Joan's face twitched in annoyance, "Are you trying to tell me I am invisible?" "Slightly," Edmond glacially responded. Susan and Ivy were silently watching their tussle; they found it entertaining, especially Joan's facial expression. They hadn't seen this side of her before. Joan couldn't ignore how he constantly tried to rip her off her duty. "You've been irritating me since this morning. I am her personal assistant, not you. Stick to your job." "Oh, so you are her personal assistant? Then I am her bodyguard. And I am sticking to my job." Joan turned speechless, then it occurred to her. 'Did he know the water was drugged?' Her heart thudded, 'If he knows...' then he was really sticking to his job. "Guys, you shouldn't fight over me," Ivy tried to calm the tension between them. Joan admitted defeat, "Forget what I said to you. That was mean." She retracted the bottle of water. "You can have his, I don't mind." Ivy snorted at Joan's response. "Joan, what's the big deal?"
The night was incredibly sultry, and the lovers got lost in their passion, forgetting about their early morning filming schedule. After numerous rounds, they were too exhausted to leave bed. In a panic, they rushed to the set separately, hoping to avoid raising any suspicions among the crew. However, they both still received a stern glance from Stephen, hinting that he was onto them. They both gave lame excuses for their lateness before giving sincere apologies. Stephen and director Tim overlooked them since they were only an hour late but not without sending a warning. With that, filming started for the day. It was an outdoor scene, the sprawling backlot highlighted a mock hill school premises with green-strewn carpet grass. The sunny bright sky beckoned them to embrace the day's pleasant weather. The scene to be shot was George's first appearance in the film. After changing into his costume, he walked out of his trailer prepared to shoot his first scene. The scene introduced Ge
Ivy was surprised to see Anna waiting alone at the lobby the next morning. As she made her way towards the exit, Anna made an advancement to stop Ivy before she could leave. "Ivy, can I talk to you for a few minutes?" She had a bright smile as she spoke. Ivy agreed, and they sat down on the sofa. "Well, about what you saw yesterday..." She trailed off, biting her lips awkwardly. "Will you please keep it a secret?" Ivy shrugged. "I will." She had no free time to spread gossip around the set; it just wasn't in her personality. Anna breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you. I'm glad it was you who caught us; if it were one of the crew, there would have been a possibility of a scandal appearing in the news." Ivy smiled halfheartedly. "Yeah, we better get going..." Anna chuckled. "Oh, you're right. I really don't want to see Stephen's deep wrinkles again." They both stood up, left the hotel, and headed to the set. Anna had a few scenes for the day, while Ivy had a lot of them, bu
Anna's assistant tried to placate Anna, but she was beyond her control. She helplessly watched Anna pounce on the cleaner, lashing out at her. The others saw this and quickly tried to separate them. With the way she lost control, her assistant called Anna's manager to report her behavior. Anna, after successfully satisfying her desire for punishing the cleaners, her mind settled, and she began to reflect on her behavior. She let her anger get the best of her, realizing her reaction would intensify the gossip. But one thought stung her — Ivy. She was the only one who knew about hers and George's intimate moment in the restroom; she was certain no one else was aware. "Was she the one that started the gossip?" Her view of Ivy began to change as her mind stirred her into believing Ivy had ill will towards her. For her to gossip about their relationship, even when she pleaded with her to keep it a secret, meant she intentionally wanted her to be criticized. While her mind was concluding
[ Anna's relationship drama unfolds on set ] Another article intensified the situation, paving the way for the netizens' gossip. Anna couldn't handle her scandal, as it was taking a toll on her. She had to wear shrouding clothes to hide herself from the media. When she arrived on set the next day, she was informed that Ivy had no scene that morning, only towards dusk. During filming, her mind was in a blur. She said wrong lines many times, not to mention her inattentiveness when Director Tim was instructing her on what to do. "CUT!" He groaned with a piercing sound, his assistant had to cover his ears and step back. "What is wrong with you? You've been making so many intolerable mistakes since the start of the day." His assistant whispered in his ears. "Director Tim, I think she is distracted because of the scandal..." "What scandal?" Director Tim raised his voice, and that made the other members of the crew swerve into the gossip mood. "She cheated on her fiancé." "Was it
Ivy sat beside Director Tim, watching Anna perform. What she did brought relief, mostly to Director Tim. This time when he gave Anna instructions, she followed suit, leaving no room for mistakes. She completed her final scene without flubs, and the filming progressed quickly. After she was done for the day, the director announced a dinner break, and the two actresses decided to spend the time together. "That was really nice of you. I didn't expect you to help me after the annoying things I said to you," she said with guilt, fiddling with her spoon. "Sorry about my... you know... I really don't know how to control myself sometimes..." She quickly realized the word 'sometimes' wasn't true. "Yeah... all the time." "You shouldn't have lashed out at the cleaner or physically attacked them. It's understandable you're upset, but your reaction was definitely over the top..." Ivy responded, more like a scolding. If she were in that kind of situation, she knew exactly how to mentally handle
Ivy appeared from behind with her arms crossed, staring deeply at Kate. "An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, how interesting," she said with a hint of amusement in her voice. 'Shit,' Kate cursed silently; the smile on Ivy's face was sending shivers down her spine. Then she recalled her promise to Zack Anderson. 'F*ck, that man, if he finds out, he'll...' She was scared to dwell on the thoughts of what Zack Anderson might do if Ivy rats her out. "She sent you, didn't she?" The small smile on Anna's face faltered. "I doubt that you came here because you needed a job." Her face turned serious. Anna sensed the hostility between them. "You know her?" She asked, and Ivy replied with a shrug. "Yes." "You were trying to turn me against her..." Anna realized her motive. If she and Ivy hadn't reconciled, she would have fallen for it. "So it was you." Another realization hit her. "You were the one behind everything." Kate was well aware of Anna's anger and strength that outmatched h
"Cut! George, what is wrong with you today? Are you scared to hit her?" Director Tim was discontented with the fight scene George was performing. He would sluggishly feign a punch, and when hit, he would lazily fall down, making it seem like amateurish acting. That's because Ivy was the one he was supposed to hit. "Let's try again, and this time, make it look real. I don't have to teach you how to act..." Director Tim snarled and slumped on his throne-like chair. "Act 2, scene 224, Action!" It was the scene where Donna and her partner were having a sparring session. "Come at me," he gestured with his hands, bouncing up and down. Before he knew it, a jab landed on his jaw, and he fell to the ground, wincing in pain. "Cut!" Director Tim stood up immediately in shock. "Ivy, that punch was too heavy. Do you want to send him to the hospital?" "Served him right," Ivy muttered with a smug smile. George had been winking at her since the beginning of the scene, and it disgusted he
ONE WEEK BEFORE THE TRIAL The blanket stirred, ripping like a wave, as Zack and Ivy's bodies moved in sync. Their lips were pressed tightly together, their breath mingling in the quiet room. Ivy had her hand wrapped around Zack's neck, deepening the kiss. Her soft moans filled the room. But just as they were getting lost in the moment, the shrill ring of Ivy's phone shattered the intimacy. Ivy pulled away, reaching for her phone on the bedside table, but when she saw who the caller was, she cut the call and let out a frustrated sigh. “Judy again, isn’t it?” Zack asked, irritation creeping into his voice. Ivy nodded and slumped back on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. Judy had been blowing up her phone nonstop, sending her a barrage of texts and voicemails. It had become increasingly annoying by the day, and Ivy felt like just meeting with her and giving her a piece of her mind. On the other hand, she didn’t feel like it, as she knew Judy wouldn’t stop apologizing. “I
FEW DAYS LATERIvy sat in the therapist's office, fidgeting with her hands as she tried to process the events of the past few weeks. Firstly, discovering her father was alive, then his repulsion, then the truth behind her mother's death. She sighed. It was all too overwhelming—Zack was right, she needed help if she wanted to dive into the road of vengeance. She had to be emotionally stable to handle the heat. That's why she had agreed to visit a therapist, as the nightmares were becoming unbearable. Ivy couldn't shake off the feeling of helplessness that had consumed her for so long.Dr. Thompson, a middle-aged woman with a kind face, took a seat across from her with a warm smile on her face."Welcome, Mrs. Anderson," she greeted, and Ivy returned the smile, forcing her lips to curl up.She looked up at Dr. Thompson, who was watching her with a compassionate gaze, and she asked, feeling a sense of desperation wash over her, "Where do I even start?"Dr. Thompson leaned forward, her eye
"Ivy, Ivy," Zack called softly, standing at the door to their bedroom. Ivy had locked herself in again and refused to answer.It made Zack wonder if he had been too pushy, too insensitive. He knew Ivy was strong and capable, but he also knew that she was still vulnerable, still hurting from her past. And it was like a thorn to his heart to see her suffering.He hoped that she would forgive him, that she would understand that he was only trying to help. But as the minutes ticked by, Zack couldn't shake the feeling that he had made a mistake—one that might take some time to repair."I'm sorry, Ivy," he whispered. "I promise to listen to you, to understand you. Please, just let me in."Zack paused, hoping that Ivy would respond, but there was only silence. He sighed, feeling a pang of regret and worry. He didn't want to lose Ivy, not even for a moment. He wanted to be there for her, to hold her, to comfort her.He tried again, his voice softer, more gentle. "Ivy, please. Don't shut me ou
Once the kitchen was spotless, Ivy and Zack got to work cooking up a storm together. They chatted and joked, with Ivy doing most of the work, supervising Zack on what to do."I'll start chopping the veggies," Ivy said, picking up a knife and heading to the cutting board."What do you need me to chop?" Zack asked, standing beside her."Can you chop the bell peppers and onions?" Ivy replied, starting to chop some broccoli.Zack nodded, taking the knife from Ivy and beginning to chop the bell peppers and onions. The sound of sizzling vegetables and the aroma of stir-fry filled the air as they worked together.As they chopped and cooked, Ivy felt a sense of calm wash over her. This was what she needed – a normal, quiet evening with her husband, away from the drama and stress of her family's secrets. She wished every day could be like this, problem-free.But as they cooked, she couldn't help but think about her conversation with Irene earlier that day. She knew she had to tell Zack about i
Upon hearing Irene, Ivy recall what she had gone through a few months ago with Jake's situation. The danger, fear, and anxiety all came flooding back. Her eyes glazed over as she stared blankly into space. Was she ready to face that kind of situation again? It seemed her father's cruelty was beyond her imagination. "Having second thoughts?" Irene's voice cut through the fog, snapping her back to reality. "It would be better if we don't do anything rash, at least not now." Ivy shook her head in disapproval. She refused to sit back and do nothing while he had threatened her about Jeremy's trial. Upon drifting to this thought, she tugged on Irene's sleeve and forced her to sit back down. Irene didn't resist Ivy's pull but sighed in frustration. "We can't just sit back and do nothing, Irene," Ivy continued. "He's threatening me with Jeremy's case." Irene's brow furrowed in confusion. "Jeremy's case as in—wait." She paused, her eyes widened in shock. "Jeremy is back!" Ivy nodded a
Ivy refused to sit back and let things unfold before her eyes. Though she hadn't recovered from the trauma of her past, she had to take action.Ivy concealed her plan from Zack and her decision to investigate on her own. She needed Zack, but there were actions to be taken without Zack's help.So, the next day as Zack left the office, Ivy put on a brave face, not wanting to arouse any suspicion and also to avoid the retort of a therapist. She waited until Zack was out of sight, and with a sense of purpose and trepidation, Ivy dialed Irene's number.The line went through, and Irene's voice sounded with a hint of irritation."What do you want now?"Ivy ignored Irene's icy tone and got to her point."Let's meet up at the French bistro," she said flatly, leaving no room for protest.Irene chuckled at Ivy's slightly commanding tone, intrigued by whatever reason Ivy might have."What do you want?" Irene repeated, exasperation creeping into her voice."I'd rather discuss that in person, and I
As Zack swept her into their bedroom, Ivy's heart skipped a beat, racing with anticipation. She felt the wall against her back as Zack's strong hands pinned her in place."Late noon sex won't be so bad after all," Ivy teased as she felt Zack's hands cradle her hips, lifting her higher, his fingers digging gently into her skin.Ivy was breathless as her body was pressed closer to Zack's, their faces merely inches apart. The movement sent a thrill through her, and she felt her body responding at all turns."I'm glad you like the ideas," Zack finally spoke, a soft whisper in her ears, as he held her suspended, her hips at his mercy.Ivy's lips parted slightly, her body leaning into him. Her heart throbbed. Instinctively, she found her hand already wrapping around Zack's neck, pulling him close.She knew she should probably pull back, as it wasn't their usual position, but she couldn't help herself. She was drawn to Zack, and she didn't realize it at first, but she needed him right now. H
"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