his, which was resting on her head. "I will. I'll try harder." She nodded, whispering a promise more to herself than to him.Zack's fingers intertwined with hers, his touch warm and reassuring. He gently squeezed her hand and whispered back, "You just have to let me be here for you. Let me help you heal."Ivy's gaze drifted closed as she smiled warmly. "I will; after all, I have your shoulders to cry on." They both chuckled in unison as they pulled into another embrace."Thanks," Ivy muffled against Zack's chest. He held her tightly and
Zack crossed his arms, staring deeply at her without responding. After what seemed like forever in silence, he finally spoke up. "Alright, I won't stop you; it won't hurt to gift our deceased loved ones flowers once in a while." Ivy's smile widened as she stood up and enveloped him in a tight hug. "You're right. For the last time though...." She paused her expression sombre. "it's my mother's death anniversary; I just recalled this morning," she whispered and shut her eyes, enjoying the warm embrace. "Don't cry yourself out," Zack teased, stroking her back gently. "I certainly won't," Ivy shot back, her voice laced with determination. "Not anymore." A few seconds passed before she released him from her grip and planted a soft kiss on his lips. "Goodbye. I know I won't meet you when I get back." "You will," Zack replied almost abruptly, brushing his lips against hers as he wrapped his hand around her waist. "I have something to do today, so I'll be home by noon." He added and
"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
Susan's eyes widened in surprise, but she quickly composed herself and hurried around to the driver's side of the car. "Okay, Ivy, let's get out of here," she said softly, starting the engine.Meanwhile, Anna merely stood by, observing as Ivy's car disappeared into the distance. It appeared that her pleasant chat with Ivy would need to be postponed, as it was clear that Ivy had her own issues to address. Anna sighed and shook her head, feeling a pang of concern for Ivy. She had no idea what was going on but made a mental note to reach out to Ivy later and check in on her.As she turned to head back to her own car with her PA, she noticed a figure watching her from across the parking lot. It was a man, and the moment their eyes met, the man turned away and hurried out of the parking lot."I think that's a paparazzo," her PA suddenly spoke up from behind her, having also noticed the man."Or a journalist," Anna remarked. "Either way, we should be careful," Anna continued, her eyes scann
Ivy blinked incredulously as she stared at her father. Was he being serious? "You want me to lie under oath and perjure myself to save Jeremy's skin?" she spat, her voice trembling with rage.Steve's expression remained impassive, as though nothing else mattered to him. "I'm not asking you to lie, Ivy," he said, his voice smooth as silk. "I'm asking you to... refrain from testifying for the sake of our family, and I promise I'll make sure that after Jeremy serves just a few years, he will never bother you again."Ivy laughed in disbelief. "You're kidding, right? After everything he has done, you want to manipulate the whole situation and lighten his sentence?"Steve's face darkened, and for a moment, Ivy thought she saw a flicker of anger in his eyes. But then, his expression smoothed out again, and he spoke in a tone that was almost... reasonable."Ivy, listen to me. Jeremy made a mistake, okay? He's sorry for what he did, and he's willing to face the consequences. But if you testi
Susan's eyes widened in surprise, but she quickly nodded and signaled to the host that Ivy was ready to continue. Ivy took a deep breath, smoothing out her dress and pasting a bright smile on her face. She was determined to get through this, no matter what.As she walked back onto the stage, the audience applauded again, and Ivy waved, her smile never wavering. The host greeted her warmly and introduced the next segment of the show. Meanwhile, Ivy's eyes scanned the audience, her gaze locking onto her father and aunt, who were still sitting in the front row.Instantly, Ivy's anger and resentment simmered again, but she took a deep breath, determined to keep her cool. She was going to get through this, and she was going to make sure that her father and aunt didn't ruin it for her. They really had guts showing up here; whatever the reason, it didn't seem good.With a newfound sense of determination, Ivy refocused on the show, answering the host's questions with poise and confidence. She
Two days flew by in a whirlwind of preparations for the talk show. Ivy's days were filled with rehearsals, interviews, and wardrobe fittings. Susan was a constant presence, guiding Ivy through the process. Zack, on the other hand, kept a low profile, but Ivy could sense his eyes on her, watching her every move. It was as though he was scrutinizingly waiting for any mishap.As the day of the talk show approached, Ivy's nerves began to fray. She had always been comfortable in the spotlight, but this time felt different. She couldn't shake the feeling that facing an audience was a terrible idea. It wasn't supposed to be the case, but with everything that had happened lately, she needed time to heal. The nightmare and recollection had been haunting her; it worsened, and it was taking a toll on her appearance.Her eyes were always moist from crying late in the night despite her resolve not to shed tears. She couldn't brush off the pain, grief, and guilt that was eating her up.With thought
Zack shot out of bed and made his way to the door. Meanwhile, as Ivy watched him go, she felt a sense of trepidation. Who could be visiting her now?As Zack opened the door, he spoke in a low tone to Xavier. Ivy couldn't quite make out what they were saying, but she could tell that Zack was not happy.After a moment, Zack turned and walked back into the room, his expression grim as he locked eyes with Ivy."It's your manager."*****Meanwhile, Susan had already made herself at home in the living room, sitting on the couch, sipping a glass of water that Xavier had offered her.As Zack entered the room, Susan stood up, a bright smile plastered on her face. "Zack," she said, extending a manicured hand. "It's so good to see you."Zack's expression remained grim, and he ignored Susan's outstretched hand. "What are you doing here, Susan?" he asked bluntly.Susan's smile faltered for a moment, but she quickly recovered. "I came to see Ivy, of course," she said matter-of-factly. "I've been tr
Zack and Ivy exchanged glances, wondering who it could be. But then Ivy began to have a sinking feeling in her stomach. "I can take a rough guess," she said, slumping back on the bed and mouthing, "Judy." Zack's expression hardened, and he quickly got up from the bed and strode out of the room. "Let her in," he instructed Xavier, and Xavier nodded and hastened down the stairs. Zack followed suit. Judy was allowed in shortly meanwhile Zack had already taken a seat in the living room, his expression twisted in annoyance as he locked eyes with her. "What do you want?" he asked, his voice flat, as if bored by her presence. Judy's eyes were soft and gentle, scanning the whole room, expecting to see Ivy, but there was no sign of her. "Where is she?" Judy asked, her voice slightly trembling, her eyes scanning the room again as if hoping to catch a glimpse of Ivy. Zack's expression remained impassive, his arms crossed over his chest. "She's not available to see you right now,"
Zack's arms wrapped tightly around Ivy, holding her close as she sobbed uncontrollably. He knew a storm was raging within her. He had somewhat expected she would feel broken, but this—it was way more than he had anticipated. She wasn't just broken; she was shattered. The pain and anguish that ravaged her face was evident.Zack held her close, trying to absorb some of the pain that seemed to be tearing her apart. The truth behind her emotions seemed to be consuming her.Ivy's sobs slowly began to subside, and she pulled back from Zack, her eyes red and puffy from crying. She looked up at him, and for a moment, their eyes locked in a silent understanding."Ivy," Zack whispered, his voice barely audible. "I'm sorry about your mom. Irene told me everything."Ivy's eyes searched Zack's face for a moment before she wiped her tears. "She did?"Zack nodded and took her hands in his, his eyes locked on hers. "Whatever happened was devastating, and I'm extremely worried about you." He hesitated
Ivy tossed and turned relentlessly in her bed, her eyes fluttering open to a scene that felt all too real. She was standing in her living room, but it wasn't the warm and cozy space she knew. It was cold and tense, with police officers looming over her dad."Mr. Steve, I'm afraid with the evidence we found, we need to take you in for questioning," one of the officers said, his voice firm but polite.Steve's face was pale with shock, his eyes wide with fear. "What evidence?" he demanded, his voice trembling.The officer hesitated, his expression unreadable. "We can't disclose that right now. But we do have enough to arrest you on suspicion of murder."Steve repeated, his voice shaking, "Murder? No... I didn't kill anyone."The officer's expression remained stern. "Steve, please turn around and put your hands behind your back. You're under arrest."Ivy watched in horror as the officers handcuffed her dad and led him away. She tried to scream, but her voice was frozen in her throat.She