Ray was brought to Charles who was anticipating his arrival. When Charles saw Ray he spun into an act.

“Oh no, my nephew what had happened to you!” He exclaimed as Ray nearly scoffed but tried to play along.

“Shouldn’t you know already?! That good-for-nothing Jeremy was already going after my family and Ivy is in danger! What are you still doing here?” Ray vented as he watched Charles’ expression change.

“Now, my boy, patience.” Charles squatted in front of Ray who was kneeling with his hands tied.

“If you’re willing to work for me as a spy, I will ensure the safety of your family, especially your precious sister,” Charles smirked as Ray suppressed his discomfort.

“What do you want me to do?” Ray asked as Charles chuckled.

“Now, we are talking. Just now was a trap anyway. Glad that he fell for it. So, from now on you would be in charge of his underlings and you would also manage the drug transportation. You were under logistics previously. I’m sure this is not alien to you.” Charles suggested as Ray finally realised Jeremy was right and perhaps Charles was trying to replace Jeremy with him.

It was clearly a win-win situation for Ray as he nodded in agreement before he drowned himself in his own thoughts and get caught. “Deal. In return, you ensure there is no harm to my family or I could let one transportation of drugs go down the drain.” Ray snapped his fingers in threat to Charles who was at first affected but remained composed.

Charles chuckled. “Indeed an Ophal. Go ahead to your station.” Charles instructed his minions to escort Ray to his new car and keys to Jeremy’s office.

On the way to Jeremy’s office, Ray called up Jeremy who was driving on the way to Ophal’s family house.

“So, I assume things go well?” Jeremy asked as Ray hummed in agreement.

“Driving to your office now,” Ray informed. “Driving to your house now,” Jeremy replied.

“She…” Ray hesitated for a moment but he knew Jeremy should know since he would be his ally from now.

“... can’t sleep in the dark due to sleep paralysis. And make sure you hold her palms to prevent her from injuring herself if you caught her waking up from a paralysis.” Ray explained as Jeremy hummed in acknowledgment. A part of Jeremy wondered how serious the situation was but he shoved it aside.

“There’s an order in the next few days. Do well to prove yourself.” Jeremy informed as Ray hummed and hung up. With that, their deal was officially effective.

As Jeremy pulled up at the car park and made his way up to the almost empty Ophal’s residence, he found Ivy sitting by the balcony in an elegant red dress caressing Daisy’s fur, staring out into nowhere. He recalled Ray’s message earlier about her paralysis and wondered if she woke from one.

“Morning… Looks stunning. Fancy to join me for breakfast?” He asked nonchalantly as though nothing had happened but Ivy was lost deep in her thoughts that she did not realise Jeremy’s arrival.

Jeremy noticed she was as though in a trance as he squatted in front of her but she did not move an inch other than caressing Daisy’s fur. He gently held her hand to check if there were injuries. She opened them up as he felt wetness on his palm.

When he registered it was blood, she had already walked passed him with her luggage and Daisy in tow, treating him to a silent war as she headed down in the lift without him.

She realised the injury only when she entered the lift as she shook her head trying to clear her overwhelmed mind before fetching some tissues to stop her blood.

Wake up, Ivy. You’re alone now. Head over to see Mum first then head in to work. Ray will be fine since “he” came. It’s time to teach him the lesson and help Mum to look for her grandchildren. Ivy told herself, referring to “he” as Jeremy.

When he rushed down wanting to help her load her luggage, she swiftly did it herself before driving off leaving him looking stupid, standing by the empty parking lot with a plaster for her injured palm. He rushed to his car and caught up with Ivy, heading to Rahi’s family house.

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As Ivy alighted from the car, she took a good look at the Rahi’s residence reminding her of her first time here with Jason and meeting their Grandma. A bittersweet feeling hit her right when Daisy flew out of the main door to hug her as she blinked away her tears.

“Welcome, baby…” Daisy greeted as Ivy forced a smile.

“I will be staying here from now on…” Ivy announced as Daisy nodded but noticed her rough palm which Daisy wanted to question but Jeremy walked past them and threw a plaster at Ivy.

“Fix that with this else your brothers might think you’re abused.” He said while entering the house with her luggage. Before she could retaliate, Lucky ran out and greeted her as she squatted and patted him while she heard a scratch from inside her car.

She caught a glimpse of the plaster which had fallen onto the ground. She picked it up and kept it in her pocket before opening the car’s door letting Daisy out and watched both dogs running in the lawn, greeting each other.

She managed a giggle. “Let’s enter the house first. I will show you to your room.” Daisy urged noticing Ivy’s mood was lifted. Ivy nodded and stepped into the house, heading to the second floor with Daisy instantly.

The first room she saw was Jason’s. Jeremy waited for her in front of the guest room but she had already entered Jason’s room, treating Jeremy as though he was invisible. Daisy could only stand outside Jason’s room as she could not bring herself to step it ever since Jason passed away.

Jeremy was growing impatient and Ivy was getting on his nerves for disrespecting Daisy. He did not want to watch Ivy break down as it would definitely make him give himself away and most importantly he did not want to watch Daisy worry.

“Princess if you could hurry, just head down for breakfast first and save your sappy moments for later…” Jeremy forced himself to be cruel as Daisy held his hand and stopped him from continuing.

“Let her be… She is still coping. We all are…” Daisy said as she turned and headed downstairs, blinking her tears away.

Ivy was in Jason’s room once but the fond memories stuck in her mind like it was just yesterday. It felt nostalgic that she could still picture Jason’s silhouette by the window panel or lying on the sofa. Drowning in her own thoughts made her close off any distractions from Jeremy who was pestering her for breakfast.

Jeremy then stepped inside with a new plaster as he tried to hold up her palms only for her to fling her arms away from him. She was furious at him for cutting short her memory of Jason and the room.

“Treat that first!” Jeremy bellowed as she turned and snarled at him.

“I am living here. And I don’t want to treat them first. Try me. I am a rebel.” She retorted before heading to the guest room and carried her luggage over.

“You know you would only hurt my mother… Think before you act. She had not been able to bring herself into this room ever since he left and you had to just step in like you own the place!” Jeremy vented as Ivy paused with her act and thought for a moment.

He was right but she did not want to give in. Before she could retaliate, he had stomped downstairs in anger. In actual fact, he was disguising his concerns for her and avoiding giving himself, which wanted to protect her, away.

She could not decide where to stay at the moment as she left her luggage outside of Jason’s room and quietly took a peep into the guest room.It was next to Jeremy’s room but a little far from Daisy’s which was next to Jason’s. She stepped inside to see the simple fresh linens and brightly lit window direction, knowing probably it was only right to stay in the guest room.

Her phone vibrated with a message from Marcel distracting her from her thoughts for a moment. Marcel’s text was informed that the meeting arrangements were already made. She replied with an acknowledgment on the way out of the guest room only to find Daisy came with a tray of sandwiches and milk.

“Oh, I actually wanted to head down to the office…” She said midway as Daisy smiled.

“Have a bite here. I know you don’t want to see him for a while.” Daisy led her to the side table.

“I… I will stay in the guest room.” Ivy informed as Daisy passed her the glass of milk.

“It’s alright. You should stay in Jason’s room if you feel like it. I’m fine with that.” Daisy said in a composed manner though she was suppressing her sadness.

“Mum, I’m sorry I didn’t think of you when I stepped in. I just felt nostalgic. Don’t worry I can stay in the guest room and occasionally visit his room.” Ivy reassured her as Daisy passed her the plate of sandwiches.

“I leave it up to you… Sorry if Jeremy is too harsh…Don’t mind that boy.” Daisy comforted her as Ivy nodded.

“It’s alright. Besides, I will need to teach him a lesson. I’m collecting my bills from him to be paid by him later.” Ivy said in agitation which somehow amused Daisy as she gently rubbed Ivy’s back.

“I promise to take good care of you. Don’t forget to make time and speak with your stepdad. He had been looking forward to it.” Daisy reminded as Ivy nodded while finishing up her breakfast which satisfied her famished self.

“Alright, I will. But for now, I really have to head to the office first. A rough day ahead.” Ivy said wanting to rush off.

“Ivy…” Daisy stopped her as she pulled Ivy in for a hug.

“You’ve done well. You will be alright. Everyone will be.” Daisy comforted as Ivy gently patted her back. Though those words were to comfort her, Ivy felt it was more of comforting Daisy herself.

“Don’t worry mum. We will make it through this together.” Ivy comforted her in return.