The couple dived into the night vibe, the balmy atmosphere enveloping them in a sense of tranquility even though there were looming awaiting that might pop in a sudden strike. They descended to the ground floor and drove out of the garage with the security team following closely behind them.The minute after their departure a vehicle stopped at the premises. The driver's eyes were solely fixed on the rearview mirror, earnestly monitoring their movement till they went out of sight.At that moment, His phone rang. "Is it done yet?" The caller inquired, His voice laced with urgency."Not yet, there is a slight glitch; she has got bodyguards following her around, trying to make it unnoticeable, but I saw through the subtle movement."The man replied, his eyes pinned on the grand penthouse a few distances away.There was a short pause before the caller continued. A sigh could be heard through the phone. "As I predicted, Zack Anderson is becoming a pain in my ass.""We should get rid of hi
Ivy's eyes widened in shock, as the news of his death sank in. She covered her lips with her palm as she exhaled in grief. "How...how did it happen," she asked, her voice slightly quaked. "But his condition was stable when we left him at the hospital."Zack was unable to respond. He opened the door and gestured for her to get in.They settled in the back seat, and the car went silent as they processed the weight of the shocking news.Zack's worry resurfaced, his mind raced, internally scrutinizing the cause of Edmond's sudden death. He suspected foul play, because he was always updated on Edmond's condition. Bryan told him a day ago there were positive signs indicating he was approaching consciousness, so why did he die all of a sudden? If his intuitions were right, then Ivy needed tighter security. He feared the worst might happen. It was awfully clear the perpetrator was a dangerous person and not afraid to add more crimes to their record.The more he thought of this, the more he fe
After receiving the order from Zack, Bryan drove straight to the hospital. He made an immediate appointment to see the doctor in charge of Edmond's treatment. As Bryan stepped into the office, he was welcomed with a warm smile from the doctor. "Good to see you, Mr. Bryan," the doctor greeted, extending his hand for a handshake. Bryan shook his hand without responding, his expression serious. The doctor noticed the solemn countenance, his mind hinted at the possible reason for his visit. For this man to pay him an urgent visit, he very well knew it was an order from his boss. "How may I help you today?" he asked with a wry smile. Bryan still didn't respond and graciously took his seat, his gaze solely fixed on the doctor. After a few seconds, Bryan's silence became distressing, and the doctor broke the tacitness. "Is anything the matter?" he asked, his smile never faltered. "Yes, I'm simply curious, doctor. You informed me Edmond was stable two days ago, so I came here r
It didn't take long for the doctor to figure out the source of the glitch that caused the unfortunate end of his patient. As he suspected, the life supporting machine might be the cause, he reviewed the machine log setting and the latest data. That's when he noticed discrepancies. He decided to investigate further with the hospital security team and the result turned out to be beyond what he expected.He immediately contacted Bryan to update him on his discovery. Bryan, after receiving the results of his findings, informed Zack.Zack had predicted the life supporting machine was manipulated. He further instructed Bryan to inform the detective as soon as possible, as he believed the detective might find a lead to help solve the issue.In the meantime, he continued to take safety precautions concerning Ivy's safety, especially on set.The time came for him to pick Ivy up as usual, but he was overwhelmed with work and his schedule was tight. Still, he refused to let her return home witho
Congratulations, Ivy!""Congrats!""Well done!"The cast and crew cheered as today marks the completion of 'Tomboy Donna.'They gifted the main characters presents, mainly a bunch of roses, and happily celebrated the completion of their role after a long period of relentless shoots.Ivy received tons of flowers, while her bodyguards checked them for any potential harm that could be covert in them. Everyone on set had gotten used to seeing them around her; the nosy ones didn't bother asking because they knew they wouldn't get any answers."A big congratulations to you, Ivy." Director Tim appeared behind her offering her roses with a grin."Congratulations to you too, Director Tim." Ivy replied, taking the flowers."Are you still not going to attend the after-party?" Director asked, his eyebrow arched, expecting her to change her mind. He had once asked her, but she declined the invitation.Ivy smiled softly, giving an apologetic look. "I'm sorry, not in the party mood. I just want to t
One of the security personnel closely following behind Ivy's car noticed something was off. He caught sight of the car jerking before taking off with full speed. He quickly took out the communication system to inform the others. "We have a problem, her car has malfunction. Don't lose track of her car!" "I repeat, don't lose track of the Rolls Royce!" The other personnel responded fairly quickly and sped up to catch up with the Rolls Royce. The PPO organizing the team tried to contact Louis the driver, but there was no response. The more they got closer to the car, the more the distance between them increased. This only confirmed how desperate the situation was. They had no choice but to continually try to catch up and monitor the car closely. Stopping the inescapable wasn't possible at the moment. ________ "LOUIS, WHAT'S HAPPENING!" Ivy screamed in fright, her eyes widened in horror watching the moving scenery accelerating in a swift uncontrollable speed. She clung onto the
Zack tried calling Ivy again, but her line didn't go through. His worry only grew as he drove closer to the area the GPS locator indicated. He had installed a GPS tracking device on her phone a few weeks ago for safety reasons. But he never knew he would use it in his kind of situation. He was finding it hard to get to the location quickly as the road was jam-packed with vehicles caused by a reduced lane. His eyes darted around his surroundings searching for a way out of the traffic congestion. Frustrated and impatient, he pummeled into the car horn. He couldn't find a way out of the lane despite taking another turn. He ran his fingers through his hair, leaning on the car window. He imagined the worst could have happened, seeing the traffic congestion at her last location and also the piercing sound of siren noise coming from a few distances away. "Oh, God." He groaned, clutching his forehead. Fear, worry, and guilt washed over him as the thought of losing her life filled his mind.
Zack's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched as he gazed at the reporters. He never liked being questioned by them, especially at a desperate time like this. What irked him more was that they were blocking his exit from the hospital. They were like annoying flies buzzing around his eyes. He motioned for them to step aside, but they were too busy throwing questions at him to understand.His annoyance grew at their stubbornness and persistence."Mr. Zack Anderson, please update us on her condition."They kept pressing on, even though he didn't seem to be in the mood to provide answers.Zack stepped forward; his patience had run out. He pushed himself into the crowd, and they quickly moved out of the way for fear of him losing his temper. His anger was simmering, threatening to boil over."Zack Anderson, please answer..."Some reporters behind him were insistent. They followed him to the parking deck.Right there was his car, which made him realize Bryan must have brought it along with him and
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