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
After sharing her backstory, Susan departed the set to attend to a pressing commitment. Meanwhile, Jake's influence had pressured Stephen to consider replacing Anna, but with Jake no longer present, filming resumed its normal schedule. Anna completed her solo scenes until noon, at which point Ivy joined her to film their joint scene. George arrived on set with the dramatic scene between him and Zack and the humiliation he received; he avoided everyone's gaze. But there were certainly whispers behind him."I know he won't dare offend Ivy again after what happened last time.""How did he even offend Ivy?""Zack Anderson caught his hands on her wrist; he must have been trying to have his way with her, you know he is a womanizer.""He wanted to add her to his collection."He bore through all the provocative whispers of the gossipers and walked past them without a word. His personal assistant sighed."If you had taken my warnings earlier...""Just shut up..." George cut him off abruptly w
James knew that once his friend holds a vendetta, he makes sure to ruthlessly pursue revenge. "Which of the Ivys, Hale or Anderson...." "Ivy Anderson," Jake responded, clenching his fist tightly beside him. Not only did Ivy expose he was gay, but she also dug up his dirt. "Someone offered to help..." James told him, starting the car. "He knows the best way to take her out." "I can take her down myself," Jake spat, inwardly his mind was picturing Ivy in a miserable state. He had just the best way to get back at her for the troubles she had caused. James patted his shoulder. "Don't forget she is married to Zack Anderson; that man is trouble." Jake slapped his hands away, displeased. "There is no trouble I can't handle." "Okay," James shrugged. "Whatever plan you have will go more smoothly with an alliance. Let's meet her; she knows the ins." "Who is she?" Jake asked. "An acquaintance," he replied. "Do I know her?" Jake frowned; he was sure he knew who he was talking abo
It didn't take long to finish the last scene of the day. "Alright, let's wrap it up," Director Tim clapped, standing up from his chair. "I stink," Anna muttered. She was covered in mud, same with Ivy as it was a joint scene. She fixed her gaze on Ivy and smiled mockingly. "You look dashing in slime." The sarcasm again, she had been doing this the whole day. "While you look like a goddess of mud," Ivy returned the sarcasm. Anna looked down at her body, then raised her head. "Thanks for the compliment." "You're welcome." They were growing closer in friendship. Ivy initially thought they wouldn't get along, but here they were bantering. Ivy did a small stretch, then yawned widely, moving towards the trailer to change out of her costume. While she took off the clothes, she staggered slightly before regaining her footing. She shook her head as her vision felt blurry. The day's shoot took a toll on her, and she couldn't wait to get some rest. She sluggishly wore her dress and g
Panic surged through her as she sensed the nefarious aura emitting from them. She began to piece up the fragment of the odd phenomenon, but the dire question was, what do they want? They certainly don't seem friendly. She frantically attempted to start her car again but the creaking sound deterred her escape. She turned back to check on Ivy. Behold, she was sound asleep. "IVY! IVY WAKE UP!" She bellowed, her scream piercing the air before it abruptly cut off. She turned her gaze to the incoming threat; her eyes widened as the dark shadow loomed closer, its presence shoving her mind into tumult. "Ivy!" She jumped to the back seat, grabbing her phone; her hands quivered as it slid on the sleek screen. She tried to unlock her phone but she couldn't get her own password right. A plunk sound made her heart skip a beat. She accidentally tossed her phone due to fright; she looked downward to find it, but there was no clear view in her car. "Shit." She cursed silently. Her own desi
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