In order to make her college application real, Ivy had arranged for herself to head back to Manes with Nick since he would be taking over Jason’s role as a speaker. Ray was looking forward to them staying with him at their grandma’s house to keep him company.
The arrangement indeed kept Peter at ease but he knew Ivy better and that she was not that obedient. He always knew she was different from her brothers and probably it all came from Permisla’s genes. Hence, he arranged for advanced payment to the college which he thought would have gotten her trapped but it was on the contrary.
Ivy sat in Jason’s office while reviewing the monthly accounts she used to do. With the crisis the company was facing, they had laid off many staff and the accounts have been managed by Marcel ever since.
As she sighed looking at the worrying close to negative cashflow situation, Ray rushed into her office.
“You! Are you aware Dad had prepaid the course fees for our courses?” Ray questioned urgently as Ivy looked up at him who was walking towards her hastily with a momentarily stunned look before nodding and continued scrolling on her laptop calmly.
Ray squinted at her abnormal reaction as he spun her chair around to face him.
“What is on your devious mind, Ivy?” He questioned as Ivy could not help but grin mischievously.
“Nothing… Let him be. He is rich and you should go to classes as usual while I work.” She said nonchalantly.
“You’re going to defer?” Ray guessed as she giggled.
“I didn’t say that. You did.” She teased as she continued to scroll through the reports.
“Ivy… Are you sure?” He took her attention back to him as she nodded without hesitation.
“Yes and if you don’t mind, I need to speak with Marcel in a bit. So, don’t worry about anything else. Just head to classes as usual and cover for me. Don’t you dare betray me or…” Ivy warned as she tickled him next and they ended in laughter.
A text message came in and interrupted the laughter moments later. “Think about it again seriously…” He said before excusing himself to his work while Ivy nodded and quickly checked her message. She cheered briefly after noticing it was a reply from Sandra finally.
“Hey Babe!! I’m so sorry we have been so busy with classes and assignments and internships that we are so drained out! I am so glad to hear from you and I know my mother has seen you! I hope we can catch up very soon! If you’re in Landsfield, drop by the college!”
The short message from Sandra made Ivy smile with glee as she replied with updates on her whereabouts and plans and promised to definitely meet them up when she is back in Landsfield. Thinking of Landsfield, made her sigh as it reminded her to think of the right time to head into the office and face Jeremy.
Jeremy, on the other hand though known to not be so smart had been keeping his suspicions discreetly to himself as he instructed his minions to investigate thoroughly on his grandma’s and Jason’s accident.
The suspicions rose when he sensed something was not right lately with his dealings, especially after two nights of raids by police on his drug activities. He was sure that Ivy was laying low and it would not be possible for her to be the culprit reporting.
Which meant the only people who would be concerned were either Jin, Charles, or James. He recalled he specifically mentioned to scare his mother and grandmother only. As for Jason, he only told Nancy to wait at the hotel for him to appear and they would put on act together to snatch their respective partner away. However, both accounts ended in the death of his grandma and Jason. At first, he thought it was probably a coincidence but recently, he had given it more thought on how a coincidence could happen twice. If this was an arranged incident then Jin and James were definitely ruled out as they would never cause harm to lives. He was left with Charles.
He began to plot in mind his moves on Ivy. With that at least he could keep her by his side and ensure it was not her causing chaos to his illicit activities and if his guts were right about Charles, Ivy would be in utter danger.
As much as his greed led him to want to own her and the Ophal’s business, she was just a prize to him and the business was just his cash flow source. There was no need to harm her to death. His thoughts flew among the brothers who could potentially become his source to control and continue investigating the real culprit. He automatically kicked out the two youngest as Jin maybe good with investigations but he was too close to James and is dating Cassandra, an old flame while Ryu is just too immature.
The thought of Cassandra made his desire grow but as he suppressed it knowing he had serious matters to handle, the thought of Ray who seemed to be closest to Ivy and the oldest among the boys would definitely do the job well since he knew how to fight. A smirk crossed his lips as he sent a text message to Peter to meet in the office the following Monday and materialise the promises he made Peter agreed while Ivy was in a coma.
Stolen novel; please report.
Peter who was listening to Mr. Jin’s daily updates on the business and the children daily in order to prepare himself to head back to the company, picked up the message from Jeremy with a heavy sigh. The thought of the promises he could not remember Jeremy made him promise frustrated him.
“Are the finances at our end for emergency solid?” Peter questioned abruptly changing the topic as Mr. Jin caught on to what exactly he was asking. Peter meant the funds for the children and not the business as Mr. Jin nodded.
“Good. Remember when something happens, I would count on you.” Peter hinted as Mr. Jin nodded again wearily. Mr. Jin wanted to shrug it off as just a reminder from Peter but he decided to keep his alert level up and be on standby as he continued with his updates.
Being not too busy in Manes, Ivy dropped by often to Auntie Soh’s stall. She made excuses to have an easy lunch but in actual fact, she had been trying to learn the recipe from him. Ivy often helped out during busy hours at lunch which reminded her of the times when she did the same with her grandma. A part of her misses her grandma who has not been appearing in her paracosm much. She wondered what would Avinha’s past be like if she could control it.
“Ai Lee, that’s enough. There’s no more queue. Hurry have your bowl of noodles and head back to work. You’re not even needed here. Why aren’t you in classes like your brothers? Shouldn’t you be in college?” Auntie Soh whined while boiling the noodles.
Ivy pretended to not hear her as she continued to add sauces to the bowl. “Ai Lee!” Auntie Soh scolded as Ivy giggled at successfully teasing Auntie Soh.
“Alright, I will go eat now…” Ivy obediently went while Auntie Soh sat with her moments later after completing an order to enjoy her own bowl of noodles too.
“Auntie Soh, the chili is fried with anchovies powder is that so?” Ivy questioned in an attempt to learn the secrets but Auntie Soh knew better that if she were to learn, it was not time yet. However, seeing her so determined for days helping out, she decided to give the recipe book to her knowing with enough practice, Ivy would make it. No doubt, Ivy had been paying close attention to the ingredients used and the cooking method for the past few days.
“The recipe! I was right!” Ivy cheered as her chopsticks flew off from her hand sending Auntie Soh into a frenzy.
“You think you’re so great that overnight you can master it? What are you so happy about till your chopsticks need to fly huh?!” She scolded as Ivy quickly picked them up and added them to a load of dishes before sitting back obediently to finish her noodles with a new pair of chopsticks.
“Alright, alright. Don’t be so angry. I will help you do dishes later…” She offered, trying to stay longer to observe more. “Why are you lingering here so much lately? You have no work is it?” Auntie Soh nagged.
“I have! A lot! But I want to practice more and learn to make the best noodles for you to try. Even my brothers don’t have this!” She waved the recipe book in front of Auntie Soh.
“There, there. That’s your ancestor’s secret! Is that how you treat it?” She nagged again as Ivy quickly kept the book in her bag.
“Alright, alright sorry. Done kept…” She smiled trying to please Auntie Soh who sighed.
“Ai Lee, seriously why aren’t you in classes? Didn’t Seu Semai sign you up for any course? He is so rich I am sure he wouldn’t neglect you this little naughty Ophal’s princess?” Auntie Soh asked with concern.
“No, he didn’t. He even prepaid everything. I just am too busy to attend classes. I am saving the world!” Ivy cheered comically as Auntie Soh mumbled to herself some unpleasant curses.
“Ho, ho it’s bad to curse Auntie Soh!” She teased as Auntie Soh scoffed at her.
“I saw my mummy,” Ivy announced to distract Auntie Soh’s anger who was trying to leave the table.
“Oh, how’s Ah Jiat doing?” Auntie Soh instantly sat back on the chair.
“She’s alright. Auntie Soh, did mummy actually throw me off the rooftop before?” Ivy asked nonchalantly cause she already knew the answer but wanted to hear from her. Auntie Soh’s gaze averted away.
She nodded but quickly tried to explain. “I know, it’s just her aggression. I know how much she loves me 'cause she still held on to a toy I played with when I was small. The doctors said it represented her daughter. It must have been tough on you to keep it a secret from me…” Ivy said in a sad tone as Auntie Soh caressed her cheeks.
“That’s right… Always remember that Ai Lee. It doesn’t matter as long as you grow up well and happily.” She said gently as Ivy smiled and tried to change the topic.
“Having said so I also have another stepmother.” She announced as Auntie Soh was confused for a moment.
“What? Stepmother? Seu Semai is getting married again?!” Auntie Soh sounded so alarmed that her spoon on the table flew off sending Ivy laughing hysterically in front of Auntie Soh.
“Ai Lee, you better explain properly! What do you mean by another stepmother? Don’t play with this kind of matter?!” She scolded leaving Ivy laughing even more as she stood and went over to hold on her shoulder.
“It’s just Daisy. Jason’s mother.” Ivy said quietly which left Auntie Soh dumbfounded.
“Oh, that poor lady. She must be so lonely. Her mother-in-law left her, her son too and another son is so evil…” Auntie Soh sighed as Ivy gently patted her shoulders.
“Yes, so that’s why I am saying I am saving the world and have no time for classes.” Ivy did not cease the chance to tease her.
“Ivy, what nonsense of saving the world you're talking about? When it comes to education don’t spew such nonsense! You better get back to your classes!” She scolded as she stormed off into the kitchen with a fed-up expression of Ivy’s confusing jokes.
Ivy could only laugh it off as she knew even if she explained to her, Auntie Soh would never agree to her plans as Ray did. Even then Ray was not one hundred percent agreeing but she knew she had no choice. Her studies had to wait till she was sure Jeremy would be under control and thinking back on her promises to Daisy, she began to think about what excuses to use to be able to securely take a position in Landsfield while keeping her deferred semester a secret from Peter.