Chapter 46Willis felt as though the world had tilted and the person in front of him was no longer the Arlo he knew. He was no longer the man that had been his best friend for twenty-eight years. He was now a monster. A cold-hearted monster that was well on his way to doom and there was no going back.His gaze remained on him, unwavering, unrelenting, taking in his features. If he was sad, it didn’t show on his features. But was it possible that he wasn’t sad? Was it normal? To have betrayed a woman he was probably in love with and not feel anything. Did he regret it? Did he mean his words? Could he really not save Ivory? “What happened to you, man?“ Willis blurted out, his voice crashing into a sob. Arlo swallowed hard, fighting with every fiber in him to remain strong.“Don’t you feel anything for this girl?” Willis's low sobs continued, “She’s… she’s not guilty. I can help you. Together we can… we can free Ivory”“Don’t you owe her that much? You brought this on her, don’t you f
The black van, —you know the one that looks like a bullion van but for prisoners— came to a halt. The police officers hopped out, heavy on duty, loaded with gun. Ivory was still trying to accept her reality. She was still trying to accept that she had gone from being Ivory to being called ‘the suspect’.She was yet to accept the fact that Arlo had really said those words and sentenced her to death. This, to her, was death.She was slowly dying. Every passing moment was bringing her one step closer to her death.“Pick up the pace!” The officer’s voice bolted her out of her thoughts.She snapped up her gaze and came in contact with a familiar face. Ivory paused. Her heart leaped. I was wrong, she thought. He’d never betray me.Ivory’s adrenaline surged, picking up the pace as the officer had demanded. The cuffs in her hands and legs did not stop her. She was too happy to care. She stopped before Willis. Her eyes sparkling with both hope and relief. “What took you guys so long?!”
She didn’t die. She cried herself to sleep every night, woke up with headaches. Couldn’t find the appetite to eat the watery food served in prison. Her cell was too small, barely having any light, barely having any hope. She survived the first week of her time in prison, sought for death but didn’t die.She suffered long days of hard labor, panic attacks that seemed to stop her breathing for what seemed like eternity, aching heart, and everything in between, still she didn’t die.On the Friday of her second week in Cadet prison. Ivory had woken feeling exceptionally down, she couldn’t barely drag herself off the flat mattress.Her eyes refused to open after she blinked. Her body felt disjointed. It seemed her body had finally received the message that her mind had been sending. Ivory sighed weakly, accepting the death that seemed to be knocking on her door. “What a beautiful day to die,” she muttered under her breath as her body gave up.The prison warden tasked with supervising th
Five Years LaterIvory’s POVWhat is the difference between times past and time’s past?I personally do not know. I do not know. But I do know that it’s been five years. Five long years since I last saw life the gates of Cadet Prison.Since that incident—The incident that changed my life, the one that brought me in here but most importantly, the one that gave me my son.Standing outside the gates of Cadet Prison after all these years, the air tugging on my skin felt different, felt new. There really was something called a breath of freedom. You will never know what it means until you’re trapped, enslaved, or imprisoned.If you’re wondering what’s going on, if you’re curious to know why I’m standing out here and talking about freedom after only five years when I was supposed to do ten, then here’s a summary in three lines:A thief was caught in Gusan CountyIt turned out to be Lori Spencer.I am free! Mondays are now my favorite day of the week. It was on a Monday, that the u
Arlo’s POVFive Years LaterI am now thirty nine. The last time you heard from me I was on the way to Greece to make a baby with my second wife Crystal. If you’re wondering how that went— it was terrible.I tried. I tried.We both tried.But it seemed like I had gotten impotent overnight. My member refused to work. Crystal tried. She did her best to arouse me but nothing she did worked.I attended therapy for a year, drank healthy smoothies, changed my diets every six months. (These were all Crystal’s doing). At some point, I had given up on my life. Nothing interested me. Not my life, nor my company.For five years, I’ve spent every day and night thinking about the one woman that came into my life for only a week and left me impotent.I would not say she charmed me or used some kind of voodoo. But I would say that my whole being only belonged to her, and no one else.A DAY BEFORE IVORY’S IMPROMPTU RELEASE“I want a divorce.” Crystal slammed the table with papers, raising dus
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
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