Ivory’s POVThe words came out. They were too good to be true.“I’m free to go?” I repeated, eyes widened in surprise and excitement.Willis nodded, his expression was hardened yet his eyes held the sincerity of his words.“Can I really go?” I asked again, just to be sure.“Yes, you’re free to go.” Willis confirmed. With that, he slid a few documents across the breakfast table toward me. I picked them up, brows furrowed with concern.“What’s this?”“Your marriage annulment. The Sovrano doesn’t want anything holding you back.”Sovrano. “He sent you to annul our marriage? That’s how much I’m worth to him? Nothing.”Willis let out a deep breath, and handed me a pen, “Sign the papers, ma’am” he said gruffly.“Okay that’s it!” I snapped, tossing the pen across the table. “You’ve been rude to me all morning. What did I do to you, Willis? I thought we were friends.”“We aren’t friends, ma’am. You’re my boss’s ex-wife.”“Ex-wife? Ex-wife?” I repeated, frustration building on my insides. “Ho
Ivory’s POVWhatever Willis meant by that, I knew it wasn’t good. Not only did it mean Julian was in trouble, it also meant she would hate me even more—they all would.“Quit smirking,” I snapped at Willis, jolting to my feet as I hurried toward Arlo.His steps were brisk, by the time I caught up with him, I was breath hard, my mouth open to suck in air.“Arlo” I called out. He stopped and turned.“Wait in the car.” He ordered, turning his back on me. “No, wait.” I interjected. “Get in the car, Ivory!” He roared, his voice crackling like a thunder through a storm. I recoiled, taking a step back as if his voice had struck me physically. I stepped backward, eyes widened. It took a moment for me to realize what he had said. He called me Ivory. “Wait, what?!” I blurted out, my lips broadening in a smile wider than I could control.Willis came to view and I went to his side at once.“He called me Ivory! He called me Ivory!” I sang unable to contain my excitement.Willis didn’t look as
Arlo's POVStaggering through the hallway, Willis's grip on my arm too strong to shake off, we reached the room formerly occupied by Ivory and plonked onto the bed.I traced my fingers over the cold, empty bed, a the hollow ache stabbing my chest deeper than usual. "I want to see her." I mumbled. "Get some rest, Arlo. You can't go to her like this. What if you make a mistake." Willis pleaded, his expression altered by concern. I nodded, he was right. As always, he was the voice of reason. I pulled the sheets over my shoulders, turning my back to him. As he walked out of the room, putting off the light. My phone screen lit up and I reluctantly reached for it. The text message that greeted me was one I didn't quite expect. It was one I thought impossible. "You looked so good today, I want my man back." I knew, even without seeing the name, which had sent it.As if that wasn't enough, my phone buzzed with Fletcher's call. As I answered it, my assumption was confirmed."Ivory Hol
Ivory’s POV“What are you doing, Ivory?!” The voice in my head kept ringing, tugging at my common sense. It was the sensible part of me, the one that knew that I should get out of this mess right before it started. But as Arlo stood, holding the car door open, his smile charming and effortlessly gorgeous, I felt caution slipping through my hands like sand.“Shall I hold your hand too?” His voice echoed in my thoughts, bringing back to the present.“I’m alright,” I returned the smile, masking my fluttering heart. “I can get down on my own.”“Stars gaze Cafe?” I read the sign aloud, frowning at the obvious mistake. “Shouldn’t it be Stargaze?” Arlo glanced at me with a smug on his face. “We’re just getting breakfast, Ivory. Does the name matter?”“It is important for their business. I studied Business Management and Marketing Strategies for four years. I know a bad call when I see one.”Before I could say anything else, the security guards pulled the door open for us. As we stepped in
Ivory’s POV My blood ran cold. Anger surged within. Wait, it was frustration. Frustration that what she said was the truth, it sounded so bitter I nearly gagged. I glanced at Arlo and he was lost in her eyes. I could clearly see the difference between Lori and I. She was assertive. She was bold. I, on the other hand, was as soft as a morsel of dough. I swallowed hard, the scene before me twisting my stomach. I was standing right next to him, yet we felt so far apart. His eyes were lost on Lori, his expression an open declaration of the excitement he was desperately trying to hide. I looked away, unable to watch. “If you’ll excuse me,” I said, breaking the formidable silence in the air, “I need some rest.” “Arlo, you surprise me.” Lori’s voice held me back, “Where did you find my knock-off?” She sneered, her voice laced with mockery as she turned toward me. “I thought she was you…” Arlo explained, his cold tone gradually shifting to a softer tone. One h
Ivory’s POVWith that resolve came a newfound confidence: I would fight for our chance of affection, no matter how small.As our lips parted, I felt a rush of determination as if the kiss had cemented my decision. "Are you sure about this?" I finally regained my voice, searching his eyes for a reaffirmation that he meant his words. "Yes, Ivory. I can learn to love you."My heart swelled with excitement. This wasn't a Damian and Camille situation. This time, I won! When Arlo smiled back at me, I realized nothing else could have topped this moment of excitement. Not even a million dollars.Overwhelmed with excitement, I stood on my toes, and aimed for another kiss but Arlo turned away and my lips brushed his cheek instead.My smile faltered a bit, but I refused to let it show. I would make him look at me, I was determined.The day blurred by as I sat by the dressing mirror, deep in thought about the ways I could be better for him.Suddenly, a thought struck me. He had never tasted my
Ivory’s PovI grabbed the stranger's hand, and he followed me. "Careful," he said, "Don't trip." Something about that sounded funny and I let out a soft laughter. I didn't realize how drunk I was— too drunk to walk without staggering. "Okay, let's stop and think for a moment." Alec said"What's there to think about?" I asked, "Don't you wanna make a baby?""Oh, I want to.” He replied with a smirk, “I just don't think we can make it to bed if you trip and fall." "I can walk just fine, look." Letting go of his hand, I took a few unsteady steps, trying to prove him wrong. But before I could get far, I lost balance, falling backward— straight into Alec’s arms.He laughed. "I can't help it, are you always this cute?""I'm embarrassing," I replied, the weight of my reality crashing back into my mind."I'm weak, and shy, and vulnerable, and embarrassing..." Before I could finish, I felt a hand on my arm, tight and firm, yanking me away from Alec. I snapped my gaze up to find Arlo sta
Arlo’s POVWhat do you do when your heart plays games on you? What do you do when you’re losing your mind? When Lori texted—the real Lori— I feared I might drop dead from excitement of seeing her again. I feared I wouldn’t be able to look at her without wanting to kiss her. Hold her. And tell her how much I missed her. Because of those fears, I sought for Ivory’s help. I married her to keep me in check. To remind me that Lori was wrong for me.Those were my thoughts. Those were my reasons. But when I saw Lori, seated on my couch across the room; when she finally resurfaced and our eyes met for the first time in four years. I realized I’d feared for nothing.I hated the way she sat on my couch. I hated that she looked down on Ivory. I hated her cunning and deceitful smile. I hated her brazen attitude, the way she carried herself like she still owned me. I hated her hair, her indecent clothes, her poise— the lack of warmth in them. Hated her audaciousness to waltzed back into
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