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
Zack sat in his dimly lit living room, the soft glow of the evening chandeliers casting long shadows on the walls. His eyes were fixed on the old, worn photograph he had retrieved from the Anderson Mansion earlier that day. The image, faded with time, showed the young version of his friend Chris standing proudly beside him, their faces etched with smiles. Zack's gaze lingered on Chris's face, as if searching for answers. Is he truly alive? If he was, then why was he playing mind games with him? The silence in the room seemed oppressive, punctuated only by the occasional footsteps of the servants walking to and fro, probably preparing dinner. Zack's thoughts drifted back to the night before when he met Chris. The way he acted showed he wasn't happy to reunite with him, which made Zack initially think he might be an impostor. But thinking deeply about it, he concluded that the man must be Chris; an impostor can't impersonate him so perfectly, even though his behavior was question
Ivy's face contorted in shock and empathy. She reached out, gently touching Zack's arm, her voice laced with conviction. "Zack, that was... a... smart... choice." She trailed off when she noticed the anguish and skepticism in Zack's eyes. "Smart choice?" Zack repeated, his voice laced with pain and disbelief. "How can you say that, Ivy? Roy chose to save only me. How can he give up a life for another?" Ivy's hand withdrew, her expression apologetic. "No, Zack, I didn't mean it like that. I meant that... under the circumstances..." She hesitated, searching for words, inwardly berating herself for saying something disheartening like that. Honestly, the situation was terrifying. She couldn't imagine herself in such a predicament. It made her wonder just how Zack navigated his way through all of that. Ivy's lips parted to speak, but she fumbled with the right words to comfort him and reason with him. "I don't know, Zack. But maybe... maybe Roy thought you were in greater danger or... o
"Smithson," Zack repeated, his eyes glazed over, lost in thought."You've heard the name?" Ivy asked, her brow furrowed, momentarily interrupting her conversation with Irene.Zack slowly nodded, his gaze drifting back to Ivy's face. "Yes, I made an investment in his company. Everything will finalize tomorrow. But I'm not certain it's your...father." He trailed off, seeming to remember something. He immediately reached out for his phone and dialed a number. Ivy's eyes followed his every movement, confusion etched on her face.The line went through, and Bryan's voice rang out, low but vibrant. "Hello, sir..." But before he could complete whatever he wanted to add, Zack cut him off, suddenly hurling an unexpected question at him."Do you remember Mr. Smithson having a thin scar on his cheek?" Zack asked, while Ivy shifted closer to Zack, leaning in, her ears straining to catch every word.Bryan's voice continued. "Yes, sir, Mr. Smithson had a thin scar on his left cheek. But I'm not sure
Ivy's hands trembled as she smoothed her dress, her mind racing with memories of her father's absence. She felt like a fragile vase, on the verge of shattering. What would he say? Would he apologize? Or would he dismiss her feelings? Her nerves began to fray, but Zack's reassuring grip on her hand helped calm her. But as they arrived at the location, her heart pounded in her chest. What would she find? Would her father finally explain why he never came back until now? So many disturbing questions that would never go away until they were finally answered, and she was getting right at it.She took a deep breath and glanced at Zack with a curt nod. But then a brief furrow of awareness struck her. "Are you the one supposed to finalize the deal with Smithson's business?" Ivy asked incredulously, as it had just occurred to her that Bryan could handle such a small operation without Zack's direct involvement. He had multiple businesses and more important dealings to attend to, yet he chose t
Following Zack and Bryan's quick departure from the room, Smithson positioned himself with his back turned, engrossed in thought, intentionally ignoring Ivy. Meanwhile, Ivy remained standing in the suffocating silence, completely taken aback as she fixated incredulously on her father's distant figure. It would be false if she denied her conflicting emotions — a mix of happiness upon seeing her father alive and well, yet also frustration toward his callous and neglectful behavior. Ivy exhaled deeply and closed the distance between them. "Ignoring me," she began, her voice low and controlled, but her displeasure was palpable. "It seems to be the habit you've learned over the years." He still didn't respond nor turn to look at her, but his expression, away from Ivy's eyes, remained blank and emotionless. "You changed your name from Steve to Smithson so I shouldn't recognize you. Why?" Ivy asked, slowly eating up the short distance. "I asked a question that requires an..." She sighed
"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