She arrived at the courthouse, patiently waiting for her soon-to-be husband, but there was no sign of him yet. A few hours passed, and he still hadn't arrived. Ivy was getting impatient. She tried calling him, but he wasn't picking up her calls.
"What is taking him so long, he should be here by now," she said, wiping the bead of sweat from her face. Worry was making her sweat, even though it wasn't hot. It was a bright day, and she wanted to get married. Yet here she was without her husband by her side.She calmed her nerves and distracted her mind from worry by recalling good moments with him. How he confessed his love to her and how she reacted by running away to hide. She was only eighteen back then and knew nothing about love. Even when other guys asked her out, they never made her feel the way Dave made her feel.She called him again, and the same thing happened with the same result. No answer. Her makeup might get ruined before the actual event.Two more hours passed, there was still no sign of Dave, and her worry grew. She called him again, but this time there was a little change. It was not reachable. She frustratingly tossed her phone back into her purse and sat down, tapping her feet to kill time. One more hour passed, and her heart started beating rapidly with one thought ringing in her head. 'What if something happened to him, oh no, I hope not. Or maybe he was stuck in traffic, no that's not possible, it's already noon. Did he change his mind or is he nervous, no that's lame. Oh no.' She stood up immediately when a different thought crossed her mind. 'Was he kidnapped!' She scratched her head as fear overtook her.She dialed his other number, and it was also switched off, making her worry and fear only intensify.She quickly got into the car, her hands shaking on the steering wheel. She tried to steady her hands on the wheel, but it was proving really difficult as her mind was a mess. Her breathing was heavy as her thoughts were running wild. 'Please don't die, Dave. What is wrong with me? He won't die; he is... he is... oh no... I... I have to go home and see if he is there...'She tried calling him again while driving, but his phone was still switched off. She almost ran into another car while driving in a hurry. Luckily, she halted before a terrible accident would occur. She continued her journey home to check on Dave, praying silently for his safety. She didn't know what she might do if something bad happened to the love of her life.It seemed like the traffic light became an enemy trying to stop her from progressing. She impatiently hit the steering wheel while her legs were tempted to step on the acceleration and speed off.After a while, the light showed ready to go, and she blasted away with full speed, not caring if she ran into any car that obstructed her way.Finally, after a forty-five-minute drive, she arrived home. She didn't even take off her high heels and dashed inside hurriedly to see if he was inside. She didn't notice that his car wasn't parked outside. She searched the whole house but couldn't find him, called his name, but there was no reply. She didn't know any of his friends because he never introduced her to them, and she now regretted not pushing him to know his close friends and family members.She ran back to her car with no direction on how to find him. She thought of many places, but she wasn't sure she would find him there. She decided to wait until nighttime before reporting to the police station. But she needed to calm down at least before nighttime, she needed somewhere to go for the meantime. Someone crossed her mind, Irene, her elder sister and only family. They were really close, but ever since she started dating, she hardly spent time with her sister like before. When she told her that she had found true love, she wished her good luck, saying she would find hers too.She arrived at her sister's place; her apartment wasn't that fancy compared to hers, but it was cozy just like it was back when they had parents.She still remembered where Irene kept her spare keys, so she took them and unlocked the door. She got inside and noticed her apartment had changed compared to before. It was well-decorated and nice. She had a new set of furniture that was better than the first ones she had. And the new TV was the product she was invited to advertise years back at the time she decided to cancel her contract. Everything reminded her of her past career.She still looked around and found other new stuff that was not there when she visited last time. 'Isn't she home?' She didn't find Irene in the sitting room, then she went to her bedroom.As she got closer, she heard moaning sounds coming from her bedroom. She paused, not believing her ears. Her sister was hooking up with a man. She hadn't told her she had found her true love too. No, it couldn't be. She had never seen her sister with a man before. When she told her she would find hers too, she didn't believe, feeling she couldn't spend time with a man. She was too picky, deciding no man was good enough for her. Or maybe, she had finally found the 'man good enough.'She was about to turn back before she heard her sister's voice."F**k me harder like a man, or is it that she couldn't pleasure well that you lost your ability to f**k properly."Ivy moved slower as she was interested in hearing their conversation. The 'she' she heard got her curious. The man must have a girlfriend before f**king her sister."Massage my breast and kiss me harder." She went on. "Ah, that's right, that's right, ah... oh."Ivy face-palmed herself. What was she doing listening to the conversation of two people having sex? She really had crossed her limit, listening to their private conversation.She shook her head and turned around, but her movement halted when she heard someone."You have no idea how happy I am to finally dump her today, ha, ha. The naive thing must have waited for me to arrive and marry her. She must be so sick."That voice was too familiar that she placed her ears on the bedroom door to be sure she wasn't hallucinating. The man's voice sounded like Dave. No, it can't be, she refused to believe it. She was missing him too much to think he was here. But the next words shook her to her core."Ivy is such a foolish woman. Who did she take after, her dad or her mum?""Her dad, of course."Who else had hatred for her father except for Irene, and why was her name mentioned in their conversation? She was the one they had been talking about ever since. 'No.' She shook her head. She refused to believe; it can't be; her Dave would never do that, never.Her heart was breaking into pieces, her world crumbling and stabbing her deep, and she could feel it, the pain of being betrayed. "No," she stepped back. "No." She had to see it with her eyes to know if her ears were deceiving her, only then would she believe it. She hesitated, she couldn't bring herself to see what she never expected, wished for, or even thought of. Her hands were shaking, struggling to hold onto the doorknob. She forced herself to give in, to see it and clear her doubt. She opened the door slowly, still hesitating, but finally opened it wide. Tears flowed down her eyes as she saw her sister's naked body pressed against her boyfriend's, moving in sync as they made love to each other like they had no problems in the world. They didn't notice her, as they were still engaged in intimacy. Ivy sniffed, when was the last time she cried like this? When? Here she was, heartbroken. Did her sister even care about how she would feel when she found out? Her sniffing caught thei
She walked inside not hesitating for a moment, she didn't care about what might have happened. She decided to embrace life's taunts, get it over with, move on, or live on with her misery. She went straight to the bar and bought drinks with all the money she had left. The bartender just looked at her as she moved on from one bottle to another without slowing down."Hey, slow down." The bartender was worried she might choke on her drink.She ignored him and carried on, finding solace in alcohol, drinking away her sorrow. She was intoxicated with alcohol that she didn't notice she drank all four bottles. She lifted the last bottle and placed it upside down, and nothing came out. She groaned and faced the bartender."More... drinks... I need more drinks.""I'm sorry, you're too drunk to have more." Not that he wasn't allowed to sell more, he was just concerned for the pretty lady."GIVE ME! I said GIVE ME!" she was running mad."GIVE! Give... give me..." She rested her head, the shout fro
Ivy waited the whole day, but the boss didn't return. The long day was boring as she was told to only roam around the living area and her room. She accepted the hospitality, as it was a lot better than roaming the streets with no place to stay.She was about to sleep when the butler knocked on the door. "Miss, could you please come outside.""Sure," Ivy replied as she came out of the room."Well um…," he hesitated before letting it loose. "He said you should leave before he comes back.""But I want to thank him," she explained."I'm sorry, miss, you have to go," he ushered her out of the room."Please let me stay, I have nowhere to go, please," she pleaded."Miss, let me show you to the door," the butler insisted."Let me spend the night; in the morning, I'll leave. Please," she rubbed her hands together, pleading."You have to understand, I don't own this place; I am only following orders," he said apologetically."Plead with him," Ivy still insisted on staying."Miss, please this wa
Zack looked at her in disbelief, no woman would dare say that to him for as much as they wanted to. But this one woman standing in front of him showed no hesitation. Her gaze was completely fixed on him, she even smiled. He sat down on his bed and took a good look at her before replying."You said what?""Let's get married," she repeated, and this time she made it clear she was serious."You want to marry a stranger, how desperate are you?" He said, giving her a profound look. His cold stare didn't faze her as she kept a serious face eager for a positive response, in hope he agrees to her proposition. Her attitude was frightening for her demeanor, and Zack took his time to consider her initial request and her current proposition, which he never expected her to come up with. She seemed hopeless, as she has been pleading with him to let her stay, and he refused before she took his earlier conversation she overheard to her advantage. After all, no one forced him to help her in the first
A wedding suite was reserved personally for her, Zack managed to arrange all of that within a day, he was being considerate even though she would be all by herself. Tossing her phone on the exquisite bed and taking off her high heels, she intended to get a nice siesta before her phone rang. After she saw the caller's ID, she frowned and tossed it back to the bed, there was no way she was picking the call. The caller was persistent, as her phone kept ringing, she was tempted to smash her phone to make sure she never saw the caller's name, but as much as she wanted to, she refrained. There were better things to do than that, no matter how she tried to run away from her past, it will keep haunting her unless she takes action to deal with it so it never bothers her again. Her eyes caught a glimpse of something at the corner of the bed, very close to her phone. She didn't notice this before as she was too eager to rest. A black card was placed on the nightstand and she had an idea who it
The shop assistant made her decision to sell the dress to Kate. She took her card to proceed with the sale but Ivy's next reaction stunned Kate. Opening her mouth wide to spit out words of insult, but nothing came out. In fact, she was trapped in a stupor looking at the deed performed by Ivy. She flung her card to the side without hesitation and placed hers on the counter, smiling at the shop assistant who was staring at her incredulously. If she was really who Kate said she was, then her attitude was frightening for her demeanor."What... what's... the meaning of this? You..." Having recovered from the initial shock, she struggled to get her words straight.Ivy was pleased with the expression on her face. It was flushed red from anger, twitching her nose. "You are annoyed? Why are you annoyed when you started it..." Ivy smirked and turned to face the shop assistant."Let me make myself clear, I... will... be... paying... for this... dress. Understood." She emphasized her words, looki
To make Kate bankrupt was Ivy's plan all along. Kate was not wealthy in any way; she thought too highly of herself, so Ivy decided to teach her a lesson.Kate being the best friend of her sister, Ivy knew she couldn't afford to pay a dress worth $2 million without going bankrupt. Especially now that no 'Mr. Rich' was backing her. Back when they were all still in college, she dated rich guys and exchanged her body for money to survive through college. Her mother was a stripper who never spent a penny on her feeding, let alone education. Kate just had her ways of making provisions for herself. After she broke up with a rich heir a month ago, she had been single and hadn't met anyone who was up to her standard. She knew because she usually followed her on social media; if she changes her profile picture from a guy to her own photo, it is understood that they might have broken up. Just to show how arrogant she was, she foolishly squandered money with no plans for the future. She was proba
Ivy arrived at the same apartment that brought so many memories. She didn't come to cherish them or dwell in the past; she was only there to end it and move on totally."I did what you asked, ma'am.""Good, let's go then," Ivy responded, averting her eyes away from the apartment she and Dave lived. She got rid of the only thing that reminds her of his fake promises, fake affection, those bullshits about inconvenient exposure of their relationship because of her career, sacrificing what she worked hard for to please him.She vividly remembered his exact words when he proposed to her. It was her twenty-third birthday; he didn't arrange for a big party, it was just an indoor celebration. All she cared for was to be with him, in his arms. He gifted her the ring as a reminder of his love. He said 'he will love her forever, grow old together.' What a joke. She was still in her twenties so where is he now? He said those words so many times that it became a poem in her ears; that was the main
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
Irene stepped into her house, closing the door behind her as if trying to shut out the world. She stood still for a moment, her eyes scanning the familiar surroundings as if seeing them for the first time.Everything around felt hollow. If she knew recollection of the past would cause her this emptiness, she wouldn't have done it. Now she felt like she had traveled back to the past experiences she wanted to shut out for so long."Hey, why are you back so late? It's midnight," Dave sprang up from the couch, but then he noticed the distant look in Irene's eyes. "Irene?"Irene didn't respond. She just walked past him, her feet carrying her on autopilot to the bedroom. Dave's eyes followed her, concern etched on his face."Irene, what's wrong?" he asked, getting up from the couch to follow her.Irene stopped in front of the bedroom door, her hand on the doorknob. She turned to face Dave, her eyes empty and haunted."Nothing," she said flatly, "just tired."With that, she slammed the door
Fifteen-year-old Ivy's feet wobbled, drained from all the running, as she pushed through the door of her home. She panted heavily, catching her breath and meeting the stunned silence in the house.It was odd; she had expected to see her mother standing in the doorway, ready to scold her for running off like that, or perhaps to be welcomed by her sister's taunts, but there was nothing.She raised her head only to find the living room empty."Mum? Irene?" she called, scanning the room, but then someone else emerged—someone she didn't expect to see."Dad? Dad!" She kicked off her shoes and enveloped him in a tight embrace. "I've been looking for you, Dad. Where were you?"Steve pulled away, his expression somber. "I, um..." he began, his gaze on Ivy's face faltering. Ivy noticed the way his voice quaked; her eyes scanned his face, and she caught his hand trembling at his side."Dad, why the face?" Ivy asked, concern etched on her face.Steve looked away without responding; his eyes seeme
"Where could she have gone?" Zack muttered under his breath, his voice laced with frustration and fear."Xavier!" he called, massaging his temples. To be honest, he was lost on where to find Ivy."Sir." Xavier raced down the stairs, his movements hurried as he could sense something was off with his master."Was Ivy here?" Zack asked, his eyes wide with hope, but Xavier's response shattered it to pieces.He massaged his temples again, thinking just maybe... maybe she's okay, maybe she's just ignoring me, maybe she's... no, no, no, think, Zack, think... where would she go? Who would she turn to? Irene? No, she was just with Irene, and Irene said she left... left where? Left to go where? His mind was a jumbled mess, thoughts racing in every direction, none of them making sense... Ivy, where are you?Suddenly, his eyes flashed with realization. Judy! Her aunt Judy! Ivy had always been close to her aunt, and it seemed Judy was one of the few people who truly understood her, even though he