Ivery's POV. I took a deep breath and unlocked my phone. I felt a small sense of relief when I noticed that the message was from Franco. At least I knew who it was from, and that it wasn't from someone completely unknown. But I was still nervous about what he might want to talk about. I couldn't help but smile a little as I imagined what he might say. Was he going to apologize? Was he going to tell me off? I had no idea what to expect.I typed out a quick reply, “Sorry, I'm not available.” I hit send, feeling a rush of relief as the message was sent. But then, just as I started to relax, I saw the “typing” indicator on the screen. He was typing a message back. My heart started to pound again, and I felt my hands shaking. What was he going to say? Was he going to press the issue, insisting that we talk? I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, waiting for the next message.As I sat there, trying to decide what to do, I felt my heart start to race. I could feel the nervousness coursi
Ivery's POV. I stared at my phone screen, frozen. I wasn't sure what to do. I didn't know whether I should reply or not. My heart was pounding in my chest. I knew I needed to decide, but I couldn't seem to make up my mind. The screen continued to glow in the darkness, taunting me with its decision. I felt like I was stuck in a nightmare, unable to wake up.“Mom, you're sweating,” Caden said, looking at me in concern. I hadn't even realized that I was sweating until he said something. I brushed the hair out of my face, trying to calm myself down. “I'm fine, honey,” I said, forcing a smile.I gave Caden a hug and a kiss on the top of his head, then stood up. “I'll be back in a little while,” I said. He nodded, and I left the sitting room, heading to the front door. My hand shook as I reached for the doorknob, but I forced myself to turn it. I took a deep breath and opened the door, stepping out into the cool evening air. The sun was just beginning to set, painting the sky with be
Ivery's POV. As I got out of the cab and looked up at the house, a flood of memories came rushing back to me. I remembered the first time I had stepped inside, the way my heart had raced as Franco had taken my hand and led me up the stairs. I remembered the feeling of being in love, of being happy and hopeful. I shook my head, trying to clear my mind. I couldn't get caught up in the past. I had to focus on the present.I reached out and put my hand on the door, feeling the cold metal beneath my fingers. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I could do this. I could face whatever was behind the door. I just had to be strong, to keep my composure. I opened my eyes, my hand still on the door handle. I took another deep breath and turned the handle, opening the door. The maid greeted me at the door and ushered me inside. The house was just as I remembered it, unchanged from all those years ago. I walked through the foyer, my footsteps echoing on the marble floor. The house was eer
Ivery's POV. I woke up the next morning, sunlight streaming through my window. I stretched, and then memories of the previous night came flooding back. I couldn't help but smile as I remembered how good it had felt to see Franco again, to talk to him like old friends. I felt lighter, and more at peace than I had in a long time. I got out of bed, ready to face the day, determined to make the most of it.I hopped in the shower, enjoying the hot water on my skin. As I got out of the shower, I looked in the mirror and decided to change things up a bit. I picked out a white top, a pair of bright yellow pants, and a matching yellow suit jacket. I put on a pair of white heels and grabbed a white purse. I styled my hair in a sleek, low bun, leaving two strands of hair out to frame my face. I put on some makeup, just enough to highlight my features. I wanted to look together, but not overdone. I was going for a “new me” look, and I hoped it would give me a confidence boost.I hopped into
Ivery's POV. I don't think it's a good idea for me to go with him. I thought to myself. “I'm sorry, but it wouldn't be appropriate.” He looked at me, a flash of disappointment crossing his face. “I understand,” he said, his voice sounding resigned. “It's a lot to ask of you, I know, but please come with me,” he pleaded. I felt bad. But I just didn't feel comfortable going to a party like that, especially with him.“I wish I could go, but I'm so busy with work,” I said, trying to come up with an excuse. “I'm sorry.” He gave me a sly smile as if he knew I was making it up. “I'm the boss, remember?” he said, his voice teasing. “So I'm giving you the day off tomorrow.” I couldn't help but laugh at his audacity. “You can't just give me the day off!” I said, shaking my head. “That's not how it works.”“It will work that way,” he said, cutting me off. He looked at his phone, and his eyes widened. “I have to take this,” he said, standing up and walking to the door. “I'll see you lat
Ivery's POV. I let out a surprised, “What?” and he just smiled even wider. “Don't be such a stick in the mud!” he said, his eyes dancing with mirth. “Come on, let's dance!” Before I could protest, he took me by the hand and led me to the dance floor. I stumbled after him, not knowing what to do. He put his hand on my waist and pulled me close, and I felt my cheeks flush. I had never been a good dancer, and I was sure I would make a fool of myself.We swayed together, his hand on my waist and mine on his shoulder. It was almost as if we were lovers, our bodies moving in perfect sync. “I love your smile,” he said, looking into my eyes. “It's so beautiful.” His words made me blush even harder, and I felt my heart flutter. I wasn't used to such compliments, and I felt a bit self-conscious. “Thanks,” I mumbled, not knowing what else to say.He moved closer to me, and I could feel his breath on my neck. A shiver ran down my spine. “I'm enjoying our time together,” he said, his voice
Chapter 65.I ran to Franco's arms, hugging him as tightly as I could. I was shaking, and I couldn't stop myself. He held me close, whispering soothing words into my ear. “It's okay,” he said, his voice soft and reassuring. “It's just fireworks. You're safe.” I clung to him, trying to calm myself down. It was only then that I realized I was soaked from head to toe.We stood there, silently looking at each other. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest, and I could see the concern in his eyes. He reached out and wiped a tear from my cheek. “You're okay,” he said softly. “I'm here.” I nodded, feeling a little calmer. I knew I was safe with him, and I let myself relax in his arms.And then, Franco did something that completely took me surprised. He started to tickle me. At first, I tried to push him away, but he was relentless. I couldn't help but start to laugh, even though I was still a little shaken up. He kept tickling me until I was laughing so hard that I couldn't breath
Franco's POV. I sat, fidgeting with nervous energy, as the minutes ticked by. Where was Ivery? My gut was screaming that her absence was fishy, and I couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that something was amiss. As I pondered her prolonged potty pause. As I waited, tension mounting with each tick of the clock. The air in the room seemed to hum with anticipation, as if it too sensed something amiss. I was unable to shake the feeling that something wasn't quite right, my gut churning with unease. I closed my eyes, trying to focus on the sound of my breathing, but the silence only made the absence of ivery feel more deafening.If I can recall vividly, Ivery isn't the type that stays in the bathroom for too long. I couldn't take it any longer. I leaped to my feet, my legs feeling like lead weights as I strode toward the yacht's lavish interior. The plush carpet beneath my feet cushioned each step, as the clink of crystal glasses and hushed voices of the yacht's occupants echoed through
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