As Ivy sat in bed later in the early morning, awake from stirring, her soul was for once at peace watching Jeremy asleep soundly by her side. She realised she had not been dreaming of her paracosm lately and they both were getting better sleep quality. He even was snoring which made her quickly record it as she giggled.

Never in my dreams would I have imagined you with me like this… What would we do when Daddy is awake? So much had happened and changed… Ivy thought to herself as she touched his lips and was startled by his sudden act of grabbing and kissing her finger.

“Couldn’t sleep? I thought you would have been very tired, Vivi? Looks like we can level up the practice again?” He teased while opening his eyes to catch her sitting up in bed and grinning at him shyly before shaking her head.

He sat up to wrap her in his arms under the blanket. “Remember the gift I mentioned earlier?” He asked as she looked up at him. “I thought just now was…” She said as he chuckled while reaching out for his laptop.

“Nope… Come, have a look at this.” He opened up the designs he was drafting on the pair of dragon and phoenix.

She was entranced by the beauty of the scenery and the majestic features of the pair.

“This would make good skits for the town…” She said admirably as she swiped a few slides and finally landed on the last one.

“And this… I hope you can see this materialise into real statues at the phase two site.” He told her as the breathtaking pair were entangled in a dance that would definitely turn into the town’s mascot which every visitor would want a picture with. The design captivated her making her cry unexpectedly as she had never imagined him to use the mating dance as the phase two highlight.

He pulled her into his embrace and kissed her forehead. It reminded her of the paracosm she had just missed. It was the exact scene she had told him and he knew the significance of the dance.

“I asked you to marry before this… Well, it was fake back then but I won’t ask you to again…” She met his gaze with questioning eyes when he said so.

“Cause I want to give you a chance while I’m away to date someone else… At least once…” She shook her head at his request but he forced her to listen more.

“If we ever… Ever got back after that, know that I will claim what’s mine by then.” He made the promise as she was glad to hear that. She decided to kiss him to seal the deal. She knew there and then it was a proposal again and she must make the statues materialise.

To the public, it was just statues which are targeted at couples but only Jeremy and her would know the true meaning of the auspicious pair.

Kyle was furious with his repeated failures in trying to gain Ivy. Despite the various advice from the elders to give up, he persisted. The reason was simple; he refused to admit defeat not having her the first time and it was his first failure.

Therefore, he intended to use the same method she tackled her issues and met with Melody the next night. He was smart to trace the illicit borrowing business that led to Melody’s family restaurant. He waited for Melody to leave the shop only then to ambush her so to not alert her parents.

“Hello there, sweetie?” Kyle greeted when Melody stopped track and realised who it was calling out to her from behind. Before she could do anything, Kyle’s minions had already restrained her and muffled her mouth and nose with a chloroform-soaked cloth before carrying her into their van.

Ivy on the other hand was sparring with Jeremy at home while Daisy was out on a date again with Peter who was in town. Jeremy decided to integrate his training into the sparring that night as he pushed her to the ground and pinned her while she furiously fought him. It was a good improvement he noted as he inched closer while his eyes darkened.

At first, she was gripping tightly on his arms, trying to not squeal but when she slowly let go of him, he knew she was no longer fearing. He met her angry gaze before wanting to launch a punch at him which he caught midair.

“Good job Vivi! I think you have officially conquered your fear…” He praised her as she loosened her grip on his hand and began to catch her breath in relief. She blinked away her stinging tears of joy as he pulled her up when her phone rang.

The terror grew back in Ivy’s eyes when she saw the caller ID as she shuddered in fear. Jeremy nodded at her to pick up the call from Kyle on loudspeaker while standing by her side.

“Hello, sweetie… My, my, you’re finally picking up my call.” Kyle’s voice startled Jeremy as he turned to watch Ivy standing nervously awaiting for Kyle’s mischief.

“What do you want?” Ivy sternly asked trying to hide her fear.

“Oh, if I were you, I wouldn’t want to get angry so fast…” Kyle warned as Ivy could hear a commotion from his background.

“Oh, right on time! Looks like your little mini Ms. PR and Marketing is awake… Come here sweetie, say hello to your director and tell her to oblige with my terms… Else I don’t know what I will do to you tonight…” Kyle warned as Melody squirmed wanting to kick him and release her hand which was tied up when he removed the towel stuffed in her mouth.

“Ivy don't come! It's a trap!” Before Melody could say more the sound of her being slapped was heard and he stuffed back the towel into her mouth.

“Kyle, what exactly do you want? Leave her alone and come for me!” Ivy furiously walked out of the sparring room before Jeremy stopped her. He shook his head and made her wait longer.

“Oh simple… Dress pretty and come to the location I will let you know. We shall announce our engagement to the press. Else, I repeat… I wouldn’t know what I will do to your beloved mini Ms. PR. By the way, while at it, I shall make use of her platform and post about our engagement news first. Don’t try to do anything stupid else I will release the record of her family used to loan money unsolicitedly.” At the sound of that, Ivy received a notification on a post on Melody’s update on Ryu’s fans page.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

Ivy closed her eyes in frustration at his threat earlier but half smiling at Kyle’s stupidity.

“Fine, send me the location.” She agreed and hung up. “Vivi… What are you planning…” Ivy held her hand up to stop Jeremy as she dialed Ryu’s number.

“Sister! I was about to call you. What was that about?!” Ryu’s panicked voice resounded the room.

“Ryu, listen. Melody is in danger. I need you to head to the address I will send and rescue her but I will tell you when. I will be there to distract them all with the press. When I start making my announcement, you escape with Melody. Jeremy will lead you…” Ivy instructed as Ryu, fortunately, hung up in agreement.

“Hold on…” Ivy knew Jeremy needed an explanation from her but she had work to do. She quickly called Marcel to alert him of the PR situation and to prepare a statement to clarify tomorrow after she made her announcement later. She did not tell him yet of the gist he was to clarify but he knew Ivy could handle the situation.

“Jere, I think it’s time we take a long break from all of these power fights isn’t it?” She asked when he parked the car while arriving at the park after thinking hard during the entire drive.

“Vivi… I trust you know the best. I would ensure Ryu and Melody are fine.” Jeremy said as she smiled.

“Keep your phone connected. I will listen in.” Jeremy assured her as she nodded.

She headed to centre of the pavilion in Lakes Garden where she could see plenty of press gathering and instantly saw Kyle stood in the middle of the pavilion waiting for her to walk up. He was mesmerised by her beauty that night as she purposely chose a red flawy maxi dress accompanied by her usual four-inch heels.

This time she did not fear him but her anger was flaring at the sight of him. On the way up the pavilion, she could tell Jeremy and Ryu had met up from the silhouette behind the trees, leaving her at ease in handling the situation in front of her.

“Honey, you look dashing tonight.” Kyle greeted as she squinted her eyes at him.

“Save the show. Is my people safe?” She got directly into business as he showed her a recording of Melody being held up on a chair and tied up.

“Where is this?” She questioned as he studied her reactions but could not comprehend her motive.

“Well, if you’re not spilling, then let’s forget about it and let me teach you a lesson.” Ivy threatened as he smirked.

“Nowhere far. Just behind near the trash collecting section of the park. Having said so, now you owe me this favor to the press who had been waiting. I will release her once you clarify.” Kyle said while leaning closer to her face as Ivy instinctively moved away. She took a deep breath before putting on a smile to face the press.

“The trash collecting area! Let’s head there!” Jeremy alerted Ryu who immediately knew where it was as both men ran over only to find themselves facing a group of Kyle’s minions.

“I can handle them, focus on rescuing your girlfriend,” Jeremy said as Ryu was worried Jeremy would only injure himself in the end fighting six of them.

“I went through training with my brother too. I can help you out a little…” Ryu assured him before stepping forward to launch his first attack together with Jeremy. Melody whose mouth was stuffed with a cloth could only scream from her seat as she was struggling to loosen the strings tied around her wrist.

Deep down she regretted ever letting Ryu go even if it was temporary. She was not afraid for herself anymore but was more afraid Ryu would get injured severely and lose him forever. It became her determination to forcefully push away the ropes tying her wrist even if it was injuring her.

“Apologies to all of you for having to come this late. I know Mr. Oshia here had promised you a clarification…” She paused at the sound of crashing as she turned her head around to look out for the noise before Kyle pulled her arm and made her concentrate on the announcement.

“Confirm it or else…” Kyle threatened as she smiled cunningly at him.

“As I was saying… The post was valid. The source of the post was genuine.” Her announcement made Kyle relaxed a little as he smiled at the camera while tugging his arm around her waist.

“However…” Ivy pulled his hand away from her waist.

“It was posted under a threat by Mr. Oshia to the owner of the account, Lily Melody Ting. As you can hear the commotion behind you, that is where the owner was held captive. To conclude this, I am also under the threat of Mr. Oshia. The news of my engagement is invalid…” Before she could finish her speech, her adrenaline was pushing her to run towards the commotion as the crashing was getting louder. The entire press mob was half-pressing Kyle for clarification while another half was running with Ivy toward the trash collection section.

As Ivy arrived while gasping for air, her heart ached at the sight of Ryu and Jeremy being injured. The other minions wanted to escape but the press who had alerted the patrolling police along the way, came to their rescue.

Ryu crawled towards Melody as Ivy ran up to help Melody loosen her ropes.

“You’re alright Melody? Are you injured?” Ivy questioned as Melody could only wrap her arms around Ivy and cried. “It’s alright… It’s fine now… You’re safe.” Ivy comforted noticing her injured wrists.

“I’m sorry… I’m very sorry, Ivy…” Melody wailed as Ivy shook her head.

“Melody, listen. It’s not your fault. I have clarified with the press. So don’t worry anymore. I will handle the PR. You go ahead with Ryu and get yourself treated alright? Rest more...” Ivy suggested as Melody nodded obediently.

When Melody met with Ryu’s gaze, she could not help herself from crying in his arms while Ivy went to check on Jeremy. A policeman was checking and interrogating him with the press listening in.

“Ouch… That must have stung!” Ivy inspected his deep cuts while he quickly wrapped her in his jacket. “Keep warm…” He said thoughtfully as she took the chance to clarify to the onlooking press. She leaned closer to kiss him which the press quickly took a picture of.

“Thank you…” She whispered to him as he smiled knowing this was her tactic with the press.

“Now, get that treated and I will need to handle some official matters.” Ivy urged him before he tightened his grip on her arm.

“Charles will not be happy… Take Real and Chiang with you.” He insisted.

“I will take Real. I will leave Chiang to drive you all to the hospital…” She assured him as she stole one last kiss and let Chiang take over as she went to deal with the officials with Marcel turning up on the scene to assist her.

“Dearest press. Sorry to trouble you so late with my love life but as you can see my fiance has not changed but… the company will be changing...” Everyone gasped at her surprised announcement.

“With phase two launching soon, we are in fact in deep trouble with our cash flow. Therefore the management had unanimously voted for the company to proceed with an initial public offering. With this, I announce that Mr. Kyle Oshia will officially take the post of acting director to facilitate this operation while I, Ivy Ophal officially announce my resignation as director. Rest assured, I am still a shareholder alongside my brothers. As we prepare for the shift, we seek support from all interested parties to come forward and I on behalf of the Ophals, look forward to your cooperation.” Ivy's announcement took everyone including Marcel and Jeremy by surprise but it was already part of her plan.

She had no choice but to bring it forward and soon looked forward to some free time to enjoy with Jeremy. Jeremy knew there and then what she meant in the car before alighting. He had too many questions to ask her but he knew he could only keep them till days later as she gradually handed over all official matters.