Charles indeed had made Ray in charge of the drug supplies that night on double loads.

“Why are the loads doubled?” Ray asked Kerela the one who instructed the underlings to add on more. Ray found out he was also Charles’ right-hand man.

“Master had instructed,” Kerela replied harshly which Ray knew better to not retaliate after seeing Jeremy’s warning. Kerela was a cold-blooded man who would kill for anything to ensure the drugs were transported accordingly. Ray had seen those who made mistakes went down in his hand one by one.

There was another partner in crime of his, Xylo who was known as an assasinator, whom Ray had yet to see. Ray was slowly getting used to the brutal ways things were getting done down there. Though he feared for his life, he knew he was a chess piece of Charles at the moment. Hence, he did not hesitate with his curiosity.

As he drove the loads that night and proceeded with the hidden plan of replacing them with fake drugs bit by bit together with Jeremy’s underlings upon arrival, that night they had no choice but to let half of the loads go to be successful. Ray knew it was better that way to gain more trust.

Ivy took the opportunity to question the two underlings in the car with Jeremy leaning onto her shoulder with occasional incoherent sentences. “What does he usually drink?” Ivy asked as she folded her arms and raised an eyebrow.

Real who was bald and seated on the passenger seat looked up at the back mirror.

“Hard liquors…” He kept his answers brief as though not want Ivy to know more.

“Was he always this drunk?” She questioned again, raising an eyebrow. This time the driver, Chiang who parked the car in a red traffic light nodded along with Real.

“Does he talk rubbish or truth when he is drunk?” They shook their head. Ivy creased her forehead finding it strange but shrugged it off.

“Where are his meetings always?” They both hesitated to answer as Chiang began to drive when the traffic light turned green.

“Is alright just let me know.” She insisted as she squinted her eyes at the rear mirror piercing at Real. Real was looking at Chiang for a signal.

“At Charles bar,” Chiang said which made Ivy give up pushing them to pry for more information.

“Must be hard on all of you. If my Uncle Charles gives him any trouble, don't hesitate to call me. After all, he is my fiance.” She sat closer to the front after pushing Jeremy to lean on the window. She handed out her name card for Real to save her number.

“I could pay you both some money. Besides, aren't you in this industry for fast cash?” At first, they both were skeptical but her bargain was too hard to resist and they both nodded in agreement when Chiang pulled up in front of the Rahi family home.

As she dragged Jeremy into the house, Daisy began to worry when they both turned up at the front door. “Oh, dear he is drunk again…” She lamented worriedly as she began to run to the kitchen.

“Don’t worry mum! I got him! Don’t worry. Blame my uncle for making him drink.” Ivy assured while half catching her breath and sustaining his weight on her. Daisy tried to help Ivy to pull him upstairs. Fortunately, Jeremy was a little sober after he threw up earlier to be able to lift his own weight.

When they reached his room, Daisy quickly wet the towel on her hand in the washroom as Ivy threw him onto his bed. In a way, it was revenge for the same thing he did to her the night before. He waved his hands with incoherent words as Daisy returned with the wet towel.

“Mum, let me. Don’t worry I am good with taking care of drunkards. My grandma used to operate a noodles shop and many came to drink.” Ivy assured her as Daisy nodded and handed her the towel.

“Watch out for his temperature. He easily catches a cold and fever thereafter.” Daisy reminded as Ivy nodded.

“Goodnight mum. Rest well.” She said before Daisy left the door half closed.

Ivy then turned around to see Jeremy lying in bed with his hands waving around. “Don’t you know how to take care of yourself?” She grumbled as she wiped his arms.

“How old are you?” She vented as she unbuttoned his shirt as he continued to wave his hands in the air. She smacked them off feeling very annoyed by it.

“Yet you're drinking your life away! What a waste!” She roughly rubbed his chest area down to his belly as he groaned.

She vented each time she wiped him and he would mumbled some incoherent words as though arguing with her. She knew it was pointless to continue to vent when he was drunk and not listening to her but she just could not control her annoyance.

“Don't you know how to keep your mouth shut when you're drunk?” She headed to wipe his face and felt the heat rising.

“You… you are the one…” He mumbled loud enough for her to hear him when she forgot about Daisy’s warning on his temperature.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

“What about me?” She retaliated in annoyance while trying to be gentler with his face.

“I want to… I want to…” He held onto her right wrist. “...care…for you…” Ivy gasped a little as he opened his dazzling eyes, gazing into hers.

“You… yes you…” He bantered as he continued to wave his hands disrupting her moment of being smitten as she blushed recalling the waltz and kiss earlier.

Ivy laughed the moment she quickly snapped back to reality. “You, care for me? For what?” Ivy regained her composure as she pushed away her flattering thoughts. However, it did keep her wondering how true it was.

“Protect you. Keep you safe… yes… safe.” He kept repeating till he tired himself and fell asleep while Ivy went to the washroom to wet the towel again.

She returned to sit by the side of his bed and placed the hot towel on his forehead before tugging him into his blanket. She sat by the bedside sighing that she finally was catching her breath at the sight of the sky. Her mind was still wondering why would he want to keep her safe as she scrolled through Melody’s page. While at it, she received a text from Ryu.

“Use my resources as you like. Jin told me about what you said to Cassie. Love you!”

She smiled as she replied to him “Love you too! See you soon!”

She recalled her paracosm and wondered how’s both grandma and Jason doing. All she dreamed of now was Jeremy in Avinha’s position. It made her miss the old paracosms though she used to fear them. She smiled remembering Phyllis and wondered if her sessions with Nick were getting better.

She then sent Nick a text on her performance idea but before she could, she saw his reply she missed.

I heard from Ryu. Definitely will do my best with the band but we are missing a drummer. Care to join us for rehearsals? Don’t worry, folklore song lists are easy. Instead of drums, let’s do percussions. The other bands I will handle them. Have you been well?

Ivy smiled as she typed her reply.

Thanks as always. I’m coping not so well but not so badly. I hope you’re good too. I will see you on the weekend for rehearsals. Make sure you still go for your sessions with Phyllis.

As she hit send, both Daisy and Lucky ran into the room and snuggled with her for a while before she dragged herself to shower in her room. When she returned to check on Jeremy, he was soundly asleep but realised his face was red.

She went to check on his temperature but was not sure if he was overheated due to liquor or fever. She went on to change his wet towel which was drying up fast.

“Can’t you just stop worrying mum? If she knew you were sick you should know better than me how she would be.” Ivy vented again and sat by the bedside helplessly to watch over him in case he woke and created worry for Daisy.

She could not fall asleep just yet as she cuddled with both dogs. She realised she missed Jason that night. It was probably because the waltz reminded her of him. Then she touched her lips recalling the kiss earlier. It was different from the one with Nick. It was passionate and filled up with so much longing that made her want more as she smiled but quickly shook her head to clear her wishful thinking.

Stupid Ivy! You’re not supposed to be dazzled by him! You’re here to trick and teach him a lesson! You’re on a mission! She scolded herself in her mind but could not help to grin occasionally at her delusional self as she teared up missing Jason.

Jeremy stirred awake, sober, and saw Ivy’s silhouette. He watched her calm, smiling self and wondered what he could do to make her smile that way because of him without knowing it actually was. It took him a while to shake himself out of his thoughts and sat up in bed instantly but his head felt like it was knocked by a truck as he groaned in pain.

“Oh, you’re finally awake…” Ivy stood to arrange the pillow at the back of him after wiping her tears away discreetly but Jeremy noticed it and chose to pretend to ignore it.

“Stop drinking and come back giving mum trouble.” She scolded as she gave him a glass of water.

“Always saying I trouble her. Speak for yourself.” She threw the wet towel at him before barging out of his room and heading to the guest room to sleep.

Though she was feisty, he was left reminiscing about the peaceful sight of her earlier knowing she must be in bed next door which was adjacent to his wondering if she was thinking of the kiss they shared earlier. He flipped over on his stomach and cuddled with both dogs while imagining he was facing her as he fell back to sleep with an unknown fever brewing.

The next morning, Ivy was due to head to Manes for the weekend since it was a Friday when she noticed Jeremy was not awake yet. Fortunately, Daisy was busy in the garden when she went to wake Jeremy.

“Hey, wake up!” She shook him but found his body was burning. “Oh no! You're down with a fever!”

She ran downstairs to quickly sneak fever tablets and a glass of warm water for Jeremy.

“Sit up. Swallow these.” She helped Jeremy who was struggling with his weak groggy self.

“What are these?” He asked while enduring his muscle pain.

“I won't poison you! You're not worth it!” She hissed as it got on her nerves.

He swallowed them knowing it was fever tablets before laying back in bed with a sneaky smile at the trick he pulled on her.

“Put on some act and recover quickly. I hid the tablets in your drawer here. I won't be around to cover for you. Stop worrying Mum.” Ivy instructed hastily before trying to leave his bed but he caught her arm and opened his eyes to look at her.

“Where are you heading to?” He asked in a serious tone as his worries grew.

“Manes. The launch is soon. I had to go to the site and there would be rehearsals for the traditional performances. I need to help out. You know what, why am I explaining to you? Earning money that’s it. For you.” She rolled her eyes in annoyance as he could not help but smile at her feisty self.

“Bring some of my guys. I will assign them. Get them to drive you there.” He insisted as he called up his guys while supporting himself on one arm in bed. Ivy welcomed it happily cause it meant she would be able to pry more information and get involved with their operation soon. That way she could find Daisy's grandsons soon.

“Deal! Oh, I would need more than just a car. I have like twenty fans following me. Or rather the marketing team people are coming along.” She folded her arms and waited for his response.

“Alright, I will send you a truck.” He joked nonchalantly as he typed his request for backup while she wanted to walk out of the room but recalled the funds' request.

“Right, funds request, three million is approved. Balance, rejected.” She announced as she slammed his bedroom door closed while he fell back to bed and chuckled to himself being smitten by Ivy’s feisty self.

Guess that’s what made my brother fall for you. You’re so feisty. He thought to himself as he let his drowsy self fall asleep, not realising he too was slowly falling for her.