MasukFifteen 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
Had Ivy’s suffering finally come to an end? Of course not.Today, Daniel was escorting her somewhere—where Dylan was already waiting, calm and patient as ever.“Do we really have to buy this many clothes?” Ivy asked, eyeing the neatly separated racks. Some of the outfits had already been tried on, a
“I’m just helping you take back the dignity they tried to tear from you, Ivy. I’m not as cruel as you think.” Josh spoke casually, like it was nothing.Ivy didn’t respond right away. Her silence stretched as she processed his words, weighing them carefully.“In that case,” she finally said, “don’t c
“I want you by my side,” Josh said, smiling with unmistakable intent. “Officially.”Thank goodness Ivy wasn’t mid-sip. If she had been, she probably would've spatted her coffee straight at him. Honestly, maybe she should’ve done just that, because Josh clearly hadn’t thought twice before blurting th
“Ugh, how long was I out?” Ivy mumbled, her voice husky from sleep as she squinted against the light creeping into the room.And then—she turned her head. A large, warm arm was still wrapped around her, holding her close.“Is he some kind of hibernating bear?” she murmured with a small laugh.Carefu







