Ivery's POV.I was greeted by a hug from Kaleb, but it was an awkward one. My arms were stiff, and I didn't seem comfortable. I pulled away from him, my heart sinking. This wasn't a good sign. I tried to keep the smile on my face, but it was starting to feel forced.I could feel the tension between us. It was like a thick, impenetrable wall, making it hard to breathe. I knew I had made things awkward, and I didn't know how to fix it. I stood there, not sure what to say or do. I felt like a deer in headlights, frozen and unsure of my next move.Kaleb looked at me and said, “How are you doing?” with a smile on his face.I knew I had to apologize for what happened the last time, to make things right. “I'm fine,” I said, my voice shaky. “And I'm sorry about the other day. I didn't mean to make things that bad or embarrass you.” I took a deep breath, hoping he would understand. “It's okay,” he said, his voice soft and understanding. “I know you didn't mean anything by it.”“Thank you,”
Ivery's POV.“Calm down,” Kaleb said, his voice soft and reassuring. “You're going to make yourself sick if you keep going like this.” I nodded, taking a deep breath and trying to follow his advice.I took another sip of water, letting the cool liquid soothe my throat.“Thank you,” I said, feeling my body begin to relax. Kaleb just smiled, his eyes filled with concern. “You're welcome,” he said, his voice gentle.“Are you hungry?” Kaleb asked. “We can get something to eat, if you'd like.” I was about to say no, but my stomach let out a growl, betraying my hunger. I blushed, feeling a bit embarrassed.“I guess I am a little hungry,”I admitted, trying to keep my voice light.Kaleb just chuckled, his smile growing wider. “Let start going,” he said, smiling at me.I stood up, letting Kaleb take my hand as we walked out of the park and down the road. We didn't say a word, but the silence was comfortable, not awkward. It was almost as if we could communicate without words, as if we w
Ivery's POV.In front of me, in the middle of the living room, was Franco. He was playing with my kids, laughing and smiling as if nothing was wrong. My heart stopped, and I couldn't breathe. I felt like I was in a dream, like this couldn't be real. I felt my legs start to give way, and I reached out to steady myself against the wall. But even as I tried to make sense of what was happening, I knew that this was no dream. This was very, very real.“Mummy's back!” Caden said, running towards me. And as he did, I saw Franco's face change, his eyes narrowing, his lips turning down in a scowl.My kids came over to me, wrapping their arms around me, and I pulled them close, my heart pounding.I looked back at Franco, feeling a mix of fear and anger. What was he doing here? And why was he playing with my kids? I needed answers, and I needed them now.“What are you doing here?” I asked, my voice trembling. “I was just in the neighborhood, so I thought I'd stop by,” Franco said, his tone
Ivery's POV.“What's wrong with you?” he asked, his face scrunched up confused. “I-I-I-I-I…" I stammered, trying to find the right words. But the truth was, I didn't know what was wrong with me. I had never experienced anything like this before. It was like my brain had gone haywire, like a computer program that had started to malfunction. I tried to take a deep breath, but it felt like my lungs were filled with lead.“What's wrong?” he asked again, his voice filled with concern. “Nothing,” I replied, trying to sound as nonchalant as possible. But I knew I wasn't fooling him. He could see right through me. I was terrified, and I had no idea what was happening to me. “You can talk to me,” he said, his voice gentle and reassuring. But I just snapped. “I said nothing's wrong! Stop poking your nose into my business!” I said, my voice rising in frustration. I immediately regretted my words. I could see the hurt in his eyes, and I felt terrible for saying them. But I was so confuse
Ivery's POV.I opened my eyes slowly, blinking as the light filled my vision. I tried to take in my surroundings, but everything was blurry.I blinked a few more times, my eyes starting to focus. I realized I was in a hospital room, the scent of antiseptic and cleaning supplies filling my nose.I tried to sit up, but I felt a wave of dizziness wash over me. I laid back down, closing my eyes again. My last memory was of falling to the floor, but how did I end up here?My heart began to pound as I tried to piece together what had happened.Why was I in the hospital? Where were my kids? I started to panic, my mind racing with worst-case scenarios. Had I been in an accident? Were my kids okay? I tried to calm myself down, to take deep breaths. But it was no use, my anxiety was spiraling out of control. I felt like I was trapped in a nightmare, unable to wake up.I tried to sit up again, but a wave of pain shot through my head. I groaned, clutching my head in my hands.“She's awake!” I he
Franco POV.As I watched her, I noticed that her eyes widened in amusement. It made me curious as to what was going through her mind.Did she find what I said funny or entertaining? Ever since she fainted, I've been worried about her. I need to stay with her and make sure she's okay. I know she's strong and independent, but I can't help but feel protective of her. I want to make sure she's safe and taken care of. She's been through so much, and I just want to be there for her. It's not just because I care about her, but because I know she deserves someone who will be there for her, no matter what. I'll do everything I can to make sure she's okay.As I looked through her phone while she was unconscious, I was shocked to find a series of text messages from an unknown number. The messages were threatening and demanding, and it was clear that she was being blackmailed. It was clear that the person behind them knew something about her. She had been keeping this secret from me, and I
Ivery's POV.“No, no, no!” A panicked voice cried out, startling me from my sleep. I sat up quickly, my heart pounding in my chest. The voice was coming from the sitting room, and I could hear the panic in it. I got out of bed, my bare feet padding across the cool floor. As I approached the sitting room, the voice grew louder. “No, please, don't do this!” it pleaded, sounding on the verge of tears.And there he was, Franco, thrashing about in his sleep, his arms flailing wildly. I realized he was having a nightmare, and my heart ached for him. I knew he must be reliving something awful, something that was causing him such distress. I approached him slowly, not wanting to startle him. “Franco,” I said, my voice soft and gentle. “It's okay, you're safe.”After what felt like an eternity of trying to wake him, he finally opened his eyes. They were wide with fear, and he let out a gasp as he saw me standing in front of him.“It's okay,” I said, my voice calm and reassuring. “You're
Ivery's POV.As I struggled to open my eyes, I realized I was wrapped up in Franco's arms. He was holding me close, his breath warm on my neck. I tried to move, to get out of his embrace, but his arms tightened around me. “Don't,” he whispered, his voice husky. “Stay here with me.”I felt my heart racing, my body thrumming with a mix of emotions. I wanted to pull away, to push him away, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. I wanted to stay there, in his arms, feeling safe and loved.For a moment, I let myself get lost in the sensation, the feeling of being held by someone who I cared about. But then, a thought hit me like a punch to the gut. I opened my eyes, looking up at Franco, who was still holding me tight. “What's wrong?” he asked, his brow furrowed in concern. “It's Monday,” I said, my voice trembling. “I have to go to work.” “Don't worry about it,” he said, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. “I've got it covered, You are on leave.” “You can't just give me leave f
Franco’s POV.I could feel the warmth of the morning sun on my face, and I groaned in protest, not wanting to get out of bed. But then I heard a soft chuckle, and I opened my eyes to find Ivery's face inches from mine, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Looks like someone would rather not wake up,” she teased, snuggling closer to me. I couldn't help but smile, feeling the closeness of her body against mine.“Good morning, sunshine,” I said to her, my voice still thick with sleep. She smiled at me, and I felt my heart flutter. “Good morning, my love,” she replied, and I felt a surge of joy at hearing those words. I leaned in and gave her a gentle kiss, savoring the moment.Waking up next to Ivery every morning for the past year has been a blissful experience. I never thought I could feel so much happiness, so much joy, just from being in her presence. Every day, I count my blessings for having her in my life. And every morning, I woke up grateful that she was by my side. It was like
Ivery’s POV.As I walked inside the room, I could hear voices and laughter coming from the living room. Franco was still attending to the guests, making sure everyone was comfortable and happy. I headed to the bathroom, closing the door behind me. The sound of the running water was soothing, and I took a moment to relax, enjoying the sensation of the warm water on my skin.I looked down at the ring on my finger, still in a bit of disbelief. I was married to Franco, the man of my dreams. It still seemed too good to be true. But the ring on my finger was a constant reminder of the love we shared, a symbol of our commitment to each other. I finished my shower, feeling refreshed and ready for the night.I stepped out of the bathroom, my hair still damp and tousled. I sat down at the dressing table, staring at my reflection in the mirror. I put on a silky black nightgown that clung to my curves. I ran my hands over the smooth fabric, feeling the coolness against my skin. It was simple, yet
Ivery’s POV.One month later.I had heard so many stories about the bells ringing in the church on a wedding day, but I never thought I would get to experience it myself. I stood there, my heart racing, as the sound of the bells filled the air. It was a sound I would never forget, and it marked the beginning of a new life for me and my family. I stared at myself in the mirror, taking in the sight of the white wedding gown I was wearing. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen, and I felt like I was in a dream. My hair was perfectly styled, and my makeup was flawless. I took a deep breath, trying to take it all in. Was this really happening? Was I really getting married? I looked at the door, waiting for the moment I would walk down the aisle.My mother, Cassy, and Owen, entered the room. "You look beautiful, my dear," my mother said, smiling at me. I blushed, grateful for her words. "It's time," Owen said, and I nodded, knowing that it was time to go. I took one last look
Ivery’s POV.There, in my hands, was the DNA test, the results undeniable. Franco was the father of my children. How had he found out? Why had he been so silent all this time? A million questions raced through my mind, but I knew I wouldn't get any answers until I confronted him. My heart was racing, and my hands were shaking. I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. I had to be strong.As I tried to calm myself, I felt a bead of sweat roll down my forehead. My hands trembled, and the room suddenly felt stiflingly hot. I looked up and my eyes met Franco's. I quickly looked away, feeling like a deer caught in headlights. I had so many questions, and I knew he had answers. But I didn't know if I could face him right now, with everything I had just discovered.The silence was broken by a question from Franco. "How long did you plan on keeping this from me?" he asked, his voice low and calm. I didn't know what to say, so I remained silent. I looked at everything in the room but him
Ivery’s POV.“Ladies first,” he said with a sly smile. I nodded, taking a deep breath. I reached into my purse and pulled out my phone, my hands shaking slightly. I fumbled with the screen, unlocking it and opening the video gallery. There it was, the video of Diva in his penthouse trying to force him to sign the check. I held out the phone, my heart pounding in my chest.“Take a look,” I said, my voice trembling. He took the phone from me, a look of confusion on his face. He held it up to his eyes, staring at the screen. At first, he didn't seem to understand what he was looking at. Then, his eyes widened, his jaw dropping slightly. He looked up at me, his face pale. “What is this?” he asked, his voice barely a whisper. I took a deep breath, preparing to tell him everything. As I told him everything, I watched as his face twitched with anger. His brow furrowed, his jaw clenched. “How dare she try to do this,” he said, his voice filled with rage? “I need to deal with her.” His ha
Ivery’s POV.Franco's behavior had been puzzling me for a while. He seemed to be acting differently, but I couldn't tell if I was just imagining things or if there was something actually going on. He had been spending more time with the kids, and sporadically they even slept over. Was I reading too much into it, or was there something more going on? I couldn't help but wonder if there was something I was missing, some hidden meaning that I just couldn't see.At first, I was afraid to let them sleep over. I didn't want them to accidentally spill the truth about me being their mother. But they had promised me that they wouldn't say anything, and I believed them. After all, they were mature for their age and I trusted them. Still, I couldn't help but worry about what would happen if they did accidentally reveal the truth. Would it ruin our relationship? Would everything fall apart?The truth felt like a ticking time bomb, ready to explode at any moment. I knew that the longer I kept it
Franco’s POV.“You are the father,” the doctor said, his voice steady and matter-of-fact. I felt like the ground was falling out from under me. I quickly closed the door behind me, not wanting Ivery to overhear. “Let's go to your office,” I said, my voice trembling as I tried to keep my composure. We walked to the office, my heart pounding in my chest. I knew I was about to receive the biggest news of my life.The doctor closed the door, and I blurted out the question that had been burning in my mind. “Can you run a DNA test on Ivery?” I asked, my voice trembling. I knew it sounded foolish, but I needed to be certain. I needed to know the truth, regardless of what it was.“It's obvious that Ivery is the mother,” the doctor said. I nodded, my mind whirling with thoughts and questions. “When do you think the transplant was?” I asked, trying to put the pieces together. I wanted to understand what had happened, how I could be a father without even knowing it. I had to make sense of
Franco’s POV.I stared at the report, my eyes scanning the words, but unable to make sense of it. The medical jargon was confusing and unfamiliar. I felt a sense of panic rising in my chest. “What's this?” I asked the doctor. “Your bone marrow matches with his,” he said, his voice calm and reassuring. But his words did nothing to ease my anxiety. I felt overwhelmed and confused.“How’s this possible?” I asked confused.“ Because you are the father of the child,” he said.I let out a sarcastic laugh. “How can I be the father of the child?” I asked incredulously. “Does this doctor understand how biology works?” My voice was tinged with anger and disbelief. It was impossible, I was sure of it. But the doctor looked at me calmly, and said, “I understand your skepticism, but there is no doubt that you are the father of this child. Your DNA matches perfectly.” I felt my world spinning, my mind reeling. How could this be?“Ivery told me that she wasn't the mother of the kids,” I said, my
Franco’s POV.I scooped Caden up in my arms, his body limp and heavy. Ivey's mom followed me outside, her face pale and her eyes red with tears. I laid Caden gently in the back seat, careful not to jostle him too much. His grandma climbed in after him, cradling him in her arms and whispering comforting words in his ear. I got into the driver's seat, my hands shaking as I gripped the steering wheel. I turned the key in the ignition, and we sped off, the sound of sirens echoing in the distance.The drive to the hospital seemed to take forever, even though we made it there in record time. When we arrived, the nurses rushed out to meet us, taking Caden from our arms and whisking him away to the emergency room. We were left standing there, the silence deafening. Ivey's mom and I paced back and forth, our hearts pounding in our chests, our minds racing with worry. We waited and waited, but it felt like time was standing still.As I paced the hospital floor, I couldn't help but think of Iv