2025-03-04 18:36:18
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From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 127. Fiendish Friend
Either it was out of love or boredom, it was true that Sandra dated Cynthia for a while. So if not completely, she could say that she understood her behavior at least fifty percent. It was obvious that she was still holding grudges against her for replacing her. And it must have gotten worse when Sandra told her she never cared for her and claimed that their relationship was just to pass time. She must have been looking for ways she could make Sandra pay for treating her badly. And she finally came up with one. She would call her and tell her that she could send Chris to prison, and she knew Sandra would definitely agree to it because it was no secret that she disliked him. Then she would tell Chris that Sandra was plotting to sabotage him, and he would chase her away, giving Cynthia the chance to get her job back. But the pieces of the puzzle didn't seem complete. Cynthia was actually planning on using Chris's cousin to send him to prison, that part was certain to Sandra. Th
From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. Author's Note
Hi." "Hi, do I know you? You look kinda familiar." "Me? Oh I don't think so. I've lived here all my life." "Oh… then you're not the one. My bad." "Not at all. You're the wife of the man who lives down at the beach house, right?" Ivy was surprised because she didn't know who the other lady was, or how she knew who she was. "Um … yeah?" "There's no need to look so concerned. I live around and I love going to the beach a lot. I've seen you and your… husband?..." Ivy nodded and she smiled. "Okay. I've seen you two around a couple of times." "Oh okay. Nice to meet you." "Same here. The reason I approached you today was because I wanted to be friends. I've been thinking about the right way to go about it but nothing seemed right so…" "It's totally fine. We can be friends. It would be nice to have at least one friend before I leave." "Leave?" "Yeah. My husband and I are just here for our honeymoon." "Ah, then I guess I should have approached you much more earlier." "Hehe. It's fi
From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 128. Change of Heart
Ivy and Van were taking a stroll through the beach when they noticed a painfully familiar face. It had been a while since they had seen her and Van hoped that would be the last time. "I know you might not want to hear anything I have to say but please, all I need is five minutes." She begged, standing in front of Ivy. "Sorry, our time is precious and I'd rather not waste it with the likes of you." Van started to walk away when Ivy stopped him. "You have five minutes." She said. "Really Ivy? This is a bad idea." Van protested. "We should just go.""I know, but it wouldn't hurt to hear her out. We're in a public place, so she can't pull anything stupid this time."He sighed and plopped down on the sand. "Fine."Normally, Ivy would have just walked away without even acting like she said her, but there was something about her that seemed…. different. The Cynthia she knew had this aura of confidence surrounding her and she was always smiling like she was posing for a picture or some
From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 129. An Outing
"Hey ladies." Ivy almost jumped out of her seat when she heard Chris's voice. She had hoped that she would be able to avoid him for a while before hearing his annoying voice again or seeing the psychotic one sided smile he always wore. She pretended like she didn't hear or see him, but he don't go away. Instead, he sat on the vacant chair at their table, his gaze brushed over Cassie's profile before he turned his attention to Ivy. "You know, running away from the Millers like that was a terrible thing to do. You had them worried sick.""Hiring a fake couple to act as my parents was also a terrible thing to do.""Fake? Don't tell me they're not your real parents? But I did thorough research before I decided on them. I'm really sorry Ivy darling, I had no idea they were fake." Anyone would have fallen for his fake apology but not Ivy, she knew how sly he could be. "Yeah sure you didn't. I can't believe I trusted you, I feel so stupid.""Really, I didn't do it intentionally. Okay, you
From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 130. It Turned Pink!
"Wait, all this is just -""Far fetched? Probably. But we don't know these peoole that well, and the only thing we can do to keep ourselves safe, is to be cautious around them. I don't believe that Cynthia is on our side either. If you recall, she said that she and Cassie used to date, what if they're still together? Or what if she's just doing all this to get on her good side?If truly, she wanted to get back at Cassie for breaking her heart, she would have tried to look a way to harm her, but instead she's targetting Chris as well. It all makes sense when you think about it, Cassie claimed she doesn't know who Chris is and she just wants to punish him for your sake, but yet, she knows he has a cousin he likes. She even said she would convince Fiona to stay with Chris. I didn't really put much thought into it before, but how is a stranger supposed to do that?I mean, let's just imagine for a second that you're Fiona, and I'm Cassie. We have never met each other, right? You come in
From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 131. The Arrest
As Cassie slowly made her way to Chris's place, she couldn't stop thinking about Ivy. She was pregnant. Ivy was pregnant. The image of the stripe kept popping up in her mind, no matter how hard she tried to forget. She remembered the amount of times she had purchased the same stripe from that same pharmacy and prayed for the same result Ivy got on a platter of gold. Why?Why was she always so unlucky in her life?No matter what she did, or tried to do, it never went her way. Right from her childhood days, everything had always been difficult for her. She always had to work hard for everything. She had to sacrifice a lot of things just to please others. Even after she grew up, she was still working like a dog just so she could wear nice things and live a life of comfort. Yet, it was an entirely different story for Ivy. Her life was utterly perfect. She had the best husband who was kind and affectionate to her. He patiently waited for her even after she left him because of Chris. I
From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 132. The Community Station
"You told Cynthia to help you find them right? She came to me for help. And now I've found them for you." He said with pride. Ivy stayed still, she didn't shut the door but she didn't turn to Chris either. Her first instinct was to turn around and hear him out. But the rest of her wanted to tell Chris that she wouldn't fall for his tricks anymore and slam the door in his face. The chances that he was actually telling the truth was below ten percent, and she would be an idiot to risk her marriage again just for that. As much as she wanted to find her foster parents, Ivy had made a promise to herself that she wouldn't let it ruin her current life, her relationship with Van and her family. Without turning back, she shut the door and made her way to the station, ignoring Chris's calls for her. ★★★When Ivy arrived at the police station, Boyd was already there. She walked up to him and tapped his shoulder to let him know that she was behind him. "Oh hey, you're here." He said. "Yes.
From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 133. Vindicated
After Ivy called Boyd, he suspected that it wouldn't be so easy to get Van out of the station even though he was innocent, so he decided to call his supervisor. "Welcome, Inspector Dan." He smiled. Inspector Daniel Thompson was a senior investigator at the station, even Chris didn't dare offend him because he was one of the very few who wouldn't hesitate to arrest him and have him face the law. The last time they met, Chris had tried to assault a young girl, and luckily for her, she was related to inspector Daniel, and he made sure that Chris was punished for it. Chris who believed that he was untouchable- especially at his father's place- was shocked to the max when the inspector marched into his father's mansion and placed him under arrest for attempted rape. At the sight of the inspector, the two officers who arrested Van couldn't help but to shiver. If, after the investigation was complete and Van was found innocent, they could receive huge penalties, or worse, they could los
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186. The Fire
When Ivy heard the first round of gunshots, she felt like her heart had stopped. A cold, paralyzing dread wrapped itself around her chest, making it hard to breathe. She knew she was supposed to run or at least try to hide, but her fear kept her rooted in place, her legs frozen, her mind screaming but her body refusing to respond.She saw Anae fall—her body jerking back with the impact, then crumpling lifelessly to the ground. Blood spread out beneath her like ink on paper. Ivy wanted to scream, to run to her, to do something—anything—but her limbs betrayed her. Tears streamed down her cheeks, silent and hot, blurring her vision. Her entire body trembled as the horror unfolded before her.She was afraid—more afraid than she had ever been. She had always known the risks, knew that pushing for the truth, for answers, would make her enemies among the higher-ups. But she had never truly considered what the consequences might look like. Not like this. Not in gunfire and bloodshed. Not in A
185. Set Up
It was obvious Anae was skeptical about helping them—Van could see it in her eyes, in the stiffness in her shoulders, in the way her fingers hovered near the concealed blade on her hip. Maybe she thought they’d been sent by the company to find out what she knew—and eliminate her, once and for all.But something about Van made her hesitate. Something about the way he stood, not too close, not too far. The way he spoke—not pushing, not demanding. And his eyes… they didn’t carry the coldness of a corporate enforcer. They held a kind of warmth Anae hadn’t seen in a long time. It made her want to trust him, even if her instincts screamed otherwise.Not only was he attractive—his perfectly lined jaw, the softness of his expression, the kind of eyes that looked like they'd seen too much—but he also had a way with words. He didn’t speak like someone trying to convince her. He spoke like someone who understood. After being isolated from people for so long, Anae found herself aching to feel hum
184. Anae II
The road to Albany was long and uneventful, and the silence in the car grew heavier with every mile they drove. Ivy couldn’t stop thinking about the name Anae Voss. There was something haunting about it—sharp and distant, like a forgotten memory trying to claw its way back.They arrived on the edge of the city just after ten AM, when the streets had started coming alive slowly. Van had a location: a converted warehouse on the outskirts, near the old rail yards. The neighborhood looked half-forgotten—graffiti-covered brick walls, boarded-up storefronts, old industrial fences rusting under the weight of years.“She's in there?” Ivy asked, eyeing the building.“She was, forty-eight hours ago,” Van said. “No guarantees. But according to the result of the extensive research we did, someone’s living off-grid inside.”Elias shifted uncomfortably. “She won’t like being found.”“Then let’s not give her a reason to shoot first,” Ivy muttered.They approached cautiously, parking a block away and
183. Anae
The hours crawled by.The city outside Van’s office never really slept, but up here on the twelfth floor, it felt like time was holding its breath. The room had settled into a heavy, anxious quiet. Van worked at one of his monitors, his face lit in ghostly blue. Ivy sat near Elias, trying to keep her mind from spiraling.She kept thinking about that moment in the car, the way the SUV had clung to their tail like a shadow. She thought about her aunt, about what might have happened if they hadn’t realized they were being followed. And she kept hearing Van’s words in her head:You have to assume they might have weapons.She hadn’t told her aunt anything. And now she couldn’t. Not until she knew it was safe. If it would ever be safe again.Elias had dozed off briefly, but his sleep was shallow and restless. He stirred often, his lips moving with unheard words. Ivy watched him, her heart aching. He looked younger like this. Softer. The fear and guilt stripped away for just a moment.Van br
182. More Secrets
“What?” Ivy thought she didn't hear him correctly. “It's okay. It's safe.” That was the only explanation he gave as he grabbed his jacket and headed out. They drove down the highway for a while before he swirled off to a street that Ivy had never been to. She thought about about saying something to lighten up the mood but eventually decided against it. They drove through the unfamiliar neighborhood for about thirty minutes before he parked in front of a simple looking building. On the door of the building, a ‘keep away’ sign was hanged, but of course it didn't keep Van from pushing the foor open. It was stark, utilitarian, but something about it felt like a bunker. A safe haven in a war zone.The three of them walked in, with Van leading. Seated on the couch was a dark skinned man with a cigarette in his mouth. “You weren’t followed?” he asked immediately.“I don’t think so,” Van said. “I was very careful on the way.”The man nodded, ushering them inside. “Lock the door behind
181. A Mafia Lord?
The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime, revealing a dimly lit corridor lined with glass-walled offices. Van’s was at the end, a deep black door keeping the contents behind it a mystery. Elias was the one who knocked on the door and when Ivy saw the person who opened it, her face contorted into a frown. The lady standing before her was dressed in a black fitted mini dress that outlined the curves and edges of her body well. In Ivy's opinion, the dress was much too short and too revealing to wear to work, so she concluded that she wasn't a staff. “Are you coming in?” She asked and Ivy realized she had been staring. Smiling politely, she walked into the large office with Elias following right behind her. It didn't take long before she spotted Van, he stood by window with his back turned to them. Even without seeing his face, it wasn't hard to tell that Van was a very attractive man. He was on the phone, and judging by the way he was waving his arm around, Ivy suspected that h
180. The Chase
The headlights behind them hadn’t wavered for miles. Ivy tightened her grip on the steering wheel, trying to keep her breathing steady as she turned onto a quieter side street. The car behind them turned too. Her heart skipped. Once could be coincidence. Twice… She stole a glance at the rearview mirror. The vehicle maintained a steady distance, close enough to keep them in sight, far enough not to alarm casual onlookers.“Elias, I think we’re being followed,” she said quietly. Elias immediately snapped his head toward her. “What?”“I think they’ve been on us since the main highway. I tried to shake them a few turns back, but they’re still there.” she explained. His face drained of color. He ran a hand through his hair, fingers trembling. “It’s them. It has to be. Ivy, if they catch us—”“They won’t,” she said firmly, although her voice cracked on the last word. She pulled the car over and let a black SUV speed past—only to have it slow down a block ahead and pull over too. Confirmed
179. Missing
Moses sat in his office, the steady ticking of the antique clock on the wall matching the rhythm of his thoughts. He stared at the documents sprawled across his desk, none of which made any sense anymore. The Hartley meeting had been a disaster—he didn't expect things to escalate that much. But he wasn't even botherd that much by it, what he was more concerned about was the fact that since that day, Bianca had disappeared from his life like a ghost retreating into the shadows.He hadn’t seen her. He hadn’t heard from her. Not a call. Not a text. Not even one of those curt voice notes she used to send when she was annoyed with him but still too fond to stay silent. The silence was deafening, and more than anything, it was suspicious.Bianca’s parents, especially her mother, were not ones to sit back and allow things to fall apart without putting up a fight. If her mother hadn't already tried to "talk sense into her,"as she would put it,then the world had surely turned upside down."Wha
178. Elias
Flashback Two years earlier.The rain had been relentless that night—cold, insistent, and loud enough to mask the sound of approaching footsteps.Elias Grant stood alone in his office at JK Enterprises, the screen of his laptop casting a soft glow across his face. Financial reports, transaction logs, security footage timestamps—all of it laid bare in front of him. He had finally seen enough.He had been CFO for six years. Long enough to earn the family's trust, long enough to know which stones not to turn. But curiosity was a dangerous thing.Especially in a family like the Wilsons.The numbers hadn’t added up for months. Offshore payments disguised as consulting fees. A Cayman shell company with a fake board. Richard Wilson’s name never appeared directly—but his fingerprints were all over the transactions.Elias had started to put together a private dossier. He never told Ivy. Not yet. She was too close, too vulnerable. And he didn’t trust the board—or anyone else.That night, he co
