The knocking on the door grew louder and more persistent. I could feel the tension tightening around us. My heart thumped harder as the once-muted murmurs outside grew clearer, sharper and violent The tones belonged to men who clearly meant us harm. My gaze shifted to Mr. Collins, who was standing by the window with wide, fearful eyes, his calm demeanor giving way to an anxious looking different, completely different from the person I saw few minutes ago. He was sweating now, small beads forming on his forehead, a stark contrast to the calm, composed man I saw few minutes ago.Dr. Collins sat beside me, her hands clasped so tightly in her lap that her knuckles was beginning to turn white. I could feel her fear as acutely as my own, a cold, creeping sensation that had settled into the pit of my stomach. We both tried to keep calm, to pretend that maybe just maybe if we stayed quiet, if we didn’t move, the danger outside would pass us by. But the relentless knocking and the gro
The distant wail of sirens grew louder, reverberating through the quiet house. I felt a surge of relief as I clung to Dr. Collins, my tears finally beginning to subside. The sound of footsteps approaching from outside filled me with some sense of hope.Minutes later, we heard a bang and Dr Collins immediately rushed to open the lock from within before shouting.“Come on in.”At once, the front door creaked open, and the blur of flashing lights illuminated the room. Uniformed officers marched in, their faces set with a blend of professionalism and concern. They quickly took stock of the situation, their eyes scanning the room before focusing on us.Then One officer, a tall man with a stern expression, stepped forward. “I’m Officer Daniels,” he said, his voice firm but not unkind. “Can you tell us what happened here?”Dr. Collins stood, wiping her tears and trying to compose herself. “We were just about to call for help when we heard the knocking,” she explained. “We were terri
Ivy POV) Caleb walked in, his eyes locking onto mine with a male volent intensity that made my blood run cold. Instinctively, I reached for the door and locked it, a futile attempt to create some barrier between usBut Caleb kept advancing, his steps slow and deliberate, like a predator closing in on its prey. I backed away until I felt the rough wall against my spine.Isabella’s voice echoed in my head, questioning everything that had led to this moment. The pieces were all scattered in my mind, but the picture was still incomplete, hazy with fear and doubt.Caleb stopped at the table, his lips curling into a devilish smile that sent chills down my spine. He laughed, a sound so devoid of warmth that it filled the room with a palpable sense of dread. Then, slowly, he sat down in the same chair the police chief had occupied earlier, as if claiming it for himself. He raised his hands in a mock gesture, as though he were about to take an oath, then dropped them just as theatricall
IVY POV) My shoes slapped against the wet pavement, every step echoing in the empty space. Behind me, I could hear Caleb's men. Their heavy footsteps and the crackle of radios. They were getting closer. I threw my legs as fast as I could in the darkness. My breath was so audible it blocked my ears.I’d already made the mistake of hesitating once tonight, back at the police station when Caleb had burst in. That one moment of fear had nearly cost me everything. But I hadn’t gone down without a fight. I had attacked him, driven by a desperate, primal need to escape. To be free from his clutches. I remember the look of shock in his eyes as I lunged at him, my fists connecting with his chest, my nails raking across his face. He hadn’t expected it not from me. But it hadn’t been enough to stop him. He was stronger, faster, and now I was running for my life…He and his men.I reached the end of the alley, skidding to a halt as I came to a busy street. The sudden burst of light and
ADRIAN (POV)Four years. Four long, torturous years, and somehow, I was still there, sitting behind the same desk in the same office where it all began. The polished mahogany desk remained as pristine as ever, the view from the floor-to-ceiling windows just as breathtaking, but the man sitting there? He was barely a shadow of who he once was.My fingers absently traced the cool, smooth band of the wedding ring on my finger. A symbol of love and commitment, so it was supposed to be. For me, it was nothing but a shackle, binding me to a fate I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy. It had been four years since the day I said, “I do,” to Ivy Grant. Four years since I honored my grandfather’s dying wish and secured my inheritance by marrying the daughter of his late friend.Back then, I convinced myself that this was just a necessary step. With Maxwell and the police’s help, I maneuvered through the labyrinth of legal and personal hurdles, securing my position in the company and claiming
Adrian (POV)Austin’s eyes locked onto mine, his expression shifting from concern to something like mischief. “You know what man ? We need to get out of here. How about we hit the club, like old times? You need a break, Adrian. You need to forget Ivy, even if it’s just for a few hours.”I opened my mouth to protest, but the words got stuck in my throat. Maybe he was right. Maybe I did need to get out, to forget everything …especially Ivy and her blabbing. The office was suffocating me, the weight of my thoughts too heavy to bear any longer. I sighed, finally nodding.“Yeah… maybe you’re right.”Austin grinned, already on his feet and heading towards the door. “Trust me, you won’t regret it. Come on, let’s blow off some steam.”We left the office behind, stepping into the warm night air. The city was alive, the busy traffic and distant chatter filling the space between us as we made our way to his car. Austin drove a black glittery sports car, something flashy and fast his escap
ADRIAN (POV)After letting out the first bomb, I had actually tried to stop myself but the words had slipped out on their, faster and sharper than I intended, cutting deep into the very thing Ivy had always been sensitive about. And once they were out, I couldn’t take them back."Childless," I spat, barely recognizing my own voice. "And still, you won’t let me have any peace!"The silence that followed was deafening. Ivy’s face twisted in shock and hurt, her eyes wide and filled with tears. She stared at me as if she didn’t recognize the man standing before her. "You called me childless?" she whispered, her voice trembling. "Is that what you tell your friends about me?"I palmed my face and tried to reach for her, my hands shaking with regret. ".....Look look I'm I’m so…" I started, but the words choked in my throat.She didn’t let me finish. Ivy pushed me away, holding up her hand to keep me at a distance. Her eyes, now filled with anger and pain, were enough to make me fe
My eye balls danced about as I looked around, taking in the shocked faces of the maids and guards. They were staring at me like I was a ghost, and maybe I felt like one too disconnected, lost. I couldn't wrap my head around it. Was I supposed to be relieved? Happy? Or Angry? The emotions swirled inside me like a storm, and I had no idea what to say to any of them.Before I could figure it out, my feet moved on their own. I turned and rushed into the house, shoving the door open with more force than I intended. It slammed against the wall, but I barely noticed. My heart was in my throat as I sprinted across the sitting room, the polished floor cold under my shoes, and I took the stairs two at a time. When I reached her room, I didn't hesitate, I threw the door open and froze.Her room was a disaster. Clothes were strewn across the floor, drawers yanked out, and the bed was unmade. It was like someone had torn through it in a fit of rage. The sight was a punch to the gut, drag
Ivy's POV It wasn't long after a delightful dinner in our new home. Lily and Ethan were thrilled to finally be in their father's house. The maids made sure to direct everyone, including Dr. Collins and her husband, just as Adrian had instructed. I had no idea Adrian had such a talent for decorating and arranging a home. The last time I was here, I came as a maid, but now I was the lady of the house.So much had changed around the house, and I was genuinely happy that we were living as a joyful family. I went to check on Dr. Collins and her husband to ensure they were comfortable. "Ivy, thank you so much for making us feel at home. Adrian, your house truly feels like an estate," she said with a smile.I mentioned that we needed to start preparing for the wedding since it was approaching quickly. "That's true, Ivy," she replied. I knew Adrian had told me not to worry about the arrangements because he had hired people to handle everything, but as the host of the occasion, I still felt r
Adrian's POV After winning the court case in my favor, I started to envision a new life with Ivy. It's time to make her my wife officially—there's no reason to delay. She has choose the date for our wedding, and I'm determined to make it a beautiful and glamorous occasion for her and our children.I need to secure my father's company and properties now that Barrister Maxwell and Caleb have been arrested and are facing their consequences.I felt immense joy knowing that Ivy and the kids are finally living with me, but I want to take them to my mansion, where they truly belong and can be well taken care of. I also need to find Mrs. Hawkins, my chief maid, to reward her for maintaining her integrity and not compromising herself for money.I will hire new maids to serve my queen, Ivy, and our children. I want her to have no worries; she deserves to be treated like the queen she is.With all these thoughts and plans in mind, I hurried to the shower to get ready before heading to my grandf
Ivy's POVThe court session concluded, and everyone was dismissed as the case came to an end. Adrian and I emerged victorious. Barrister Maxwell, along with Caleb and Vanessa, was taken away after the judge found them guilty on all counts. The judge then announced their sentences.I rushed to hug Adrian tightly, fully aware that nothing could ever come between us. Dr. Collins and her husband were pleased for us, relieved that their sacrifices had not been in vain. I felt no sympathy for those who had wronged us; they deserved to face the consequences for the deaths of my parents and siblings."Ivy, where are the kids?" Adrian asked. "The officers went to Barrister Maxwell's house to bring them back," I replied. We remained in the courthouse area, celebrating our victory as more people came to congratulate us.I was still pondering what had happened and who had sent the messages to the thugs holding me captive, prompting them to flee. My thoughts were interrupted when a police van arri
Maxwell's POV We all took our seats in the courtroom, waiting for the judges and my lawyer to arrive. I had confidence in my lawyer; I knew he wouldn't let me down since I had paid him well. Adrian had been instructed to bring forth all his witnesses, which he did.I was taken aback to see Mrs. Hawkins, the head maid, among them. "How is she a witness for Adrian?" I asked Caleb, who was sitting beside me. "I have no idea, boss," he replied. "But she wasn't there when you paid all the maids and Vanessa to testify against Adrian," I whispered. "You're right, Caleb."So she went behind my back to conspire with Adrian, her employer, to testify against me. I resolved to deal with her after this. As each of Adrian's witnesses was called to give their testimony, it became clear that only Dr. Collins had any evidence to support the allegations against me. The judge asked if I had sent thugs to her house to threaten her and even shoot her husband. I denied everything, even though I knew deep
Adrian's POV I turned and realized it was already morning—the day of the court case. I felt a surge of joy and excitement as I awaited the officers to call me so we could head to the courthouse. My thoughts drifted to Ivy and the kids, and I hoped Ivy would be there to testify against the old Barrister Maxwell and Caleb. Her testimony was crucial for my chances of winning the case.Before long, an officer arrived to escort me to the courthouse, which was only a short distance from the police station. I was taken to a waiting area where I would be called when it was my turn to testify against Barrister Maxwell and Caleb. While I was there, my lawyer, Gabriel, entered and introduced himself as my legal representative.Dr. Collins and her husband arrived shortly after. I spotted them from a distance, as I wasn’t allowed to approach them. I was happy to see them, but my joy felt incomplete without Ivy's presence. As I continued to ponder Ivy's absence, Austin and the chief maid, Mrs. Haw
IVY'S POV I was held in custody at the old Barrister Maxwell's instruction. I wasn't given any food or water, but somehow, I managed to endure for days without it. I have no idea where the strength and resilience to survive in such conditions came from.The thugs were incredibly harsh with me, even denying me the privacy to relieve myself. But that wasn't my main concern. I wasn't meant to be here for this long. I've been in this custody for three days now."Hey, woman, you want to implicate us, right?" one of the guards said before leaving the room where I was being held. I overheard the leader telling his men that they had received a message from the Barrister to let me go because the police were coming after them.What could be the reason for this sudden change of plans? I wondered. Perhaps the court case was turning against Barrister Maxwell and Caleb, and they wanted to avoid being implicated. That seemed likely; otherwise, what could explain this abrupt shift?"Can you at least
Maxwell's POV I took the kids away from Ivy to put my plans into action, especially since Adrian is going to court tomorrow and Ivy is already in my custody. I’m curious to see how she will testify against me.The driver skillfully navigated the busy streets as we made our way to the house, ignoring the chatter and screams of the kids I had taken from Ivy.“Hey, little ones, we’re home now. Feel free to think of this as your new home,” I told them. They didn’t respond or show any signs of acceptance; instead, they just stared at me. “Let’s go. We can’t stay here.”“Listen, the sooner you start seeing this place as your new home, the better it will be for you, because soon I will be your new parent.”“You can never be our parent, you evil man! After everything you did to Uncle Adrian and our mom, there’s no way you’ll ever be our parent!”“Let me show you to your new room,” I said to the kids, but they refused to go inside, so I had to insist.Lily and I were in the room that the old
Adrian's POVI was in excruciating pain for days because I had been hitting my hands against the wall. My heart felt heavy with pain and betrayal as I found myself in this situation. I couldn't help but think about the suffering Ivy and the kids must be enduring at the hands of that cruel Barrister. I wished for an end to all of this.Lost in my thoughts, one of the officers approached me and said that a man and a woman were there to see me. I wondered who they could be. The only relative I had known since my parents and siblings died in a plane crash was my grandfather.Summoning the courage to follow the officer, I was shocked to find Dr. Collins and her husband waiting for me in the visitor's center. I was relieved to see that Mr. Collins was doing well and could get around with crutches.At least I had people who could testify against the old Barrister Maxwell and Caleb in court tomorrow.When Dr. Collins saw me, she began to cry. I realized she hadn't seen me since I was imprison
Dr Collins POV Collins and I grew increasingly concerned as Ivy's number remained unreachable over the days. I decided to call lawyer Gabriel to get an update on Adrian's case. He assured me that the case was just around the corner, with only two days left. I expressed my gratitude for his efforts to expedite Adrian's court proceedings.I shared everything I had discussed with lawyer Gabriel with Collins, emphasizing that the court date is just two days away. I told him that we should consider going home since the court case is imminent. We still haven't heard from Ivy, and the police have not provided any updates on locating her and the children.We cannot allow the old barrister Maxwell to gain the upper hand in Adrian's case. I suggested we ask the hospital to discharge him tomorrow since it's getting late today. Collins agreed that it was a good idea.Additionally, we need to check in with lawyer Gabriel to see if he has managed to contact the chief maid, Mrs. Hawkins, to serve a