Zack veered backwards, his eyes narrowing as he tried to make out who he saw. The bloody blonde hair and weak-looking eyes came into focus. "Edmond," Edmond gazed at him with a flash of respite in his eyes, his leg quivering, barely standing on his feet. With no strength left in him, he gave in to his leg's command, falling towards Zack. Zack quickly caught him before he could fall to the ground. The stench of blood wafted into his nose, making him grow more anxious about his wife's safety. Since Edmond was in this particular state, how about his wife—what will happen to her? What are the kidnappers planning to do to her? "What happened, Edmond? Tell me." His hoarse voice was filled with concern. He laid him down on the ground and adjusted his head to a comfortable slope. "What happened?" He repeated his question, but Edmond grasped his arm with his shaky hand, wincing in pain. Zack, noticing this, realized he needed immediate treatment, but the problem was his car has run out of g
"G, she is awake..." He informed his partner who was at the other end of the spacious room."She is what?" His partner, G asked in disbelief, "it has only been two hours."He marched forward to see it for himself if she really was awake. Behold, her eyes were open with a faint gaze, steady on the other guy.Ivy was trying to comprehend her surroundings, mainly the people staring down at her. "Where am I? Who are you?" But then she felt a dull headache causing her to wince, clutching her forehead.The two men exchanged looks, surprised by her sudden awakening."Did you give her the exact dosage I asked you to?" The guy G, who seemed to be the leader, gave the other a stern look. "Did you?.""Yes... I did... The exact amount... I think..." Though he told him so, he wasn't so sure himself."You fool, I told you to double the pills. Did you or not?" His gaze was fierce, piercing into his partner, making him step back in fear. "I didn't, cause I thought you said..." Before he could say the
"Isabelle, you?" Ivy's mouth was slightly agape, staring at the same woman who had tried to ruin her reputation nearly a month ago.She hadn't attempted to determine who would have abducted her, but she never would have imagined Isabelle of all people. She requested to be sure. "You are the one who did the drugging, right? You were the one who paid those thugs to kidnap me."Isabelle finally shifted her gaze towards Ivy, the smirk still visible on her cheek. "Bravo." She scoffed and shifted her gaze back to the windshield.Ivy's was unable to respond to her words. She had always thought Isabelle to be a sly and manipulative individual because of how she deceived the media, orchestrating her own attack, but for her to be so ruthless to the extent of indulging in such a hefty crime never crossed her mind."Then why did you allow me to discover you as the mastermind behind my abduction? What if I rat you out when I escape?"Isabelle snorted, looking at her derisively. "Do you think you c
"Ivy..." His hoarse voice was cracked; his eyes beamed with a sea of relief, coupled with a hint of fear as the thought of losing her was still fresh in his mind."Hubby..." Ivy picked up her pace to reach him, and they enveloped in a tight embrace. She nestled deeper into his embrace, feeling his warmth seep into her bones as her hands were firmly wrapped around his neck. Her pulse settled, returning to normal, with her eyes moist but no tears flowed down her cheek. She never thought she would feel this way in his embrace. The mild air of emotions swirling around her was something she simply couldn't ignore."Are you hurt?" Zack withdrew from their embrace and examined her with concern, checking for any harm.Ivy shook her head, still gripping onto his sleeves."Are you sure?" Zack asked uncertain, he could feel the coldness on her skin from his fingertips. "You're cold." He then wrapped his hands around her, he didn't have his suit with him, so he used his arms instead and took her
The first person that crossed Susan's mind when she regained consciousness was Ivy. The fear she felt before passing out was still fresh in her mind, eliciting anxiousness for Ivy's safety. She navigated her way out of the abandoned area and reached the main road. Since she didn't have her phone with her, she couldn't contact anyone, so she flagged down a car and pleaded for a ride. ______ Meanwhile, at the hospital, in the VIP room, Ivy was sitting on the bed with a tray of food placed on her lap. While she ate her meal with quiet contentment, Zack was gazing at her, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he watched her savor each bite. "Won't you eat?" Ivy asked as his intent stare was making her feel uncomfortable. "Aren't you hungry?" "No, I'm not, just eat up wifey..." He said, nudging her to continue with her meal. Ivy chewed on her food, peeking to see if he was still watching her as she still couldn't shake the awkward feeling his stare was giving her. "Don't you have some
Ivy sank in a breath and covered her face with her palm. "You gonna have to stop teasing me." Zack released a soft chuckle, "I can't promise that, wifey...." Ivy shook her head and relaxed on the bed; their small argument had made her head throb slightly. "Please Bryan, when they find Susan, inform her I'm here. I don't want her to grow anxious..." Ivy said as she massaged her head gently. "Yes ma'am." Bryan nodded and left the room. A few hours later, the detective arrived with two other police officers. "Good afternoon, Mrs. Anderson. I'm Detective Finn," he smiled softly, extending his hand for a handshake. Ivy returned the smile and took his hand. "Nice to meet you, detective..." "We've come to collect your statement to confirm the events leading up to the kidnap. I hope you have recovered enough to answer our questions," he asked, still with the same smile. "Sure..." She replied, and he began. She answered all the questions in detail, then he revealed their investigation.
Susan, is it serious?" Ivy asked, her voice laced with concern as she gazed at Susan's furrowed brow and deep lines etched on her face.Susan lifted her phone, the screen glowed with the harsh light of the news article. Ivy's eyes scanned the headlines, her gaze lingering on the bold font:[Ivy's Diva Antics: Actress Refuses To Return To Set, Delays Production]Ivy rolled her eyes at the article and slumped back on the plump headboard. "I thought it was news about my abduction.""But it's been less than a day since we left the set, how could they publish fake news...?" A frown still settled on Susan, obviously displeased by the media tactics. Ivy, on the other hand, knew it wasn't just the media behind her scandal; someone else was fueling the media scrutiny toward her."After you complete your role in this production, I'll get you signed under an agency..." Susan said, still upset. She then called director Tim to explain the reason for Ivy's absence from the set, of course excluding
"Zack, where are you?" Her voice was met with silence. "He really left me all alone." She then facepalmed herself. "Yeah, I'm the one who actually pressured him to leave, and I'm complaining..." She collapsed on the bed and shut her eyes to get to sleep, she knew he would return soon. A day later, Ivy was ready to be discharged from the hospital. There were no complications as it was a mild dosage. But before she left, she paid Edmond a visit. The room was dimly lit with soft beeping sounds from the machine used to monitor his vital signs. Her eyes were drawn to his pale face, his features relaxed in a coma-induced slumber as her heart ached with concern and empathy. "I hope you won't fire him when he wakes up." Ivy glanced at Zack, who was sitting beside her before returning her gaze to Edmond. "Anything you want, wifey..." Zack responded leisurely, leaning on the corner of the room, his eyes pinned on her as she stood beside Edmond's bed. He then glanced at his wristwatch. "It's t
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