Daisy nonchalantly stepped into her room in an act in case Jeremy’s spies caught her. Her bedroom connects to the study where John is. She quickly shut the door behind her at the sight of John in their room.

“What is it? It must be something urgent else you won’t be back.” Daisy asked urgently as John turnaround to face his wife and sighed sharply.

“Ophal’s daughter came today didn’t she?” John asked as Daisy nodded.

John let out another sharp sigh as he nodded. “I will find time to talk to her. That useless son’s fiancee was found dead with their unborn child during childbirth…”

Daisy was shocked and disappointed. She was tearing up when John hugged her. “I promise you I will find ways to find the other two grandchildren.”

“It’s my fault for spoiling him so much that it costs his grandma and brother’s life.” Daisy sobbed in her husband’s arms.

“You ought to stay strong for Ivy. She is fighting her way out. I cannot afford to let you fight your way into blaming yourself.” John comforted as Daisy tried to gain her composure.

“John, I made her my stepdaughter. I don’t think you will disagree, would you?” Daisy announced as John looked at his wife lovingly.

“How could I when all along it’s your wish to have a baby girl?” John caressed her face.

“Ivy had promised to teach Jeremy a lesson legally. I am worried for her… Very worried.” Daisy said solemnly as John’s expression became serious.

“Don’t worry. If things go as planned, I can ensure her safety. By then, I hope she would keep you accompanied too.” John comforted as Daisy eased into his arms.

Daisy always knew her husband was good in business and that his recent arrangements for Jeremy to be one of his company’s directors were a surprise. However, John had plotted a bigger hidden agenda and assured her that he will monitor closely. The only regret he had was being so strict with Jason that he rebelled against him. At the end of the day, Jason was still the one who made the family proud, especially John himself.

He wished he had gone much lenient at the end when he managed to pull ties with the Rahi. In return, he wanted to return the favor to the Rahi and help them out with their crisis since it was created by his second son.

He reluctantly left Daisy after she went to bed in an act that night as they continued to stay separately. It saddened Daisy but with Lucky accompanying her, it was less lonely as she looked forward to spending more time with her new stepdaughter soon.

The next morning, Ivy woke to find herself accompanied by her retriever, Daisy. In her mind, upon calling out Daisy’s name, it reminded her of her new stepmother too. She made it a point to send morning wishes to her daily to assure Daisy she was fine and at the same time check on her.

Ivy reminded herself thereafter that it was the day she finally gets to meet her mother. Her biological mother.

Previously she was hiding most of her emotions or rather refused to face them cause she did not want to worry Peter or her brothers. However, that morning she felt a bittersweet feeling. Back then, she never knew she would be able to see her mother again and she was told to hate her father for abandoning the family. When she learned about the past, she began to wonder was her mother to blame.

Was anyone to blame? Why is their life that way? Can’t things be better for them from now on? She pleaded in mind as she held her heavy forehead and closed her eyes.

It was all out of her control. There was nothing she could do to help change the past. She was still her mother and she knew she should at least give Peter and herself a closure to this chapter. She began to get nervous about meeting her mother that she did not notice Nick had stepped into the room.

“Hey… You’re awake. Was there a dream?” He asked gently while caressing her hair as she leaned onto him still with her eyes closed and shook her head. He smiled knowing she was confronting herself about meeting her mother.

“Go see her and come back to accompany me to face my fears, alright?” Nick comforted which made her realise she had someone to be brave for. She finally opened her eyes and looked at Nick.

She nodded with a smile as she went to get ready and sat in the car with Peter to the sanatorium. He drove Ivy personally on the trip just like he always wished to. It was a quiet journey as they both meddled in their own thoughts.

Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

Will Mother be alright to see me? What if she breaks down? What if I cannot take it? Ivy thought to herself as she shook her head slightly.

No, I must endure this. For daddy. For Nick. I must set an example. I no longer am weak. I should be brave. This would make Jason proud. She comforted herself along the way.

As she bravely walked down the hallway with Peter, she noticed the cells were all locked from outside.

It must be tough on the patients and those who work here too. Ivy thought to herself.

Peter held her hand noticing she was observant but also deep in her thoughts. He was proud of her strong mentality after what she had endured but knew she was still a soft-hearted person, always thinking of others.

“You’re ready?” He asked as they stood in front of the cell with the name written Permisla Sim Jia Jiat. Ivy nodded as she stared at the name.

She was totally blank when they entered the room till the moment she saw Permisla sitting quietly in her room rocking herself with a baby doll, Ivy's eyes glistened with tears. She remembered she used to play with that doll in her toddler years. Peter patted her shoulder as she walked forward to squat beside her mother.

Ivy daringly reach out to hold on to Permisla's hand and blinked away her tears.

"Mummy." She called out as more of her tears glistening her eyes and fell to her cheeks.

She forced herself to be strong as Ivy held on to Permisla’s hand tightly. The nurse was beginning to worry if Permisla will hurt Ivy but to everyone’s surprise, Permisla let Ivy. She even made eye contact with Ivy.

"I'm your daughter, Ai Yee." Ivy gently said but instead of expecting a warm greet, Permisla laughed hysterically as she began to go berserk and threw things around.

Ivy and Peter were quickly escorted out of her cell room. Ivy bravely looked into the room from the small window as Peter held on to her, afraid she would break down but she did not. Ivy wanted to see how it was for her mother when she was overwhelmed with aggression. The nurses rushed to calm Permisla down and injected her with a calming shot.

The attending doctor then came to explain to Peter and Ivy about Permisla’s aggression. Over the years Permisla had been in this condition and rarely had anyone visited her. Permisla’s aggression is always triggered whenever any conversation about her daughter arises. Most importantly, she would protect the baby doll and not let anyone near it because it was symbolising her baby girl.

When the doctor left, Peter led Ivy out of the sanatorium to the park nearby and sat with her. Peter was calm because he had been through it years ago and seeing his ex-wife in that condition was heartbreaking for him. However, he knew as a father to Ivy, his daughter needed him more. So, he stayed strong for her but to his surprise, his daughter was taking after him.

Ivy was grateful to see her mother again but was a little upset when Permisla’s aggression act up. She did not even had a decent conversation with her yet as she wondered if it was even possible. However, what made her at ease was the explanation from the doctor which made her realise Permisla did love her and tried to protect her.

Her aggression was caused by her birth and she was at fault. Not her mother neither was it Peter's.

“You're alright?” Peter tried comforting noticing her tearing up.

“It's been my fault all along. All she wanted was to protect me. She couldn't control her aggression which was caused by my birth.” Ivy said solemnly as Peter wiped away the welling tears in her eyes.

“Ai Yee, it's never your fault. Your birth was a blessing. Without you, I will never have the will to move on and live on. Without you, your mother wouldn't still be alive trying to protect you. So you have to believe in yourself.” Peter explained as Ivy gave him a sad smile.

“It was tough on you too wasn’t it? I am sorry I blamed you all those years for abandoning us. I understand why you had to. I am glad you had a better life.” Ivy said as Peter hugged her.

“You will always be my loving daughter. My precious gem. I would protect and give you all I could. So, I ask of you to stop blaming yourself. You have to look towards the future and see what you could do to make the best of the remaining time.” Peter tried comforting her.

Ivy had known all this too as she smiled holding on to Peter's hand. “Let's come visit her often.” Peter smiled knowing Ivy had come to terms with her fate. “Yes, we should.”

“Thank you, Daddy.” Ivy leaned on his shoulder as Peter gently caressed her hair.

“Ai Yee, always remember life is not for you to decide the end destination but it’s the choices you make along the journey that matters. Whatever choices you make gives an effect. Whether it’s good or bad, it’s not in your control. Not everything in this world can be controlled either. So, it’s alright to make mistakes and be vulnerable sometimes. It’s how living is supposed to be.” Peter explained as Ivy nodded with a smile.

“I know. Don’t worry. I will ensure I remember this.” Ivy assured him.

“Speaking of which, you and your brother should head back to your studies the next semester,” Peter suggested as Ivy thought for a moment. In actual fact, she was not keen on it but she was a little sad that Ray’s studies were affected.

“I will make arrangements for Ray and myself.” She offered instantly as Peter frowned knowing she would not agree easily. There must be some hidden agendas as she raised an eyebrow.

“Why? I will enroll him in Manes’ college for the first year.” She further explained her plan.

“And yourself? Aren’t you taking up law in Manes too?” Peter questioned which made her roll her eyes.

“Daddy, are you in a hurry to keep your kids away from home? Why must you send all of us to Manes?” She whined as Peter chuckled at her tricky self avoiding his question.

“You sure know how to escape my question, don’t you? I will make sure you enroll in the second year for law faculty.” Peter said as Ivy quickly rejected it.

“Alright, alright. I will enroll too in law. Don’t worry. Don’t do anything. You don’t have to.” Ivy persuaded as Peter chuckled and walked to the carpark while Ivy earnestly tried to convince him not to do anything cause she was not planning on signing up for any course for herself.