"One scoop of milk, pour in water, shake, test temperature," Ivy murmured as she


    prepared Cole''s form. Monica had taught her how to do it, and she was


    surprised she''d gotten it right on the first try.


    She ced the bottle against her cheek. When it felt just right, she dropped it on


    the table and went to carry Cole.


    He cried the moment she lifted him.


    "Easy now, food is here," she whispered, picking up the bottle.


    Slowly but steadily, she fed him, her heart pounding as she watched him suck on


    the teat.


    His slow breathing, the way his tiny hand held her finger, the fluttering of his eyes,


    all softened her. And in that vulnerable moment, she wanted to keep him forever.


    The realization hit her hard: she actually liked little Cole despite everything.


    He wasn''t just Mason''s child; he was Cheryl''s child-the baby she had once


    wanted to put everything on hold for, even before he was born.


    A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts.


    "Hey, Ivy," it was Theresa.


    "Come in," she said.


    Theresa stepped in and noticed her expression. "Oh, Ivy. Are you okay?"


    Ivy looked away. Theresa sat beside her and Cole, rubbing her back gently.


    "It''s... a lot," Ivy whispered.


    "Ipletely understand," Theresa replied softly. "But you know, you''re under no


    obligation to care for him."


    "I know," Ivy said. "I just... can''t hate him..."


    "Which is normal. He was supposed to be your godson, and then everything got


    messy. Don''t feel guilty for loving him. You''re only human, Ivy."


    Ivy swallowed, Theresa''s word sinking in. She was only human and little Cole was


    an innocent baby. Setting the almost empty bottle on the table, she lifted him to


    her shoulder to burp him.


    "You''re a natural," Theresa teased.


    Ivyughed.


    Cole let out a loud belch, making them bothugh again. Sheid him gently on


    the bed, where he cooed softly before drifting off to sleep.


    "Where''s Ss?" Theresa asked.


    "He''s working downstairs."


    Theresa''s cheeks turned red. "Did he tell you about the...wsuit?"


    Ivy turned to her. "Whatwsuit?"


    Theresa told her about the reporter''s case.


    Ivy''s eyes widened. "I''m so sorry, T."


    "Yeah..." Theresa said, looking away.


    Ivy''s heart dropped. "There''s more, right?"


    "Oh, Ivy." Theresa''s voice cracked. "I agreed to settle outside of court... but that


    has led to more problems."


    Ivy''s stomach twisted with fright. "What is it, T?"


    Theresa stood up, her blush deepened as she began to pace. "There''s an online


    petition to revoke my medical license, and the board of doctors is leaning into it."


    "Oh goodness," she gasped, standing up.


    "I lost control once, Ivy and it''s about to ruin my life."


    Ivy wrapped a hand around her and Theresa copsed into the embrace. "I''m


    sorry."


    She held Theresa until she sighed, and she finally straightened up.


    "Thank you," Theresa said quietly.


    "What are we supposed to do? There has to be a way to change the narrative."


    "I don''t know," Theresa replied with a shrug. "I can''t think right now."


    Ivy gently squeezed her hand. "I understand."


    They stood in silence, holding hands. Ivy knew how important Theresa''s career


    was to her, and it filled her with pain.


    Theresa returned to the bed, and Ivy followed.


    Theresa sighed. "I know the board won''t immediately say anything. It might not


    even be revoked. But cancel culture is real, and I don''t want that."


    "Then let''s fix it," Ivy said, racking her brain. "What about issuing a public


    statement? That way, you get to tell your side of the story. Or even a private


    interview?"


    "That''s a good idea," Theresa replied, "but it''s too direct."


    Ivy nodded. "Yeah."


    She knew they had to do something, but she didn''t know what.


    Before either of them could say more, the door flew open, and Aria rushed in.


    Theresa jumped to her feet. "What''s wrong?"


    "Beatrice is downstairs, and she''s causing a scene," Aria said, her forehead


    beading with sweat.


    "Beatrice?" Ivy asked, standing as well. "What is she doing here?"


    Theresa''s expression shifted. "What the hell did you do this time?"


    Aria flinched, her cheeks flushing, but she said nothing.


    "Speak!"


    Aria flinched again, stepping back. "I released her nudes online."


    Ivy blinked. "Aria!"


    1029


    "You don''t fucking learn!" Theresa snapped, her eyes zing. "Why the hell would


    you call attention to yourself again after everything?!"


    Ivy was stunned into silence. From the bed, little Cole stirred. She turned to Aria,


    lowering her voice. "Where is she?"


    Aria bit her lip. "In the hallway."


    Theresa stormed out the room, and Aria followed behind her. Ivy locked the door


    slowly, just in time to see a maiding down the stairs.


    "Hey, can you help me watch the baby until Monica arrives?"


    "Yes, ma''am," the maid replied with a bow.


    When Ivy reached the hallway, she saw Beatrice screaming at the top of her


    lungs. Theresa was trying to speak, but Beatrice''s voice was louder.


    Ivy stepped forward. "Hey, Beatrice! Calm down!"


    Beatrice paused, panting and ring at Aria, who was hiding behind Theresa.


    "Thank you," Ivy said, then nodded to Theresa.


    Theresa turned to Beatrice. "I understand."


    "Your fucking sister is crazy!" Beatrice snapped.


    "You released my sex tape first, it''s payback!" Aria spat.


    "I didn''t! After you had me arrested, I deleted everything." Beatrice countered. "I


    gave the officers everything I had!"


    "Well, I wasn''t sure. I don''t believe you."


    Theresa and Ivy exchanged looks.


    Theresa sighed. "I''m sorry, Beatrice." Then she turned to Aria. "Apologize to her."


    Aria blinked. "What? She-"


    "Now!"


    Aria muttered her apology.


    "We''ll find a way to get them off the inte," Theresa promised.


    Ivy stood still, her stomach tightening. Aria knew it was Rosie who had released


    the tape. Beatrice had already reported to the police that her phone had been


    hacked.


    Why then did Aria do it?


    The thought twisted Ivy''s stomach with difort, but before she could speak,


    the maid came to her.


    "Your phone is ringing, ma''am," she said, handing it over.


    Ivy raised a brow as she collected it. "Where''s the baby?"


    "Ms. Monica is with him now, ma''am."


    She took the phone. Jade was calling. "Hey, Jade."


    "Hello ma''am... You need toe.


    Her heart dropped. "What''s happened?"


    "Someone dumped a trailer full of animal dung at the office entrance,"


    Anger surged through Ivy. Only one person could''ve done that-Rosie.


    "I''ming," she said, ending the call.


    Without another word to the women still arguing, Ivy went outside. When she


    couldn''t find Bud, she chose three other guards and had them drive her to


    herpany.


    The drive was fast.


    Even with four blocks away, the stench hit her. Her stomach clenched when she


    saw the huge mess ahead.


    "Just park here," she told the driver.


    Ivy stepped out, covering her nose with her sleeve as she moved forward. The


    pile of dung was as tall as her front gate, with flies buzzing everywhere. She


    nearly gagged at the sight when she saw some men in full attire dismantling the


    dump.


    Jade approached, wearing a face mask. She handed one to Ivy.


    "I called those men to clean it up," Jade said. "They''ve been at it for over thirty


    minutes, but it''s barely moving."


    Ivy groaned as she put on the mask. Her stomach roiled.


    "Somemunity members came by to express their displeasure," Jade added.


    "You''re being fined for environmental pollution."


    Fury burned inside Ivy, but the stench overpowered her sense of her reasoning.


    Something had to be done about Rosie-this had gone too far.


    The cleanup took over two hours, and even when the men finished, the smell


    lingered. Ivy had to send everyone home for the day.


    When she got home, she rushed to her bathroom to scrub the stench off. When


    she left the bathroom, she froze.


    Ss was lying on the bed, his face swollen, bandages tied around his arm.


    She ran to him, her heart pounding. "Oh my God, babe, what happened?"


    "No...thing," he replied weakly.


    She blinked. "This isn''t nothing. You clearly-" She paused as the realization


    struck. Her eyes widened. "It is Thomas, right?"


    Ss looked away, and that was enough.


    Anger surged inside her, swift and sharp. "It''s time someone put that man in his


    damn ce!"


    Without waiting for a response, Ivy stormed into the closet, dressed and left.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!