“Yes. I hope he would work out with Phyllis though. They have been hanging out last I checked.” Ivy grinned as Marcel could not help but smile happily for Nick.

“Well, tell me again about how things are with your so-called fiance and another fiance. You seem to be very popular these days.” He tried to change the topic as he chuckled lightly.

She hummed a little while pondering. “The other fiance is delusional. Soon to be in hot pot.” Marcel chuckled as she giggled.

“The so-called fiance… Well, if you say now, then it's not good cause I realised every action I take he bears the consequences on my behalf. I felt bad… Cause from the very beginning he must have made a pact with Ray to keep watch over me. He did not have that bad intention that everyone had been stereotyping him with but instead, it’s the old nemesis, Kyle whom we should be more wary of.” She put on a serious tone as he nodded solemnly acknowledging the update.

“Good.” He said briefly as Ivy smiled with a mischievous motive to lighten up the mood a little. She was missing Jeremy and worried about him but she knew she should also spend time with Marcel since he was willing to open up more.

“Speaking of which, how was Jason like when he was about to confess to me or do you know of the times he was about to tell my dad about me?” Marcel smiled at her question.

“Anxious. Very.” He said briefly again as Ivy laughed.

“You're not helping with that kind of answer.” She teased as he began to slowly open up to her and explained in detail about those days during the ride.

However, before they could unpack to fish, their fishing trip was cut short when Kyle successfully found her and pestered her to turn up for a socialising event that night. At the sight of Real and Jeremy’s other mates standing in front of her, ready to fight the others, made Ivy did not want to give anyone of them more trouble, so she agreed to turn up.

“Ivy…” Marcel called out to her with a sense of urgency.

“Don’t worry. I have the boys guarding me. I will be fine.” She promised Marcel before she left with Real and the other guards. A part of him was worried when he was left alone to fish but he knew Ivy was in good hands as he prepared to fish and indulge in his thoughts of all that had happened.

“Where exactly are we heading to?” Ivy asked Real in the car.

“A welcoming party event for Kyle for joining the company today…” Real explained as Ivy nodded.

“Tell Jeremy to not come. Stay by my side closely when we are there.” Ivy instructed as Real nodded.

Knowing that she had Real by her side, she was at ease to drink to her heart that night for the first time as she had no work to care for and she was in safe hands.

“Ms. Ophal, a pleasure to be seeing you here tonight…” One of the business acquaintances greeted her but she knew he was just a nobody who wanted insider news.

“Good to see you too in this event. Anticipating your partake in the IPO perhaps?” She gleefully greeted him with a hint of mocking.

The acquaintance quickly chuckled and waved at her comments. “I wouldn’t dare. Looks like there’s an announcement to be made tonight… Haven’t you heard of it?” He asked as everyone’s attention was directed to the stage when Mr. Oshia walked up with Charles.

Kyle was approaching her but she simply ignored him as she stood closer to Real and finished her third flute of champagne.

“Drink slow honey. We don’t want you to be slurring your words on stage.” Kyle whispered as Ivy waved at the waiter and took another two before returning the empty flute she was holding. Kyle was stopping her when she drank down from her free hand and returned to the waiting waiter the empty flute.

She raised an eyebrow at him when she used her free hand to take the other flute of champagne from her restricted hand and drank another half in front of him. Kyle could only watch her in agitation as whenever he wanted to touch her she would slap his hands away furiously with a smile, pretending to be drunk in disguise to those around them.

“Attention… Attention... “ Charles said over the mic which set everyone to face him.

“Thank you for your attendance tonight. We are glad to be hosting all of you. As you know the management had been changed overnight. Before we welcome the new director, let’s also give an applause to my beloved niece who is the outgoing director for a superb performance.” Charles announced as everyone gave Ivy applause when the spotlight shone on her. She nodded and smiled politely.

“Before we invite the new director on stage to say a few words, I have another news for potential investors. Standing right next to me is my very good friend, Mr. Oshia. He shall join us as an investor effective today. We look forward to future investors striving for the very best of our IPO!” Charles announced as a round of applause resounded followed by cheers of champagne.

Ivy down her champagne once again. She knew this must be the deeds of Jeremy and Ray behind the scenes.

Kyle was beginning to fidget and panic at Ivy’s rogue self. He tried to hold her but her snarls terrified him. “Let’s without further ado invite our new Director, Mr. Kyle Oshia on stage to give us a few words!” Charles announced as Kyle reluctantly dragged himself up on stage. Along the way, he did not notice Ivy had already gotten herself a new flute of champagne.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

When he stood at the mic facing her, Ivy purposely waited for him to do so before finishing up her full flute of champagne to provoke him as she smirked thereafter. It took him a while to focus back on his speech but his first few words ended up in gibberish stutters. Ivy raised her eyebrow to mock him as she went to put back her empty flute of champagne and surprised Kyle with a new flute.

Satisfied with his reaction, she clanked her champagne flute. “Well, well, let’s just cheer to the new Director! He is just too nervous to speak! Cheers!” Ivy announced as laughter was heard before everyone cheered to Kyle who was half furious at Ivy who was provoking him as she emptied her champagne flute again. This time round she could feel she was high and wobbly that Real had to stabilise her discreetly from behind.

“Ms. Ophal, you’re having a little too much…” Real whispered but got interrupted. “That’s why I have you…” Her words were slurred but luckily she was whispering as the sight of Charles approaching her made her instantly smile happily. She quickly grabbed another champagne and walked over to meet him.

“Uncle, thank you for a spectacular takeover… Here’s to thank you.” She raised the flute and drank it one shot as Charles smiled, believing her happy self was genuine.

“My beloved niece, slow down… I know you must be very happy to finally not need to worry about the company completely. Uncle promises you. I will do my best. Make sure you continue with your studies and return to help me by then…” When she heard that, she could not help but laugh. She felt insulted though she knew he sincerely meant it.

“I will. Don’t worry… Enjoy the night!” Ivy said to Charles before wobbly walking off the entire event with Real trailing behind her.

Along the way home, Charles’ insults kept ringing in her head as she forced herself to close her eyes and endured her tears. She particularly missed Ray at that moment, knowing how much he was protecting the family even when he was so far away.

Real helped her into the house when Daisy greeted them. “Oh dear… Just how much had she drank?” Daisy asked worriedly.

“I will help to send her to her room…” Real offered as Daisy let him hold Ivy’s one side while her on the other side up the stairs but Ivy flung off her arms in front of Jeremy’s room only to fall onto the ground and begin to cry.

“Ivy… Ivy, it’s alright. You’re home…” Daisy tried to coax her but to no avail as Real and Daisy heard movements downstairs sending Real sprinting downstairs to check.

“Mummy…” Ivy whined in the midst of her sobs. “Yes, sweetie?” Daisy coaxed as she held Ivy in her arms.

“Mummy… I want my brother…. I missed Ray…” She cried in Daisy's arms as Daisy gently patted her while both dogs whined worriedly by their side. Daisy knew Ivy was finally letting go of all of what she had held on to for too long.

“I’m such a loser for destroying all that my father had built…” Ivy vented.

“I’m all alone again! I can’t protect my brothers well! I had to give up the house. Now the company! My mother is dying… my mother awww…” Ivy held tightly onto her chest where she felt a tremendous ache.

“I’m such an unlucky girl! Stay away from me!” Ivy blurted out as Daisy forced herself from breaking down listening to her vent. It broke her heart to learn about Permisla’s impending death this way.

Daisy wiped Ivy’s tears away as she accompanied Ivy and tried comforting her but to no avail. Ivy continued to sob and vented in gibberish when Daisy struggled to control her own emotions.

“I even caused the one I loved to die in an accident… I’m so useless… I couldn’t even stand up to fight for the one I love… Even now… All my rebels… All that I do against my Uncle…” Ivy pounded on her heart, recalling the insults earlier.

“Ivy, it’s fine… it’s fine…” Daisy persuaded.

“No, it’s not… Do you know why? I just began to be daring enough to love again. The one who had been quietly protecting me from the very start. In disguise… Why? Just why am I so weak? Everybody has to protect me! Yet, Jeremy is always the one who got beaten up…” Ivy ended up wailing to Daisy who was in tears as she struggled to coax Ivy who was like a child who had lost a fight.

Jeremy who got home from his tasks overheard their conversation. He finally knew the reason she was so sad on a particular night as she cried for reasons she could not tell him. There was really nothing he could do at that moment but to keep her safe as promised to Ray who was guarding his back end. He did not want Daisy to feel bad any further either so he let Real leave before he rushed upstairs.

“Jeremy…” Daisy called out as Jeremy held his mother for a moment.

“Let me take care of her…” Jeremy said solemnly as Daisy nodded and let him carry her into his room.

He finally got to experience how it was when he was drunk and how tedious and difficult it was for them to take care of him especially when the drunkard kept fidgeting and was obnoxious. His heart ached recalling her wails earlier. He knew he was right about her looking tough outside but she was all crumbly deep down.

When she finally fell asleep, he was so exhausted that he nearly slept by the bedside on the floor when Daisy walked in.

He pulled him in for a hug on the ground as both dogs jumped into bed to rest beside Ivy.

“Mum… I want to protect her for good. Would you allow me? This time is different…” Jeremy pleaded with Daisy who was equally teary.

“I know, son… I know… She needs you the most now especially her mother’s condition…” Daisy reminded as Jeremy nodded. “Thank you, mum…” Jeremy said in a shaky voice as he urged her to head to bed.

It was not till the sky began to roar its thunder which startled the couple awake again.

Jeremy quickly went to close the windows while Ivy sat up in bed trying to endure the piercing headache which just would not go away.

“Better?” Jeremy asked when he returned to hold her in bed.

She nodded and snuggled with him. “I miss you…” Her voice cracked as he gently combed her hair.

“I’m here as promised. It’s alright Vivi… But you really shouldn’t have drank so much…” Jeremy reminded her when they pulled away as she held her head trying to recall what happened.

“It was probably because of the last insult he said to me. He told me to head on to study and return to help him again…” She scoffed as tears welled up in her eyes.

“Who does he think he is?” Ivy scolded as Jeremy held her close and rubbed her back to soothe her.

“It’s fine… You don’t have to immediately retaliate and it’s never an excuse to drink so much…” He emphasised it this time as Ivy could barely recall what happened when she got home.

“Did mum…” She tried to question when he made her face him.

“Yes, she was having a hard time trying to coax her baby girl. I understand why you cried that night. I promise I will keep your mother’s condition a secret no matter what the circumstances are.” He comforted as she buried her face into his chest and sobbed openly.

She unexpectedly caught herself blurting all her deepest secrets while being drunk. However, she was glad as she had the chance to finally let go of all that she had withheld freely with Jeremy.

“Promise me to not drink so much again. You’re holding a lot of valuable secrets…” He sternly emphasised when she calmed down as she nodded in his arms.

“Let’s visit her this weekend. Together?” He asked as she nodded and held onto him gratefully.