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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 reporters turned around to see who he was referring to. Even the reporters were surprised to see her, does she have something to say? That was the question going through their heads at the moment. Ivy approached the reporters, her eyes fixed on Jake. "I have something to say," she announced, her voice clear and confident. The reporters turned to her, intrigued. "What is it, Mrs. Anderson?" one of them asked. Ivy smiled sweetly. "I just want to clarify some things about Jake Black's character." Jake's eyes narrowed, his face tensing. Ivy began, "He's been spreading false rumors about my friend Anna, and I think it's time someone exposed the truth about him." The reporters' eyes widened, sensing a scoop. "What truth?" one of them pressed. Ivy smiled, glancing at Jake. "Let's just say that Jake's interests lie elsewhere. He's not the straight-laced guy he pretends to be." Jake's face turned red with anger, but Ivy continued, her voice steady. "I have evidence, if you'd like to
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