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
FLASH BACK Irene slammed the car door shut and slumped into the back seat, still reeling from Ivy's words and behavior. Such audacity! Nothing shakes her up anymore, and her fearlessness has struck a nerve. She pounded into the leather upholstery, her fists clenched in frustration."If you're angry, don't take it out on the car," Ethan said calmly, his eyes reflected in the rearview mirror, a hint of annoyance in his voice.Irene's gaze snapped to his, her anger momentarily redirected. "Shut up and drive. Mind your business, Ethan," she snapped, her voice low and even.Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Someone needs to mind yours, Irene. You're going to wear yourself out," he said, averting his eyes as he let out a sigh. "A few minutes ago you looked defeated, and now you're like a lioness. You have emotional problems, Irene. I was angry, and I have calmed down, so you do too."Irene's lips curled into a sarcastic smile. "Concerned about my well-being, Ethan? How touching. If you're really
END OF FLASHBACKIrene's eyes refocused on the present, precisely the glass of water in front of her, the sounds of the bustling restaurant replacing the echoes of her thoughts. She sat across from Ivy and Judy, the dim lighting and soft hum of conversation enveloping them."He showed himself to you?" Ivy's eyes widened in surprise, her voice laced with doubt. "He's alive, then why is he hiding from me? I don't understand." Her gaze drifted, welling up with unshed tears.Judy gently stroked Ivy's shoulder to calm her down, her eyes fixed on Irene, whose lips were twitching in anger.Their table, nestled in a quiet corner of the restaurant, was set with crisp linens and fine china. The aroma of freshly baked bread and roasting vegetables wafted through the air, contrasting with the tension at their table.Irene's hands clenched into fists as she grabbed Ivy's hand on the table, her nails digging into her palms. "Don't be so surprised, daddy's girl." She spat, her face twisted in annoya
The restaurant's patrons began to stare, mesmerized by the unfolding drama. Some nearby diners started whispering to their companions, wondering what's going on over at their table. The prying eyes were intensely steady on them as the whispers grew louder. The waiter, sensing the tense atmosphere, decided to approach them, the smile on his face faltering. "Is everything okay, ladies? Can I get you something to—" "Yes," Judy interrupted, her voice firm and laced with a hint of sarcasm. "And do tell, is there anything special on the menu that might help these ladies... unwind?" She raised an eyebrow, her gaze flicking between Ivy and Irene. "Something very, very spicy and hot, I think they need it. A culinary defibrillator, perhaps?" The waiter's eyes widened slightly, sensing the undercurrents of tension. "Ah, well, we do have our signature 'Inferno Wings' – not for the faint of heart, I assure you." Ivy and Irene's eyes flashed with irritation and confusion, momentarily putting
"I hope so." Ivy chuckled as they settled in the back seat. Her mind momentarily shifted back to the main situation - the reason why they had gathered in the first place. "So dad didn't die?" Ivy smiled, feeling a surge of euphoria, but a tingle of uncertainty still lingered. "But why is he hiding from me?" Judy twitched her eyebrow indifferently and shrugged. "He has his reasons, so don't bother yourself if he doesn't want to see you—""You didn't look so surprised when Irene told us he is alive." Ivy responded abruptly, her eyes narrowing at Judy in suprise. "You knew, didn't you?" Judy's eyes darted, taken aback by Ivy's observation for a moment before regaining her composure. "What makes you think that?" Judy chuckled and avoided eye contact, attempting to sound nonchalant.Ivy's gaze didn't waver, her expression turning serious. "Your reaction, or lack thereof, when Irene shared the news. You didn't seem shocked or surprised at all."Judy's expression turned guarded as she fina
"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