When Ss got to the scene of the ident, he almost threw up his lunch. There was blood everywhere. Police officers roamed the area. Cars had to us one side of the road, causing even more congestion.
"Hey, I''m looking for Mrs. Stone," he said, approaching a young cop.
"She''s in the ambnce," the cop replied.
Ss''s eyes widened. "Is she okay?"
But the cop had already walked away.
Panic stirred in his chest as he rushed to the ambnce. He breathed in relief when he saw Ivy seated in the back of the vehicle, a brown nket wrapped around her.
When she saw him, her eyes welled up with tears.
He rushed to her, crushing her in his arms. "Are you okay?"
Ivy nodded.
Ss stepped back to study her. He expected to see bandages, but when he saw none, he hugged her again and kissed her forehead, until he noticed the blood on her hands.
He took her hands, his heart pounding. "Does... it hurt?"
"What?" She looked down. "No. It''s not mine."
Her eyes gleamed with pain, filling his own with concern. "I''m sorry you had to see that. Was... that your driver?"
"Yes. Jonathan," she said softly. "All of them are unconscious."
Ss moved closer and sat beside her, his heart aching as he kissed her hands. "I''m so sorry."
"It''s not your fault," Ivy said, her voice cracking. Then she turned to him slowly. "It was Rosie."
Panic formed inside him, but he fought to control it. "Are you sure about this?" "Yes. I already told the police. She was the one driving. I saw that blonde hair." The panic surged again, and this time he couldn''t hold it back. His hands shook and Ivy squeezed them gently
"Hey, it''s okay," she said softly, offering a reassuring smile. "I''m sure they''ll get her soon."
He nodded, but he didn''t believe her. Rosie had carried out her threat, and the thought shattered something good inside him, making him
ufortable.
He stood up, his lungs suddenly tightening.
"Hey," Ivy said, trying to reach out to him.
"I just need air, please," he replied without looking at her. He stepped back and exhaled, trying to steady the thudding in his chest.
He couldn''t tell Ivy about Rosie''s n. That would only make her more paranoid than she already was.
Yet, he couldn''t find Rosie. She had hurt his wife and he just wanted to rip her head off!
"Ss, baby."
Ivy touched his face, and he opened his eyes. Her green eyes were filled with concern and confusion, making him even angrier at Rosis.
"You''re sweating," she said, wiping his forehead. "I think we should leave here. The air... it''s making us ufortable."
He nodded.
Ivy removed the nket, ced it in the ambnce, and walked to a female officer. They spoke for a moment before Ivy returned.
"I''m free to go," she said with a faint smile.
"Great," Ss replied.
Was it time for her toe home?
God knew he missed her so much, but he didn''t have the heart to say it aloud.
She was the one who left, and until she said she was ready, he would wait-just as he had promised himself. Even though it was getting harder every day.
"Is Bud here?" she asked as they walked away from the ambnce.
His heart leapt. Was that it? Was she reallying home? Still, he told himself to rx. To wait.
"Yes, he''s around," he replied casually, trying not to show his eagerness. Ivy smiled. "Then we-"
"Ivy!"
They both turned toward the voice. It was Cole, and he rushed to her,forting her in the way only a brother could.
Ss''s heart tightened as he thought of Thomas. Despite his anger, he missed his older brother, and seeing Ivy with Cole made the longing even more prominent.
He saw the joy in her eyes as she spoke with Cole. Though his heart ached with jealousy and pain, he couldn''t deny what it was: Ivy was safe with Cole. Admitting that he couldn''t be with Ivy the way he wanted to, broke him. But he was willing to put her needs first.
"I should go," he said softly. "I''lle see you tomorrow."
"Ss. Sorry, I didn''t even greet you," Cole said, stepping forward to shake him. Ss took it. "It''s okay."
"I should be the one to leave," Cole said. "You guys should-"
"Oh, it''s fine," Ss interrupted. "She needs to rest. I''lle see her tomorrow."
Ivy''s eyes widened. She opened her mouth as if to say something but closed it. "Alright."
That single word crashed his world, but he fought to keep it together. He nodded and hurried to his car, determined to hide his shame insid Royce.
"Home, Bud,” he said before rolling up the partition.
Rolls-
Ss leaned back in his seat, looking away as Bud pulled away from the scene. He had half-expected some hesitation from Ivy-something to show she wasing back-but there was nothing
His heart plummeted when he finally figured she might not being soon.
He sighed, epting what it really was. He reached for his phone and called Tyler.
"Hey, Tyler."
"Hello, sir. Everything is ready," Tyler said proudly.
Ss sighed again. "Cancel it all. Dinner is off. Sorry for the stress." Then he hung
up.
He was going to propose again. Dinner was supposed to bring them back
together.
"Maybe not," he muttered, shutting his eyes to the pain.
He stayed that way until Bud announced they were home.
"Thanks, Bud," he said, stepping out of the car.
When he got inside, the loneliness hit him harder than before. But in that moment,
he realized it was worth it-Ivy was worth everything he was feeling
His heart ached as he made his way to Ivy''s room. He had been sleeping there
since she left.
Just as he reached the stairs, he heard someone crying. He tilted his head toward the sound and decided to follow it.
"Hello?" he called out, walking down the hallway.
"Hey, Si." Aria''s voice came from a corner.
He moved closer and saw her seated on the floor, her back resting against his
study door, bawling her eyes out.
"Aria? What''s wrong?" he asked, bending beside her.
Her legs were crossed in front of her, her face streaked with ruined makeup.
She didn''t speak immediately. She just wiped her face, smearing it even more "You know you''ll have to say something soon," he said softly, trying to ease her into it.
"She released the sex tape," Aria said. "Rosie fucking released the tape. It''s everywhere! I can''t do anything! Daddy''s still not here!" Then she broke into
tears again.
Rosie again.
Rosie was terrifying every member of the family, yet Thomas had slept with her. Fresh anger surged inside him, but he held it in for Aria''s sake. "Wipe your tears. We''ll find a solution."
"It''s toote, Si. Everybody is talking about it," Aria sobbed. "My life is over."
Ss''s heart tightened at the pain in her voice. "It''s not over. I''ll do my best to fix
this, I promise."
"Aria?" They heard Theresa''s voice.
When she found them, she rushed to Aria''s side.
Ss straightened up. "How did you leave your house?"
"Disguise," Theresa replied. Then she moved closer and whispered to him, "That
reporter is suing me, Ss."
He blinked. "What the-"
"What?" Aria asked.
“Nothing,” Theresa replied quickly. "We''ll talkter,” she said, then turned to Aria, helping her up. "Let''s get you cleaned up."
Ss watched as both women left for Aria''s room. His emotions spiraled.
There was pain, rage, longing; all fighting for a piece of his soul. He groaned as
he rubbed his forehead.
He had to do something, starting with Rosie.
And to get to Rosie, he had to start with Thomas.
He clenched his fist and took out his phone, but it rang before he could dial. His
heart dropped when he saw it was Detective Spence calling.
"Hello, Detective."
"Hello, Ss Stone," David said. "I''ve got some news."
Ss''s stomach knotted. "Okay."
"It''s about your parents'' death."
Ss frowned. “I already know about this, David. They died in a car ident."
David''s voice dropped. "Your parents didn''t die in a car ident, Ss. They died at home."
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