∆NO POV∆"My engagement?" Alexander raised an eyebrow with an amused smile, "Who told you I'm going to get engaged to him?" "You did!" Ivory huffed, recalling the news telecast where she had seen them personally confirming their engagement. "Last night, you and he told it to paparazzi...." She trailed off, struggling to find the words to continue further.Alexander sighed dramatically. "Just think of it as him dumping me for that beautiful girl over there, happy now?"In fact, Alexander just joked but Ivory took it seriously.Alexander adjusted his cuffs, pretending not to hear the whispers around him.Ivory couldn’t help but feel anger on Alexander’s behalf. Crossing her arms, she fixed a piercing gaze on Eric and his fiancee, as if preparing for battle against their betrayal"This is ridiculous," she slammed her hand on the table, "How can he dump you like that? Just look at you! If I had a boyfriend like you, I would ne..." She cut herself off, realising what she was about to sa
∆ALEXANDER∆"Alex, no!" Eric shouted, wrenching his arms tighter around me not allowing me to go towards Ivory.Shattered glass from the chandelier showered down near me like razor-edged confetti, and the flames of the explosion teased the skin on my arms. I'm too stunned, Eric held my arm behind me as I attempted to move once again."She's there! Ivory's there!" My voice was cracked with fear as I fought him, "Don't stop me, she is in danger! Let me go!" Eric clenched his teeth. "I know Alex, but if you go directly into the flames, how the hell are you going to rescue her? Wait till we get some help." His words aren't reaching my ears, my heart was beating against my chest like a war drum, my brain is messed with a mixture of terror and despair, above the fog of smoke and panic, I saw her.Lying motionless.Too motionless.My blood turned cold and chilling, as shiver ran down my spine at the sight of her like that, the woman I loved lying there unconscious twisted my heart.I pus
∆ALEXANDER∆"I'm fine," Ivory smiled at me, "Don't worry." "Shut up," I growled, gently tucking her hair behind her ear, "You've no right to say that you're fine, how could you even say that you're fine? First why did you do something so reckless? Why did you push me? What if something happened to you?""I'm sorry, I didn't think that deeper," her expression turned serious, while her fingers tightening around mine. "At that moment I was scared," she whispered. "Scared that you might get hurt, I didn't think about myself, because I thought protecting you must be my first priority." My heart clenched at her words, looking into my eyes, she continued, "Even if something were to happen to me, I don't think there would be barely anyone who would shed a tear for me, but you are different from me, you've a family, and...." Before she could continue, I hugged her, just tightly, tight enough to keep her bound in my arms.How can she say that? How can she believe she has no one when I'm read
∆IVORY∆"Why her?" A call from housekeeper Lara surprised me while I was in the middle of the conversation.She never contacted me from the day I cut off ties with my so-called family, if so why did she call me, now? With that thing in my mind, I answered the call only to hear about.My grandfather.A bad feeling settled in my stomach as I was talking in the call, the voice on the other end was hurried, almost panicked. "Miss Ivory, please come back immediately, Mr. Dubrey is in the hospital, he wishes to see you."My grip on the phone tightened and I turned completely silent."We… we don’t know anything yet, but he keeps asking for you, please come soon, we will be waiting for you." "I....I'll be there," I said with a dry voice hanging up the call and glanced at Alexander as soon as I hung up, "I think we need to leave, immediately." Alexander frowned with a confused face. "Immediately? To where?""Grandfather… he's hospitalized, he is sick and wants to see me now." I managed to sa
∆NO POV∆"We will reach in no time," Alexander said with a gentle smile, as they're preparing to leave.Eric stopped Ivory, and handed her a small box, "A small token of gift from me!" "No," Ivory refused giving it back to him, "I can't accept anything given by you." Eric pinched her cheeks gently, "Ivory, you can stop hating me, as I said I'll not be coming in between you and him, he is all yours, why hating such an innocent man like me?" "Stop it," she brushed off his hand away, Eric just chuckled, Alexander came in at the same time, "Are you teasing her again?" Eric shook his head with a fake pain, "I didn't, I'm giving a gift with a kind heart, but she refused to accept my kindness." "This man? What exactly is he doing?" Ivory thought to herself, "Is he sowing misunderstandings in between me and Alexander? Just like in those TV shows, white lotus bitches act all innocent in front of the big boss, only to make the female lead suffer, is he doing the same?" Alexander smacked o
∆NO POV∆"Did you forget?" Ivory rolled her eyes, "That day in the bar, thanks to you dragging me there to cry after my break-up, I found this man in my drunken state." As always, Pearl put on a dramatic expression, "Girl, you've to be grateful to me, throughout your life, you should be thanking me for taking you to that bar, especially that night, where you and he met, thanks to that you're enjoying, along with you, I'm also enjoying." Alexander looked confused after watching both Pearl and Ivory standing right there and not coming inside, "Aren't you both going to come inside?" "Yeah, we are coming," Ivory replied, pulling Pearl along with her to go inside, Alexander shaking his head let them inside, "Young girls are pretty hard to understand!" Those words he suppressed within himself, walking in, Pearl leaned closer to whisper in Ivory's ear, "He is pretty loaded, such a rich man like the big boss in those novels!" Ivory grinned at Pearl's words. "I already knew that.""But th
∆IVORY∆"Don't tell me you already started thinking about it, are you?" Pearl wriggled her eyebrows, as she teased me, using a gentle smack with a pillow bringing me out of my thoughts."Ugh, shut up," I groaned, turning over, and buried my face in the soft sheets beneath me, I'm already tired no more strength to fight or argue, can't even think of anything more.Pearl giggled, but I ignored her and closed my eyes as I'm already tired like hell, just as I closed my eyes, sleep is already waiting for me, and instantly, i was dragged into a comforting wave of sleep.I don't even know how long I was asleep, but when I woke up, the first thing I saw was Pearl happily munching on a snack sitting straight in front of me. "What are you eating?" I asked groggily, rubbing my eyes, as I still couldn't come out of my sleepiness."Shrimp san..sandwich," she replied between bites, looking way too involved in killing the shrimp that's already dead in the sandwich, "Tastes so good, do you want so
∆IVORY∆"Are you sure?" Grandpa asked in a disbelief voice, I nodded my head with great difficulty."I'm so happy dear, thank you so much for listening to my request, wait till I get discharged, I'll announce your wedding date infront of everyone." I forced a small smile as Grandpa spoke, but my heart was twisting in pain at his words.His voice was gentle, affectionate too, but the weight of his words crushed me and my heart without any mercy. I clenched my fists tight enough to let my nails dig into my palms, so that I can keep my emotions in control before they burst out."Breathe, Ivory, just breathe," I tried to calm myself as all these overwhelming emotions made me to forget even taking a breath.Holding back everything within me, I spoke as steadily as I could. "You can't stress anymore, please take rest, I'll be leaving now, Grandpa." Without waiting for his response, I stood up from the chair, turned around and walked out of the room. My body moved like a lifeless shell, bu
∆NO POV∆"Did you check the condition of the patient once again?" The senior doctor asked the junior doctor in duty, with a low hum, the junior doctor replied, "I checked, her blood pressure not reducing no matter what we did." The senior doctor looked slightly worried about the situation of Jessica, "maybe it's due to stress and trauma because of miscarriage." "I'll try my best," the junior doctor said with a faint smile.The beeping in the room was distant.Steady.... Rhythmic.... Mocking.Jessica stared at the ceiling, unmoving and with a stern face.The sterile scent of antiseptic clung to her skin, to her hair, to her throat. Her body felt like it wasn’t hers, light and heavy all at once. Her hands rested on her stomach, flat and hollow now, and it struck her all over again.Gone.The word had lost its meaning, it felt too small, too clean, what she felt was anything but clean. What she felt was chaos, and shame, and something worse, a strange, quiet emptiness that didn’t eve
∆NO POV∆"Jacob...." Jessica groaned in pain, Jacob gently held her hand, "you'll be fine, don't worry." The hospital waiting room was cold, not just in temperature, but with everything. The sterile scent of antiseptic lingered in the air, mingling with tension so thick it pressed down on everyone’s chests.Jessica had been wheeled into the emergency room barely twenty minutes ago, screaming in pain, blood soaking through her pale pink designer dress. The chaos of the press conference now felt like a distant nightmare. Here, in the hospital's dim light, the aftermath was beginning to settle like ash after a fire.Jacob sat in the corner, elbows on his knees, hands tangled in his hair. His eyes were wild and rimmed with red, fixed on the door behind which Jessica had disappeared.Valeria stood near the window, arms crossed, her face is hard as a stone.Robert paced a short distance away, phone pressed to his ear, whispering frantically to someone on the other end.The silence brok
∆NO POV∆"A husband standing up for his wife, since from when it is labelled as a sin?" Eric sneered, eyeing on Jacob, Robert and Valeria, especially glared at Jessica who caused all the mess in Ivory's life.Alexander adjusted his coat and glanced at Ivory with a smile, "If protecting my wife is a sin, then I don't mind being a sinner." In an instant, the entire scenario in the conference hall has changed.Jacob felt inwardly, "So, Ivory never lied, she almost got molested and forced by this bastard, then why did Jessie said Ivory was lying about that out of jealousy back then?" "Mr. Alexander, you were not wrong to attack such an abusive person," one female reporter said firmly."Not at all.""You were right to stop him, we are proud that you took a stand not just for your wife but for all women." A wave of support filled through the hall.But one question came cutting through the noise, sharp as a knife."What about your family?" A reporter hired by Valeria asked, stepping forwa
∆NO POV∆"Is he really here?" "Mr. Eric Lawrence by his side, what are they planning?" "Are they here to answer or apologise?" The grand conference hall buzzed with anticipation, every seat filled, every camera focused from the main stage to Alexander and Ivory.The air was thick with curiosity, as all the reporters and industry giants whispered among themselves, hungry for a story that would make headlines across the country.Just then, the trio made an appearance in the conference hall.Alexander stepped into the hall, radiating command in his black tailored suit, beside him walked Ivory, dressed in a pristine cream-colored outfit that mirrored her name. Her eyes, though soft, held a slight nervousness, and at her other side, calm and confident as always, was Eric, his demeanor as casual as his untucked shirt and smug grin.The moment they stepped inside, the energy shifted into new level.The crowd rushed forward, reporters scrambling to reach them, microphones and flashes risi
∆NO POV∆"I'll take care of it," Alexander said and hung up the call, he had a long conversation with Eric about the press meet Jacob is planning along with that investor.It was nearly midnight, he totally forgot the time while talking in the call, once he was done with the call, he decided to speak with Ivory, knowing she needs him by her side now.While Ivory sat curled on the couch, the TV off, but the screen still casting a pale glow across the room. She clutched a pillow to her chest, eyes distant just like how she was lost in her own thoughts.Alexander stepped in, carrying two cups of lavender tea."Still awake?" He asked gently.She nodded with a smile. "I can’t sleep, with everything going on I can't even imagine taking a nap without worrying, tomorrow they’ll say useless things about you… and about me, that Jacob is looking for an opportunity to ruin you, they wants Kingston group of companies to be theirs, and now we ourselves gave them a chance to turn things against yo
∆NO POV∆"Nothing," Alexander said calmly with a smile, Ivory blinked, being confused by his answer. "What do you mean by nothing?"Just then, the door got opened, and Eric walked in, carrying a leather folder in one arm and a confident grin is on his face."Is he your plan?" Ivory asked, glancing between the two men who just smiled at each other.Eric leaned over and casually wrapped an arm around Ivory's shoulder. "Yes, my dear princess, and I brought you one of the best gifts, a very important one." He held up a slim black pendrive between his fingers."You found it? That quickly?" Alexander asked, his tone instantly sharper, and curious.Eric nodded, tossing the pendrive into Alexander's hand. "What did you even think of me? I'm the best, and every rotten truth about that scumbag is here, he is much worse than we thought." Ivory looked between them, trying to keep up. "What is that?"Eric turned to her, with a serious face. "The dark secrets of that investor bastard, the man your
∆NO POV∆"Ivory, did you look at the news? What's happening?" Pearl's message out of nowhere in the morning made Ivory to look into the news early in the morning."Heir to Kingston Empire Attacks Respected Investor" "Violence at High-Class Restaurant""Who Is the Woman Behind the Blow?"Headlines screamed with speculation, as a video surrounding everywhere, which was clearly shot on someone’s phone, captured the moment Alexander's fist collided with the investor’s jaw. It looped over and over on social media platforms, it didn't take long before phone calls started pouring in.Ivory looked stunned looking at the news and the number of phone calls he is getting because of that particular incident.Alexander was in his study with a clenched jaw, as the screen of his phone lit up with Jacob’s name. He ignored it once. Twice. But the third time, he picked up with an irritated face."You’re out of your damn mind, aren’t you?" Jacob sneered through the speaker, "When you teach us how t
∆IVORY POV∆"You can stop flirting," I blushed slightly, but he just smiled at me, I'm not sure what got into me when I kissed him, but I really wanted to do it very badly.I thought he would be teasing me about that kiss forever, but thankfully he didn't even mention about that, for some reason I felt protected and relieved.Maybe from now onwards whenever I see that man, I won't be scared like before, because there's someone who trusts me and stands by my side.The car ride home was silent.Not cold or awkward… just quiet still our eyes and hearts spoke more than any words can do.My fingers remained laced tightly on my lap, and I could still feel the warmth of Alexander’s hand over mine earlier, right before he stormed back into the restaurant and threw that punch that echoed louder than any scream I could’ve let out.He hadn’t said a word after our conversation, but I can see him being protective for me.His jaw was still tight, his eyes on the road, knuckles bruised and scraped.
∆ALEXANDER POV∆"Do you think you deserve to live?" My knuckles collided with his jaw before I even heard myself curse.The crack was satisfying. Not just because of the force, but because it silenced him. The smirk wiped clean off his arrogant face, replaced by blood and the stunned realization that someone wasn’t afraid of him.My blood boiled just after knowing this man dared to hurt my Ivory, how can I even allow him to live after what he has done to her?Gasps echoed through the restaurant, champagne glasses froze mid-air, whispers rippled around like wildfire, but I didn’t care.I don't care, because he dared to touch her and he deserves to die.All I saw was him, the bastard who dared to lay a hand on my woman, the fear in Ivory's eyes after seeing him, the woman on whose face I wanted nothing but a smile, but she cried, and looked scared, it's all because of that damn man.He stumbled back, crashing into a table behind him. I stepped forward, my fists still clenched, vision