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From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 27. The Promise
Ivy didn't know what to say, she just stood there, frozen in shock. Did he actually make the transfer? It couldn't be a fake alert right? There was no way Van would try to dupe someone like that…even if Pharrell was a huge asshole. But where on earth would he get such a huge amount of money?Pharrell and Jessica couldn't hide their surprises either. Their eyes were glued to the phone, reading the alert message over and over again. "I…impossible! This must be some kind of trick." Pharrell said, facing Van. "There is no way that a sorry looking person like you could ever afford such anount of money. This must be a fake alert!""Yes… that's true." Jessica agreed. "Even before he went to prison, Van was a nobody. And for the past five years, he has been in prison. So tell me, where does a prisoner get this much money?""A fake alert huh? Very well then. Shall we confirm? But keep in mind, once it's clear that it's real, you'll have to apologize to me and my wife for insulting us in publ
From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 28. New Van
As Van walked through the little gates of his mother house, he noticed her standing by the door, a worried expression on her face. "Oh goodness me, you had been gone for so long that I was starting to worry." She said as he let himself into the little house. "Sorry about that mom, it has been a very long day. And in the end, I couldn't even get any shopping done. But it's alright, because I got something even better." He announced with a smile. "Oh? And that might that be?""Mom, we're moving out of this place.""What?"On his way back home, Van had placed a call to his chauffeur and asked him to contact an agent that could provide a new, comfortable place where he could raise a family. He was going to have to get permission from Ivy for that, but he just decided to get the place first. "I know it's shocking, but I want you to know that your son isn't doing anything illegal." That alone would not suffice as an explanation for his mother, and he knew that. "I met someone, a woman.
From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 29. Elaine
Elaine decided to go shopping to clear her mind. She hadn't been able to get Van out of her mind. To think that he would boldly turn down the offer to marry a woman like her, and in front of people too! The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. What did Ivy have that she didn't? Was it beauty? She was very beautiful, and she wasn't just praising herself. Different companies had approached her with various offers for her to become the face of their products. She had even reached the top five of most beautiful woman every year for three years in a row. Was it intellect?She graduated at the top of her class in highschool and college. Her father was always commending her on how she was doing a good job managing his business. She had even come up with some ideas that fetched millions for her father's business. Or was it wealth? It was no secret that her family was filthy rich. And everything her parents owned also belonged to her. Plus, she could say that she helped in gett
From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 30. Family
After getting their outfits and jeweleries, they were done. They got a taxi all the way back to Oakland and made their way to Ivy's residence. When they got there, Van suddenly started to feel nervous, like he was going for a job interview or auditioning for a movie role. He cleared his throat as he knocked on her door. A couple of seconds later, the door was opened and behind it, a little girl with a few missing teeth smiled at him. "Are you my daddy?" She asked, a confused expression on her face. "Yes. Yes I am." Van replied with a soft smile. "Mommy! Mommy!! It's daddy, daddy's here." She announced with an enthusiastic excitement, running from the front door over to Ivy and back. "Daddy?" A little boy stared at Van, and tears began streaming down his face. "Is daddy going to get a hug?" Van went down on his knees and opened his arms, hoping the kids didn't actually hate him for not being around all those years. Taking one cautious step after the other, both kids approached h
From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 31. Heavenly Wears
"What?" Ivy had to take a minute to fully understand what Van said. "You…you want to take the kids with you?" She asked. She knew what he meant but she just wanted to be sure. "No, of course not. I want all of us to live together. You and the kids, me and my mom …as a family. I already asked someone to contact an agent and when there's an available place, we can go and check it together.""So …you want to live with me.""Yes. Don't take this the wrong way, this isn't me asking you out." He explained. "Oh." Ivy didn't know why but she felt disappointed when he said that. He seemed to notice too because he quickly added. "Not that I'm not going to ask you out– I mean, I'm not going to ask you out if you don't want —what I'm trying to say is this. I want us to bond as a family. I want to spend as much time as I can with the kids, and I also want to spend time with you. I want to get to know you better, I want to be your friend…and if our relationship blooms more than that, being your
From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 32. A Plot
Van proposed they went to a nearby restaurant or cafe so they could talk more without interruptions, but during the taxi ride Ivy was as quiet as a mute. Even after they arrived at the cafe, she said nothing. Five minutes passed. Then ten, still she was silent. Her arms were folded underneath her chest and her gaze never left the window next to their table. Van had initially wanted to start up a conversation but he got distracted when he stared at her. Ivy was really beautiful, everything about her was elegant and classy. The way she carried herself, the way she talked and acted. Everything about her was perfect. She was putting on a loose fitted t-shirt and a pair of jeans but her curves were still visible. Her current sitting position caused her round boobs to pop up, and Van couldn't take his eyes off her. Watching the steady rise and fall of her chest as she breathed slowly was a sight that provoked him sexually. "You're very beautiful." He whispered softly and Ivy turned to fa
From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 33. A Bride By Force
The distance between Van and Ivy kept growing, and he didn't know what he was supposed to do about it. He had asked her out on a date a few days ago, in an attempt to talk to her but she turned him down. That particular morning, they had had a fight because she said he was showing up around her kids too much. "Your kids? What happened to co parenting??" Van had demanded angrily and unfortunately for him, it didn't sit well with her. "So what? You show up five years after I've been through hell on my own and you feel like you have some kind of fatherly claim on them? Well no, you don't!I raised them on my own, and I can keep doing it without your help. Okay?!!""What has gotten into you Ivy? Why are you acting this way?""Like a crazy woman? Is that what you mean?""This isn't you.""It isn't? Why don't you tell me who I am then?" Ivy didn't know why but no matter how much she tried calming down, she would remember that Van was only using her and her anger would spike again. "I'm
From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 34. New Home
The next morning, Elaine posted it on her social media accounts that she was getting engaged soon. Within the space of an hour, her post already got more than a million likes and comment. People were asking who the lucky man was and when the wedding would take place. One of the top comments was probably from a friend or acquaintance because it addressed her more casually. The person told her to show real proof or else they would conclude that she was just lying to gain attention. Elaine liked that particular comment and responded by saying her proof would be dropping soon.Van immediately knew the post was about him. He started to wonder what kind of proof she was talking about. His mind went to Ivy and he quickly dashed out of his mother's house, running to her place. With the way things were between them, if Ivy saw such a post on the internet, she would no doubt be suspicious of everything he had said and the promises he made to her. When he finally arrived at her apartment, he
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200. Investigation II
Deciding he needed to ask her more questions, officer Raúl invited Rita to the station for interrogation. “Am I to bring her in as a suspect?” officer Lange asked. “No. We don't have enough proof to tag her a suspect. It's just a simple questioning to see if she can make this case any easier for us to solve.”“You got it, boss.” he nodded firmly before leaving the office. ★★★Outside, the sky had turned deep indigo, and streetlights flickered on. In the interrogation room next door, Rita Moreno sat slouched, her head in her hands. Raúl escorted her in, offering her a glass of coffee as they were seated.“Miss Moreno, thanks again for agreeing to be here today,” he said gently. “I know this might be annoying.”She blinked up. “Not at all, after all Bianca is like my best friend and I want her to be found.”He nodded. “I was hoping you could tell me more about the video she made. Anything off about it?”Rita's voice was quiet as she spoke . “Well… not that I can think of, no. The vid
199. Investigation
The fluorescent lights of the precinct hallway hummed softly as Officer Raúl Mendes pocketed his phone, the unsaved message still blinking in his mind. He rubbed his temples, trying to push back the chill that text had sent down his spine. Don’t bother, you won’t find her. Who would taunt him like that? And how did they know he was working on Bianca Hartley’s case?He glanced at the clock: 6:45 PM. The station was nearly empty now— the late shift crew had trickled out for the evening. His partner, Officer Lange, was finishing up with some paperwork across the bullpen. Mendes took a deep breath, folded his arms over his chest, and forced himself to focus. Bianca’s parents were gone, but their child was still out there somewhere, and every minute counted.★★★Outside, the sky burned crimson as the sun dipped below the horizon. The city of Brimseville— normally so bustling at this hour— felt unusually quiet, as if the whole town held its breath for news of the missing twenty five -year-o
198. A Confusing Case
The waiting area of the station buzzed with quiet chatter, keyboards clacking, phones ringing — the usual symphony of controlled chaos. But all of it was drowned out by the piercing voice of Bianca’s mother. Her words sliced through the noise like a blade, filled with frustration and fury as she stood in front of the duty desk, berating the officer on call.“This is ridiculous!” she screamed, her voice cracking slightly under the strain. “He’s out there walking free, and you’re all just sitting here doing nothing! You saw the article. Everyone has. What more proof do you need?!”The young officer behind the desk winced but said nothing, his eyes flicking toward the corridor, silently begging for backup. Her volume drew glances from the others in the room, but Bianca’s mother was oblivious — or perhaps she simply didn’t care.Behind her, her husband stood quietly, arms crossed, face unreadable. His stillness was in stark contrast to his wife’s storm. He didn’t try to calm her down, nor
197. One Step At A Time
Van just sat there, mouth slightly opened in shock. Could it really be possible? Could someone he knew and trusted actually be behind all of this?His mind raced back to when he was still dating Bianca. Who could it have been? The only people who had ever mattered to him were his mother and Bianca herself. Everyone else was just... background noise. Acquaintances. Faces in a crowd. None of them had ever gotten close enough to matter. Which made this even more confusing.Inspector Dan leaned back into the comfy sofa, his fingers laced over his stomach. He was watching Van carefully, like a lion studying a wounded gazelle. Calm, calculating. “Try to relax,” Dan said gently. “Start by making a list. Friends. People who were close to you and Bianca back then. Anyone who might’ve had a reason. But before that, Van… you need to go to the police.”Van blinked. “What?”Dan didn’t flinch. “You have to clear your name. There’s no way around it.”“But... the reason I called you was because I did
196. The Web Deepens
Just a day after Van had complained to Boyd, he came all the way from Hawaii an he even brought Inspector Dan with him. Even though Van insisted on going himself, his chauffeur refused and went on his own to bring them to the mansion. Ivy couldn’t stop smiling as she opened the door, wrapping Boyd in a warm hug the moment he stepped onto the porch. Dan followed close behind, giving Van a firm handshake and a nod that said more than words ever could.“Look at you!” Ivy beamed. “It’s been way too long.”“I missed you,” Boyd said, his grin lighting up his whole face. “When Van called, there was no question— I knew I was coming, and of course, I brought my bodyguard with me.”Van clapped him on the back. “I appreciate it, man. Really.”Boyd waved off the thanks with a casual flick of his hand. “We needed a vacation anyway. The island’s great, but even paradise can get old after a while.”They all settled in the living room, the afternoon light slanting through the window and casting a s
195. The Ultimatum
FLASHBACK.Greg pushed open the door to Moses’s office with more urgency than usual, his breath shallow, eyes wide with a mix of anxiety and pride. Moses looked up from his desk, brows furrowed over his reading glasses. The golden glow of the setting sun filtered through the blinds, casting long shadows across the expensive mahogany furniture and dark leather chairs.“I found something,” Greg said quickly, stepping in without waiting for an invitation.Moses leaned back in his chair, arms folded. “This better be good.”Greg pulled out his phone, thumbed through his Facebook account, and handed it over. “Watch this. And look at the comments.”Moses took the phone and pressed play. The video began with a girl— a girl he knew too well. She sat on her bed, speaking directly to the camera. Her words were a blend of guilt and regret, a passionate apology aimed at someone she had wronged. Someone dear to her heart. Moses watched silently, his jaw tightening as the video played. Then came th
194. Bianca.
FLASHBACK. Bianca stepped out of the cab and into the cool, dusky air of the quiet parking lot behind Eliza’s, the tucked-away Mediterranean restaurant she and Van had chosen for their lunch date. She pulled her coat tighter around herself, eyes scanning for him. Her heels clicked against the concrete, each step measured, her breath visible in the chilled air. But it wasn’t Van standing near the back entrance, under the pale orange glow of a flickering street lamp. Her steps faltered. What on earth was going on? she asked herself, suddenly overwhelmed with disbelief and maybe... dread? He was leaning against his sleek black car, arms folded across his chest, dressed in a dark charcoal jacket and jeans. He looked relaxed. Too relaxed. But there was a sharpness in his gaze as it settled on her. “W- what are you doing here?” Bianca asked, forcing her voice to stay calm. She took a few cautious steps forward but stopped when she saw the way his jaw tightened. He didn’t answ
193. Frustrations
Ivy came downstairs quietly, her bare feet soft against the wood, each step deliberate, careful—as if the house itself might shatter if she moved too quickly. She found him on the couch, hunched forward, elbows on his knees, head bowed low like the weight of the world had finally claimed him. The only light in the room came from the half-drawn blinds, casting long, gray shadows across the walls. The television was off. No sound but the soft tick of the clock above the mantle and the faint hum of the refrigerator from the kitchen.She didn’t speak right away. Instead, she walked over and sat down beside him, close enough that their legs brushed. Even though his eyes were shut, he could feel her presence in the subtle shift of the air, in the warmth that radiated from her skin. It was comfort without pressure, a presence that said, I’m here, without demanding anything in return.“I know you’re hurting,” she said softly, her voice barely louder than a whisper. “But I need to know how you
192. Van Everest, A Kidnapper!
Van stared blankly at her face as she spoke. The hum of the cafe around them faded into a dull murmur as Rita's words echoed in his head. She knew. He didn’t know how, but she knew something that made his skin crawl. Something that made his chest tighten with dread.He knew his life was in danger—that much was already obvious. But prison? What did she mean he might end up in prison? What for?He waited for her to continue, to spell out whatever twisted connection she was hinting at, but she didn’t. She just sat there, unmoving, her coffee untouched, her eyes locked on him like she was trying to peer through his skull and read every thought behind his silent facade.Finally, he spoke, his voice calm but strained.“What are you talking about?”“She’s missing,” Rita said. Just like that. No build-up. No cushion. Just a cold, cutting declaration.“Who?”“Bianca. She’s been missing for almost a week now.”Van blinked. “What?”“No one’s heard from her,” she continued, her voice measured but
