Chapter 118: Rita''s Truth.


    "What?" Ivy asked, fear gripping her chest. "Rita? Are you okay? Where are your


    Ss was already on his feet and beside her, his hand around her waist protectively. “What''s wrong with Pitar he whispered.


    "He''s going to hurt Ryan!" Rita wailed on the phone, the sound adding to Ivy''s fright


    Even before Rita said his name, Ivy already knew she was referring to her baby daddy


    "Derek is going to hurt him, please help me, Rita sobbed.


    "I am on my way. I''ming," Ivy replied urgently. "Just be safe. Make sure-


    But the phone went dead and it deepened her fear. She turned to Ss, her voice shaking. "Help me


    "We''ll continue thister," Ss addressed the detective. "Keep them locked." He pointed to the criminals, then turned to try "Let''s go."


    Ivy almost ran out of the station with Ss behind her. Bud was at the entrance and he approached them when he saw them.


    "We''re going to Mill Valley," she said and quickly, Bud brought the car around. Ss entered with her, while Victor drove Ss''s empty car behind them.


    "What happened?" Ss asked, cing his hand on her thigh.


    "I don''t know," she replied, her heart pounding heavily. "She just sounds weird."


    "Don''t worry, we''ll get them safely, Ss said assuringly and she nodded.


    As Ivy sank into the chair, her mind raced with thoughts. She had never seen Derek before and from her conversation with Theresa, she probably would never see him.


    And that thought sent chills down her spine. If something terrible happened to Rita and Ryan, she wouldn''t even know where to start from.


    The fright slipped into her bone and she shivered.


    Ss seemed to sense that as he pulled her closer to him. "Hey, it''s okay."


    "What if it isn''t?" she said, hearing the dread in her voice. "Aunt May would never see Rita or her granddchild."


    "Don''t think like that." Ss''s voice was filled with annoyance and conviction. "They would be alright."


    She rested her head on his chest, taking in the smell of his cologne, and for a tiny moment, her dread melted.


    "We''re here," Bud said and the fright returned sharply.


    Ivy straightened up, biting her lip as Bud parked, for the first time since they had beening to Mill valley, in front of Rita''s pink house.


    She jumped out of the car with Ss following her and proceeded to the front door.


    "Rita?" she called, trying to keep the fright away from her voice as she knocked. But when the front door creaked, the hair at the back of her head stood on end. She turned to Ss, her eyes widened. "The door is open."


    Ss stepped forward. "Let me go in first."


    Ivy was supposed to stay outside, but she couldn''t stay still, she needed to know


    if Rita and Ryan were safe so she followed Ss inside.


    Her heart skipped when she entered. Everything had been turned over, the couches, the table, even the box of Ryan''s toys. "Rita?" Ss called, making his way to the other rooms.


    of


    Ivy followed, fear gripping her every step. She pushed the kitchen door and she gasped. There were broken tes all over the floor, knives and spoons scattered around, a pot of hot porridge had been spilled. She could tell it was hot beer the steaming out of it.


    "There''s nobody in this house," Ss said from behind her.


    She turned to him, her eyes widened. "The whole house?"


    "Yes," Ss replied. "Call her, ask when she is."


    Sessfully unlocked!


    per back pocket. With slightly trembling hands,


    The fear deepened, squeezing her chest as she read


    she dialed Rita''s number.


    She shut her eyes to the dial tone, praying, hoping that Rita would pick. But when


    the phone was unanswered, she turned to Ss. "She''s not picking up."


    Chapter 118: Rita''s Truth


    "Try again," Ss said, softly.


    She redialed and waited, secondster she heard the click. "Rita?" she said, her voice small and cracking.


    "Ivy. Yes," Rita answered, her voice sounding like she had been crying.


    "Where are you? I am in your house."


    "I''m in the state park," Rita said. "I''m okay, Ryan is okay"


    Ivy sighed with relief as a nervousugh left her mouth. "We''reing. Stay there Then she ended the call.


    Ss''s forehead creased with worry. "Where is she?"


    "In the state park. It''s just around the corner. Let''s go," Ivy said.


    They shut Rita''s front door and entered the car. Even though she had spoken to Rita, Ivy still couldn''t shake off the anxiety.


    And when they got to the park, she dashed out of the car screaming Rita''s name.


    "Ivy!" Rita said, running up to her. She copsed in Ivy''s arms and cried.


    Ivy rubbed her back, consoling her. "It''s okay. You''re safe now."


    Rita sobbed for a long time before finally pulling away. "Thank you," she smiled dryly.


    Ivy nodded with a smile. "Where is Ryan?"


    "In there, sleeping now," Rita said, pointing in a direction, and then her expression changed when Ss joined them.


    Ivy pointed to Ss. "This is my husband, Ss Stone."


    Rita''s eyes widened as she observed Ss. She hesitated before extending her


    hand. "Nice to meet you, Mr Stone."


    "Ss is fine," he smiled. "Nice to meet you Rita."


    Rita nodded and turned to Ivy. "So that makes Theresa your-"


    "Sister-inw," Ivy finished for her and watched Rita stiffened. "Hey it''s okay. I


    spoke to her and there is clearly a mistake somewhere."


    Ss'' brow arched. "Is there something I should know?"


    Before Ivy could respond, Hector joined them. "The little boy is awake."


    Rita immediately dashed away to meet her son.


    Hector stepped forward, an awkward smile on his face. "Hey, Ivy."


    "Hey Hector," Ivy replied, noticing the small blush on his face.


    Ss came closer to her, putting a hand on her waist. "Ss Stone, her husband,"


    he said, stretching his hand for a shake.


    Hector''s blush deepened as he took Ss''s hand. "Nice to meet you sir. I... will just... be on... my way."


    When Hector walked away, Ss pulled Ivy to face him. "What was that about?" She chuckled, enjoying the twinkle of jealousy in his eyes. "It''splicated." His response was quick. "I am listening."


    "Well," she sighed, peeling away from him, as she told him everything-except for Hector and Theresa''s part. From the way Ss arched his neck, she knew he was dying to know about Hector, but that wasn''t her story to tell so she didn''t tell.


    "That''s a lot," Ss said, his jaw tightening.


    "Theresa doesn''t know who Derek is," she added quickly.


    "But she got scared when you questioned her. It''s either she''s lying or she''s


    definitely cheating with someone else," he said, his eyes narrowing.


    Heat crept up her face and she looked away. She hadn''t expected him to figure that part out.


    "Is that the whole story?"


    "Most of it,” she admitted.


    “Uhmm,” he said, pinching the bridge of his nose. "So, who''s Derek?"


    "I don''t know," Ivy said with a shrug. "I have never seen him before."


    "Then ask Rita about it," Ss suggested. "We still have to find the man if he''d hurt your cousin."


    "Yes," Ivy answered just as Rita returned to join them.


    "Ryan was just cranky, but he''s good now," Rita smiled.


    "That''s great to hear," Ivy said, she exchanged looks with Ss before moving


    closer. "What happened Rita? We got to your house and it was messed up."


    Chapter 118 Rita''s Truth


    Rita swallowed and folded her arms across her chest. "We had a fight. It was the


    first time that had happened" She rubbed her neck slowly. "He came in angry,


    asking about who I have been speaking to."


    Ivy''s heart fluttered. "He doesn''t know I have beening?"


    "I didn''t tell him. Maybe one of the neighbors did,” Rita said, a frown recing her


    worried look


    "But why would he be mad that you''re talking to people?" Ss asked firmly.


    Rita looked at him briefly before looking back at Ivy. "He doesn''t want me mingling


    with people, you know, Ryan''s condition


    it''s not safe to have people around."


    Ivy''s stomach dropped as the truth settled in. Rita had been controlled by Derek.


    He had tamed her, and thinking about it now, he might have been the reason she hadn''t gone to see her mother.


    Ss sensed it too because Ivy noticed him stiffen. “Do you have a picture of Derek? Can we see him?"


    Rita nodded, pulled out her phone, scrolled through it before handing it over to Ivy.


    "That''s him."


    When Ivy took the phone, her stomach knotted with shock. "Is... this him?"


    Rita nodded, surprise shining in her eyes.


    Ivy shook her head, her stomach tightened as she returned the phone.


    Derek was Wills Alston-Theresa''s husband!


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