LOGINFifteen minutes later, the kitchen was filled with the rich scent of butter and Grace’s excited giggles. Ivy poured the batter carefully while Grace stood on a chair, clutching a spatula far too big for her tiny hands.“Slowly, sweetheart,” Ivy said patiently. “If you rush, it’ll get messy.”Josh st
Ivy clicked her tongue and playfully smacked his arm. “That’s because you were the one who dragged me into that ridiculous plan to take back my house from Rico.”“And you agreed to it,” Josh shot back.“Because I thought you were just some crazy guy looking for entertainment,” Ivy said honestly.Jos
Ivy, who had been busy tossing salad at the dining table, could only laugh. “You two are like kids fighting over Grace’s attention.”Natasha chuckled softly. “She’s right, Ivy. At home, whenever Nathan sees a cute toy, the first thing he says isn’t about me—it’s always, ‘Grace would love this.’”Nat
FOUR YEARS LATER“Grace! Don’t run in the hallway!”Ivy’s voice echoed through the living room, which was now a battlefield of toys, stuffed animals, and a sticky spill of apple juice on the glass table.The little girl with golden-brown hair looked back for half a second before bursting into laught
Josh leaned back on the living room sofa, his gaze fixed on Alena, who was cradling the tiny baby in her arms with the gentlest smile he had ever seen. Grace looked utterly peaceful, occasionally letting out a small yawn and stretching like a kitten in her grandmother’s embrace.“Mom, it’s been almo
The first few days after Ivy came home from the hospital felt like the beginning of an entirely new chapter in their lives.The once-quiet house was now a world of baby cries, Ivy’s soft lullabies, and Josh’s panicked voice every time their little girl so much as twitched.“Josh, please… it’s only t
Clara sat with her legs crossed, eyes sharp as blades as she stared at the two people standing before her. Viona kept her head down, while Rico looked pale, almost sickly. The office was suffocatingly quiet that night, broken only by the ticking of the wall clock.“So,” Clara’s voice cut through the
That night, the apartment felt quieter than usual. The living room lights glowed softly, casting faint shadows across the walls. Ivy slipped off her shoes slowly and set her bag on the sofa. Josh followed behind, his jacket already removed since the car ride.“Tired?” Josh’s voice was calm, but his
The restaurant Dylan chose wasn’t too crowded that evening. Hanging lights cast a warm glow, creating a relaxed atmosphere after a long, exhausting day. Ivy sat beside Josh, while Dylan and Danny occupied the seats across from them.“To a small victory today,” Dylan raised his glass, his wide smile
The courtroom buzzed with whispers as Ivy entered, accompanied by Josh and her attorney. The occasional flash of cameras peeked through from outside, though the officers tried to maintain order. Ivy drew a deep breath, striving to keep her steps steady.Josh leaned slightly toward her, whispering, “







