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IVY'S POV The flight from Europe to Los Angeles took forever, almost a whole day. I didn't plan on staying long, so I only packed a few things for me and Noah. I didn't want to spend more time here than I had to. When we finally got off the plane, everything looked so different from how I remembered it seven years ago. Nicer, somehow. We grabbed our bags and Noah couldn't stop bouncing with excitement. He's always wanted to be a pilot, says they get to travel the world and see so many places. I never argue with him about it. I just want him to be happy. I got us a cab to the hotel I booked. I wasn't about to stay at my dad's house, not when I knew I wasn't welcome there. Plus, I figured some of my aunts and uncles would be around. I didn't need them looking down their noses at me. It took me two days to work up the nerve to see my mom. She kept calling, asking if I was coming, but I couldn't bring myself to pick up. When I finally got to the house, I rang the doorbell and waited. You're not supposed to just walk in here if no one answers. It means you're not wanted. I nearly fell over when my brother opened the door. He didn't have that look he always used to give me, the one that made me feel about an inch tall. Maybe he didn't recognize me. Or maybe he forgot he hated me. I couldn't stop wondering about it until he spoke. "You can come in," he said. Just like that. My brother, inviting me inside. I half expected the sky to fall. The second I stepped through the door, my mom threw herself at me, sobbing like the world was ending. I couldn't believe it. She never wanted anything to do with me, and now this? I saw my aunts and uncles out of the corner of my eye, but I didn't really know them. They never wanted to know me either. The whole thing left me feeling like I'd walked into the Twilight Zone. I was so caught off guard, I almost forgot Noah was with me. I didn't plan on explaining him to anyone. As long as he behaved himself, which I knew he would, I figured we'd be okay. He wants to meet my family, but he knows it has to be on my terms. "Mom, is that my grandma?" Noah whispered from behind me. That's when my mom finally noticed him. "Did he just call you mom?" one of my aunts asked. Auntie Rose, I think. I've heard stories about her, but I didn't care to share. I ignored her and turned to my son. "Yes, Noah, but she wished I was dead." I said it loud enough for everyone to hear. I didn't care. "That's an awful thing to say to a child, Ivy. Whatever happened between you and your mother shouldn't involve him," my aunt scolded. I pretended she wasn't there. My mom looked like she might faint, all pale and weak, like she wanted me to feel sorry for her. But how could I, when she never once treated me like a daughter? Not even when I needed her most, when I was pregnant with Noah and had nowhere to go? "Ivy, I'm so sorry for everything. But please, don't keep me from my grandchild," she begged, tears in her eyes. Since when did I matter so much to her? If Noah was really her grandson, why did she throw me out when I was carrying him? "Your father and I, we know we treated you badly. But please, try to forgive us." She took a step closer, but I couldn't move. "I didn't come for your apologies. I came because I was told to, because he's dead. He wouldn't want me here if he was alive. I didn't even want to come." I stood my ground, my voice hard. "And Noah is nobody's business but mine. I don't owe anyone an explanation." But my mom wouldn't let up. "I understand you need time, Ivy. But I'm the only grandparent Noah has. Please, let me be part of his life." I knew she was trying to get to me, to find the girl I used to be. But I'm not that person anymore. I won't let myself be used like that again. "If there's nothing else, I'm leaving. I'll see you at the funeral." I turned to go, heading for the door even as they called after me. I didn't care anymore. I yanked the door open, ready to make my escape, and froze. Standing there, staring back at me, was the last person I ever wanted to see. "Ivy?" he said, his eyes wide with shock. But then his gaze landed on Noah, peeking out from behind me, and I saw the question in his eyes. My heart dropped straight into my stomach. No. Not him. Not now. I thought I'd never have to see him again, that I'd left Rowan Douglas and all the pain he caused me far behind. But there he was, looking just as stunned as I felt. "Rowan," I managed to choke out, my voice barely above a whisper. "What are you doing here?" He blinked, shaking his head like he couldn't quite believe it either. "I... I came for your father's funeral. But Ivy, is that...?" I pushed Noah further behind me, shielding him from Rowan's searching gaze. "Don't. Don't you dare ask me about him." Rowan held up his hands, taking a step back. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to... I was just surprised." "Yeah, well, I'm full of surprises," I snapped, the bitterness welling up like bile in my throat. How dare he show up here, today of all days? How dare he look at Noah like he had any right to know about him, about the piece of my heart that I'd protected from him all these years? I felt my mom's hand on my shoulder, trying to pull me back into the house. "Ivy, please. Let's just talk about this." But I shrugged her off, my eyes never leaving Rowan's face. "There's nothing to talk about. I came to bury my father, not dig up the past. And I sure as hell didn't come to see you." I pushed past him, dragging Noah with me down the steps. I heard Rowan call my name, heard my mother pleading with me to wait, but I didn't stop. I couldn't. If I did, I knew I'd fall apart right there on the sidewalk. Noah stumbled along beside me, confused and scared by the tears streaming down my face. "Mommy? Mommy, what's wrong? Who was that man?" "Nobody, baby. He's nobody." But even as I said it, I knew it wasn't true. Rowan Douglas would never be nobody, no matter how hard I tried to pretend otherwise. He was the man who'd shattered my heart into a million pieces, the man who'd given me the most precious gift in my life and then tossed us both aside like we were nothing. And now, after seven long years, he'd come crashing back into my world like a wrecking ball. I didn't know if I was strong enough to survive the rubble this time. All I knew was that I had to get away, had to get Noah away, before the truth came spilling out and destroyed the careful life I'd built for us. So I ran, my son's hand clutched tight in mine, Rowan's stricken face haunting every step. I ran from my past, from my pain, from the love that had almost ruined me. And I prayed that somehow, someday, I'd find the strength to stop running and finally face it all head-on. But not today. Today, I just needed to breathe. For Noah's sake, if not for my own. We'd come back to bury the past, but it looked like the past wasn't quite done with us yet. I just hoped I could make it through the next few days without losing myself completely again.MEETING ROWAN'S POV The sun glaring through the windows when I wake up, Bella curled up next to me with her hand on my chest. She reminds me so much of Ivy sometimes. It's been seven years since Ivy left, seven years since I got Bella back, but I still feel this emptiness inside. Like Ivy's still here, haunting me. I know I messed up, treating her the way I did. But part of me just can't let it go, can't believe she didn't love me for my money. "You love her," a little voice in my head whispers. "Shut up," I growl back. "I could never love her." But even as I say it, I know it's a lie. Ivy got under my skin in a way no one else ever has. After I divorced her, I thought she'd come crawling back in a year, tops, begging me to take her back. But she didn't. Last I heard, she was in Europe, chasing that fashion designer dream of hers. I hate it, hate the thought of her out there, building a life without me. Even if she's not mine anymore, I don't want anyone else to have her. Sh
A FAMILIAR FACE Ivy’s POV The effect that Rowan’s presence had on me lingered long after I left the funeral. His voice, his eyes—everything about him ripped open wounds I thought had long since healed. I pressed my fingers to my temples as I walked, trying to push away the memories clawing at me. I shouldn’t have come. I should have stayed home, and kept my head down like I have done for the past seven years. Now, I was falling apart, and I hated it. The cemetery was mostly empty now, the last of the mourners leaving in small groups. My heels crunched against the gravel path as I made my way toward the exit, my heart still hammering from seeing Rowan again. But just as I reached the iron gates, a quick movement caught my eye. A black sedan stood a few yards away. The tinted windows made it impossible to see inside, but something about it made my stomach tighten with dread. I picked up my pace. Then, a sharp crack split the air. Gunfire. Instinct took over. I dropped to
The Unanswered Question Rowan’s POV I couldn’t get the image out of my head. Ivy, standing outside gripping that little boy’s hand like her life depended on it. The funeral had already been a disaster from the moment I laid eyes on her. Seeing her again after all these years had been enough of a punch to the gut, but the kid? That was something else. Something else I didn't expect. Could it be…? Because if my math was right—if the timeline made any damn sense at all— No. I couldn’t go there. Not yet. I slammed the car door shut and sat behind the wheel, gripping it tighter than necessary. My mind kept circling back, trying to fill in the blanks. Ivy had disappeared after our breakup, cutting all ties. I’d searched for her, reached out more times than I cared to admit, but she’d vanished like smoke. No trace. And now she was back. With a kid who looked— No. Focus. I needed answers, and I needed them now. If it's possible that, that kid is mine, there's a lot I ne
The Unexpected News Ivy's POV As I unlocked the door to my apartment, I wondered what I was going to tell Noah. Since he was born, I have never brought a man to my house, choosing not to deal with anything called relationship after my last fall out. But now, Gabe was in the house and I had not really come up with an explanation for Noah's little mind. Though there was a possibility that he won't be around. I was just coming back from the sitter’s house where I kept him before heading off to the cemetery where everything had gone nuts. Taking a deep breath, I took Noah's hand and pushed the door open. To my satisfaction, Gabe was still there. He was sitting on the coach where he spent the night, holding a cup of smoking liquid. Upon our entrance, he turned on the spot, his eyes sharp until he saw us and the frown on his face straightened out replaced by a smile. “Hope you don't mind? I needed a cup of coffee. Can't do much in the morning without it.” He said holding up
Father's Keepsake Ivy's POV It was just yesterday that Gabe told me I had a better chance of surviving here in Los Angeles than traveling back to Europe and it had since destabilized me. I didn't want it to be real. I tried my hardest to call the shots I knew I had to so that I can keep the business still going, but it only made the whole situation more real. If anyone had told me that I will be spending more time than necessary in this state, I’d have laughed that person to scorn, yet here I am. All because of some crazy attack that I couldn't just pinpoint who gave the order. After a long night thinking of the next step, wondering whether to just condemn everything to hell and make the drastic choice of secretly leaving L.A, but then Gab’s words echoed in my head. Taking a deep breath, I sighed. I would never forgive myself if anything was to happen to Noah. I decided instead to make the necessary calls. Thank goodness Sarah chose to keep her apartment if not thi
Secrets in Plain Sight Ivy’s POV I wanted to walk away the moment I saw her. When my mother opened the door, I couldn't help but feel suffocated straight to my bones as memories from the past threatened to pull me under making me watery eye. It was hard to forgive when the people you put so much faith and trust in decide to abandon at your lowest moment. But I had to do this. For my father. Though we had no good relationship seeing as he is the instigator of all the harsh treatment the rest of the family meted on me. I clutched the small wooden box in my hands, my fingers pressing against the engraved initials. A keepsake. One of the few things he had left behind that mattered at least when he still treated me like a daughter. "Ivy." Her voice wavered, eyes widening as she took me in. I guess she was surprised to see me right now. I too was surprised by myself. Especially after the attack at the cemetery, I didn't even know who to trust anymore. I wonder what would'v
An Updated List Rowan's POV It had been a long day and all I wanted was to rush home and rest. But I had a feeling I was going to end up meeting a certain someone I was trying my possible best to dodge. Bella. So, instead of heading home, I opted for something else. A drive around town. It was kind of relaxing for me. A way to wind down and forget about my stress. As I was driving, lost in my thoughts, my gaze fell on a figure I didn't expect to see. Ivy. Without thinking twice, I drove straight towards her. Blowing my horn to get her attention, she turned in an instant. I was shocked to see the look of misery on her face. She looked like she was about to cry. When she recognized me, she quickly masked her expression and walked faster. Not turned off by her behavior, I followed her. “Hi Ivy,” “What do you want Rowan?” “Nothing really. I saw you walking and I thought you should get a ride instead. So here I am.” I stated driving alongside her. “I'm not interested.”
Ivy’s Independence Rowan’s POV I had spent years convincing myself that she had been a chapter in my life that had closed. But then I saw her again. And I saw him. Noah. The name she called him. I barely slept that night, my mind racing with questions I had no answers to. The resemblance had been undeniable, but I needed proof. I needed the truth. And Ivy sure as hell wasn’t going to hand it to me willingly. So, I did what I did best. I dug. By morning, my assistant, Daniel, had compiled a full report on Ivy’s life since we’d been apart. As I scrolled through the files on my tablet, an uneasy feeling settled in my chest. She had done well for herself. Really well. Ivy Sharp wasn’t just surviving—she was thriving. Her fashion brand, Ivy's Atelier, had taken the industry by storm, dressing celebrities, socialites, and even royalty. She had built an empire from the ground up, and she’d done it all without me. The realization hit harder than I expected. I had spent
Get Out Rowan’s POV I had never been this angry in my life. Not even when I saw Gabe with Ivy. Not when my Ivy accused me of sabotaging her company. But now? Now, as I stood in the middle of the charity gala, every eye in the room locked on me, something close to fury burned through my veins as the urge to deal with the culprit filled my thoughts. Bella's actions were just unbelievable bordering on petty. How could she do this? Bella’s lips parted slightly, her breath catching as she stared at me, pretending like she didn’t know exactly what I was talking about. But she can't fool me. Not in the slightest. “What did you do, Bella?” I repeated, my voice cold, and measured. Her mask of confidence slipped for just a fraction of a second, but then she rolled her shoulders back and scoffed, flipping her hair like I’d just asked her if she had stolen my favorite pen. “You’re being irrational, Rowan.” Her voice was smooth, practiced, just like always. “I have no idea wha
Failed Scheme Bella’s POV I hated losing. It wasn’t in my nature to come second. Not in business, not in social circles, and certainly not when it came to Rowan. But Ivy Sharp was proving to be more of a nuisance than I expected. I watched from across the room as she moved through the charity gala, smiling at people, pretending like she belonged in our world. It made me sick. I’d spent years by Rowan’s side—his most trusted advisor, his confidante, his girlfriend. Everyone expected us to be together. Hell, I expected us to be together. Until her. Now, I had to watch as she crept back into his life, undoing everything I’d worked for. Not for long. Luckily, I have been working with Eric to steal her designs and sell them to Vanguard. Now that she has found out and he has been fired, I need to find an alternative to that I can use to hurt her. And there was only one man I knew that could help me achieve that. The next morning, I hurried to his office that luckily w
The Connection Deepens Ivy’s POV I didn’t sleep. How could I after what I did? Storming into Rowan’s office and realizing I might have accused the wrong person, my mind refused to shut off. Bella’s smirk haunted me. Eric’s betrayal burned in my chest. And Rowan—Rowan had looked at me like I’d just torn open an old wound he’d barely managed to stitch together. By the time the sun rose, I was exhausted but restless. I needed something normal, something steady. So I did what I always did when life spun out of control. I focused on Noah. The only real joy that fate had brought to my life. Since we arrived here, he has just been pestering me to go to the park. I guess today will be a very good day to do that. At least I will get to spend time with him outside this place. “Noah, honey, slow down,” I called as he raced across the park. His curly head of hair bobbed in the sunlight, his laughter bright against the crisp morning air. He ignored me, of course, too busy chasing a
A Shocking Betrayal Ivy’s POV I should have seen it coming. Betrayal never comes from enemies—it comes from the people you trust. The moment I stepped into my office that morning, I knew something was wrong. The air was thick with tension, and my assistant, Claire, looked pale as she handed me a folder. “You need to see this,” she said, her voice tight. I flipped it open, my stomach sinking as I scanned the documents. Screenshots of emails, financial records, and—worst of all—side-by-side comparisons of Ivy's Atelier designs and those from Vanguard Fashion Group. My rival company. A company I had been competing with for months. A company I now knew was owned by Rowan Douglas. The blood drained from my face. Claire hesitated. “I didn’t want to believe it, but—” I looked up. “Who?” She swallowed hard. “Eric.” The name sent a cold wave through me. Eric had been with me from the start. He was one of my lead designers, someone I had mentored, trusted, believed
The Gala Rowan’s POV I wasn’t leaving tonight without the answers I needed. From the moment I saw her name on the guest list, I knew this was my chance. Ivy had disappeared for the past seven years to God knows where avoiding me. Now that due to some twist, I was able to finally see her again, she is shutting down every attempt I’d made to reach her. But she won't get away tonight. Because, she’d have nowhere to run. This was the perfect location. I had decided to avoid any social circles tonight because I had a target. I scanned the crowd, my fingers tightening around the glass in my hand. The gala was in full swing—elegant dresses, expensive suits, champagne bubbling in crystal flutes. The sound of polite conversation and laughter filled the grand hall, but I didn’t hear any of it. I only had eyes for her. And no one else. Then I saw her. Ivy. She stood near the center of the room, wearing a sleek black dress that hugged her curves, her blonde hair falling in
Ivy’s Independence Rowan’s POV I had spent years convincing myself that she had been a chapter in my life that had closed. But then I saw her again. And I saw him. Noah. The name she called him. I barely slept that night, my mind racing with questions I had no answers to. The resemblance had been undeniable, but I needed proof. I needed the truth. And Ivy sure as hell wasn’t going to hand it to me willingly. So, I did what I did best. I dug. By morning, my assistant, Daniel, had compiled a full report on Ivy’s life since we’d been apart. As I scrolled through the files on my tablet, an uneasy feeling settled in my chest. She had done well for herself. Really well. Ivy Sharp wasn’t just surviving—she was thriving. Her fashion brand, Ivy's Atelier, had taken the industry by storm, dressing celebrities, socialites, and even royalty. She had built an empire from the ground up, and she’d done it all without me. The realization hit harder than I expected. I had spent
An Updated List Rowan's POV It had been a long day and all I wanted was to rush home and rest. But I had a feeling I was going to end up meeting a certain someone I was trying my possible best to dodge. Bella. So, instead of heading home, I opted for something else. A drive around town. It was kind of relaxing for me. A way to wind down and forget about my stress. As I was driving, lost in my thoughts, my gaze fell on a figure I didn't expect to see. Ivy. Without thinking twice, I drove straight towards her. Blowing my horn to get her attention, she turned in an instant. I was shocked to see the look of misery on her face. She looked like she was about to cry. When she recognized me, she quickly masked her expression and walked faster. Not turned off by her behavior, I followed her. “Hi Ivy,” “What do you want Rowan?” “Nothing really. I saw you walking and I thought you should get a ride instead. So here I am.” I stated driving alongside her. “I'm not interested.”
Secrets in Plain Sight Ivy’s POV I wanted to walk away the moment I saw her. When my mother opened the door, I couldn't help but feel suffocated straight to my bones as memories from the past threatened to pull me under making me watery eye. It was hard to forgive when the people you put so much faith and trust in decide to abandon at your lowest moment. But I had to do this. For my father. Though we had no good relationship seeing as he is the instigator of all the harsh treatment the rest of the family meted on me. I clutched the small wooden box in my hands, my fingers pressing against the engraved initials. A keepsake. One of the few things he had left behind that mattered at least when he still treated me like a daughter. "Ivy." Her voice wavered, eyes widening as she took me in. I guess she was surprised to see me right now. I too was surprised by myself. Especially after the attack at the cemetery, I didn't even know who to trust anymore. I wonder what would'v
Father's Keepsake Ivy's POV It was just yesterday that Gabe told me I had a better chance of surviving here in Los Angeles than traveling back to Europe and it had since destabilized me. I didn't want it to be real. I tried my hardest to call the shots I knew I had to so that I can keep the business still going, but it only made the whole situation more real. If anyone had told me that I will be spending more time than necessary in this state, I’d have laughed that person to scorn, yet here I am. All because of some crazy attack that I couldn't just pinpoint who gave the order. After a long night thinking of the next step, wondering whether to just condemn everything to hell and make the drastic choice of secretly leaving L.A, but then Gab’s words echoed in my head. Taking a deep breath, I sighed. I would never forgive myself if anything was to happen to Noah. I decided instead to make the necessary calls. Thank goodness Sarah chose to keep her apartment if not thi