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
The clock on the wall read close to midnight, but my mind was a million miles away. The hospital corridors were eerily quiet,. I should have been relieved that my shift was over, but instead, a gnawing anxiety twisted my stomach into knots. Caleb should be home by now, waiting, probably but not patiently. The thought of everything waiting for me at home dishes, laundry, him…made my head spin.“Ivy!”I nearly jumped out of my skin at the sound of Dr. Collins’ voice. She was striding towards me, her arms full of files, and I quickly tried to pull myself together.“You’re still here?” she asked, raising an eyebrow. “Good, because I wanted to catch you before you left. You've been doing excellent work lately, and I’m sure a promotion is on the horizon.”I forced a smile, trying to push down the anxiety bubbling inside me. “Thank you, Dr. Collins. That really means a lot.”She nodded, her eyes softening a bit. “Of course my dear. But don’t let me keep you. Go on, get home and get s
As Caleb and I stepped through the front door, I could feel the tension hanging thick in the air, like a storm ready to break. The car ride home from the hospital had been silent, but it was the kind of silence that screamed of unspoken words, of buried resentment waiting to explode. I barely had time to set my bag down before he was on me, his eyes blazing with anger."What the hell were you thinking, Ivy?" His voice was a low growl, the kind that sent a shiver down my spine despite my determination not to show fear.I met his gaze, my own anger rising to meet his. "What was I thinking? I was doing my job, Caleb. What else do you expect me to do?""My job is to help people, to save lives," I shot back, the words coming out harsher than I intended. "Not to just stand by and let""Your job," he interrupted, his voice cold and sharp, "is to keep your head down and stay out of trouble. Not to get involved in every bleeding heart case that walks through those doors."I felt a bitter la
(Adrian POV)I adjusted my tie in the office mirror.The silk felt cool and familiar against my skin, yet there was an unease in the pit of my stomach that no amount of straightening could shake off. The tie was perfect, Grandfather had always insisted on that. Every detail had to be flawless. But today, that perfection felt hollow.It had only been two weeks since I watched them lower him into the ground, the last member of my family. Everyone else had all been snatched away in a fiery plane crash years ago, leaving me with a legacy that felt more like a burden than a gift. Now, it was just me, standing in the echo of what once was, trying to fill shoes that felt far too large.Today was my first day back at the office, my thoughts were a battlefield, the demands of the board meeting clashing with the ache of grief that gnawed at my resolve. How was I supposed to hold everything together? The company was on the brink of a new era, and so was I, though I wasn’t sure if I was stepp
(ADRIAN POV)After two extra ringaI swiped the screen to answer, tension abode in the room. “Adrian,” The barrister’s voice was steady, but there was something beneath it urgency, maybe? “We need to meet as soon as possible. Like you must have heard, there’s something regarding your grandfather's….”“You know what? Don’t bother coming here,” I cut him off, my tone sharper than I intended. “I’m coming to you right now. You hear me, right now!”I didn’t wait for his response, hanging up as I pushed back from the table. The entire board turned to look at me, surprise and confusion etched across their faces. “This meeting is over,” I snapped, already moving toward the door. “We’ll reconvene later.”I didn’t look back. The moment I stepped outside, the heat hit me like a wall, but it did nothing to slow me down. The first person I spotted outside was Caleb my chaffeur leaning against the gate, idly scrolling through his phone. I didn’t have time for this.“Caleb!” I yelled, my voic
(IVY POV)I stood there, feeling like I’d been dropped into a scene from a movie I wasn’t sure I wanted to be a part of. The Boss’s estate was even more intimidating in person than I had imagined. Everything about the place screamed power and wealth.The old barrister we met, with his polished demeanor and calm voice, spoke up, snapping me back to reality. "Miss Joan Walters," he introduced me, as if that was really my name, as if I belonged here. "This is the young lady I mentioned, Adrian. She's… a distant relative."I shifted uneasily, trying not to meet the eyes of the man standing next to us in a towel, Caleb’s boss. Adrian Blackwood. He turned to face me, and I felt like I’d been caught in a spotlight. He was really tall, his presence commanding the room in a way that made me feel even smaller than I already did. His eyes sharp, dark, and unsettling seemed to strip away any pretense, leaving me exposed, his chest was hairy.."Joan Walters, you say?" His voice was smooth bu
(IVY POV)I stopped, reaching out to touch the frame, running my fingers over the image as if trying to pull something from the recesses of my memory. But nothing came, just a vague sense of unease."You alright, dear?" Mrs. Hawkins asked, her voice breaking through my thoughts.I pulled my hand back quickly, nodding. "Yes, just… admiring the picture."She smiled, a knowing look in her eyes. "The Blackwood family has a long history. You’ll learn all about it in time."I wasn’t so sure I wanted to.The days passed quickly, and before I knew it, a week had gone by. I was beginning to settle into the routines, getting to know the other staff and even the layout of the massive estate. The others seemed to like me well enough, and I found myself becoming more comfortable, though there was always that underlying tension, a constant reminder that I was here under false pretenses.What surprised me most was the boss, or should i just call him Adrian. He was nothing like the ruthless, cold-
ADRIAN (POV)The morning light that seeped in from the curtains made me wake up, rolling from side to side on the bed. I groaned, rubbing a hand across my face, trying to get used to my vision again. My head throbbed slightly and I felt a dull ache behind my eyes, it was a tangible reminder of the previous night's events. But my mind was still quite unstable, struggling to piece together the fragments of memory.I sat up slowly, running a hand through my bushy hair, blinking at the empty space beside me. Joan was no longer here, she was gone. For a moment, I felt disappointed. Maybe she had snuck out early, perhaps out of shyness or fear of the other maids and the prying questions they would all be nursing by now. I am sure she was also scared of getting blamed for taking advantage of her boss’s vulnerable moment.I waved off the thought. She had nothing to fear. I wasn’t that drunk anyways, I knew exactly what I was doing. But why? Furrowing my brow, I let a chain of fresh
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