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 their attention, and they saw the crying Ivy watching their lovemaking in silence. "IVY!" Dave shouted, surprised to see her. Ivy was still shedding tears, swallowing what she felt like saying to him right there. He looked to be enjoying himself well, f**king her sister. "Oh." That was the one word Irene pronounced when she saw Ivy. "How could you? Why... why did you do this to me? Why... Dave... Why..." Ivy choked on her words. Her tears continued falling from her eyes. "You can't knock, or is there something wrong with your knuckles? Why are you even here?" Dave asked as he hurriedly stood up to meet her. Ivy pushed him away with all the strength she could muster. Her love for him was slowly turning to hatred. "Hey, that's rude," Irene spat, looking at her in contempt. "Really, Irene, is that what you have to say to me?" Ivy was displeased with her sister; there was no remorse in her eyes after what she has done. "You are so evil." "Hey, speak properly or I'll..." "Do what?" She mustered the courage to challenge her. "Ivy, go home. Go home!" Dave said in an authoritative tone. "Really, so you can continue to cheat on me behind my back? Huh, you are so shameless." She was beyond cheated; she was betrayed by the people she loved and trusted. "Fine, then never go back to my house; you are not welcome there anymore," Dave said with no remorse. "Your house, really Dave, how can you say that..." Her tears continued flowing down her cheek. "You cheated on me and you... you said you loved me and want to spend your whole life with me... you lied to me... you lied to me." Her voice cracked. "Deal with it. I never loved you, I only love Irene," he confessed. Ivy was heartbroken. When did it start, how did it happen without her knowing or suspecting anything? She was a fool to trust him, even giving up everything just to be with him. Her sister, she never thought she'd see the day she would betray her like this. "You b****!" Her anger surfaced. Irene frowned. "Hey." "Show her some respect," Dave defended her. "Show respect to a dog?" *PAK!* She received a slap for that; she flinched and lifted her face to see who it was. It was her boyfriend, no, her cheating fiancé. Her face turned red from the slap; the pain was nothing compared to what she felt in her heart. Her blood was boiling, so hot that heat was emitting from her body, and Dave could feel the heat from where he was. "BETRAYALS, GO TO HELL!" She shouted with anger and pain. She ran out of the room and left the apartment that brought out hidden secrets. If she hadn't come to find her sister, she wouldn't have known how ruthless they were to betray her. "AND DON'T TOUCH MY CAR!" Dave's voice resounded from inside. Ivy understood; she had nothing left. No house, no car, no boyfriend, and no family. All that was left was a little money in her purse; even her account was gone, nothing left of her hard-earned money. The day that was supposed to bring happiness brought pain and despair. Where was she going to go from there? Where would she start? No room over her head to plan what to do next; how could she plan on what to do next when the pain in her heart was greater than anything she had ever felt before in her life? She cried while walking, not caring if people saw her in her bitter state. Her world was over, her dreams shattered. Her plans on life, everything turned to shreds just because she fell in love with a man. Her state was a mess as people were pointing fingers at her. "What is wrong with her? She looks pathetic." "Yeah, she looks like she just fell from hell." "Poor thing." "I think I recognized her. Isn't she the once-famous actress who gave up her career for unknown reasons?" "Yes, it's her. Gosh, it looks like things didn't go well for her." "I wonder who broke her heart, or did she lose someone?" "Look at her, so pathetic." Ivy wasn't listening to all the comments; she was too heartbroken to do so. She wasn't looking her way and she bumped into someone. "Hey, watch out." She was too befuddled to apologize to the stranger, and she continued walking. "Come back here." The stranger pulled her hair forcefully to get her to apologize. She couldn't scream in pain either as she gritted her teeth through the forceful pull. "Apologize, you perv." She didn't, and he pushed her; she fell to the ground and remained there. "Hey, perv, get up, okay, hey, I didn't kill you so get up." She still remained on the ground with no response. The stranger looked left and right, back and front, then ran away before people thought he killed someone. Ivy stood up and walked her way; that was the method she came up with to get her to leave her. She wasn't ready to get into a fight after what happened to her, no way, or she might subject herself to a beating. She turned her head and saw a sign at the corner of the busy road. 'COMFORT NIGHT CLUB' Yeah, she needed comfort.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
The video of her crying on the road has gone viral. That fateful day, she was too driven by distress to the point that she didn't care how she appeared in public. She was too in pain to care about her actions. The vivid location where she was found was precise. Judging by the angle it was taken, her tears and pain were exposed to the public in a matter of a few days. Most of the comments were sympathetic towards her, while others were derisive. She was back in the entertainment news. "Poor thing, what happened to her?" "Was it a heartbreak? I don't remember any news about her having any relationships." "She is so pathetic, it seems like life hasn't been good to her since she left the industry." "So miserable, I'm sure it's a heartbreak..." "Maybe she lost someone..." "How could she cry like that on the road?" "It's clearly her, it's been a long time since we heard from her. I wonder what she's into now..." Tired of all the comments, she put her phone away. She was sure that i
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