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
Z....Z...Z...Z...Z." George shuddered, his eyes bulged out of his sockets. He was too terrified to utter the remaining pronunciation. The man's expression was sending shivers down his spine. "Z.a...ck Anderson.." He managed to get his words straight, but his heart still hammered in his chest.Ivy sensed a very familiar presence, this made her lips curl up in delight. Who else has the power to make another frightened at the sight of him.While George trembled in fear, his hands were still holding Ivy's wrist."Take your filthy hands off my wife." Zack's voice was filled with asperity, sending a tingling sensation of horror all over George."Yes... Sorry... I'm sorry...." He withdrew his hands immediately, his legs were stuck to the ground, no matter how he tried to get them to move, they repelled with defiance.Some of the crew noticed the fuss, and it only took a few minutes to spread the word."Zack Anderson is on set!""Zack Anderson is on set!"This unexpected, dreadful surprise vi
Let's end this," she repeated. George was speechless, he continued to stare at her, and she decided to blurt out the reason she suddenly wanted to end their relationship. "You like her, don't you? That's the reason why Zack Anderson was furious." Now she understood why Ivy called him a pervert and why she intentionally hurt him during filming. "I was so blind. I thought you really loved me. I didn't know you only wanted my pussy. Well, thank you for opening my eyes. I gave you what you wanted so let's break up so you can go find some more good-looking pussy." Inwardly, her emotions were swirling, threatening to leak to the surface, but she made more effort to conceal it. "I wish Ivy would have let Zack Anderson punish you." George couldn't refute, he continued to stare at her without saying a word. Some of the crew were still present, watching the scene in front of them. If it had happened before George and Zack Anderson's case, they would have loved to gossip. Their relation
Ivy waited for his reply, but he just kept quiet. 'So he had dinner planned before he came to pick me up,' she thought with a smile, her husband was always considerate towards her.He opened the door and got out of the car without uttering a word. "He speaks whenever he wants to, teases whenever he wants to," she muttered and also got out of the car. No matter how she tried, she never understood him. He was simply too unpredictable and very good at predicting others. His personality was just too complicated for Ivy to understand.As they both entered the posh restaurant, a waiter donned in a white shirt under a red vest and a red bow tie greeted them with a smile. "Welcome to Lái xiâng shòu restaurant, Mr. and Mrs. Anderson."Beneath the smile, Ivy could see a glint of nervousness. When she looked at Zack, she found out the reason why the waiter was nervous, Zack's gaze was intently placed on him."This way, sir, your specially reserved table is this way, follow me..." The waiter's vo
Her voice was stern, which countered the smile on her face. "You will regret this." The blonde smirked incredulously, "I have the influence to destroy you, so your threats are nothing." Ivy's deadly smile never faltered; she continued gazing at him until he left stoutly. She pushed herself to stand and returned to their reserved table as if nothing happened. "What took you so long?" Zack said, dabbing his mouth with a napkin; his eyes were keenly waiting for her reply. "Sorry, I took so long." "That's not an answer," Zack snapped. Ivy furrowed her brow, then she chuckled. "Okay... if you must know, my monthly..." She paused to study the expression on his face, but unexpectedly, it was blank. "Do you really want to hear it all?" Her eyes narrowed in disbelief. "Yes," he gave a short reply, and Ivy just stuffed her mouth with her food. She obviously wasn't ready to complete the answer he was waiting for. Zack didn't inquire further and resumed his meal. "When will filmi
When Anna arrived on set, she met both Stephen and director Tim with bleak faces. "Is there a problem?" She asked. It seemed they had been waiting for her to arrive, which was kind of odd, especially with the way they were looking behind her. Stephen signaled that someone was behind her, and she turned around only to find a blonde in a crisp green suit with his hand in his pocket. He had a smug look on his face. She immediately recognized him, the annoying face that had been agitating her since their breakup, blemishing her name because she threatened to reveal his secret. "What are you doing here?" He took a step closer haughtily with a smirk on his face. "Don't you know I'm a major investor in this production?" Anna's heart sank when she heard him. She could guess what he was up to... 'if he is an investor then.....' "Why won't you leave me alone? You've turned my management agency against me, aren't you satisfied?" "I won't be satisfied until you regret how you insul
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