The air was as thick with anticipation as the conference hall was thick with people. The event was about to begin. The mayors of the city were seated at the front desks to represent the public, but most importantly to uplift their public profile and sell themselves to the people as being humane and pitiful. You know there’s nothing the public loves as unconventional events. A sea of reporters crowded the room, cameras flashing like rapid gunfire, all trained on the stage where the government was preparing to deliver an unprecedented apology. Standing at the far left of the podium, Lori Spencer, a thoroughly disguised Lori Spencer. You bet she had all her natural fetal tires altered to look as far different from Ivory as possible. She had in fact taken a new name. Standing at the podium, she had been arrested as Lora Spencer. But who knew she’d be arrested over something as simple as shoplifting and be uncovered for all other crimes including framing the innocent Ivory Hollis? T
“I told you not to get out of the car!” Ivory said softly, yet her voice carried a displeased tone. “Mommy, I just wanted to pee.”“Ivory, could you stop yelling at the boy?”“Just focus on driving, Willis. This is all your fault. I told you I didn’t want to go to that stupid conference anyway.”“We already talked about this Ivory. I’m not about to rehash it. Besides, how long are you going to keep him away from…”“Drive, Wills.” Ivory interjected. The entire ride to the airport, Willis said nothing, only occasionally checking on her on the rear view mirror. No matter how desperate she wanted to hide it, seeing Arlo bothered her, in fact, it did more than just bothering her. However, Willis had not expected that he would show up. Not after everything that had happened. Not after the way things ended, no, he didn’t expect him of all people to show up. Let alone meet his child for the first time under such tensed circumstances. “By the way, what did Lori say to you…?” He finally a
Ivory had just arrived at Grenville airport. She had left Greenville as a captive of a certain heartless man— a man whose name she would never speak of, and a divorced wife of a disgusting husband. Today, she was returning as a mother, a freedwoman, a survivor, and a hundred million dollars rich.Marvin wrapped his hands around her little finger, clinging to her side as they made their way through the bustle of the town. Ivory had forgotten just how different Greenville was to Ovieto until she stepped out of the terminal and was hit by the decibels of noise made by people and moving vehicles. “Don’t let go of my hand, baby,” she said, glancing at the address that Willis had given her. She was regretful for how she snapped at Willis, he had been a great help to her for the last five years. Seeing Arlo had not only ruined her mood, her mind, and her heart, it made her completely disoriented. “Look, Mommy, look!” Marvin exclaimed, pointing at a boy in a scooter who was driving past
Two wrongs don’t make a right or whatever they say. My father was seated in front of the cab with the driver as I held my son tightly, my mind racing all over the place trying to connect the dots of the new truth that had surfaced.If this man really was my father, did that mean my mom lied to me?Had she intended to tell me the truth before her untimely death?”And now, wasn’t I doing the same thing with Marvin?The cab came to a halt. I looked up and saw a cozy bungalow protected by a short fence. It looked good enough for me to start a new life with my son. I stepped down, grateful that the driver helped with my luggage.I lodged in the key I had gotten from Willis and then turned the door open. I was greeted by a warmth that seemed almost too welcoming. The walls were a pale shade of green, complemented by off-white curtains that swayed in the breeze. Everything was well coordinated— the furniture seemed to be of the same brand as all of them had the same designs and colors,
My heart clenched in my chest. And not in the good way. I was told my dad died as a child. So I never asked my mother about him. But Marvin grew up with Willis. He grew up knowing his mom was away. He grew up knowing Willis, and I would assume that he had automatically figured the kind and warm Willis as his father. “I want to talk to daddy. I miss him,” Marvin pleaded, his eyes brimming with tears. I didn’t consider how much of a twist this would bring in our lives when we moved from Ovieto. I hadn’t considered my son’s feelings until now. The sudden change after five years of being in Ovieto with Willis wasn’t something I should have missed. My heart clench’s in my chest. “Am I a bad mother?”I picked up my phone, my hands hovering over Willis’s number. I wanted to call him. But that would only lead my son to believe that Willis was really his father. Was that right? Was that the right thing to do? But if I didn’t call Willis, I would have to live with the lump forming in my
I slammed the door on his face. The audacity!I turned the keys, and bolted the latches making sure the door was well locked and secured.When I returned to my living room, I was fuming. In fact, it was more than just fuming, I was heaving with anger. What? He couldn’t even come up with an apology first? Not even a word of explanation for what he did to me? But what? Manipulation? Showing me a piece of paper and telling me we were still married. How could he show up like that? Not even remorseful? Huh! I scoffed, plonking onto the seat. I should’ve known, I was asking for too much from Willis.I picked up my phone, wanting to call him, but I paused. Willis had chosen his side. He had clearly chosen Arlo’s side despite the betrayal. A betrayal that was more hurtful than what Damian did to me.My eyes flickered to the ring on the table and my emotions rushed back in. I allowed myself to be fooled by Arlo. Never again.And I definitely didn’t need his ring lying around my house
Arlo’s gaze fell. I saw his countenance change as I spoke. “I will never forgive you, Arlo. Never!”With that, I turned and walked away, my son’s fingers tightly wrapped around my hand.As I walked past him, it took all the courage in me not to look back. I wanted to look back. I desperately wanted to look back and see if he was crying. I wanted to see if he was broken by my words. I wanted to know if he was hurt. And hell, I hoped he was. I hoped Arlo Covelli was hurt and broken as much as he hurt and broke me. But then again, I could never hurt him the way he’d hurt me. It’s not like I could send him to prison.A thought crossed my mind, dark and tempting. “I could send him to prison.” Just like he did me. “If I come back and he is still outside my front porch, I would definitely call the cops on him.”A cab stopped in front of me and I handed him the address of my office. About a week ago, when I had just heard the news that Lori Spencer (now my sister) had been arrested
“You’re hired, Miranda,” I announced with a smile. “Huh?!” Miranda exclaimed, her eyes widened in bewilderment. “Woah! thank… thank you!” She was barely containing her excitement. “Thank you, ma’am!”The whole day was a blur… well not particularly a blur. It was filled with a ruckus of thoughts, drawing up a plan and mentally visualizing my new future. I had a hundred million dollars, a son to take care of, and a business to grow.I jotted down a few things I needed to start my business. Fabrics, clothes for sale, more clothes, and more fabrics. Thankfully, Miranda was there to help with the fabrics. She put a call through to one of her trusted suppliers who promised to deliver hundreds of different fabrics by the next week.After spending all day drawing up a business plan, I stood over the board, looking at it like a detective trying to connect the pattern of a crime. And honestly, my board seemed to be missing a lot of things.Did I want to sell clothes or make clothes? If I
Chapter 74“How could it be for show? You kissed me first!” Arlo insisted. You see when you are desperate for something, you want to hold on to anything that gives you hope. It may have been pathetic but holding on to that kiss, clinging onto that gesture was Arlo’s only hope. “I was only proving a point,” she shot back, walking past him. But Arlo was not having. Before she could pull the door open, he pulled her by the arm, pinning her to the wall. His gaze lingered on her eyes before dropping to her lips. “You’re driving me crazy,” he confessed, “You don’t know what you’ve just done.”Ivory wriggled from his hold, aching to be free from his suffocating presence.“You drove me to prison, I guess we are even now.”At that accusation, Arlo narrowed his eyes shut, clenching his jaws.“Would I ever be forgiven of that sin?” He asked, his voice barely audible. “I don’t know, Arlo. Would you forgive me if the cases were reversed?”If he said yes, then he would have been lying.But he
Ivory clenched her fists, suppressing all the emotions brewing within. Arlo was unconscious from his own heart injuries, and Marvin was hooked up to machines but all they could think about was whether or not the child was Arlo’s.What happened to the kind-hearted Mr. Luca Covelli who accepted her with kindness on the first day? What happened to the warmth she felt with him? Was it a Covelli thing for them to show kindness only when it was favorable?“I pray the DNA results show that Marvin is not a Covelli. I will single-handedly take care of my son.”Just then, the ward door opened slowly and Ivory raised her gaze to find Arlo staring back at her. His gaze on her was firm and unwavering. “Arlo!” Crystal and Mr. Luca Covelli chorused, taking his side quickly.Arlo slowly pulled away from their grip, closing the door behind him before stepping into the doorway fully. His gaze remained on Ivory, unwaveringly.“What did I just hear you say?” Even though his voice was still weak, his
Chapter 72Ivory was shocked that the first thing that popped into her mind was if Marvin was dead or alive. Maybe it was that incident five years ago, she began to think the worst case in any scenario. She wasn’t certain what she would have done if Marvin was reported dead, but again, why was the first question on her mind? Too shocked to move, or to cry, the phone had slipped from her ear, even Arlo couldn’t get himself to hang up. He was more shocked than everyone concerned. For a minute he thought he was doing a good job with Marvin. He thought being a dad came naturally, so he allowed himself to bask too much in the pleasure of how easy it was and then lost it all. As he stood there in the emergency room with his son connected to beeping machines and all, another thought that devastated him completely would be the look on Ivory’s face. How would he face her? What would he say to her that would make her forgive him?His phone still pressed to his ear, the silence between them
There was no denying that Ivory would rather punch him in the gut than live with him, so he trashed the idea as soon as it came.From a few feet away, he could see the cabin— the only color in an expanse field of green. As he stepped out of his vehicle, his son followed closely behind him, with no idea that the property he stood in was his. Arlo looked down at him, smiling to himself. His father had passed down the Covelli name to him, but he, he was going to pass down properties all of over the world to Marvin. He was sure of it.As they ventured into the woods, headed for the stream Marvin was so eager to see, Ivory was venturing into a world of possibilities. “I’m going to host a fashion show… we are going to host a fashion show!” She announced, her excited gaze flicking from Miranda to Denise.Miranda tilted her head, taking in both her excitement and the feeling behind her excitement. For the past couple of days, Ivory had been on an energy burst. She was planning one even
TWO WEEKS LATERClenched his jaw.Grabbed her ass a little. A smirk formed on his lips. Damn. He thought. He wished this was real. He’d been having wet dreams from the day he kissed her. A kiss should end a curse. In this case, a kiss became his curse.He dreamt of her every night, her form flashed in his eyes every time he blinked them close and he didn’t mind. No he didn’t mind it at all He went to bed every night, expecting to be tortured by her lingering presence, woke up the next morning tired from doing things to her no one else knew about.The door creaked open and Marvin’s light footsteps echoed as he neared his father’s bed.Some days, he stayed with his mom. Other days he stayed with Arlo. Today was one of those lucky days he got to spend with his father.Without a word, he slid into the bed next to him, and Arlo’s arms wrapped around him. He pressed a kiss to his forehead. “Morning, buddy.”“Good morning daddy,” Marvin replied. He and his son had gotten closer. Over t
Chapter 69Just when he thought his evening could not get any worse. Just when he thought he couldn’t be in a worse mood than this, an uninvited visitor showed up.“We’ve been waiting a while!” The intruder’s voice sounded in his ears, a strangely familiar sound that he wasn’t ready for.“What are you doing here?” Arlo thundered, his expression darkened with anger.His father stepped closer, his gaze equally dark and brooding. “I should be asking you that question,” he fired back, “What do you think you’re doing here?!”Just when Arlo thought it couldn’t get any worse, someone else joined them. Someone he hated. Arlo’s fist clenched beside him. “Is this a joke?”“Does it seem like a joke?” Crystal’s smooth voice echoed in the room, sending a ripple of rage over him.His jaw clenched as hard as his fist. “I want you two to get out of my house…” “Daddy?” Marvin’s groggy voice interrupted him, “I want to pee,” the boy said softly, half awake, half asleep.Arlo softened without a choic
Ivory’s breath caught in her throat. She had waited years to hear those words, but now that they were spoken, they felt hollow, like an apology long overdue. She was unable to reconcile his words with the pain she had lived through. “I…” her voice faltered, “You can’t even imagine how much I wanted an explanation, Arlo. I came up with so many reasons as to why you did what you did…” Her hand gently brushed his grip away, as she turned to face him. “I couldn’t understand any of them, not even the one you’re giving me now.” Arlo’s chest frightened as he rose from the bench, stepping closer to her. “I can’t let you go…” he whispered, his voice barely audible. Ivory scoffed painfully, her eyes searching his face. “Willis is right, you haven’t changed Arlo. You’re still inconsiderate and blindly persistent.”“Willis knows nothing, Ivory!” Arlo fired, his voice growing desperate. “He is not the judge of my character. I’ve changed, I swear.”Ivory shook her head, biting her lip as tear
Chapter 67As the door closed faintly in the distance, Arlo released a deep sigh, his chest heaving with frustration. He watched Willis leave, his words lingering in the air like smoke after fire. But most importantly, the weight of Ivory’s words pressed down on him, suffocating him.He wanted to lash out, or scream. He wanted to do anything to release the pent up emotions clawing at his insides, but instead he remained still, rooted to the spot, torn between anger and the gnawing ache of regret and heartbreak.Ivory, on the other hand, was struggling to keep her composure. Her heart still pounded in her chest. Arlo was an old wound, and the fact that he ignored the hurt he caused her added to her hurt. Her gaze flickered toward Marvin, who sat wide-eyes at the table, probably trying to wrap his head around the party. “Mommy, do I have two dads?”Ivory buried her face in her palms, massaging her forehead tiredly. “You’re right, Marvin,” Arlo intervened, his voice shaky betraying
Arlo stood, speechless. The divorce letter in his hand pinned him to a spot, suffocating him.When Crystal had served him divorce, he felt nothing. Not even a bit. But standing here, next to a woman he hadn’t seen in five years, it felt like the world was crashing down on him. The tears of a man they say, never reaches his eyes but Arlo felt them rush to his eyes. For the first time, he experienced how it felt for the heart to tighten— his breath narrowed, the ground shifted beneath his feet.He leaned against the wall behind him, seeking support. “Ivory…” he called. He didn’t even know what he wanted to say, her name was the only thing he could mutter.“Let’s not drag it any further,” Ivory said. “I already signed my part, I’ll be expecting the same from you.”It was a surprise that she didn’t explode from Arlo’s sudden kiss. Her heart raced in her chest but it wasn’t the same feeling as before— the one where she would completely be mesmerized. This time she still had her senses