"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
Ivy bit her lips, blankly staring at the screen, unable to respond. She let out a sigh in frustration. "I've had enough teasing for one day, let's just go home," she said and made her way to the door. "I thought you said you wanted a few more minutes..." He chuckled and followed her out of the room. They both arrived outside; Bryan was already waiting for them at the parking deck beside the car. He opened the door to the back seat for both of them and hopped into the front seat. "Here is your phone, ma'am," Bryan passed Ivy her phone. Ivy collected it, not really expecting to see her old phone again. "I thought I'd lost this, thank you." "The detective found it in your manager's car," Bryan informed her and started the car. Ivy unlocked her phone, the first pop-up on the screen was tons of notifications and missed calls from one particular contact. 'ANNA' She then remembered they had exchanged phone numbers after shooting their last scene before her abduction. She dialed
Zack stared at his tablet for what felt like forever, hesitant. He was finally going to see the one who was behind his accident. But now the weight of the moment pressed down on him. He knew this call could change everything, reveal a face he might recognize, or a stranger he would despise. He wasn't sure he was ready for either.Ivy was by his side, squeezing his arm tightly and encouraging him to do it. "Come on, Finn made this possible for you, so... let’s get it over with," she said, wrapping her arms around his neck and nudging him to tap on the screen."Alright," he said finally, but as Ivy attempted to speak, a loud cry came out from the room."Lucas again," she growled and got up, placing a soft kiss on Zack's cheek. "Be right back."With that, she left, and Zack decided to get it over with as Ivy had said. He tapped on the screen, and there just what he had feared stared right back at him.Those familiar emerald eyes..."Chris. So it was really you," Zack whispered, disbelief
THE NEXT MORNING, Ivy and Zack made their way downstairs, luggage in tow, with Lucas giggling in his stroller. Lucas was babbling excitedly, clearly sensing the adventure ahead, and Ivy couldn't help but smile at her little boy's enthusiasm. Although she was still a bit hesitant about leaving, Zack's and Lucas's enthusiasm was infectious.But she had to agree a vacation would benefit them all.Just as they were about to head out the door, Xavier, their butler, rushed in, looking flustered."Wait, please!" Xavier exclaimed. "We have a visitor."Ivy's eyes narrowed, her smile faltering. "Who is it?"Xavier hesitated before responding. "It's... your..." Before he could finish, a voice cut in."Zack has woken up all this time, and you didn't bother informing us," Henry walked in, the old man right beside him.The moment he set eyes on Zack, he went straight to him and hugged him tightly. "I'm so glad you're okay, son..."Zack, caught off guard, returned the hug, a mix of surprise and conf
"Ivy, remember when I took Roy outside?" Zack said, and Ivy frowned. "Yes, of course." "I thought... I thought I saw Chris. Briefly. Just a glimpse." Ivy's eyes widened in disbelief. "Chris? But... he hasn't called since that day..." "Exactly," Zack said, his brow furrowed. "But what if... what if... I don't know...?" Ivy shook her head, dismissing the idea. "Zack, that's impossible. Didn't you say he was an imposter?" "I'm starting to doubt that 'imposter' theory," Zack said. "It's too convenient the way he operates in the shadows... it's shady." Ivy's eyes narrowed, having a hard time processing everything. If he wasn't an imposter, then why hadn't he reunited with Zack? Why was he hiding? "What if... he has a vendetta? Against you?" Ivy sprang from the bed, her head filled with fear gnawing at her. She knew what it felt like to be wanted dead, and now Zack, this childhood friend... if it's true, then it's even worse than she imagined. "Maybe we should tell Finn every
"Lucas, I'm home!" Zack announced as he stepped into the familiar warmth of their living room. Ivy smiled and quickly got beside him. "Careful, Zack," she cautioned, her hand lightly touching his arm. "Remember, you're still recovering." "Now you want me to be treated like a fragile piece of glass, huh?" Zack said with his usual smirk, and Ivy couldn't help but roll her eyes. "Yeah, that's what you are right now." Zack smirked, closing the short distance between them. "Is that so?" Ivy stepped back, a blush creeping into her cheeks. "Zack, this isn't the right place to... you know, do your usual thing..." She then said with gritted teeth, "Maria and Lucas are coming." Zack turned to find Maria smiling his way. She bowed slightly and then placed Lucas on the ground. "There he is," Zack said, his voice softening as he knelt down. He extended his arms, a wide, welcoming smile on his face. "Come here, buddy. Daddy's home." Lucas hesitated, his gaze shifting between Zack and
"Zack, tomorrow's a big day. Lucas is hitting nine months," Ivy said, her voice soft as she gently ran her hands over Zack's. "Can you believe it? Nine months already?"She tried hard to grin, but what came out was a pathetic smile. "I... started him on complementary foods, you know. He seems to really like mashed sweet potatoes with a little cinnamon. He makes the funniest face when he tastes something new, but sweet potatoes are definitely his favorite."Ivy chuckled, despite knowing that Zack couldn't hear her. The sound was more for her own benefit, a way to release some of the tension and sadness that had been building up inside.But as she looked at Zack's still face, her expression shifted. Her smile faltered, and her eyes welled up with tears.Ivy's sigh turned into a sob, and she buried her face in her hands, letting the tears flow.She had hoped Zack would wake up before their son turned seven months, but now he was nine months, still trapped in this limbo.He didn't get to
SIX MONTHS LATERIvy's hands trembled as she held the phone, Bryan's voice sounding at the other end."Ma'am, we found him last night," Bryan said, his tone gentle but firm. "The driver who hit Zack. We've got a positive ID."Ivy's breath caught in her throat. Six months of waiting, wondering, and fighting for answers. Finally, she was going to get some justice."Who is it?" Ivy asked, her voice barely above a whisper.There was a pause before Bryan responded, "Marcus Thompson. The police are bringing him in for questioning. They're going to push him hard to see if he'll talk."Ivy's grip on the phone tightened. "Will he talk?""There's a good chance he might," Bryan said. "Thompson's got a history of criminal activity. He's been in and out of jail for various offenses. If the police can leverage that, he might be willing to cooperate."Ivy's mind was racing. "How soon can they get him to talk?" She wanted to wipe that smug look off Albert's face.Bryan hesitated before responding, "W
Ivy's car halted in front of the Anderson mansion. It was the early hours of the morning, and Ivy decided to seize this opportunity to get answers.She slammed the door behind her, took a deep breath, and stepped into the mansion. She didn't bother to knock before entering.A sliver of light spilled out from the lounge, the air thick with the smell of stale liquor."Albert!" Ivy yelled, scanning the whole place. "Albert, where are you?"Footsteps sounded, and Henry appeared coming down the stairs, draped in a robe and his hair a bit messy."It's too early to yell," he said, but as his eyes landed on Ivy, a frown settled on his face."What are you doing here?""Where is Albert?" Ivy asked, and Henry's brow deepened."Ivy, why are you here? Shouldn't you be sitting with Zack at the hospital?""Where is Albert?" Ivy's expression turned serious, the one that tells you, "I'm losing my patience."Henry's eyes lingered on her for a moment before finally pointing to a corner."Turn left."Wit
"I never should have let you leave." Ivy whimpered, squeezing Zack's hand, as if trying to coax life back into his fingers. "I should have forced you to eat breakfast... maybe... maybe..."She choked on tears trickling down her cheek... "maybe you would have escaped it..." she sniffled, trying to hold back her tears, but it was no use. The dam broke, and she let out a heart-wrenching sob, her body shaking uncontrollably."How long are you going to stay like this, huh? How long before you wake up..." she mumbled. "It's only been a few hours, and I can't keep seeing you like this..."He had always been the strong one, the rock that held her together when she broke down. But now he was the one who was broken, and she was left to pick up the pieces. All she could do was hope he would wake up sooner.Ivy's sobs slowly subsided as she wiped away her tears and took a deep breath.Her chest tightened, but she pushed through, squeezing his arm with all the strength she could muster."Please w
"Shhh, baby, it's okay," Ivy murmured, pacing back and forth in the room with the crying Lucas in her arms. "Mommy's here." The nanny, Maria, sat on the couch, watching them with concern, occasionally standing up and sitting back down on the couch in frustration. Lucas's cries only intensified, his small body writhing in discomfort. He was unusually fussy, refusing his bottle and arching his back in distress. Ivy had tried everything – changing his diaper, offering him a pacifier, singing lullabies – but nothing seemed to make him calm down. Maria got up and approached Ivy. "Let me try, Mrs. Anderson," But Ivy shook her head. "No, I've got him. I just need to... figure out what's wrong." She continued to pace, trying to rock Lucas to sleep. "What's wrong, my little one?" she whispered, her heart throbbing slightly. Lucas usually didn't cry this way for this long. She glanced at the clock, wondering if she should call Zack and tell him about Lucas's behavior. But it would b