Chapter 200

Ivy’s eyes widened, struggling to process the news.

Theresa sniffled. “I know, right?” she chuckled dryly. “What rotten luck.”

Ivy didn’t even know what to say. “L…”

“Don’t worry. Let the news sink in,” Theresa said, adjusting herself. She tied her hair neatly and wiped her face. “That’s why I was so mad at that reporter. She kept poking me, asking me questions about the accident, about Wilson. I just couldn’t.”

Ivy rubbed Theresa’s back, allowing the shock to thaw slowly. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay,” Theresa said softly. “I’m glad I’m here now.”

Ivy gave her a faint smile, her heart still pounding. She hadn’t expected this. She knew how much Theresa wanted the baby, but knowing it was Will's…it was just not it.

But now, it made sense. It explained why Theresa had lashed out at the reporter.

“How’s it out there?” Theresa asked, pulling Ivy from her thoughts. “Are they still trying to have my head?”

“It’s crazy,” Ivy admitted. “There are tons of them. It took a while to get…”

Theresa groaned. “I bet they’re having a field day, lying about me hitting her.”

Ivy chuckled mirthlessly. “The fact that the video didn’t even show her harassing you before you pushed her is crazy.”

“Being a Stone means growing thick skin,” Theresa said with a shrug. “Public crucifixion isn’t new.”

Ivy’s mind drifted to her discomfort about the Stones and their way of handling things, and she shook it away. Regardless of how rich they were, they were humans bound to make mistakes, determined to find quick solutions.

Maybe she was just being hard on them.

Theresa took her hand and squeezed it.

Ivy’s cheeks warmed. “I’m sorry, I know I should say something to comfort you.”

Theresa’s grip tightened. “You being here is enough. I’m sorry about earlier.”

Her thoughts shifted to Aunt May, and fresh pain pierced her chest. “I didn’t think Aunt May could do something like that.”

“Not just her, Cheryl too,” Theresa said, then stood slowly. “This baby….”

“You don’t have to make a decision now,” Ivy said, standing too. “The baby is yours too.”

Theresa bit her lip, placing a hand on her stomach. “It’s just weird. I knew there was a chance it could be his. But do I tell him? Do I meet Rita, bond with her child since my baby and hers are half-siblings?”

“Oh, hell no,” Ivy said quickly. “You don’t have to. Will can no longer make decisions for you. You do you.”

Theresa nodded slowly and began pacing. Ivy gave her the space, knowing how much Theresa needed time to reflect.

After a moment, Theresa stopped and turned. “How was it?”

Ivy raised a brow. “How was what?”

“Talking to Cheryl. Seeing the baby.”

That caught Ivy off guard. “I don’t know,” she admitted with a sigh. “Part of me wants to help her. But then I remember everything, and I just want her gone.”

It was relieving to say that out loud.

Theresa nodded. “I get the struggle, especially since she used to be your best friend.”

“Yeah.”

Theresa paused. “Would you be upset if I never spoke to Rita?”

Chapter 200

“Oh, T,” Ivy said, stepping closer. “Never. It’s your choice, babe.”

Theresa sighed. “That’s so cool. I really don’t want to. Thank you, Ivy. You’re a good person…”

The compliment nearly brought Ivy to tears. “Thanks for saying that.”

They both laughed.

“Have you told Hector yet?” Ivy asked.

“Not yet. I wish I could see him, but the reporters…”

Ivy nodded. “Yeah.”

“Would you stay a while before leaving? I need the company.”

Warmth spread in Ivy’s chest. “Definitely.”

“… even to those who don’t deserve it.”

They hugged before going to find Silas. With Theresa present, Ivy couldn’t talk to Silas privately.

She spent a few hours in the house before leaving in the night. By then, most of the reporters had gone, making it easier to leave.

When Ivy got to Cole’s house, she went straight to bed, thinking about everything that had happened.

The next morning, Ivy was woken by her phone ringing. With a groggy hand, she reached for it.

“Hello,” she mumbled without checking the screen.

“Hi, Ivy.” It was Aaliyah. “Good morning.”

“Morning,” she replied with a yawn.

“How’s the work going?”

“I’m moving to the next stage today. I was busy yesterday,” Ivy confessed.

Aaliyah didn’t hide her disappointment. “I need this, Ivy. Bailey’s not here, and she has stopped answering my calls.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll start today. Everything will be ready soon,” she said, trying to sound as assuring as possible.

She wasn’t sure it worked, but Aaliyah said, “Alright, I can’t wait. Thanks, Ivy.”

“You’re welcome. I’ll let you know how it goes.”

“Okay. Bye.”

Once the call ended, Ivy fell back asleep until late afternoon. She woke up more relaxed. When she checked her phone, she saw missed calls and a message from Silas, but didn’t reply immediately.

After getting out of bed and getting dressed, her phone chimed with another message.

She checked it this time; it was all messages from Silas.

“I would like to talk.”

“I’m sorry about what you went through yesterday.”

“Can we meet? Is 7pm okay? It’s fine if it’s not.”

She only replied to the last message, saying 7pm was fine, before leaving the room.

Down the hallway, she met Cole.

“Hey, love,” he greeted with a smile.

“Hey,” she replied. “How’re you?”

“Awesome. Slept well,” Cole asked.

She nodded. “You?”

Chapter 200

“Yeah,” he replied. “Green has been here since morning. He has started helping Cheryl.”

Ivy’s heart leaped. “Nice.”

Cole hesitated. “I need a favor.”

Ivy lifted her brow. “What kind?”

Cole moved closer. “I know you may not want to hear it, but I need your help with the restaurants. Dad’s photography idea is brilliant.”

Ivy frowned. “Only when I was the only Stone relevant. There’s a lot going…”

“You’re still relevant,” Cole interrupted. “Your work with Aaliyah Salvatore is trending even with all the chaos. Just a few photos, doesn’t matter if they don’t go viral. Please.”

She didn’t overthink it. “Fine. But only after I’m done with my current work.”

Cole’s face brightened up. “Absolutely, ma’am.”

She chuckled.

“Want to check on Green? See his process?” Cole asked.

Ivy wasn’t sure she wanted to start her day with talking to Cheryl, but she nodded. “Sure.”

Cole nodded and led the way upstairs to Geoffrey’s game room.

“Still so cozy,” Ivy said as she entered.

The room hasn’t changed much, except for the new gaming gadget.

“Ivy,” Geoffrey greeted from where he crouched next to Green, who was typing.

“Hey, little bro,” she said, hugging him.

Cheryl was also there, holding her baby and sitting on Green’s other side. “Hey, Ivy.”

“Hey,” Ivy replied.

Green turned, his face a little red. “Hey, Ivy.”

“Green. How are you?”

“Good. Good,” he said. “You?”

“Great.”

Cole smirked. “What a weird conversation for two people who used to have crushes on each other.”

Ivy laughed, nudging him playfully. “That was years ago, fool!”

Green chuckled, a bit shy, as he turned back to the screen. “Yeah.”

Ivy moved closer. “So what have you found?”

“My uncle Philly,” Cheryl said, patting her baby gently. “But it’s my aunt I want to find.”

Guilt swirled inside Ivy. “Oh, nice,” she said, trying not to show it.

Green tapped at the keyboard, the screen filling with odd figures and texts. “Your aunt’s a bit tricky to locate.”

“Could she be dead?” Cheryl asked quietly.

“Nope. Dead people are easier to find,” Green said. “Well, dead people who have been…uh, never mind.”

The room went silent before Cheryl spoke. “If she’s hard to find, I’ll just stick to my uncle.”

Ivy’s stomach turned as she remembered Aunt May. Cole looked at her, and she caught the pity in his eyes.

Her cheeks warmed as discomfort stirred in her stomach. “Seems you’ve got it under control. I’ll just leave you guys to it.” She wanted to sound light, but it came out flat.

Chapter 200

She cleared her throat. “Later, guys.” She turned to the door before anyone noticed her discomfort.

Just as she stepped out, her phone rang. It was Jade.

“Hey, Jade.”

“Ma’am,” Jade’s tone was sharp, “We need you here.”

Ivy’s stomach sank. “What happened?”

“It’s Elaine Chase. She’s here – again.”