Chapter 251

IVY A year later…The sound of waves gently rolling onto the shore mixed with Noah’s soft humming from the kitchen. I opened my eyes slowly, warm sunlight touching my face through the open window. For a moment I just lay there, breathing in the fresh ocean air, feeling the soft sheets against my skin. This was real. I was here, in our small beach house in Hawaii, far from everything that had hurt me before. No more waking up confused in a hospital bed. No more living with secrets and fear. Just this — peace, warmth, and the man I loved moving around in the next room.I smiled to myself and got up, slipping on one of Noah’s old t-shirts that reached my thighs. The wooden floor felt cool under my feet as I walked toward the kitchen. Noah stood by the counter, his back to me, humming a quiet tune while flipping eggs in the pan. The smell of breakfast filled the air — coffee, toast, and something sweet. My heart swelled looking at him. He looked relaxed, his hair messy from sleep, we

Chapter 252

NOAHI woke up in the middle of the night to the soft glow of my phone screen lighting up the dark room. Ivy was asleep beside me, her breathing steady and peaceful, her head resting on my chest. For a second I just watched her, feeling that familiar warmth in my heart. She looked so calm, so safe. I wanted to keep her that way forever. I reached for the phone quietly, not wanting to wake her.The message made my blood run cold.“You have until the end of the week to bring Ivy back. If you don’t, I will come and take her myself. And I will make you watch every second of it. She belongs to me. Not you.”The sender was listed as unknown, but I knew who it was. Cassian. Or someone doing his dirty work. The words felt like a knife pressed against my throat. I stared at the screen, my hand starting to shake. My chest tightened so hard I could barely breathe. This wasn’t just a threat. It was a promise. He wanted her back. And he was willing to hurt her — and make me watch — to get what

Chapter 253

IVYThe scissors made a soft snipping sound as the stylist worked through my hair. I sat in the salon chair, the warm afternoon light coming through the big window, feeling more relaxed than I had in months. The smell of shampoo and fresh coffee from the corner filled the air. For the first time since everything happened, I felt like a normal girl again — just getting a simple haircut, chatting with someone who didn’t know my complicated past.“You have such nice hair,” the stylist, a friendly woman named Mia, said with a smile. “What made you want to change it a little?”I smiled back at her in the mirror. “I just wanted something fresh. A new start, you know? Something lighter.”She nodded as she trimmed the ends. “I get that. Life gets heavy sometimes. A good haircut can make you feel like you can face anything again.”We talked easily about small things — the weather, the best places to eat in town, how the beach looked especially beautiful this week. I laughed when she told me

Chapter 254

NOAH The bar smelled like spilled beer and tired wood after a long night. I wiped down the counter for the third time, my arms aching from hours of serving drinks and cleaning up messes. Leo moved beside me, straightening chairs and stacking glasses. The place had been packed last night, full of loud tourists and locals who didn’t want to go home. We had closed later than usual, and the early morning light was already creeping through the windows.“Go home, man,” Leo said, taking the cloth from my hand. “I’ll finish the rest. Ivy must be waiting for you. You look like you haven’t slept in days.”I gave him a tired smile and nodded. “Thanks, Leo. I owe you one.”He waved me off with a grin. “Just get some rest. And tell Ivy I said hi.”I grabbed my keys and stepped out into the fresh morning air. It was already 7 a.m. The sky was turning soft blue, and the ocean breeze felt cool against my skin. I stopped at the small bakery down the street and bought Ivy’s favorite breakfast — wa

Chapter 255

IVYSomething felt wrong with Noah lately. He had been quiet, distant, checking his phone too often and forcing smiles when he thought I wasn’t looking. I tried to ignore it at first. I told myself he was just tired from work or worried about money. But the longer it went on, the heavier the feeling became in my chest. Instead of asking him directly, I decided to do something different. I wanted to surprise him. I wanted to remind him that I was here, that we were okay, that I missed him when he worked the night shift.So that evening, I dressed in the simple blue dress he liked, put on a little makeup, and walked toward the bar. The streets were still busy with people enjoying the warm Hawaiian night. Lights from shops and restaurants glowed along the sidewalk. I smiled to myself, imagining his face when he saw me. Maybe we could walk home together after his shift. Maybe we could stop for ice cream like we used to. The thought made my steps lighter.But as I got closer to the ba

Epilogue

IVY Two years had passed, yet some mornings still felt like the day after. I stood on a small wooden ladder in the quiet corner of the library, carefully sliding books back into their places on the shelf. The morning sunlight streamed through the tall windows, casting soft patterns on the wooden floor. Jonas had made me the assistant manager six months ago, and the work kept my hands busy and my mind from wandering too far. I liked it here. The smell of old paper, the gentle quiet, the way people spoke in soft voices. It felt safe. Still, today the emptiness pressed a little harder on my chest. I climbed down from the ladder and wiped my hands on my skirt. From the front desk, Jonas waved at me with that familiar warm smile. “Ivy, can you help me for a moment?” he called. I walked over, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “What’s up?” “There’s someone looking for this book,” he said, handing me a small note with the title. “He’s waiting in the VIP reading room