"Fuck,” Ivy muttered under her breath as she ended the call.


    She was half-relieved it wasn''t anything rted to herpany, but the other half of her emotion was angry. With a single question echoing in her mind:


    Why?


    She made her way to the guards'' quarters and called Stud. He came immediately, joined by three other bodyguards. They all climbed into her White Panther and drove straight to Walter Hospital.


    By the time they arrived, some of Ivy''s anger had begun to thaw, reced by a slow-building worry.


    "I''m here to see Miss Derrick''s baby," she told the small nurse at the nurses'' station.


    "The neonatal ward is just down the corridor, ma''am," the nurse said, pointing.


    Ivy nodded and followed her direction. When she found the ward, she pushed the door open and entered.


    Cheryl was seated outside a room, her face buried in her palms. When she saw Ivy, she sprang to her feet.


    "Hey, Ivy. Thank you foring."


    Ivy heard the relief in her voice but ignored it. "Where''s the baby?"


    "He''s being attended to."


    Ivy studied her, trying to tell if all was well from her countenance. When she was satisfied that Cheryl seemed physically okay, the worry morphed back into anger.


    "What the hell are you doing here?" she snapped. "I hate this... whatever this is."


    "I''m... sorry, Ivy," Cheryl said, lowering her eyes. "I couldn''t stay at the other hospital. I had to-"


    "I don''t fucking care," Ivy spat and Cheryl flinched. "Don''t involve me in your bloody mess. I didn''t get you pregnant. In fact, I me myself for helping you today."


    The confession cracked something inside her, and she sank into a chair. She didn''t need this harsh reminder, especially with everything going on.


    "You know what you''re doing, Cheryl," she said, her voice sharp as she pointed at her. "Whye here? The same ce we had ns to use for the baby. You know how awkward this is."


    "I know," Cheryl admitted, her voice shaking. "But the ambnce took us back to Mason''s hospital, and I couldn''t let us stay there... I knew no other hospital." Her voice broke and she bent to touch Ivy.


    "Don''t," Ivy snarled, pulling away. "Don''t touch me. You don''t get to do that." "I''m... sorry."


    The tension in Cheryl''s voice softened some of Ivy''s anger, but she refused to give in fully.


    "They won''t treat him without your details, which is why... I''m sorry," Cheryl continued.


    Ivy hated the pitiful tone Cheryl used and the way she slouched, like a deted version of her former self.


    "Is the baby okay?" she asked, more stiffly now.


    "The doctors haven''t said much," Cheryl replied quietly. "I... appreciate your doctor friend. She was very helpful."


    18:13 Sat 24


    Ivy''s thoughts drifted to Theresa and then the whole situation. She stood up and walked away from Cheryl. She sensed Cheryl''s tonfusion, but was satisfied she didn''t say anything.


    Pulling out her phone, she dialed Ss. He answered almost immediately.


    "Hey baby." His voice was soft.


    "Hey, my love. How''s it going?" she asked, her heart racing as she braced for bad news.


    "Thankfully, Rosie got away before causing more damage," Ss said.


    Her stomach dropped. "More damage?"


    Ss paused. "She broke down the gate, but took off after."


    "So... everyone''s fine?"


    "Yes."


    *


    Relief spread across her body for a second before panic took over. If Rosie was still out there, it meant the danger wasn''t over.


    As if sensing her thoughts, Ss added gently, "Don''t worry. Until we find her, we''ll keep increasing security."


    The idea of being surrounded by even more guards unsettled her. She bit her lip, hiding it from Ss. "Yeah. I hope they catch her soon."


    "I hope so too," he replied. "I''m still here arranging for more security teams. When I''m done, I''lle home."


    "I''m not home,” she said, then told him everything about Cheryl.


    "What is her deal now?" Ss said, annoyance filling his voice. “She can''t just waltz back into your life and demand help."


    "I told her the same thing."


    "Talk to the doctors, know what they need you for and leave. It''s not safe for you


    out


    there."


    "I know, baby," she said. Her eyes drifted to Cheryl who was now seated. If she didn''t know what her ex-best friend was capable of, ivy might have been moved by the pitiful image.


    She watched as Cheryl tapped her hands and rubbed her neck, shifting ufortably on the chair.


    She shifted her attention back to Ss on the phone. "I will do that and let you know how it goes."


    "Be careful, love. See you soon," Ss said and ended the call.


    Hvy tucked her phone in her pocket and approached Cheryl. "Who''s the doctor in charge?"


    "One fair one... I don''t know where he went," Cheryl said, her voice cracking, her cheeks flushed.


    Ivy shook her head at Cheryl''s uncertainty and went back to the nurse''s station, with everyone following.


    "Hello," she said to the nurse, tapping the counter/"Since I''m here, what do you need from me?"


    The nurse raised her head and smiled. "Just your details and preferred payment method." She then handed Ivy a form.


    Ivy cocked her head towards Cheryl. "She''s the mother. She''ll handle the payment. I''m just here for other formalities."


    "Ivy..." Cheryl''s voice wavered. When Ivy turned, she bit her lip. "I don''t have any money."


    Ivy blinked. "What?"


    Sat 24 May


    Oh, she had heard clearly, she just couldn''t believe it.


    Cheryl couldn''t repeat herself, she just lowered her head, but not before Ivy saw the tears gathering in her eyes.


    by turned to her, annoyance simmering inside her as she ced her hand on her hip. "So you mean your dearest Mason didn''t give you anything? You mean you have no share in my money he stole from me?"


    Cheryl said nothing.


    Ivyughed bitterly. "What was in it for you then? A baby machine for his family? Or were you just ying duinb?"


    Cheryl lifted her head, and Ivy''s heart sank with the shame she saw in her eyes.


    "I... it was stupid," she said, her voice trembling. "My child is the only... thing... I got."


    "So freaking sad for you," Ivy hissed, turning her attention back to the nurse. "How much is the entire cost? I need to leave this ce quickly."


    The nurse clicked herputer and told Ivy the amount. She immediately made payment.


    Even though she was pissed, she kept reminding herself that she was doing this for the innocent soul, and nobody else.


    "Thank you, Ivy. I don''t deserve this kindness," Cheryl said, the tears finally dropping from her eyes.


    Ivy''s mouth twisted. "d you know that. I will no longer be helping you or your child. I''ve done the best I can humanly do. Get help somewhere else."


    She braced herself, hardening her mind already in case Cheryl was about to y the victim again.


    Thankfully, she didn''t, she only nodded and whispered a thank you.


    Pity tugged at Ivy''s chest, but she swallowed it. Even if she wanted to help Cheryl,


    it wouldn''t be this easy. She had to learn her lessons first.


    Just as she turned to leave, Cheryl said, "I''m going to name him, Patrick. My baby, after your dad."


    Ivy let out a short, humorlessugh.


    Cheryl pressed her lips together. "It''s just... a form of appreciation."


    "Staying away from me is the only appreciation I want," Ivy said, stillughing.


    "Take care, Cheryl."


    She heard Cheryl''s soft sob, but she didn''t look back. She just kept walking.


    No pity. Not yet.


    Just as she neared the exit, a man bumped into her.


    Stud stepped forward. "Hey! Watch it!"


    "Well, if it isn''t Ivy," the man said.


    Ivy looked at him, her eyes narrowed. The man was dressed in all ck; his


    clothes, his hat, and even a mask.


    Before Ivy could figure out who he was, he pulled off the hat and mask.


    She groaned, rolling her eyes. "Mason fucking Hunter."