He Said He Loved Me in Front of My Ex

The company just received a big order recently, and I had been waiting in the conference room since early in the morning to pitch in our service. The representative of S&D didn't show up until noon, but when everything was settled and we were ready to sign the contract, he suddenly received a call saying that their boss had made an impulsive decision to stop by.

As for me, it had never occurred to me that their boss would be Zach Dempsy.

It only took me two seconds to recognize that tortured face from my memory, but it felt like millions of years had passed in these two seconds.

There was nothing different about him except his shorter hair. He still looked charming as he walked past me, pulled out the chair, and sat down. The series of his movements were so calm and smooth, as if everything happened before was just my illusion.

"Give me a reason why S&D should trust your company."

It was not until I heard his calm voice and my numb limbs gradually regained their senses that I realized my fingernails had cut into my palm.

When I first met Zach Dempsy , he was a senior at my college university. He was also my first boyfriend, who had disappeared for six years.

I tried to find a trace of disguise on his face, but I saw only his indifference as if we'd never met before.

I took a deep breath and tried to suppress all the emotions that surged up from the bottom of my heart.

I calmed myself down and responded, "OG is one of the best companies in the domestic industry with the best team of employees. The production department is equipped with the most advanced equipment from Germany. The staff—"

"Enough! Tell me something that I don't know."

Before I could finish speaking, I was interrupted. He raised his head and looked at me. I could see the hint of complicated emotion flashing in his eyes.

After a while, he suddenly said, "Ivy Dikkens, long time no see."

I felt chills run down my body as my heart skipped a beat at his sudden recognition.

He acted like he didn't know me when he came in and was suddenly friendly. Was this some mind game? Was he torturing me?

"Mr. Dempsy and Miss Dikkens, do you guys know each other?"

"Sort of."

Alex Standall, the manager, was stunned. Zach withdrew his gaze during all those talking, and his eyes quickly returned to calm. His coldness made me unable to say anything.

For six years, I have imagined everything from the hysteria after we met and the indifference between us like two strangers. But seeing Zach being so calm like this had truly caught me off guard.

"Mr. Dempsy and I went to the same college. He was my senior, and we saw each other a few times."

Alex nodded, and I smiled. I saw Zach being upset from the corner of my eye.

"Speaking of, I would say it was fate. I still didn't expect Mr. Dempsy to remember me after all these years. I'm honored and flattered," I said.

Silence flew by the room. I almost laughed when I saw Zach's raised eyebrow.

"We haven't seen each other for all these years, and now Mr. Dempsy is the owner of hundreds of millions of assets. I really..."

Zach was looking at me again before I finished talking. His once extremely gentle and now deep and restrained eyes were staring at me, and my heart was racing.

After a long while, he said, "Ivy, is there anything else in your eyes more important than money?"

I was stunned. "What?"

"You would do anything just for money, wouldn't you? "

He said coldly, "Such as betraying your boyfriend, murdering an unborn child, and hurting the one you love the most?"

I was wellprepared for this day. It was something from many years ago, and I didn't expect that it would still hurt so much.

Even if what he said was not true back then, it was now a fact. But part of me was still unwilling to give in. He disappeared ever since it happened. I didn't get any chance to explain for the past six years.

Biting my cheek, I said, "That's right. This is just how society works nowadays. You can't rely on anyone or anything except for money."

"You never changed, huh? You are so cheap. Since then, until now." Zach's eyes were full of disgust and ridicule with a sneer on his face.

"Let's just postpone the contract signing process with OG and talk about it when I'm in a good mood," he added, sounding irritated.

I was sitting there and couldn't stop shaking. The word "cheap" almost shattered my disguise. It took me a long time to find my tone back.

"Well then, feel free to contact me anytime you are available Mr. Dempsy."

Zach moved his eyes away with no expression on his face. I tried hard to squeeze out a smile, but I felt miserable inside.

I didn't catch a word of what Alex said. I couldn't stay any longer, so I ran out the door. I couldn't live with the hopes that a person whom I treated dead for years would give me a chance to explain.

Why did fate bring us together again if he didn't want to hear my side?

I knew the deal was ruined, and there would undoubtedly be serious consequences for me. With everything that had happened between Zach and me, getting him to sign the contract would be impossible.

However, it seemed like events did occur when you least expected them to because my phone rang loudly and continuously when I woke up in the morning.

"Hello..." I was not completely awake when I took the call. I had a long day yesterday and was also stressed because of the meeting with S&D.

"Good morning, little Ivy. Did you forget about our son again?"

With those words, my brain suddenly jumped awake. I looked at the time and found that it was 7:25 already.

"Oh, shit..."

I cursed in my head and jumped out of bed. I heard Tyler's wicked laugh on the other end of the phone. I became enraged as I remembered his mockery of me at the time, saying, "What are you laughing at? Has Caleb gotten up yet?"

"Our son is eating breakfast," he said after a brief pause. "How about you come over?"

"Oh, stop!"

As I washed my face and rinsed my mouth, I scolded him, "For the 1000th time, he is my son! Stop jerking around!"

"Oh, man! You are breaking my heart." Tyler Rivers sighed. "We should get married, little Ivy, don't you think? It's no different, after all. I've already considered Caleb as my son."

"Thank you for taking care of Caleb yesterday. My mom will be there and pick him up this afternoon. I've got to go, and I'm late for work. "I abruptly hung up the phone.

When I arrived at work, it was already 8:01. I was called into the office before I realized what had happened. Elliot had given me an ultimatum: I had to get the S&D contract no matter what. Otherwise, I would risk losing much more than just my annual bonus. I could also lose my position as the company's new business manager.

I didn't even have the chance to catch a breath, and I was almost always caught in chills since I realized that I had forgotten the briefcase with customer information and important documents at the hotel where I met S&D yesterday.

I contacted the hotel, but they were unable to locate it. So I called Alex, the S&D manager, and it turned out Zach had it. I was in no rush to find him. I felt that he'd come to find me if I didn't go find him.

Six years may have passed, but I knew Zach inside out. He always had a way. And no matter how indifferent he appeared on the surface, he would never let go of what happened easily. I was certain that he would haunt me in my dreams if he could.

My hunch was confirmed even before the evening. I received a phone call from an unknown phone number. No one was talking when I answered the phone, so I asked tentatively, "Zach?"

A sneer was heard. "If you want to sign the contract, come find me at the Lost Woods at eight tonight," the person said after a while.

Then he hung up before I could even decide.

I breathed a sigh of relief, knowing I'd have to see him sooner or later. I had something I needed to say to him, and I had to say it whether he wanted to hear it or not.

At 7:50 p.m., I called Zach in the Lost Woods lobby and followed his instructions to the 16th floor. Looking around at the luxurious decor, I couldn't help but sigh that the Lost Woods was indeed powerful enough to become the city's number one nightclub.

Led by the light, I went to the designated place and opened the door. The huge suite was filled with deafening music that went straight to my brain. Under the dim light, I walked around in the huge space. Although I couldn't see well inside the room, my eyes still locked on Zach in the booth at a glance.

He noticed me at the same time. He snapped his fingers at me as he stretched out a hand from the hot chick in his arms.

He took my seat in the booth where he was after passing through the crowd of "dancing demons" on the dance floor.

"Drink up," he said as he pushed a glass of wine in front of me.

Because the location was far from the dance pool, it was relatively quiet. His voice was not loud, but it was cold and orderly.

He drank from the glass without saying anything. Zach's brow twitched as if he didn't think I'd actually drink it.

He wasn't really a drinker many years ago, and he didn't like me drinking because I couldn't handle too much alcohol. There was this one time that I got drunk after I had a fight with Zach. I was hugging the door frame while crying and laughing at the same time. He immediately banned me from any kind of alcoholic drink. He said that if I was hugging the door frame this time, who knows what would happen next time if I hugged a person?

It was unavoidable for me to drink after all these years of battling in the business world.

I strictly followed his rules at first, but when I stopped to think about it, I felt ridiculous. So I went from hurling after one drink to not feeling anything.

Why would I follow his rules when he left me?

The hot girl next to Zach filled his glass with whiskey. She also poured one into my glass, and since I never refused, I drank it in one gulp.

The whiskey had a high concentration of alcohol, and the aftereffect was unpleasant. I gritted my teeth at the warm and burning feeling in my throat as I stood there, thinking that if I could just get Zach to sign the contract, we could discuss everything else later.

Zach took over halfway through my seventh glass of wine. My throat was on fire, and my eyes were filled with tears. His eyes were filled with concern as he looked up at me.

He said, "Stop," in an almost gentle tone.

I was taken aback. He narrowed his eyes and mockingly raised his thin, cold lips.

"It's no fun drinking like this; how about we just drink it straight from the bottle?"

The waiter standing at the table quickly brought over a dozen of brandy and politely asked, "How many of them would you want me to open, Mr. Dempsy?"

Zach pulled out a cigarette and lit it up with his head crooked. He took a flirty glance at me and said, "Let's open them all. "

My heart was as cold as ice. I knew he wouldn't have any mercy on me. He knew how little my alcohol tolerance was. Was he planning to kill me through alcohol poisoning? That would be a good way to get rid of me immediately.

"Don't you like money, Ivy? Here, I'll give you $10,000 for every bottle you drink, and once they're all gone, I'll sign the contract."

I bit my lower lip, feeling as if someone had just ripped open my chest.

"How generous of Mr. Dempsy to pay for all these drinks and still pay me money," I said, squeezing out a smile and trying to sound confident. "I certainly have to drink them all, then."

The wine went right into my throat and burned all the way into my stomach. The anger ignited in his eyes, those deep blue eyes like a pond of water. Halfway through, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me close to him with all his strength.

Bottles fell and smashed on the ground. With my knees on the ground, I couldn't help but sigh.

Zach pinned me down in front of him, holding my wrist with one hand and my chin with the other.

"Do you really love money that much?"

Even when I gasped in pain, I was still stubborn. I wouldn't wave a white flag, even if I already knew I was done for.

"Who doesn't love money, Mr. Dempsy? I mean, unless you are stupid."

With rage on his face, Zach squeaked the words between his teeth, "Fine, and you want to be a bitch, I'll let you be."

Then he lifted me off the ground and walked away. I stumbled downstairs to follow him despite the excruciating pain in my knees and wrists. He drew me into a car. He slammed the door shut and accelerated to the road.

It was raining heavily outside, and the car was speeding on the road. We didn't say a word to each other the entire time until he drove out of the town and stopped at a house—a mansion—near a mountain. Then he told me to get off.

Because of the alcohol, I was drenched and shivering. I followed him into a house, where he pushed me onto the couch and smashed his lips on mine.

His mouth was filled with the kind of cruelty I hadn't felt in a long time. The kiss felt like a violent storm, but it wasn't like that anymore. Zach was acting more like a ferocious beast at the time, his big hands moving ruthlessly all over my body. And I was becoming tense by the second.

Obviously, I still love him. But at that moment, I unexpectedly felt hopeless, even terrified.

Lying on top of me with his lips still rubbing against my cheek, he mumbled, "Ivy, tell me you didn't take that money."

His voice sounded pleading. Like he was wishing that I didn't. That it would break his heart all over again if I confirmed I did.

I felt the lump in my chest tighten, tears instantly coming out of my eyes as it dawned on me that Zach still felt the pain in his heart. Even after so many years, he still couldn't let it go. But there was also something that stuck in my heart, and it was like a thorn that kept aching night after night.

"I took it."

He abruptly came to a halt. I could feel his fingertips burning as he lifted my face with his hand. I could see the lust in his eyes slowly fading away and replaced by disgust in the dim light.

Zach took out a cigarette and lit it. Under the light of the fire, his side face was blurry. He sat there, motionless.

After a while, he took my briefcase from the drawer and said, "Ivy Dikkens, there's nothing that can connect us from now on; you and I are strangers."

'Nothing linked us together, and we were strangers.'

My heart finally broke into pieces, and my ears kept buzzing at the sound of his painful words. All those words I had held in for six years were stuck in my mouth. I lost my last chance to tell him the truth.

I couldn't look at Zach even when I left, and I had no idea how I had left his place. For the first time, I burst out laughing in the pouring rain.

I had no idea Zach's wealthy family had such complicated relationships six years ago.

With the baby, I figured we'd be able to start our own family soon. But all I got was his predicament and his mother going out of her way to separate us.

I had never been a material person, but I still took the money from his mother in the end. It was only because my mom was seriously ill, and it would take our family forever to pay off that 50,0000 dollars fee for her treatment.

I loved him, but I also loved my family. So I had to choose. And no matter how painful the choice I made, I would be glad to do it again.

As I cried, the rain became heavier, and the alcohol became stronger. I stumbled to the main road, hoping to catch a taxi, but this was a suburb, and few cars were passing, let alone a taxi. I was lying on the side of the road, barely able to stand up, and let the rain pour on my spinning head.

The phone in my purse kept ringing. I wanted to respond, but my mind and body were already out of control. I had no idea how long that phone had been ringing before it stopped. I wasn't sure if it was because of the rain or if the phone had lost power.

I had no idea how long I had been lying there until my body was lifted from the ground by someone. In the haze, I heard someone calling my name anxiously, and then I closed my eyes and blacked out completely.

When I woke up again, I was in the hospital bed.

With a bit of hangover and an IV hooked on my hand, I glanced around and realized that I was in a VIP room.

There was no one around. I was about to ring the doorbell when it suddenly opened. Tyler leaned against the door, arms wrapped around his chest. He was staring at me intently, his jaw clenched as if trying to control himself from lashing out.

I tried to break the ice by asking, "What are you doing there? Do you have enough of being a boss and just decide to be the doorman?"

I couldn't stand how bad my voice sounded.

Tyler remained silent. He walked in, poured a glass of water, and handed it to me without saying anything. It took two gulps of water for the burning pain in my throat to go away.

His sharp eyes were fixed on me, and his brows were twisted and haughty.

"Why are you looking at me like that? You want a fight?" The hairs on the back of my neck sprang up due to his scrutiny. I turned my head stiffly.

"A high fever of around 100 degrees Fahrenheit, knee damage, and alcohol abuse; I only averted my gaze from you for one day, and now look at what you've done to yourself, Ivy Dikkens!"

Tyler finally spoke up, but he didn't say anything. I had no idea how he found me last night, but I knew he had been through a lot.

He leaned his body close to me, and I could smell his perfume scent mixed with tobacco.

"What were you doing at the Lost Woods last night? And how did you end up with Zach Dempsy from S&D?" he asked angrily.

I could see the storm surging up at the bottom of his slanted eyes, which were sharp with a strong sense of pressure.

Tyler's property included The Lost Woods, so I couldn't keep what happened last night a secret from him. He had always been a jerk in front of me, and this was the first time I had seen him so enraged. I was taken aback by his sudden outburst and was at a loss for words for quite some time.

"You're not going to tell me? Really?" He continued as he gave me a death glare. I simply averted my gaze and fumbled with my fingers.

"Fine," Tyler said, raising the corners of his mouth. "I can still figure it out myself, anyway. Zach better didn't do anything to you last night, or else I would make sure he's out of this city before the weekends."

He smiled, his beautiful slanted eyes making him appear charming and innocent, but the cruelty in his eyes was terrifying. I knew he could do it, at least in this city.

"He did nothing to me; don't cause any trouble, Tyler." My brows knitted together as I looked at Tyler. "He's Caleb's father," I admitted.

Tyler remained silent, but I could see his tensed shoulders. His pupils constricted slightly.

After a while, he raised his head, an incomprehensible expression on his face, and asked, "What? Does he want to be back with you?"

I smiled bitterly. Thinking of what Zach said last night, how he said he wanted nothing to do with me ever. I still felt miserable, but I knew it would happen eventually.

"How is that possible? He hates me."

"And you?"

"What?"

"Do you still want to get back together with him?" His voice was demanding and angry as he spoke those sentences. It was as if Tyler didn't like the idea.

I shook my head. "How can we still be together when he broke my heart before? I'm not stupid."

I knew everything could be repaired nowadays, not people's hearts. My conversation with Zach proved that.

Trying to mend two hearts that already had too much pain was painful.

Tyler smiled and raised the corner of his mouth, looking arrogant as usual.

He suddenly bent down and kissed me on the forehead while rubbing his big hand on the top of my head. He moved so quickly that he avoided being slapped by the hand about to hit him.

"What the HELL is going on?"

"Don't be such a wuss. I lost sleep last night worrying about you. What? Don't I deserve a small prize?" Tyler smirked, his eyes back to its sparkly and bright aura. "Well, I will eventually be the only man in your heart for as long as it's still available."

Pretending to be tough, I glared at him. Looking at his red eyes, I felt warm in my heart.

Tyler may be possessive, but I knew he sincerely cared about my son and me.

I had not given it much since I returned from Zach's house that night, but now, I realized that it didn't matter what had happened.

I made a mistake first. He was not over what happened, and I didn't expect him to, but he could've given me a chance to explain. Still, he didn't, so I didn't think it was necessary to correct him on what had happened in the past.

Zach already made his decision and conclusion without hearing my side first, so why would I bother?

I hadn't lost hope, though. I still wanted to be civil with him, for Caleb's sake. Maybe one day, we could resolve it.

It was comforting to think that way, so instead of desperately begging for a chance to talk to Zach, I focused on staying away. It was also time to buy a bigger house because my mom had complained that I barely saw her and Caleb. Her health was improving, and since Caleb was already attending kindergarten, I figured we could all stay in one house instead of jumping from one place to another.

It was reasonable because Mom could assist me with caring for Caleb while I was at work. She didn't have to travel far just to have a day with me and her grandson.

After several days of house hunting, I found a nice place near my workplace and kindergarten. The surrounding environment was also outstanding. My mother and I took Caleb on a house tour over the weekend.

I thought it would already be perfect, not until I ran into Zach while taking Caleb to the bathroom.

He was in the building's display room, behind the model area. A woman in a white gown stood beside him. She was not tall but had a nice figure. Looking back at her, I could already tell she also had a nicelooking face.

"Mom, mom, there is a handsome man over there who has been staring at you," Caleb's voice resounded around the area. I wanted to grab my son and run away, but I knew that it would look suspicious, so instead, I greeted Zach with a short nod.

It was a quick interaction, and I immediately grabbed Caleb's arm and left, but my son just had to stop and pull my hand.

"Mom, that guy is walking over here, and I think he's coming to you."

"What did you call her, kiddo?" The familiar voice sounded in my ears, and my heart missed a beat.

Caleb blinked, his wide eyes filled with innocence. "I called her mom. She's my mom, and I'm her son, Caleb Dikkens."

Zach was dressed in a dark tracksuit, which made him look even taller, but my gaze couldn't help but be drawn to the woman next to him. The girl was not too old, perhaps only in her early twenties. Her skin was delicate. She was the kind of girl who would be breathtaking even with the most simple makeup.

"Nice to see you, Mr. Dempsy," I greeted with a forced smile.

Feeling a little awkward, I kept wondering how small this city was. Zach didn't say anything, but his eyes were glued to Caleb. His deep eyes were looking at him over and over again, very carefully.

After a long while, Zach asked again, "Your name is Caleb Dikkens? How old are you?"

Caleb smiled at him and raised his hand, saying, "I'm four and a half years old, and it's three months until my birthday. Mommy said I'd be five after my birthday."

Standing back, I clenched my hands. After hearing what Caleb said, I noticed a solid light flickering in Zach's eyes, and I knew I'd never be able to keep Caleb away from him.

Zach was clever enough to figure out that Caleb was his son just by the way he was talking to him. Not to mention, Caleb inherited his looks. They have similar eyes and eyebrows.

Zach walked away, not saying anything. I could see the joy in his eyes as he looked delighted. The girl who accompanied him smiled politely at me and quietly followed him away; she didn't say anything the entire time.

I hadn't seen Zach since that fateful day at the sales office. However, I had felt uneasy since then, as if something terrible was about to happen. As expected, I received a text message from an unknown number two days later. The content was straightforward: the time and the address of a highend restaurant.

It didn't have any other details like who I was meeting, but I already knew I would finally talk to Zach.

My heart pounded loudly as I sat quietly across Zach.

We were both in a private room of the restaurant. His face was etched with seriousness, but I'm confident mine was filled with nervousness and worry.

"Is Caleb my son?" he asked. It looked like there would be no pleasantries and beating around the bush. He was a straightforward person, after all.

"You already know the answer to that question," I mumbled.

"I didn't know you never aborted our child," Zach uttered while looking me straight. "Do you still have feelings for me?" His calm and tentative tone made my hand tremble slightly.

I knew we would discuss Caleb's paternity, but it never dawned on me that we would also talk about our relationship. But hearing those words from his mouth took me back to when he was mine—the time when he was still gentle, sweet, and affectionate.

"What's the point of that question?" My voice quivered, but I heard the bitterness drip from my lips. "I already have a good life. And I'm sure yours are better."

I could still remember the girl's face I saw him with. She was pretty, prettier than me, even. And I knew from that girl's eyes that she loved Zach.

"Just answer my question, Ivy. Do you still have feelings for me or not?"

My mind completely shut down at his authoritative voice. Did I still have feelings for him? Maybe. I knew that I still cared about him because I wouldn't be here if I didn't. I wouldn't be hoping to explain my side.

Zach's Adam's apple moved. "If… if you still have feelings for me and haven't given up on us yet. Maybe… maybe we could start over." His eyes were filled with eagerness and sincerity as he spoke.

It almost broke my heart to see him like this.

"Let's forget the past. I don't care if you took the money or not because you kept our baby. I just want to give you and our son a home and a better life."

I gave a bitter smile as I listened to him ramble. Why were there so many regrets in the world if the past was so easy to let go of? Even if I could put the past behind us, how could we ever return to what we were? Too much has changed.

" Zach, even if you are okay with it, what about your mom and your family?" And the girl who loves you deeply. "It will be fine. Caleb and I are fine. We don't need monetary support from you."

Zach reached out to grab my hand and rubbed his bony finger against the back of my hand. "My mom won't mind as long as we don't get married..."

"Not getting married? Do you even hear yourself?" I asked, "Do you want me as your mistress or something you keep in a cage and occasionally play with?"

"Don't make it sound like that. I mean, as long as we are together, the rest—"

"Zach Dempsy! You are goddamn disgusting!" I pulled my hand back, and my heart broke into a million pieces. "Do you think I went through all of that six years ago just to end up like some fucking secret?"

"What do you think of me? What do you think of yourself? Do you even think about Caleb, or all you thought of was how to satisfy yourself?"

It was exactly as his mother had said back then: the only way I could be with Zach was to be his mistress, just like she was. We'd never be able to have a future together. Because Zach was an illegitimate child, so his family ignored him. The person he was going to marry had to be someone that could turn his life around. That person wasn't me.

"I know it's unfair to you, but this is the best plan I've got for you and our child. Caleb is already five years old; do you want him to grow up without a father and live in a singleparent household like you?" Zach was sad looking at me, and I could tell he was really in a dilemma and heartbroken, "I wanted to make it up to you and our son."

"Fine. If you really had Caleb's best interests at heart, then marry me and give him a whole family. We don't care about money or social standing as long as there's food and a place to live. Are you capable of doing so?"

"I can't. Not for the time being, at least. Ivy, could you please give me some space? My mother's life has been difficult recently, and she is not doing well. Her only wish is that I have a solid ground in that family."

"So it's not easy for your mom, but it's easy for me, right?" I laughed. The glint in his eyes was so hurtful that it made my heartache.

With my still shaking body, I said, "Yes, I did take the 500,000 dollars from your mom. But, Zach, do you know how your mother forced me to have an abortion and abandoned you? Do you believe I went abroad because I had given up on our relationship?"

"You know what, Zach, I'm not smart, but I'm also not dumb. We're both deceiving ourselves. And, yes, I do owe you a lot, but it is your fault."

Now that everything had gotten to this point, I didn't see the point of me holding back anymore. What Zach said today was concrete proof of my thoughts. He left me of his own will and would never give me a future even if I didn't take that money. So, I would rather that he hated me, retaliated against me, or even tortured me. It would prove that he had a clear conscience and did not give up on us. However, at that moment, it seemed that money and status were all he wanted!

Zach had changed. A lot.

He was no longer the man I knew. Or perhaps I never really got to know him.

Zach remained silent as if he agreed with my words. "Huh, of course..."

"Well, since you don't have any other choice, you don't have to choose. We will be exactly like what you said before, you live your life, and I live mine. We are done!" I mumbled, my eyes starting to well up with tears. I stood up and started to grab my bag and coat.

"Ivy, can you let it go that easily? Do you want to give up on us?" Zach yelled. I scowled.

As I approached the door, I turned my back on him and said, "Zach, I love you, but I'm not going to be the other woman who begs you to stay. So, this is it."

Without looking back, I gently closed the door, and tears streamed down my cheeks.

Maybe love wasn't really for me. This path gave me pain, and yes, it also gave me my greatest joy, Caleb, but I couldn't handle it anymore. I didn't want to be associated with him anymore.

Zach has never contacted me ever since our last encounter. I figured it was for the best, anyway, because after all these years, I finally let it all out.

It didn't matter who owed who or who should apologize. The best thing for the both of us was never to see each other again and live our usual lives.

That's what I did.

My mother moved into my newlybought house when the last week of September came. Her presence made it easier for me to balance taking care of Caleb and work.

However, ever since Zach learned about Caleb, he always seemed to find a way to get close to him.

At first, it was just leaving toys by the door. But then I found out that my mother would let him into our house to spend time with Caleb, and he would leave before I came home.

I didn't feel betrayed because, despite our strained relationship, Zach was still Caleb's father. He deserved some time with him, at least.

The setup was fine for me, but then Zach started picking Caleb up from kindergarten and occasionally took him out for a quick trip to the mall. I was okay with it, but I always became uneasy when Caleb took too long to go home.

It annoyed and worried me so much, especially when Caleb started bringing Zach into our conversation at home, saying that he wanted to live with Zach.

That was the trigger that made me more protective of Caleb. I started staying at home more so Zach wouldn't dare show up again. I also didn't give him the chance to pick my son up from his kindergarten.

I thought I could protect my son by doing this, but unexpectedly, Zach showed his ace. I was working overtime that day when my mother called me at five in the evening.

I thought she was just checking to see if I'd be home for dinner, but a worried voice greeted me when I answered the phone.

"Come here immediately, Ivy. Caleb is missing. I can't find him anywhere! He's not at school!"

My heart skipped a beat as my mind immediately went to Zach. I clenched my fist as my brows furrowed.

"What happened? How did you lose him? Where were you?"

"After dinner, I took Caleb for a walk. So many people were dancing in the central area that I just stood there for a few minutes, and then he was...gone."

Silence reigned over our call as my thoughts started to scramble. I could hear Mom's loud sobs on the phone.

"It had only been a few minutes, and I..."

I released a heavy breath, trying to maintain a calm facade. "We'll find him, Mom. Don't worry. Just stay there. I'll be there in a minute."

I hung up the phone and drove there. Holding the steering wheel, my hands were shaking, and my palms were sweaty.

There were a lot of people in the square. My mother squatted in the crowd. The tear in her eyes fell instantly when she saw me.

"Ivy, I can't find Caleb, and I don't know what to do. I'm so sorry. It is all my fault."

"Don't cry, Mom; it's all right." My voice croaked as I pulled out my phone and checked the time. "When did you lose him? Did you call the cops already?"

"Yes, the police are on their way."

My mother sobbed and wiped her eyes. "I don't know what I'm going to do if something happens to him. I deserved to be damned, and I really deserved to be damned."

I gripped my mom's hand tightly, comforting her in a way I could. I didn't know what to say, and I was afraid that if I spoke, I would cry in an instant.

A loud ringing snapped me back to reality. I immediately answered the phone without looking at the caller, but my shoulders slumped when I heard a familiar, friendly voice.

"Hi, little Ivy, long time no see. Did you miss me?"

"I'm not in the mood right now, Tyler. What do you want?" I snipped, my eyes traveling back and forth around the park, looking for signs of my son.

"What's wrong? Who's bothering you? Tell me, and I will...."

I hung up the phone, feeling annoyed, even before he finished speaking. After two seconds, it rang again.

"Tyler Rivers, would you stop fucking around? I'm not in the mood to play your little game."

After a brief pause, his tone changed to severe. "What's going on?"

"My mom went for a walk with Caleb, and now we can't find him."

"Where was he? How long had he been missing?" Tyler inquired.

"We've been in Central Park Square for more than thirty minutes." From afar, I saw a police car parking on the sides. "The cops are here. I need to go, Tyler. I'll call you back once we find him."

Two cops emerged from the car; my mom and I immediately went to them. They asked us the questions of where and when, but Mom was the one who answered. My mind was already in a daze as it was starting to get dark.

My hands were constantly shaking as I wanted to cry. I watched the cops walk around the area, asking random people if they'd seen my son.

"There are too many people, and cars come and go. We've been looking everywhere. I suggest we just go back to the station and file a case," the cop said when they came back.

"What is the point of filing a case right now? At least we know where to look while we are still here. What happens if he goes somewhere else? Where do we look for him, then? We can't leave here!"

"So, what did you do earlier? Can't even two adults keep a child close? Unfortunately, we don't have enough staff to assist you in looking around in such a large area right now."

"Yes, given that it's been an hour, the only thing left to do is return to the station and file the case, and then we can send the squad to assist you," the second officer grumbled.

"Can you even find my child? I don't think so, based on how slow you move!" I cried. I felt Mom's tight squeeze on my hand, but all I could do was shake my head.

The cops seemed irritated, but I didn't care. Caleb was missing! How could this even happen?

"Is this how you treat the people you swore to protect?" A deep, booming voice made us all turn around.

I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes when I saw Tyler walking towards us, his gaze stern and burning fiercely as if he would devour the cops whole.

Tyler had always been authoritative. His terrifying aura caused people to retreat, and just a deadly gaze from him would weaken a person's knees.

I assumed it was because of his power over the city. He was known as "The Master," the one behind corporations, businesses, and powerful people.

The two cops in front of us looked afraid, but they didn't make any sound.

Mom was the first one to break the silence. "Tyler, oh goodness, you're here! Please help us. It has been so long since Caleb has gone missing. Ivy and I are already worried to death."

Mom paced back and forth, her eyebrows knitted together as tears streamed down her cheeks. I wanted to comfort her, but I felt anxious and weak. I couldn't even think straight.

Thankfully, Tyler was there. He walked up towards my mom and caressed her back in a comforting manner.

"Don't worry, Mrs. Dikkens. I'll help you find him," he said before looking at me.

Tyler slowly snaked his large, warm hands around me and hugged me tightly. "I'm here," he whispered.

His words made all of the emotions I repressed erupt. Warm tears started to wet my face as I hugged him back tightly. His embrace comforted me as I clung to him, thankful for his presence.

Tyler smiled before glancing at the officers. "I'm Tyler Rivers. Can you please request to your chief to dispatch a squad here in Central Park Square? You should also contact the staff and request for the security footage of the area," he said as he wiped my tears.

The cops immediately scattered back to their car to give way to Tyler's request. I almost found it funny that he had to introduce himself when everyone in the city clearly knew who he was.

When the cops left, Tyler grabbed his phone using his other hand and dialed.

"Allen, it's me. Assemble some people and come over here in Central Park Square."

The person on the phone said something, and Tyler responded, "No, I need you to help me find somebody as fast as possible."

After the call, Tyler gazed at me using his calm and sincere eyes. He asked my mother and me to wait in the car; I was about to refuse, but he urged me to rest, saying I should leave it up to him.

I didn't want to leave my son's safety in his hands, but I knew I could trust him.

Cops and civilians surrounded the square in less than twenty minutes. Police cars with sirens and a dozen black Range Rovers arrived, their lights turned on as they scattered around the area.

Tyler stood in the crowd, surrounded by onlookers, and ordered everyone to search. The group of people quickly left a moment later.

I glanced at my mom, only to see her sleeping, her cheeks wet from all the crying. Slowly, I climbed out of the car and sat on the ground. I couldn't stop the tears from flowing, no matter how I told myself to be strong and that Caleb was fine.

A warm coat covered my shoulders, and the familiar scent surrounded my nose. I turned and saw Tyler sitting next to me. His thin shirt waved together with the strong wind.

"Come on, don't cry. Our son is smart, and he will be fine. Trust me," he uttered. His words were supposed to be comforting, but they only made me shed more tears.

"My Ivy Dikkens is a tough woman who never cried, even if I annoyed or stressed her out. Where's my Ivy now, huh? Come on. Bring her out. I know she's in there."

I snorted at his lame joke. I tried wiping the tears away, but they couldn't stop coming out.

"Stop crying, could you?"

I sniffed.

"I swear to god, if you don't stop crying now, I'm going to kiss you."

"Don't you dare!" I shouted and glared at him.

Tyler took a box of cigarettes from his pocket, a wicked smile on his face. He took one out and lit it while tilting his head. Then he leaned back against the rock, not saying anything.

His eyes were bloodshot, and under the streetlight, I could see a ring of black stubble on his chin. He appeared to have skipped shaving for two or three days.

"Have you been getting enough rest these days?" I asked, trying to distract myself.

"Not really. Something happened in the South Ridges; I had to be there to take care of it," Tyler responded with a rare calm tone. He sounded tired.

"Did you just get back when you called me?"

"Well, yeah, I just got off the highway and haven't gone home yet," Tyler answered.

My heart was pounding. Tyler turned around with a cigarette in his mouth and a sly smile on his face.

"What? Why are you looking at me like that? Are you checking me out?"

His eyes were among his most stunning facial features. He had an unfathomably beautiful smile. My heart seemed to skip a beat as I gasped for air.

With a guilty conscience, I turned away and said, "I was just curious where you were, but I don't care. It's none of my business."

A sigh of disappointment escaped his lips. "Gee, woman. You're so heartless. I hadn't slept for two days, and I came to you as soon as I got back. You could've at least kissed me, you know, not broken my heart."

After saying that, he straightened up. His side face was blurry because of the shadow. At that moment, I seemed to see the loneliness in his eyes.

I stared at him, watching every move of his chest as he breathed and blinked. I was about to say something when Tyler's phone loudly interrupted us.

"There's some breaking news." I heard the voice say. "I already sent it to you. Check it out."

Tyler immediately opened his messages and played a video recording. It was the security footage of the park, and a black Bentley appeared in it. Tyler enlarged the scale, revealing the face of Caleb in the passenger seat, and Zach was the driver.

"Tyler, we found the kid and identified the driver. His name is Zach Dempsy, the new C.E.O. of the S&D," the voice on the other end said. "The surveillance also showed that he drove the car to the East Road where his house is located."

Tyler's face darkened as he listened to Allen. I couldn't help but shake my head and grit my teeth at the information at hand.

How could Zach do this? Was he planning on taking my child away from me? Just because I refused to be his mistress?

"Send a team to Mr. Dempsy's house. I'll meet you there," Tyler said before he hung up the phone.

"I'm coming with you," I uttered, my voice strained as I imagined smacking Zach on his face.

Allen and a couple of people were already there when we arrived. Two security guards stood by the door of Zach's house, their faces alert.

"Lieutenant Demand isn't here yet. Those two guards won't let us in unless we have a warrant," Allen said the moment Tyler and I stepped out of the car. "How do you want to deal with them?"

"What do you want us to do?" Tyler asked, turning to face me. "One word from you, and we'll rush in."

"No. Don't do that," I said quickly while shaking my head. "I just need to know that Caleb is safe. Zach isn't a criminal, so I know he won't hurt my son. Caleb will just get scared if you guys rush in like a bunch of robbers."

With a deep sigh, I continued. "Let's just wait for the cops."

Tyler nodded. "You heard her," he said to Allen, and the latter gave a short nod and left.

On the other hand, Tyler lit another cigarette as he leaned against the car door. We were engulfed in silence as we waited for the cops to arrive. It was a couple of minutes before a car arrived, and several cops in uniform got out.

The oldestlooking policeman came toward us. However, his voice was polite when he spoke, "Sorry to keep you waiting, Sir."

“No problem, Lieutenant. Thanks for dropping in here."

The lieutenant called several of his men and marched towards the two security guards. They were a bit hesitant to let the police in, and when they refused, the lieutenant arrested them without a blink.

The people inside already knew we were coming because when we went in, no hint of surprise could be seen on their faces.

I found Caleb by the living room, sitting comfortably as he watched television. I immediately ran, grabbed, and hugged him. Caleb was surprised for a bit before hugging me back.

"Mommy! You're here! And Uncle Tyler, too!"

"Hey there, buddy. Are you alright?" Tyler asked as he shuffled Caleb's hair.

"I'm fine," he answered and turned to me, his eyes wide with fear. "Mommy, please don't be angry. I went with Zach because I missed him."

A sea of sadness and anger washed over me as I stared at Caleb. I couldn't believe that he willingly went with Zach. It never occurred to me that he would. All I thought about was Zach kidnapping my son.

Tyler squatted and held Caleb's chin softly. "Your mom was worried about you, kiddo, so if you want to go with him next time, let your mom know ahead of time. You can't just leave on your own, okay?"

"Okay," Caleb answered, his voice sad, then he turned to me again. "I'm sorry. I promise it won't happen again."

Despite Caleb's softness and clinginess towards Tyler over the last two years, I didn't expect him to be gentle with Caleb. In my mind, he was this tough guy who always loved fun and pleasure, not responsibility.

But here, standing in front of them, I could see Tyler's genuine concern and care for Caleb. It melted my heart.

"It's my fault, Ivy," a voice said.

Zach entered the living room with a newspaper in his hand. "Caleb is my son, and I have the right to see him. I just became desperate because you were trying to keep him away from me," he said calmly.

I glared at him. I know what I did was wrong, but taking Caleb away from me like that was not good. He could've at least reached out to me first to discuss our arrangement.

"Who is he?" Zach asked, and when I followed his line of sight, I found that he was talking about Tyler.

Tyler raised his left brow as he stared straight at Zach. "Tyler Rivers," he simply answered as he slowly snaked his right arm around my waist.

"I'm Ivy's fiance," he added.

Zach frowned slightly. He looked at me and asked, "When did you get engaged?"

"I..."

Tyler was the one who answered for me. "I don't think she has to answer your question. That's a personal matter between my fiance and me. Isn't that right, sweetie?"

I rolled my eyes. I wanted to break Tyler's lies, but I couldn't. Still, saying that he was my fiance when he wasn't was not good. I'm directly lying in front of my son, and even if Zach and I could no longer be together, I knew that I still cared for him in a way.

That was why a frown spread on my face when I noticed a girl emerging behind him. It worsened, even more when the house owner, Mrs. Dempsy, also came. The woman's eyes immediately found mine. She looked at me up and down, disgust clearly shown in her expression.

"Miss Dikkens," she greeted. "I thought we would never see each other again. And you also had the audacity to break into my house. What do you want?"

At the sight of Monica Dempsy, painful memories resurfaced in my mind. I saw the cold operating table, the shadowless lamp, and the image of me trying desperately to flee the hospital. I remember how I felt scared as I ran away from her and the nurses. I could still feel the damp ground as I ran barefoot, trying to save my unborn child's life.

That agonizing and helpless feeling lingered in my mind. Even now, when I think about it, it bothers me so much that I can't stop shaking.

Tyler tightened his grip on me as if he sensed my unease. His strong arm made me feel extremely secure, and I couldn't thank him enough.

"Gabby, call the cops. Someone just broke into our house," Monica said as she sat down with that girl's help.

"We discovered you kidnapped Miss Dikken's son against her will," Allen said in a thick, annoying voice.

"If you want to call the cops, just talk to me," Lieutenant Demand said, holding up his badge. "My name is Lieutenant Conner Demand."

"Yes, my Zach did bring the kid home, but this is not our kid; Miss Dikkens can just take him as she wishes," Monica said as she sipped coffee like nothing important was happening.

"Mom!" Zach exclaimed. "Caleb shares my blood. He is my kid, and he's not leaving until I settle everything with Ivy!"

"With Gabby, you can have however many children you desire," Monica uttered in nonchalance. "You don't have to settle anything with that woman."

"What are you talking about, mom?" Zach refuted, "Caleb is not some street urchin. He is indeed my son. I have done a paternity test."

I looked at Caleb, whose head was down. He may be a kid, but he was a smart kid. I knew that he understood what was happening, including his grandmother's clear disgust of him.

The look on Caleb's face felt like someone had just stabbed me, and of a sudden, I had the urge to punch Monica in the face including Zach's face.

I didn't care what they did to me, but they tested Caleb for paternity behind my back. He was only five years old and had no knowledge. Did they think about how a child would react?

"I don't care about the paternity test. The only child who will be my grandson will be from you and Gabby. A gold digger like her will never stand a chance to be a part of this family. Don't even think about it," Monica sneered.

I saw how Tyler's jaw clenched. He was about to open his mouth when I interfered.

"You overthink things, Mrs. Dempsy. Trust me, I don't want any money from you or your son," I said in controlled rage.

If Caleb wasn't here, I would definitely punch this woman in the face.

"Caleb is my son. He had nothing to do with you in the past and won't play in the future. You may think your Dempsy name is precious, but I'll tell you what? I'm not even interested in Zach," I continued.

With that, I took Caleb's hand and walked to the door. "By the way, if my memory serves me correctly, wasn't it you who began as a gold digger mistress back then?"

Monica opened her mouth, but I didn't give her a chance to retaliate.

"I won't stoop down to your level, Mrs. Dempsy. I'm not willing to be a mistress and bear an illegitimate child that would suffer from my actions. Because unlike you, I'm not desperate to become a Dempsy."

Tyler gripped my waist tightly; I saw him smirking proudly when our eyes met. His look made me feel encouraged even more.

That was all it took for me to say everything I wanted to say to that woman for years. I kept all of my hatred and anger towards her, and now was the time to let it all out.

"And since you said tonight that Caleb is not Zach's son, kidnapping him again in the future would surely lead you to jail. The next time that you take my son away without my knowledge, we will meet at the police station."

With that, I strode away with my son and Tyler, who was grinning widely, by my side.

I didn't say a word on the way home. A heavy feeling lumped on my chest as I recalled everything that had just happened. Thankfully, Tyler gave me space to think about it, and Caleb fell asleep as we drove.

It was already ten at night when we finally arrived at our home. I got out of the car with Caleb and was about to wave my goodbye at Tyler's closed door when he rolled down the window suddenly.

"That was it? You're just going to leave me here?" he asked, a playful tone laced in his voice.

A warm blush spread on my cheeks. "It's late, Tyler. I know you're exhausted, so you have to go home."

"Thank you for today, by the way. I could've lost Caleb if it hadn't been for your help," I continued as I released a sigh and glanced at Caleb by my side.

Tyler motioned Caleb to come closer, and so my son did. My eyes squinted as I watched the two whisper about something; Caleb even chuckled before turning to me. My son smiled and winked at me for a few seconds before dashing through the door.

"Come closer, Ivy," Tyler said, his voice hoarse as he spoke.

My heart skipped a beat. "What?"

Tyler crooked his head to the side with his arm on the window and grinned. I could feel the nervousness and warmth spreading through my neck, so I averted my gaze.

I even coughed fakely before speaking, "What did you say to Caleb?"

"Come closer if you really want to know."

I rolled my eyes. "Whatever. I'm leaving."

I turned around and was about to leave when Tyler reached out his hand and pulled me. I almost tripped, but I managed to lean against his car.

However, the brute took advantage of the situation by craning his head and kissing my lips.

It was a quick kiss, but my nose was still tinged with his scent, a hint of tobacco and something sweet. His kiss also made me shiver down my spine, electricity running around my whole body as my cheeks burned.

Tyler leaned against my ear and whispered softly, "I told our son that I hadn't seen his mom for a few days, and I missed her."

His sharp eyes were deep in the dim light, and it took my breath away when he glanced at me.

"Don't stop dreaming, and maybe someday she'll miss you," I said while trying to keep my voice calm despite my raging heartbeat.

I cleared my throat. "You've worked hard these past few days and helped me find Caleb. I'll treat you to dinner tomorrow so you can feel how thankful I am."

Tyler grinned and shook his head. "I don't think going out to eat is sincere. How about we just stay in, and you cook for me?"

I rolled my eyes and scoffed. "Fine."

He whistled at my response and raised his words. With that, I turned around and entered the house, unable to stop myself from smiling.

The next day, I went to the market early in the morning and bought a lot of fresh vegetables. I started preparing dinner around four in the evening.

I have grown accustomed to cooking and eating alone in recent years. No matter how good the restaurant food was, it was never as good as a homemade meal from my stovetop. So I usually cook at home on weekends, and Tyler has frequently come over for free dinner in the last two years.

I was counting down the minutes until he finished his work. I called him and was at my dining table within half an hour. I was still preparing the side dishes as my mother, Caleb, and Tyler sat expectantly at the table.

They were exchanging stories and pleasantries, and I couldn't help but smile at their relationship. It was obvious that my mother and Caleb were even more attached to him than I was.

And I couldn't imagine my life without him anymore, even if we hadn't known each other very long.

I remembered the day that we met. I was a minor office staff member who followed the boss around and occasionally attended dinner parties when I started working at O.G. two years ago.

At one point, I ran into a client who was a playboy. I accompanied the said client to the Lost Woods to sign a deal. Nevertheless, when he became inebriated and attempted to take advantage of me, I shattered a wine bottle on his head.

The client was an IVgrade member of the Lost Woods, and he knew Tyler, who happened to be at the club that day. The client called Tyler over and came in with a group of frighteninglooking people.

I was drunk at the time, so not only did I not feel threatened, but I was standing there with a bottle in my hand, stopping all those tough guys.

I thought that they were there to stop my aggressions, but it turned out they were the ones who would assist me in dealing with that client. Tyler and I have become friends since then.

From the beginning, he had treated Caleb as one of his own. And it took me a long time to change Caleb's perception because my son had been treating Tyler like his father all these years.

Sometimes, I wonder why the famous Mr. Rivers would think differently about me. In his words, I'm a tough girl. I'm the most challenging and silliest woman he has ever met.

I couldn't remember when he first started flirting with me on the side. I only knew that I had never responded to any of his flirtations; instead, I would scream angrily at him.

I wasn't trying to be difficult, and I didn't want to be someone's secret girl to flirt with. I have a heart, and even an icy cold heart would warm up over time.

I had to admit that there was something special between Tyler and me. Thousands of times, I almost said yes to being his girlfriend, but I didn't have the gut. It was because I could never figure him out and his wealthy family background.

Besides, I was well aware of who I was.

Tyler had money, power, and good looks, whereas I only had a pretty face.

But I was so selfish that I didn't want Tyler to leave until he absolutely had to.

Because it's been two years, and I didn't want him to leave my side. Ever.