Chapter 105.I watched as Franco's eyes darted between Diva and me, a look of worry etched on his face. I could tell he was trying to figure out what was going on, and I could only imagine the thoughts running through his mind. I wanted to scream at Diva to leave, to tell her that I never wanted to see her again. But I couldn't speak, my voice frozen in my throat.I felt trapped, helpless, like a prisoner in my body. I watched as Diva's eyes narrowed, her gaze becoming more intense. I knew she was trying to exert her power over me, and I struggled to resist her.Since I couldn't speak, I tried to communicate my disgust with Diva through my expression. I narrowed my eyes, furrowing my brow and baring my teeth in a snarl. I wanted to make it clear that I didn't want her here, that I was angry and scared. But I could tell by the look on her face that she was unfazed. She wasn't going to be deterred by my attempt to ward her off.And then it hit me – Diva had a secret of mine in her pos
Ivery's POV.Suddenly, I felt a pounding in my head, and I realized how tired I was. My head felt heavy as if it was too much for my neck to support. I knew I needed to rest, to give myself a break. But as I tried to relax, I felt my body tense up, as if my muscles were rebelling against the idea of stillness. I knew I needed to rest, but my body refused to comply.I drifted off into a deep sleep, and I don't know how long I was out. But I was roused from my slumber by a familiar voice.I blinked my eyes open, feeling disoriented and groggy. I could hear the voices getting closer, and my heart began to race.As my eyes adjusted to the light, I began to make out shapes and colors. And then I saw it – three little faces looking down at me, their eyes full of concern and love.I felt tears well up in my eyes as I realized that it was my kids. I reached out to them, pulling them close to me. I could feel their little bodies shaking as they cried, and I knew they had been so worried about
Ivery's POV.A week had passed since I had been discharged from the hospital, and I had spent the time at home, doing nothing. I had been granted a leave of absence from work, as I was still recovering from my illness. But as the days went by, I began to feel restless, trapped by the walls of my house. I needed to get out, to achieve something, anything. I couldn't stand the thought of another day doing nothing.Kaleb had returned to the state, as his leave was over. But he had promised to come back as soon as his transfer request was approved.Even though I missed Kaleb, I found myself praying that his transfer request wouldn't be approved. I would rather not have to pretend to love him, to put on an act just to keep him around. I wanted to be honest with him, to be his friend and nothing more. But at the same time, I couldn't help but feel guilty of my feelings, for not feeling the same way he did. I was a mess of conflicting emotions, and I didn't know what to do.Since the day F
Ivery's POV.I turned slowly, my heart pounding in my chest, to find the source of the voice. And there he was. Franco. I felt my heart skip a beat at the sight of him.He looked at me with an unreadable expression, his eyes cold and hard. I tried to speak, but the words stuck in my throat.“Ivery, stop staring,” my subconscious scolded me. “You're here for a serious matter, and ogling at him isn't going to help.” But I couldn't help it. I was mesmerized by him, drawn to him like a moth to a flame. I tried to pull myself together, to focus on the matter at hand. But my heart was racing, and I couldn't seem to think straight.Suddenly, Diva threw herself at him, clinging to him and sobbing loudly. I could tell she was faking it, but Franco didn't seem to notice. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her close and whispering words of comfort. I felt my heart sink, and a pang of jealousy twisted in my gut. I knew it was irrational, but I couldn't help how I felt.Suddenly, he turned
Ivery’s POV.I have been trying to avoid Franco for four weeks now. I've deleted his number and pictures, and I haven't seen him at all during that time. But even though I'm trying to forget him, I can't help but think about him constantly. I keep replaying our conversations in my head, and I can't seem to get him out of my thoughts. I keep telling myself that it's over between us, but somehow I can't quite believe it. I'm not sure what to do.As much as I attempted to move on from Franco, there was a part of me that wanted him to reach out to me. A part of me wanted to hear the side of the story, to understand why he acted the way he did. But the days turned into weeks, and there was no word from him. I tried to convince myself that it was for the best, that I didn't need him in my life. But a small part of me couldn't let go of the hope that he would call or text.My children had noticed that something was off. They could sense the tension between me and Franco, and they kept aski
Ivery’s POV.To my complete and utter shock, the man sitting at the table waiting for me was none other than Franco himself. My mind was reeling, and my heart started pounding in my chest. What on earth was he doing here? I couldn't even begin to process the situation. Was this some kind of cruel joke? Or was it a sign that we were meant to be together?I turned around, ready to leave the restaurant without a word. But just as I was about to walk out the door, I heard Franco call out.“Wait!” I froze, my heart pounding in my chest. Should I listen to what he had to say? Or should I just run as fast as I could in the opposite direction?I heard the sound of his footsteps approaching, and then he was standing right behind me. “Please don't go,” he begged, his voice pleading. I felt my resolve start to crumble, my feet rooted to the spot. I turned around slowly, my heart pounding in my chest, and I looked him in the eyes. What would I say?“Do you think you can control me?” I asked him
Franco’s POV.I knew that getting Ivery to forgive me was going to be hard. I had hurt her deeply, and I knew that my words might not be enough to make things right. But I loved her more than anything, and I just wanted her to know how sorry I was. I wanted to tell her how much she meant to me, but the words wouldn't come. I felt like I was stuck, unable to express what was in my heart.I knew that pursuing a relationship with Blair would only make her life more complicated. As much as I loved her, I knew that we couldn't be together as long as Diva was still around. I can’t choose between both of them, and I couldn't bear the thought of her being unhappy. But at the same time, I was unable to let go of the feelings I had for her. It was a complicated and painful situation, with no easy answers. When Ivery had woken up from her coma, it had been the happiest day of my life. I was so relieved to see her eyes open, to hear her voice again. But that happiness had been short-lived,
Ivery’s POV.It had been two days since Franco had apologized, and I still hadn't decided whether to forgive him. I knew that he had made a mistake, but I wasn't certain if it was a mistake that I could forgive. He had hurt me, and I wasn't sure if I could trust him again. I needed to take some time to think about it, but I was struggling to sort through my emotions. I was almost done with my work when my phone rang, showing an unknown ID. I hesitated, wondering whether I should pick it up or not. I knew that it could be anything from a sales call to an important message. But I couldn't bring myself to answer it, not knowing what to expect. My phone stopped ringing, and I let out a breath I didn't know I had been holding.The phone rang again, and this time I couldn't stop myself from picking it up. It might have been an emergency, and I was unable to risk not answering. I took a deep breath and answered the call. “Hello?” I said, my voice uncertain. There was silence on the oth
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