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
As soon as the meeting with her father, now apparently just known as Smithson, concluded, Ivy excused herself, citing a need for fresh air to clear her head alone. Zack, still concerned about her encounter with Smithson, offered to accompany her. Ivy reassured him she was fine and would meet him back home. With a deep breath, Ivy instructed her driver to head over to Judy's residence, but her heart continued racing with anticipation as they approached their destination. As she arrived at the cozy suburban home, Judy's welcoming smile greeted her as soon as the door opened. The warmth and love radiating from that smile was a stark contrast to her father's cold demeanor. "Aunt Judy," Ivy said, embracing her aunt tightly. "Ivy, sweetie, what brings you here?" Aunt Judy asked, concern etched on her face. "You didn't tell me you were coming." Ivy hesitated, unsure where to begin. "Well, I just came to visit." She chuckled, obviously failing in her facade. Judy's eyes narrowed s
The question hung in the air, thick and heavy. Ivy’s breath hitched as Nadia’s words landed like a direct blow. The anger that had fueled her outburst at the cemetery now mingled with a chilling dread. She looked at Nadia, really looked at her, seeing the raw grief and desperate need for answers reflected in her tear-filled eyes. This wasn't just about her own loss anymore; it was about Nadia's too. "I…" Ivy started, but her voice seemed lost. She wanted to deny it, to protect Nadia from the harsh reality, but the lie wouldn't come. How would she even explain that? She had let her anger take over, and now she had Nadia hearing her accusations. "Answer me. Is it true?" Nadia pressed firmly, her voice trembling... Ivy froze, her eyes wandering over Nadia's face. Her anger was long gone, now replaced by uncertainty. Should she tell her? But there was no proof yet, and she didn't want Nadia to get involved. "Ivy, answer me. 'Cause it seems like an accident to me. Why would you acc
As Ivy's screams echoed through the cemetery, Steve's face turned pale as he had become the center of attention. Ivy's words about him being a killer sent the mourners murmuring, whispering among themselves. Zack continued holding Ivy back, with Irene later stepping in. The fire in Ivy's eyes continued to burn fiercely, something Steve had never seen in her eyes before. This wasn't the same sweet, innocent daughter he used to know; he usually compared her to her mother, but Ivy had proved to be different—a drastic gap that sent his head spinning. He could no longer keep his cool; neither could he stand the scene unfolding, so he silently slipped out of the crowd, casting a brief yet menacing gaze at Ivy. "Ivy, please! Stop!" "You are not thinking clearly..." Zack and Irene's words faded into the background as Steve made his way to his car and slid into it, as though trying to shut himself off from the world. He couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that lingered inside him. Ivy
The sky was a deep, foreboding gray, as if it too were mourning the loss of Judy. The air was heavy with the scent of damp earth as Ivy walked behind the hearse, her eyes fixed on the polished wooden casket adorned with a spray of white lilies, Judy's favorite flowers.As they reached the gravesite, the mourners gathered around, their faces etched with grief and sorrow. But Ivy's eyes were fixed on one person alone, one person she wished she could crush, melt, break, or kill if it wasn't against the law. Steve stood in front of everyone else, his face showing the grief more than anyone else. Many would relate, after all, it's his sister that died, but Ivy saw through that facade. It seemed Steve enjoyed killing; he should start bracing himself for his own death!"Ivy. Ivy! Snap out of it, okay?" Zack called, pulling Ivy from her thoughts. "Don't cause a scene, at least not now."Ivy didn't even realize her face was scrunched like a ball that had been crushed by a hydraulic press. She
Ivy trudged through the front door, feeling emotionally drained. The image of Judy’s lifeless body repeatedly flashed before her eyes as she blinked back the tears that had threatened to fall.She felt like she was drowning, unable to escape the overwhelming ache that had settled in her chest. It stung so much that she could hardly breathe. With a shaking hand, she reached for the sofa, collapsing into it, craving the comfort that it should offer, but it never came. All she felt was numbness that refused to go away. The pain of losing a loved one... it was so familiar, so daunting, bringing back old painful memories. Judy was gone just like that? Now she was nothing more than a memory, one she wished she could bring to life once again. Tears flowed down her cheeks, having lost the will to fight them.She took a deep breath and pulled out her phone to call Zack, the one she could lean on.Zack picked up on the first ring, his voice sweet and casual. "Hey, how are you?"Ivy sniffled, tr
The courtroom erupted into chaos, and Steve's face turned beet red with anger and frustration. He abruptly stood up and stormed out of the room. Ivy watched him go, a mixture of emotions swirling inside her. She felt a sense of vindication, knowing that Jeremy had been found guilty, sooner Steve will be next.Ivy pushed the thought aside and turned to Zack, a smile spreading across her face. "We did it," she whispered, her eyes shining with tears. Zack grinned back, pulling her into a tight hug. As they hugged, Ivy's mind began to wander to Judy. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. The call from the hospital had seemed so urgent, so real. What if it wasn't a ruse? What if Judy was hurt? Ivy's smile faltered, and she pulled back from Zack. "I need to go to the hospital," she said and Zack's expression changed from celebratory to concerned. "What's wrong?" Ivy hesitated. "I don't know if the call from the hospital was real or not. But I need to check. What if Jud
The courtroom was packed as Ivy and Zack took their seats behind the prosecutor's table. Steve arrived shortly and sat across from her, his eyes cold and calculating. Ivy's heart raced as she avoided his gaze, focusing instead on the prosecutor, who was shuffling through his notes.The judge, a stern-looking woman, entered the courtroom, and the bailiff called the room to order."This court is now in session," the judge declared, her voice firm and commanding. "The case before us today is the state versus Jeremy Hale. Mr. Prosecutor, you may proceed with your opening statement."The prosecutor, a tall, imposing man with a confident smile, stood up, surveying the courtroom before beginning his statement."Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, the case before us today is a heinous crime. A young woman's life was almost cut short due to the reckless actions of the defendant, Jeremy Hale. We will present evidence that shows his actions were not only negligent but also intentional."Ivy felt a
The ride to the court felt like an eternity; it was as though the car was moving at a slow pace, which wasn't the case at all. Ivy let out a big gush of air, her mind a whirlwind of emotions. She was determined to see justice served, but the news about her aunt's accident weighed heavily on her heart.She glanced at Zack, who was seated beside her, his expression a mask of calm determination."Hey, you okay?" Zack asked, noticing her gaze.Ivy nodded, taking a deep breath. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just a bit nervous."Zack's eyes narrowed slightly. "I can tell by the way you're playing with your nails."Ivy's expression faltered for a moment as she stared at her hand and realized she had indeed been fidgeting with her nails. She dropped her hand, feeling a slight flush rise to her cheeks. "I guess I am a bit more nervous than I thought," she admitted, trying to laugh it off.Zack smiled reassuringly and took her hand in his. "It's okay to be nervous, Ivy. This is a big day. But you're prepare
Ivy stood in front of the mirror, adjusting her blazer for what felt like the hundredth time. She took a deep breath, exhaled deeply, and nodded to herself. Today was the day she'd finally face Jeremy in court and put him to justice.The door creaked open, and she turned around to find Zack dressed in a crisp, navy-blue suit, his tie perfectly knotted. He caught her eye and smiled, his expression confident."You okay?" he asked, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her close."Yeah, I am..." Ivy responded, her voice low but laced with steel. "I'm ready."Zack smiled softly, spun her around, and enveloped her in a reassuring hug. "You're going to do great."Ivy's warm smile faltered as she leaned into the comfort of his shoulders. The silence between them was soothing, filled with the gentle sound of his breathing. But the shrill ringtone of her phone pierced the calm, jolting her upright.She pulled away, her eyes locking onto the screen as she hesitated. The number was unkn
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