"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
Ivy blinked, a mask of indifference slipping into place. "Oh." She mouthed her gaze fixed on nothing in particular as she raised her brow in realization. "So that's your next plan. to kill me?" She chuckled, eating the small distance between them. Now her face was mere inches away from Irene. "I know we fight, but I never thought you felt that way." Irene maintained her stern expression, their eyes never leaving each other's as they tried to match up the intimidating gaze. "Now you do know, I hope you've grasped the depth of my hatred." Irene eyed her in disgust, her voice icy. Ivy chuckled again, her eyes piercing. "Bring it on, it's like I haven't felt that danger before I can face it again." She countered with defiance blazing in her eyes. "I've danced with darkness, Irene, and I've come out unscathed," Ivy countered, defiance blazing in her eyes. Irene's shoulder rose in a careless shrug, her eyes rolling in mockery. "I might walk away with a smile, " Ivy continued, a fie
Ivy hopped into her car, shutting the door behind her and effectively blocking out the tension-filled encounter with Irene. She didn't intend to give Irene's words another thought her sister wasn't a threat, not anymore. Ivy's confidence and newfound resilience had rendered Irene's venomous words powerless. "Get me out of here," she told the driver, her voice firm but calm. As the car pulled away from the curb, Ivy reached into her purse and retrieved her phone. She checked the time, only to find several missed calls registered on the screen. Her brow furrowed as she scrolled through the list, her eyes narrowing at an unfamiliar number. She frowned, trying to recall if she had saved the number or if it was a wrong dial. The area code looked familiar, but the prefix didn't ring a bell. "Who could this be?" she muttered to herself, attempting to dial the number, but a text came in. *I am in the city. Call me immediately you see this message.* Now more confusion. Ivy just s
Judy couldn't help but smile at the couple with their display of love. Her heart swelled with joy that at least she didn't return to find the same ivy for a long time. She had a life now, a good one at that, and by the look of things, she had a husband who treasured her. Her gaze fell to the floor, waiting for them to finish their reunion. “Going out now?” Ivy asked as her eyes narrowed at him. Zack nodded, his expression turning serious. “Something came up, and I have to find out, you know, yesterday's situation,” he replied ambiguously for privacy protection; after all, there was a stranger in the room. Ivy caught on to his hint and smiled, cupping his cheek. “Take care and keep me informed.” Zack smiled back and motioned to leave, but Ivy suddenly held his hand, stopping him. “Sorry, I haven't introduced you yet,” she said, glancing at Judy. “This is my aunt Judy, my father's sister. She just returned from abroad.” Judy stepped forward with a smile, stretching her hand for a h
Roy's voice was laced with skepticism, his eyes narrowing. "We both saw him blow up in that explosion, Zack. What makes you think he'd still be alive?" Zack's jaw clenched, his gaze unwavering. "I know what I saw old man. And I know what I felt. He looks just like him, and I want to find out." Roy raised an eyebrow, incredulity etched on his face. He couldn't bring himself to back out of the argument because he strongly believed that it wasn't in any way possible. "The explosion was catastrophic. No one could've survived. Whoever you saw was playing for a fool, perhaps an impostor—" "I want to believe that," Zack interrupted him, jamming the locker, the impact echoing through the room. "I really want to believe that and no matter how I tried to be in denial; I couldn't." He said, his voice dropping to a whisper. He then looked away, his expression turning thoughtful. "I wanted to believe he was an imposter, but his behavior, his voice, had to be him. Initially, I had been fooling
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