LOGINIvyI held my daughter in my arms and felt a love so deep and so powerful that it took my breath away. She was small and pink and perfect and she had Dorian's eyes and my nose and she was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.We named her Aurora. Dawn. A new beginning.Dorian sat beside me and held my hand and his eyes were wet and his smile was wide."She is perfect," he said again and his voice was full of wonder.I nodded and kissed Aurora's forehead."She is perfect," I said.The days that followed were a blur of feedings and diaper changes and sleepless nights. But I did not mind. Every moment with Aurora was precious and every moment with Dorian was a gift.We were a family.A real family.Clara was overjoyed and she spent hours holding Aurora and singing to her and telling her stories. Marcus was smitten and he brought gifts and he promised to protect her with his life. Sofia and Elena visited and they cooed over the baby and they talked about the future.Our home was full
DorianI stood in the kitchen and held Ivy and felt like the luckiest man in the world.She was pregnant. We were having a baby. After everything we had been through and everything we had survived, we were going to have a child.I pulled back and looked at her and her face was wet with tears and her smile was wide."I cannot believe it," I said and my voice was full of wonder. "We are going to be parents."Ivy laughed and it was a beautiful sound."I know," she said. "I still cannot believe it either."I pulled her close again and held her.We stood in the kitchen and the sun was rising and the world was full of light.Clara walked in and stopped when she saw us."What is going on?" she asked. "Why are you both crying?"Ivy pulled back and smiled and her eyes were bright."We are having a baby," she said. "I am pregnant."Clara stared at her and then she screamed with joy and ran toward us and wrapped her arms around both of us."Congratulations!" she said and her voice was full of ha
IvyI sat in the passenger seat and watched the city pass by the window and my mind was full of everything Margaret had said.She had started the fire. She had manipulated Clara. She had destroyed everyone's lives. And she had done it all because she felt invisible.Dorian was quiet on the drive home and his hands were tight on the steering wheel and his jaw was clenched. I could feel the tension radiating off him and I knew he was processing everything.I reached over and took his hand."Are you okay?" I asked.He was quiet for a moment and then he spoke."I do not know," he said. "I do not know how to feel. I spent my whole life believing my mother started the fire. Then I believed Clara started the fire. And now I find out it was Margaret the whole time."I squeezed his hand and told him it was not his fault."I know," he said. "But I still feel like I should have figured it out sooner. I should have seen the signs."I shook my head and told him no one could have known."Margaret w
DorianI held Ivy in the garden and watched the sun set and felt a peace I had not felt in years.The letter was still in my hand and I could feel the weight of it. My mother had written it for Ivy and she had hidden it in her journal and she had wanted Ivy to find it.I pulled back and looked at Ivy and her face was wet with tears."Are you okay?" I asked.She nodded and smiled and it was a real smile."I am okay," she said. "I am more than okay."We walked back to the house and the night was warm and the stars were bright.Clara was in the living room and she was reading a book. She looked up when we walked in and smiled."How was the garden?" she asked."Perfect," Ivy said and sat down beside her.I walked toward the window and stared out at the dark garden.My mind was full of thoughts and memories and questions.My mother had written a letter to Ivy and she had hidden it in her journal and she had wanted Ivy to find it.But what else had she hidden?What other secrets had she lef
IvyThe wedding was three weeks later and the garden was transformed.Marcus had arranged everything and the flowers were blooming and the fountains were sparkling and the chairs were lined up in perfect rows. White roses and pink peonies and delicate white ribbons were everywhere and the sun was shining and the sky was clear and the day was perfect.I stood in my room and looked at myself in the mirror. The dress was simple and white and it fit me perfectly. My hair was loose and flowing and there was a small bouquet of white roses in my hands.I looked like a bride.I felt like a bride.For the first time in my life, I felt beautiful.There was a knock at the door and Clara walked in. She was dressed in a soft blue dress and her scarred face was smiling and her eyes were bright."You look beautiful," she said and her voice was warm.I turned to face her and asked if she was ready.Clara nodded and walked toward me and took my hands."I am ready," she said. "I am so ready."She had r
DorianI heard the gunshot before I felt the pain.The sound was loud and sharp and it echoed through the garden. I turned toward the woman and saw the gun in her hand and I saw the smoke rising from the barrel. And then I felt the impact and it was like being punched in the chest.I fell to the ground and the world went blurry and I could hear Ivy screaming my name but her voice sounded far away."Dorian! Dorian, no!"I tried to speak but I could not. My mouth would not open and my words would not come and everything was getting dark.Ivy's face appeared above me and she was crying and her hands were pressing against my chest and I could feel the warmth of her blood on my skin."Stay with me," she said and her voice was broken. "Please stay with me."I wanted to tell her I loved her. I wanted to tell her everything would be okay. But I could not form the words.I heard the woman speaking and I heard Ivy begging and I heard the sirens in the distance.And then I felt myself slipping a
Ivy“You call this coffee!”I flinched at uncle Richard’s voice. My hands trembled as I stood before his desk. The cup sat between us, steam rising from the dark liquid.“I'm sorry, uncle Richard…” “Sorry?” He stood slowly, his chair scraped against the hardwood floor. “You’re always sorry, aren't
IvyThe estate was enormous and dark and it looked like the kind of place that swallowed people whole.I saw it through the car window as the iron gates opened ahead of us, the black stone building rising against the sky with lights burning in its upper windows. The gardens on either side were perf
DorianShe didn't scream.That was the first thing I noticed.The elevator doors had closed behind Richard Rowan and the girl hadn't moved. She hadn't begged. Hadn't thrown herself at my feet the way the last one did. She just stood there in that faded blue dress with her head bowed and her hands c
IvyI dried my hands and followed him to the study. My heart was pounding against my chest.Inside, he closed the door behind us and locked it. That was never a good sign.I stood in the corner of his office with my hands clasped in front of me, and my head down.“Get dressed,” he said, pouring hi







