For the past two weeks, Ivy had also helped out Nick on the weekends when he needed to host events in the regular hotel Jason worked with. From time to time, she would speak with Jason over the phone for a short while as it was either he needed to attend to his mother or she needed to rush for work or errands. Despite being busy, her heart still yearned for him and she missed him even more especially tonight as she stood by the walkway facing the car park she last stayed overnight with Jason in the back seat of his car on a rainy night.
She never would have guessed that was the last peaceful, uneventful night she would have with him. Ever since there were too many events that had occurred. She regretted not being grateful for those moments with him as she was worried all the while about leaving him and that she would have a hard time giving her blessings to him and Nancy. Although now she still worries, she was more concerned about her family business. Because only if her family business does well, will it also lead to his business doing well and she could ensure he was well taken off in this aspect.
With Mr. Jing’s event preparation and construction of the stages ongoing in Landsfield, she had not stepped foot in Manes for nearly a week. She was aware Nancy had been staying behind in Manes and had been meddling with Jason’s family’s welfare. With that thought in mind, she felt a hinge of jealousy looming into her. However, she began to accept the reality as she knew she had to learn to get used to it if she was to continue with her plans of leaving Jason to Nancy. However, she wondered what it would be like for Nick. She sighed knowing it would be equally tough for him.
With that, she jolted from her day dreaming by the warmness of a coat hovering over her shoulders and a gentle nudge from Nick who had been looking for her after the event ended.
“Hey…” Nick called out gently.
“It’s cold out here. You should head in…” Nick said as Ivy tried to shake away her thoughts earlier.
“I know it’s cold. Why aren’t you wearing your coat?” She asked in return while trying to take off his coat although she felt the gush of wind did send chills to her bones as Nick smiled and forced it back on her while noticing her shivered a little.
“I’m a strong man. Don’t worry about me.” Nick adjusted his standing position as he took the chance to enjoy the rain too.
“Rain could bring a lot of memories, wouldn’t it?” He asked abruptly as Ivy took a deep breath and sighed recalling her day dreaming earlier.
“Nick… have you ever wondered if one day, Nancy was to leave …” Ivy quickly turned to face him as she realised she spoke out loud her thoughts without filtering and didn’t want to cause a misunderstanding. “Don’t get me wrong. I don’t wish she will but what if she decided to…” Ivy paused thinking her question would have crossed the board so she withheld herself from asking although Nick still looked very relaxed at her question.
“Forget it… sorry.” Ivy looked away as she wiped her face to shake the thoughts away. “Sigh, is she also facing the same issue finally…” Nick thought to himself.
“I know what you mean. I have thought about it lately too. To be honest, yes I have thought about what it would be like if she was to really reconcile back with Jason. Would I be alright with it? At first, I was not cause I realise how much I do love her. But after recent events, I wonder…” Nick paused in a moment of denial.
“...was I ever in her heart? Perhaps, I was just a replacement. Perhaps, if I were to let them have a chance to reconcile, will they both be happy again as they did before? But…” Nick paused as he caught Ivy’s attention to look at him eye to eye.
“Would you be alright with it if they reconcile?” He asked Ivy gently. Ivy couldn’t help but let her tears wet her eyes a little as she realised her concern for Nick was also the same concern he had for her.
“Will you be alright?” Ivy asked in return leaving Nick’s eyes reddened unwillingly. They both knew the answer to that as they stood quietly next to each other watching the rain pouring in front of them as though trying to wash away their agony.
Jason returned to work and continued his duties alongside Nick the following day as Nick had been following through with a couple of events negotiation on hand. Other than having to emcee, Jason had done nothing much in the office because most administration and operational were handled by Marcel while marketing was by Nick.
Instead, he found himself spending more time with Nancy over tea while thinking about Ivy who was very busy with Mr. Jing’s event preparation in Landsfield. He can’t wait for the weekend as it would be his trip to participate in the event and finally get to see Ivy after a long haul. He was toying with the idea of finally letting her know his feelings and decided to go with the flow on their next step.
Peter had noticed Ivy seemed to be distracting herself with work and these days that she looked exhausted most of the time. She even spent lesser days with him and always dosing away on the balcony with her laptop and Daisy by her side. He stepped into the balcony to slip the laptop away from her hand but she woke up instead.
“Oh… Daddy…” Ivy straightened her posture as Peter took a seat next to her and enveloped her into his arms for a snuggle. “Sorry that the workload has tired you. I can lift away some of the load to your brothers…” Peter apologised as Ivy yawned and shook her head.
“It’s not your fault, daddy. You don’t have to apologise. It’s work you see, you don’t have to. I can manage them.” Ivy mumbled in his arms as Peter chuckled. “As long as you don’t let it affect your studies.”
Ivy smiled. “Don’t worry. I still have time to catch up and prepare for finals…” Ivy reassured as Peter slowly inched his way to the question he had been wondering for a while. “So… How’s things with Jason?” Peter asked as Ivy cleared her throat and sat up straight.
Ivy was caught off guard that she was speechless momentarily. Peter was smitten by the look of his dumbfounded daughter due to her love affairs as he caress her soft hair. “You know that you will always have a family to come back to for refuge despite anything that happens alright?” Peter comforted as Ivy nodded with a little frown.
“Grandma’s house renovation is almost done. After Mr. Jing’s event is over, I will allow you to stay in Manes to assist on the leases for the town’s newly refurbished area.” Peter announced as Ivy’s frowns instantly turned into smiles. “But with one condition…” Peter added as Ivy burrowed her eyebrows. Her reaction smitten Peter’s heart again as he chuckled.
“I just want you to stay at grandma’s place…” Peter said gently as Ivy smiled and snuggled into his arms.
“You know I will… Where else can I stay?” Ivy said as the thought of Jason’s place crossed her mind. “That would be the best if possible…” Peter hinted to Ivy that it should be her plan and not someone’s else house as she sighed before making herself clear.
“Daddy, my decision about Jason still remains. I may enjoy his company these days but my time is running out. After the event, although I will still be under internship and working in Manes I need to start preparing for my finals. By then…” A crack from her voice surprised herself and Peter as she couldn’t bring herself to explain her plans of leaving Jason by then.
Peter pulled her in for a hug as he gently patted her back. “Ai Lee, every year I will host a Christmas party for friends and family. Perhaps, it would be a good chance for you to make things clear then…” The warmness of Peter’s hug made Ivy’s emotions rush haywire as she realise she had been holding on to all this while on her own for way too long that she finally could let go of the emotional baggage at ease with her dad. She understood what Peter meant by the invitation and was grateful that she could always be this vulnerable in front of her family and she was forever grateful that this was a gift from Jason that she would always live to remember. In return, she was thinking of letting Nancy and Jason to have a happy ending on this Christmas instead.
Despite all the smooth sailing cooperation at the management team in Ophal’s real estate, Ivy still finds herself with some difficulties among the logistics team. Even the marketing team was simpler to communicate with as they were socialisers. However, as for the logistic team, they were as cold as Ray is to strangers. Hence, during Mr. Jing’s event, Ivy decided to make an effort to help out the logistic team more. They do carry a lot of heavyweights which they think Ivy can’t do for a petite lady but in fact, they didn’t know Ivy had built her strength under Ray’s training and most of the men were flabbergasted to see Ivy carrying heavy sound systems as well as chairs by herself. Even then, it wasn’t enough to convince some of them, especially Ray’s assistant manager, Daniel.
He couldn’t get rid of his ego and always believe women were weaklings who could never work under their team. Hence, he decided to tease Ivy by assigning her to carry down the display units of jewelry from the truck.
Jason who had just arrived at the venue noticed Ivy was heading outside of the hall. As much as he wanted to go greet her or at least give her a hug, he couldn’t as Nick was already catching his attention on the script preparation for tonight. Besides, with Nancy by his side, he tried not to do anything drastic which could possibly trigger Nancy.
Therefore, he was forced to hide his excitement and focused on work instead. Ray on the other hand noticed the commotion between Ivy and Daniel earlier while he inspected the site in the hall. As he was trying to be considerate for Jason by trying to get Ivy back into the hall, he never expected himself to watch Ivy on a close call from causing chaos.
Ivy felt her arms were tired after transferring three glass boxes containing jewelleries for display tonight that she decided to do some stretching but instead she caught a glimpse of Daniel walking out of the hall to check on her. The staff in front of her was not giving up either at the sight of Daniel suddenly appearing as he began to carry another glass box to hand over to her. With her tired arms, she quickly got into position to retrieve the glass box but instead, she saw the staff’s left arm was slipping off the glass box.
Her heart was beating so fast that her only natural reaction was to lay on the floor to prevent the glass box from shattering. Ray who came subsequently, stood behind Daniel and watched the entire event fall out. The weight was heavier than Ivy thought as she endured the sharp pain piercing down on her. The staff quickly climbed down from the truck and helped Ray who was quick-witted enough to instantly run over to help lift the glass box moments after it landed on Ivy who was laying on the ground. Ivy managed to catch her breath heavily thereafter while Ray gave the logistic team a stern, scolding especially to Daniel. From that moment on, Daniel and the logistic team began to respect her after Daniel personally stepped forward and apologise to Ivy.
It was a terrifying experience for Ivy. If she didn’t do what she did, who knew how much they needed to compensate Mr. Jing? She didn’t want something like this to happen especially when she knew how much effort was put into this event. When Ray brought her home to change into her formal wear thereafter, he was half nagging and half worried about her injuries. Ivy had a couple of bruises on her abdomen but ever since she had to learn martial arts from Ray, fortunately, her pain endurance level had increased. Ray had wrapped her abdomen with pads of gauze dressing before she draped over her custom-made purple jumpsuit made by Cassandra.
When they returned back to the event place, it totally slipped Ivy’s mind that Jason was in town today for the event until she watched him emcee happily with Nick on stage. The entire event was a great success that Mr. Jing had treated lots of expensive wines during the dinner that night. Ivy noticed Nancy who had been tailing Jason wherever he went the whole day, was even the backstage helper that night.
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As Ivy stood below the stage in the midst of a performance on stage, she find herself staring in Jason’s direction. She finally took a good look at his frailed-looking self. Despite the heavy makeover covering his face, she couldn’t help but notice he had lost so much weight in just a matter of a few weeks. She couldn’t help but wonder how were his days these past few weeks. Though they had spoken briefly a few times over the phone, it was mainly about work and they could barely hold a conversation for more than five minutes as either one of them would get distracted by other events going on behind them.
Jason though stood far away by the stage had kept his eyes on Ivy the entire day and was glad he could do so freely with Nancy being stationed behind the stage that night. He could feel Ivy’s intense staring as he looked in her direction and stared right back at her. He could feel her longing for him from afar as he too yearned for her. As the agenda shifted to the highlight of the night where everyone get to dance on the dance floor, he couldn’t wait to invite Ivy for a dance again.
Ivy didn’t realise she had stared at Jason for a long while lost in her own thoughts of how he had been till he stood in front of her with his hand reaching out to her. Ivy raised an eyebrow at him as Jason smiled and nodded before Ivy reached out to his hand. It came to her unexpectedly as she looked into his eyes and savor each moment with him on the dance floor.
As they twirl the dance floor gracefully and ended the entire night’s highlight, Nancy was watching them enviously by the side of the stage next to Nick. Nick decided to distract her by asking her to dance but instead, she didn’t know how long had she endured the scene in front of her before she broke away from Nick and stormed out to the garden by the hotel. Nick knew it was a good chance to finally confront Nancy about her feelings as he went backstage to take a plushie he had prepared as a gift for her and chased her to the garden. Nancy was no doubt pacing angrily at the park.
“I have missed you, sweetheart… What are you so angry about?” Nick tried to coax Nancy as he wrapped himself around her from her back and presented the plushie but Nancy vented even more anger.
“So annoying!” She squealed as Nick let her go from his embrace. She break away and went berserk.
“Go away!” Nancy screamed as Nick’s patience ran out. He knew she was not under her medication again.
“Nancy! Why are you not taking your medication again?” Nick tried to hold on to her arms tightly but she scratched him instead.
“Why do you care? Who are you to care?!” She yelled and laughed crazily leaving Nick disappointed.
“Are you aware of who you are with now in a relationship? Why are you caring so much about other people’s relationships, especially your ex?” Nick lashed out as Nancy squinted her eyes at him before letting out a ridiculed laugh.
“You… were never anyone to me, to begin with… You’re just a toy! Let’s break up!” Nancy stormed out angrily leaving Nick’s heart torn apart at her hurtful words.
He tried to convince himself that Nancy was just talking crazy cause she wasn’t under her medication but he also knew he was going to get his karma someday. Little did he know he would get it this way. Perhaps it was to repay for all his mistakes made against Jason. It was a torturous relationship, to begin with as he stood lifelessly on the verge of giving up everything.
Nancy has not been under medication lately as she ran havoc when she went back into the hall crazily trying to injure Ivy but Marcel and Ray were alerted by the guards. They manage to keep her under control and had no choice but to send her to the nearest mental institute. Not long before her admittance, they received news from the hotel’s management that Nick was attempting to commit suicide in the garden as he cut himself with a swiss army knife at his wrist. When the hotel’s staff found him, he was motionless and bleeding to death.
Jason and Ivy were still sharing a beautiful moment together on the dance floor as they waltz and indulge in conveying how much they had missed each other without having to say a single word. At some point, Ivy was so happy that she blinked away her tears of joy and wanted to jump right in to confess to him.
“If I have the chance, I wish I could dance on the clouds with you…” Jason teased Ivy when as he whispered to her. It instantly made her smile grow wider and nodded in agreement. For a moment, she was serious about giving up all her responsibilities and promises made just to be with Jason. She contemplated a few times but before she could manage to put her thoughts into action, Ray and Marcel rushed up to them and conveyed the injuries to them.
It was strange how fate works. For a moment, they were so indulging in each other but moments later, Jason’s mind was instantly refocused on Nancy’s mental state as his footsteps brought him hastily to Marcel’s car under Marcel’s lead as he mumbled to drive him to Nancy.
Ivy on the other hand was a little off guard. She was worried about Nancy but knew Jason would be able to handle her. The news which was more devastating and struck her awake from her fantasies was unexpecting Nick to resort to such an attempt. It suddenly made her realise all this while her sweet moments with Jason were poison fed to Nancy and Nick. Even then if it was karma to them, it shouldn't end up taking any of their lives.
As Ivy’s eyes welled up with tears, she reached out to Ray and mumbled to him to drive her to visit Nick. On the way in the car, Ivy repeatedly convinced herself that it was only right to leave Jason and Nancy to be together as they were the ones who were meant for each other from the beginning. Just because of a small mistake, Nancy made to realise how much her love was for Jason, she shouldn't be penalised to lose another chance with Jason.
Ray quickly asked Mr. Jin to speed up his driving as he watch Ivy helplessly pour all her agony out in his embrace. Guilt was overwhelming her as she was very worried about Nick than Nancy. For someone who had endured sleepless nights due to sleep paralysis and still enduring, she knew she had to help Nick out to counter his suicidal thoughts. She had to ensure with all she could to save Nick who was another victim.
When they arrived at the hospital’s lobby, she instantly alighted and ran to the emergency unit to search for Nick. She saw Marcel by a corridor way as she sprinted over half panting and half blinking to dry her tears. Marcel was walking towards her from the opposite direction.
She was surprised to see Marcel here but there was no sight of Jason. Her heart ached a little but her mind was chasing her to look for Nick first. Marcel directed her as she followed him hastily. Nick was staring out the window blankly, looking so pale and lost all by himself when Ivy arrived.
Ivy walked shakily over to Nick as Ray who caught up with them, supported her all the way while Marcel looked on from a distance.
“Nick…” She cried out as she couldn’t contain her guilt while kneeling next to his bed holding onto his hand. She saw the bandage on his arm and it ached her heart somehow. She could feel her injuries from her bruises were aching too but she couldn't tell if it was really the pain from her bruises or it was her heart was the one piercing her the most.
“Why do you do this? Why do you choose this option? How could you? You were born to this life to build this life for yourself! Even if you dislike it now and the choices you have made, you should have just walked on!” Ivy lashed out while kneeling next to him.
“What choices do I have after betraying such a good friend?” Nick asked softly as he cried without looking at Ivy. Ivy was furious as she stood back up.
“If you needed to redeem yourself, you could always continue working for us! After all, our business is expanding and we are of the same entity!
If you need to make peace, dying isn't an option!
If you needed forgiveness, committing suicide isn’t the way!
Do you know if you really died, then you would have cut off people you are destined to meet in this life or in any other life?
Do you really hate Jason so much that you do not want to be his friend anymore? Even so… do you not want to encounter me as your friend anymore?
Even if I had to let Jason go for him to be with Nancy this lifetime, I wouldn’t want to lose a friend like you, Nick!” Ivy wailed and sobbed in anger as Nick stayed quiet but Ivy’s words somehow touched his heart making him know there were still people who were willing to be his friends as he sob silently. Ray stood by Ivy and patted her shoulders to comfort her.
Moments later, Ivy sniffed and wipe away her tears as she took one deep breath. “ Do you know why I am desperately pulling you back? I know you’re on the edge… I know you’re giving up but please …” Ivy’s held onto Nick’s hand desperately as she pleaded with tears welling in her eyes again before kneeling back down.
“Please don’t…. Cause only you would know how I feel! Cause I know how you feel but I didn’t choose this decision!
Even if it meant having to endure watching the one I love go… And giving another chance to his past, it’s not worth it to lose all the people I have this lifetime!
How could you? How could you be so selfish, Nick?!” Ivy yelled as she poured out all her frustration, agony, and disappointment while she cried her heart out on the floor which made Ray’s and Marcel’s hearts ache to watch her. Ray squatted to comfort Ivy by hugging her while Nick suddenly realise he made a mistake and Ivy was right that he was selfish.
He realised Ivy too was suffering and she was enduring it stronger than he did that it took her long enough to lash out this way. She must have endured too long for her own good. He felt bad for her as he alone wasn’t the only victim. He saw the tainted dog plushie sitting by his side table which he intended to give to Nancy as a gift but they ended up with her announcing to break up. Now that it was no longer for that use, he quickly took the plushie and gave it to Ivy who was sitting on the floor to comfort her.
Ivy grabbed the plushie for comfort but walked off from the ward for a breather instead as she knew she was overwhelmed and she didn’t want it to affect Nick. Ray chased her but noticed Nick too was getting down from the bed to chase after Ivy. Ray and Marcel helped Nick down from the bed with his drip to accompany Ivy who had ran off to the garden outside the hospital and sat by the bench.
Nick came sitting next to her and he noticed she was more calm. Ray stood close by to guard Ivy while Marcel stood by Nick’s end. Ivy was still sniffing a little while Nick patted her head gently to comfort her. He was more surprised at what she had just revealed to him that she wanted to leave Jason and decided to pry further. The gesture Nick had done made Ivy blink back her tears instantly recalling how Jason used to do the same.
“So, you’re leaving Jason?” Nick asked as Ivy who was wiping away her tears nodded.
“Why?” Nick asked as Ivy let her uncontrollable tears fall while Ray patted her shoulders.
“Cause I made a promise to Nancy that I would… I know how much she realised she made a mistake and wanted so badly to fix it… So I decided to give them a chance.” Ivy paused to sniff a moment. “I was worried about you too... I know how you feel... I was holding on cause I know I wasn’t alone in enduring the pain of leaving someone I love him but I had to go and choose this path… “ Ivy choked at her words as Nick patted her head while she hide her face in between her pulled-up legs with her plushie.
“I’m sorry, Ivy… I’m sorry…” Nick apologised as he felt bad for Ivy and he hated himself for being so selfish. He had forgotten that Ivy would also be impacted and that he wasn’t alone in this tiring and torturous journey.
“Nick… please don’t… Don’t ever leave me alone to endure what I need to do all by myself…” Ivy pleaded in between her sobs.
“I promise Ivy…I promise I wouldn't do it again…” Nick said as he couldn’t help but sob with Ivy cause he finally understood how miserable Ivy must have felt enduring it all alone.
“You promise? You’re sure? You won’t leave me alone to face this?” Ivy asked in between her sobs as Nick smiled and nodded at her innocent questions.
Ivy hugged Nick as she let go of all her guilt and gratefulness that there was someone who could understand her and who can be the one she lean on for refuge to get through the tough days she will be facing. Not forgetting, she managed to save him from the edge.
“Ivy… Don’t endure these by yourself anymore alright?” Nick said as Ivy sobbed while Ray and Marcel closed their eyes enduring their anger and frustration towards Ivy and Jason’s situation as they were hopelessly helpless.
Ray was hopeless when it came to love and even Jin who is dating was helpless cause Ivy and Jason’s situation was way more complicated. Marcel on the other hand knows Ivy was right about no one else other than Nick would understand her and no one else other than Nick would be the right person to stand by her to get through all that she was putting herself in. They both needed each other.
“When are you going to tell Jason?” Nick asked when he let go of Ivy from his embrace.
“On Christmas Eve…” Ivy’s tears involuntarily fell by themselves again as Ray knows it would be during the family’s Christmas celebration.
“Promise me you would be there…” Ivy pleaded as she sobbed again.
“I will… I promise… When you have issues, I will be there for you too…” Nick comforted as Ivy gave him a sad smile.
“Me too…” Ivy whimpered with a bright smile while her tears kept flowing as Ray gently combed Ivy’s messy hair and Nick helped her wipe away her tears.
“Silly girl…” Nick teased as Ivy giggled.
“You’re the silly one! Don’t ever die ever again!” Ivy scolded playfully holding on to the plushie tightly.
“When I am busy, I will let this little one accompany you…” Nick comforted as Ivy smiled and nodded.
“With Jason resuming his position, you should be under Ray since you both are into martial arts…” Ivy instructed as Ray nodded.
“How did you know I was into martial arts?” Nick asked surprisingly. Ivy scanned from top to bottom at his muscular body and raised an eyebrow.
Nick chuckled understanding his well-maintained physique was the hint as Ivy smiled while Nick contemplated a while before he nodded in agreement. He messed up Ivy’s hair as she chuckled while Marcel breathe a sigh of relief watching Ivy save the day.