Three years later...
A man was seen sitting in his study. The lights were off; the only light filling the room came from the moonlight outside in the sky.The moonlight illuminated the man’s exquisite facial features - thick eyebrows, piercing black eyes as dark as the ink, sharp nose, thin sensual lips, and chiseled jawline. To say that he was handsome was an understatement. He was drop-dead gorgeous and clearly was a man favored by God. Every man envied him, and every lady wanted him.The man had his eyes down, staring absentmindedly at a paper and a photograph in his hand. There was also a white bunny plushie sitting on his desk.Soon, his usually hawk-like eyes were filled with sorrow, despair, and heartbreak.“Ivy...” his soft, hoarse voice sounded from his throat.Yes, that man was Gerard Huxley.He caressed the face in the photograph. The woman in it was beautiful. She was smiling brightly, and her eyes were twinkling with playfulness.“Ivy...” he called out her name again before turning his attention to the paper underneath the photograph.The paper was the pregnancy report his ex-wife, Ivy, had accidentally dropped during their last encounter. The date was the exact date as this day three years ago. ‘Two months pregnant’. Those words were jarring to his eyes.Suddenly he felt suffocated. What had he done? He had divorced and driven away the only woman he had ever loved, and that event led her to her death.Why didn't she tell him she was pregnant? Why didn't she insist on staying with him? He knew the answers to those questions but didn't want to acknowledge them.“Ivy... Come back to me. I didn't mean to divorce you. I never meant to divorce you. You are the love of my life. There was nothing between me and Mia. It was all just an act. I’d torn the divorce paper. We are still married. I love you. So, come back to me, okay?” Gerard whispered as he caressed Ivy’s photograph again.He knew no one would answer him. He knew he would never hear her soft melodious voice again, yet he still waited in the dark. He took the bunny in his arms and hugged it tightly as though the bunny was Ivy.Finally, a single lone tear escaped from the corner of his eyes, and before long, he broke down and wept like a child. The sound of his sobs was heartbreaking. The butler and servants were even in tears listening to their Master’s sorrowful cry.He could still remember every detail of his first encounter with Ivy. At that time, he was only nineteen and had just lost his parents in a plane crash. He had become a rogue who loved to fight and didn’t care about anything else.His grandfather, elder brother, and even Mia, their childhood friend, couldn't do anything about it. There was too much bitterness in his heart from losing the parents whom he loved so much.One day, he saw a young girl holding a bunny plushie, talking happily with her parents at the school compound, and he couldn't help the anger that rose in his heart. He hated how everyone’s parents were still alive while his had passed away.When the girl's parents left, he went to the girl and released his anger toward the girl. He knew that girl. She was from a middle-class family way below his level, and she was adopted.“What’s so good about having adopted parents? You know your biological parents must have hated you so much that they abandoned you, right?” he snorted and said those harsh words to the fourteen-year-old girl.Thinking she was going to cry, a smirk formed on his handsome face.But the little girl’s reaction was way beyond his expectation. Instead of getting angry or crying, she smiled and said, “Maybe my parents had some difficulties and had no choice but to abandon me. But it allows me to have two wonderful new parents who love me so much.”Gerard was stunned hearing her positive words and looking at her radiant smile.“My mom and dad always told me to see the bright side of life,” she said as she looked him up and down.Gerard had just finished fighting with some punks, and he had scapes, his face was swollen after being beaten up, and his clothes were messy.“Big brother, you have just gotten into a fight, haven't you? You must have some difficulties in life, but you shouldn't fight with others. You look sad, but you have to see the bright side. My mom said all the sadness we experienced would be replaced by happiness, but if we are willing to work for it,” the little girl lectured Gerard.“So, Big Brother, don't fight or be sad anymore, okay? If you fight or be sad, people will be sad too. Here’s my favorite bunny. You can take it. I hope it can bring you happiness as it did for me,” the little girl offered her bunny plushie to Gerard.Gerard didn't know why, but his hand moved, taking the bunny plushie from her.“Don't be sad anymore, Big Brother. Now you have Bunny to accompany you,” the little girl kept smiling radiantly at him.Suddenly a bell was heard, and the little girl looked at one of the school buildings. “I have to go and attend class now, Big Brother. Don't forget to go to the hospital. Bye, bye,” she said and ran toward her class before Gerard could say anything.Gerard stood frozen for some time while looking at the white Bunny in his hand.He didn't know why, but the girl’s words touched him so much. He still had a grandfather and an older brother who loved him. They would be sad every time he got into a fight. The girl’s words were valid.Since then, he began cleaning up his act. He never fought anymore and began taking his life seriously. At the same time, he kept watch on the little girl, who he later found out was named Ivy. And her bunny had become his most treasured possession.They were studying in the same exclusive school compound where all levels of education were available - from kindergarten up to University. He was in college while she was still in high school.He loved looking at her. She was warm and always happy. He would smile every time he saw her laughing. She was like the light in his darkness, lighting everything around her and guiding him toward the world's goodness.A year later, he rescued her when she was bullied, but she didn't remember him. She thought it was their first meeting. Maybe because he looked different, he looked like the second young master of the wealthiest family in Artea compared to the rogue boy when they first met.When Ivy confessed her feelings later on, Gerard was over the moon, but he had to reject her as she was still underage. Even though he rejected her, he couldn't help but feel nervous. There were so many boys who liked Ivy; what if she was snatched away?But his worry was unfounded. No matter how many confessions Ivy received, she always turned them down.During her eighteen birthday, three years after he rejected her, he was desperate to make her his and begged his grandfather to go to Ivy’s house and propose to her.His grandfather naturally was against it as Ivy’s family was too far below their level. But Gerard kept begging him, and after he told his grandfather that Ivy was the one who changed him, his grandfather went to Ivy’s parents to propose despite his reluctance. His only condition was to keep the wedding reception as low-key as possible, with only their core family present.Gerard felt guilty when he told Ivy about his grandfather’s demand, but Ivy being Ivy, didn't mind it. She said the rest wasn't necessary as long as she married Gerard.And so they had a minimal and simple wedding reception with only Ivy’s adopted parents, Gerard’s grandfather and his butler, his older brother, Louis, and Mia, his brother’s girlfriend, and their childhood friend. His grandfather even asked them to keep their marriage a secret from everyone else.Ivy and his parents didn't object, knowing how society worked.Even though their marriage was low-key, Gerard always lavished Ivy with everything he had. He wanted her to be happy while being married to him.As for his grandfather, Gerard was optimistic Ivy would be able to melt the heart of the stubborn old man. And as he had expected, his grandfather began loving Ivy and even treated her as his own granddaughter.Thinking of the past, Gerard's heart was pierced with regret. Regret... That one word had never appeared in Gerard's dictionary, not even when he was being a punk, but now he was feeling it.He regretted it. He regretted everything that happened three years ago. He regretted following his grandfather’s order to divorce his beloved. He regretted putting an act with his childhood friend, Mia so that Ivy would agree to divorce him.But what was the point of regretting everything that had happened? It couldn't change the fact that he divorced her while she was pregnant with his child. It couldn't bring his beloved wife back from the dead. But oh, how he wished it could.Gerard looked at three bottles of wine on the table he had specially prepared for today. He knew the only way to forget everything was to just drown his sorrow with alcohol.And so, he uncorked the first bottle and began chugging down the wine straight from the bottle, like he was drinking water.Soon, the three bottles of wine were emptied, and he became drunk.In his drunken state, he heard the study door being opened, and a soft female voice sounded in his ears.The female voice called him, “Gerard..”Gerard looked toward the source of the voice, and he could see a blurry female figure.“Gerard..” the female voice said again.He could see the female figure coming closer and closer. As the figure was within arm’s length, he reached out his hand and pulled her toward him. “Ivy, I miss you,” he mumbled. How Gerard missed his wife. He wished for her to appear, and here she was in front of him.“Let’s go back to bed, Gerard,” the soft female voice said.Gerard pulled her closer to him, wanting to feel her warmth and smell her scent.The moment the female sat down on his lap, he realized it wasn't his wife. They smelled different. Ivy had a distinct soft smell of roses, but this female’s rose scent was strong. It made him want to puke.He pushed her away abruptly. “You are not Ivy,” he slurred.“Gerard..” the female reached out her hand, but Gerard slapped her hand away.“You are not Ivy!” he shouted with a clear voice despite being drunk.“Gerar
“Home-cooked meals are always better than those cooked in restaurants,” Mia said with a soft smile and gave Gerard the spoon and fork for him to use.“Thank you. I still have some works to do. I’ll eat it later,” Gerard told her without taking the utensils from her.Mia felt embarrassed by Gerard’s words. It was clear that he was throwing her out. Even though she wanted to see him eat the lunch she made for him and was reluctant to leave, she couldn’t force him to do anything. And this has always been the case since three years ago.“Alright. Don't forget to eat it. I’ll see you tomorrow,” Mia said and went to the door.“Mia,” Gerard’s deep husky voice sounded, making Mia’s heart skip a bit.The way Gerard called her name was like a seductive voice of a siren. She couldn't keep her calm and wanted to throw herself into Gerard’s arms.She turned around with a sweet smile, thinking Gerard would let her stay, but his next words erased her hope.“I don't want what happened last night to h
When Old Master Huxley heard his grandson’s voice, he stopped watching a video on his phone and looked at his grandson instead.His grandson was perfect. He had a perfect physical appearance, had always been a genius with a high IQ that he was able to skip grades and finish his Master's Degree at the age of eighteen, and had the ability to make the company soar to a new high. The Huxley Group was now the number one group in Artea and was even well-known in other countries.Old Master Huxley wanted to say something, but seeing the cold demeanor of his grandson, he could only say, “Come sit and have dinner.”Gerard nodded like a robot and sat down opposite Old Master Huxley.Once Gerard sat down, the maids started putting the dishes on the table. It was difficult for Old Master Huxley to invite Gerard to dinner. Not that Gerard wouldn't accept his invitation, but because Old Master Huxley knew his grandson hated him, and he didn't want to make him hate him more by asking him to come to t
More than a year of searching and investigating, even the police couldn't find anything. But why did suddenly all the evidence appear now?“You still want to believe that bastard?” Old Master Huxley was fuming, seeing how Gerard was still questioning the evidence right under his nose.“But.. What was his motive?” Gerard’s hand was clenched tightly; he crumpled the papers he was holding.Old Master Huxley quickly took the papers away from Gerard, afraid he would ruin them.“His motive? Did you not read their chats? It’s to make you the sole heir of the Huxley Group and Ivy as his daughter, and your wife will get the benefits!” Old Master Huxley answered with annoyance and especially emphasized the words ‘your wife’ to Gerard.Gerard was too shocked and in a state of disbelief that his mind was blank, and he couldn't remember much of what was written. Hearing his grandfather’s words, he became even more doubtful.Ivy’s family was a wealthy, middle-class family. If Gerard became the sole
Gerard searched around the hotel but couldn't find Ivy, which made him anxious. Did she go home?He called North and asked if he had driven Ivy back home, but North replied that he had left once he had dropped Ivy at the Starlight Hotel. Gerard became even more frantic. Where could Ivy go? Then he remembered the bridge he used to bring her to watch the sunrise and sunset. She loved it there; could she have gone to the bridge?Gerard quickly walked out of the hotel but was stopped by his bodyguard. Gerard had two trusted bodyguards other than North, and the one in front of him, Fred, was one of them.Fred was panting and sweating as if he had run quickly to find Gerard.“What happened?” Gerard asked quickly.“Boss... The Missus..” the bodyguard looked nervous, scared, and hesitant to continue.His reaction only made Gerard more anxious. “What happened? What happened to her? Tell me!”“The missus... The missus..” Fred gulped, afraid to say his following words.“TELL ME!” Gerard roared
North was worried sick looking at his boss’ condition at present - pale face, beads of sweat formed on his forehead, fast and short breathing, and his body shaking badly.Hearing his boss’ words, North moved fast.He reached into his pocket, took off a small medicine bottle, and handed his boss two pills.Gerard popped the pills into his mouth without even needing water, nearly dropping them in the process due to his shaking hand.North was anxious, looking at his boss. He knew what his boss was thinking when he had his episode. The only thing that could set off his boss’ panic attack was the thought of Ivy’s death. No one knew of Gerard’s condition except his psychologist, North, William, and no one else - not even his trusted bodyguards or Old Master Huxley.William and North always carried a bottle of Gerard’s anti-panic medication in case he had an attack and needed it. They were always prepared to give him his medication anytime and anywhere as long as they were with him.North w
Once they landed at Modestria, a car was already waiting for them. They went straight to the Moonlight Hotel, another hotel owned by the Huxley Group.When they arrived at the hotel, Gerard and Mia waited in the lounge while William went to get their keys.While they were waiting, suddenly, a man, a butler, approached Gerard.“Mr. Huxley, I am the butler of Senator Morgan. He heard of your arrival at Modestria and would like to invite you to his birthday banquet tonight,” the butler bowed a little as he handed an invitation card to Gerard with both hands.Gerard took the invitation languidly and had a mind to refuse, but then the butler added, “It is a special banquet. Senator Morgan will introduce his wife for the first time to the invitees. He hopes Mr. Huxley could attend as the representative of the Huxley Group.”Gerard raised an eyebrow. Senator Sebastian had taken a wife? He knew then this was important, so he had no choice but to agree to attend.Once the butler heard his word
Mia didn't know why, but she felt very anxious even though she had heard the girl was called ‘Amelie’ instead of ‘Ivy’.There couldn't be people with identical voices. There just couldn't, she thought.“You... You don't have to keep going. The dress looks nice, and I believe it’d suit me perfectly. Just help me take it off and wrap it for me,” Mia told the sales assistant who was helping her.There was only one thing on her mind now: to run out of the dressing room and see this Amelie person.“Hurry up!” Mia shouted to the sales assistant, who took too long to get the dress off. Her well-behaved, gentle, and kind demeanor was no longer visible as she shouted at the sales assistant and fidgeted in her spot.The sales assistant was stunned and scared after being shouted at, and she hurriedly loosened the lace at the back of the dress, not caring if the delicate materials could be ruined. This person would buy it anyhow, she thought.Once out of the dress, Mia quickly donned her own dre