“Let’s toast to the good deeds of Kyle… Cheers!!!” Charles toasted as the leader of the Front Dragon gang spoke next. “ Thank you, Kyle! You’re so great and our gang will not be able to live without your help!”

Another boss of a different gang spoke up. “Yes, thank you for opening up more and more clubs so we can transfer the money! Cheers!”

“Not forgetting the mall we all are investing in! We cannot wait for the day it is completed!” Kyle cheered as he lifted the black sack and toast to everyone only to be greeted by armed policemen at every gang leader who had spoken ealier. There was also a group pointing at him as he lifted his hands in the air.

“Hey,… my love, what games are we playing now?” Kyle asked while chuckling as he walked closer to Ivy who was gripping tightly on her right palm while slowly retreating.

“Surprise!” Ivy said loudly out of fear as she snarled at him when he wanted to catch her hand only to hesitate at last minute thinking it was a joke. However, Charles being always ready, had a knife pointing at Ivy who was half expecting it as every family member of hers was terrified for her. Jeremy could not take it as he nearly stepped forward only for Ray to stop him.

“You’re after me for destroying your mighty plans. Don’t touch her. Let. Her. Go. She isn’t one of the ones I loved like before.” Jeremy said behind gritted teeth as his eyes grew darker as Charles scoffed.

Ivy’s eyes reddened in reaction though a part of her knew it must be an act but his words were so genuine that she could not tell if she was hurt by it or by the force Charles was putting on her neck.

Peter too made an appearance. “If you dare hurt her, I will drag you to hell with me…” Peter warned as Ivy could feel she was dragged by Charles by her neck as she reluctantly followed Charles’ moves out of the hall while everyone trailed slowly in front of them. Charles was heading to the stairs as he dragged Ivy up to the highest floor.

When they reached the top near the edge of the building, Charles knew he was at a dead end.

“Let her go!” Jeremy bellowed as Charles chuckled.

“You said you didn’t care… What’s this facade about?” Charles raised an eyebrow as Ivy met Jeremy’s gaze with blurring vision and shook her head discreetly to tell him to not overreact any further.

“Charles just what are you after? You have all you ever wanted. The freedom to do all you want… I have…” Before Peter could continue, Charles raged at him.

“All I ever wanted?! Have you ever thought that those words were the same I thought of you and Patricia had all I ever wanted. Fame, success, family, children, the one you loved so dearly…” Charles flung the knife repeatedly in his hand in Peter’s direction which made Ivy afraid he would fly the knife at Peter for real at some point.

She was keeping her eyes around her surroundings and noticed if she was to flip Charles back down they would both be safe but she needed to catch his timing when he was weary.

“We could give you all you want again after this. Just come back down…” Peter pleaded from his wheelchair.

Charles scoffed. “All I wanted? Then what about bringing back Permisla back to life?” His sudden demand made everyone’s eyes grow wider in surprise as Ivy kept her gaze fixated on Peter who was disappointed. Ivy’s mind began to work out the entire chaos was probably because of her dead biological mother.

“You knew I loved her! Only because you were the eldest that she could marry you… Ai Lee, she should have been mine!” Charles yelled as Ivy could feel Charles’ attention was back at her.

“What’s wrong with me dictating who she marries? She should have been my daughter… She should have been the labor of my love with Permisla! Not you! NEVER YOU! I could just die to have you take everything away from me!” Charles yelled as Ivy daringly shifted herself to face Charles sideway. It frustrated her for blaming everyone but himself of the outcome he had came to.

“THEN DIE!” Ivy yelled as everyone was worried for her. Jeremy shot a warning look at her as she grew more aggressive.

“Then die… Why aren’t you dying?! Why don’t you bring me to die together?” Ivy questioned as Charles began to realise what Ivy whom he held so dearest closest to loving her mother was asking.

“Ai Lee! Don’t!” Peter pleaded from his end as tears rolled down Ivy’s cheek unwillingly knowing Charles was probably just saying and would not dare to jump. However, it still hurt her to hear of his accusation of her family after all that he had done.

“You’re so dissatisfied with all you had! You lost the attention of Grandpa and Grandma! You lose out to your older brother in love! Yet now you lose your entire empire! You even destroyed all that I built with my hands over the past months… Do you have any idea what you took AWAY FROM ME?!” Ivy vented through her gritted teeth while he still pointed the knife at her but her gaze was always fixated on one person, Jeremy.

“My career… My youth so be it but then you had to go and take my family… My loved ones and their loved ones…” Jeremy’s gaze softened at her words as their intense gaze grew blurry.

“How is this fair? How is this called selfless as a sacrifice? Was it worth it to bring everyone down and live all by yourself? Even if I am to be born as your daughter, I would rather die!” Ivy did not expect an answer but she knew she had helped Jeremy ask all that he wanted.

“Then let’s just die! There’s nothing left in this world worth living for…” Ivy could feel Charles's arms were loosening when she shut her eyes trying to dispel away the look of Jeremy’s terrified look as she turned around to find Charles smiling in her blurring vision. His smile took her by surprise before she could flipped him backward to safety.

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“You’re the exact crazy your mother was. Beautiful… So, beautiful…” Charles admired before he laughed heartily and pierced the knife at Ivy’s abdomen.

She could not react in time in the midst of being shocked as Charles continued to laugh and pulled the knife off her before falling off the building.

Ivy’s chaotic mind was trying to register the sudden events that she could not feel any pain. She could not hear anything all of a sudden except a sharp beep sound muffling everyone’s screams around her.

Uncle… No, where did he go? What’s in front of me? Uncle… where’s he? What is happening? I was injured but it doesn’t hurt… What’s going on? Ivy questioned herself over and over in a daze.

She could only feel her body pulled backward by Jeremy to turn around before she pressed on her bleeding wound while being covered with Jeremy’s coat. He had no clue she was attacked by Charles’ small knife before jumping to his death.

My wound… Let’s hide it for now… She thought to herself.

“You’re alright, Vivi?! It’s fine. It’s not your fault. It’s all fine now.” Jeremy tried to calm her down but his frantic actions made her teared up as she slowly registered what happened. The terror in her eyes terrified Jeremy of the after-effects of her mental health that he covered her ears before they heard a loud thud from down the building and wailings began to fill the silence of the night.

What’s going on? What’s happening, Ivy? Uncle? She wanted to turn around but Jeremy shook his head as his eyes reddened.

Uncle’s dead. You should be happy Ivy. But what is this guilt? I caused Daddy to lose a brother. I promised there would not be another life sacrifice. It’s all my fault…

“I… I… “ Ivy forced her eyes to shut tightly as she cried and endured the pain in her heart while he held her.

“Is he behind me?” She asked as Jeremy pulled her close to his heart.

“It’s not your fault. It’s never your fault…” Jeremy comforted as Ivy began to sob even more. It broke Peter’s heart to look at Ivy blaming herself due to his brother’s decision.

“No… He can’t just die like this! He can’t… He should be in jail!” Ivy lashed out amid her sobs as Jeremy tried to help her remain composed.

“Ivy, listen…” He said as Ivy was still trying to regain her control.

“Ivy!” At the sound of his stern voice, she stared right through his gaze as he caressed her cheeks and smiled.

“You have done us all proud. You’re the strongest I have ever been with didn’t I tell you so? Look at what we have achieved?” He wiped away her springing tears as she began to register the reason he was telling her all this.

The sight of the policemen made her cry even more unwillingly.

“No… Don’t leave me at this time, Jeremy. No…” She shook her head in denial.

“I have to... I have things I need to settle. You know that. You knew from the start we were heading here… Till then, I will leave you with Ray and I have little surprises awaiting you.” He reminded her gently as he slipped the engagement ring back to her middle finger.

She sobbed and clenched her heart recalling all the memories they had with each other. Only then she knew how much he meant to her but she failed to register his last sentence.

“I love you, Ivy.” She shook her head as he spoke. He could only kiss her one last time as she broke down in his arms, slowly feeling him slipping away bit by bit as it ached her heart.

I love you too Jeremy. Words cannot describe just how much you mean to me… Come back… Just come back… Ivy wailed in mind but it was to no avail.

She forced herself to open her eyes and kept them fixated on him but the welling tears were blurring her vision that she spent the longest time in her life ever, enduring all the pain overwhelming her in one shot while closing her eyes as she fisted her hands till they bled.

She could not bear watching Jeremy being escorted by the police away. Instead, she opened her eyes when a pair of familiar sturdy arms around her.

Ray…

She was half glad at the sight of him and grateful but the heartache of losing Jeremy just because Charles decided to commit suicide made her mind spiraled back to the other members in the team. She had to keep them protected as she already had plans in her mind.

She forced herself to stand and slowly made her way back down to the reception floor. “Ivy where are you going?!” Ray called out as he chased her down the hall.

She did not expect to see Kyle but she wanted to take the opportunity to seek revenge so she spoke to the policemen to have some time with Kyle.

“You only have fifteen minutes.” A police inspector instructed as they left the couple alone and he stood smirking at Ivy with a sight full of lust.

Ivy headed in front of him.

“This is for Jason.” She slapped him on his left cheek and he flinched in pain.

“This is for my family and the Rahi.” She punched him on the right cheek before wanting to lift a chair to smash him but was halted by Ray and Uncle James’ voices.

“Ai Lee!” They called her in unison as they knew the vengeance in her eyes and the fiery anger she emitted resonated with everyone in the room. She stopped mid-way as the policemen dragged Kyle away and his other minions.

“Leave the entire gang alone… The leader is who the culprit is but he had just committed suicide.” She pleaded with the policemen.

“The rest of them were only earning a living… they followed orders. Now, I will take them in for those who need a job and I will help them to live earning decent earnings without any more illegal and dangerous trades. For those who want to leave, they may. We hope and will ensure if you need any help, we are always here for you.” Ivy spoke to the entire hall of employees who used to be separated by gangs and fought each other were grateful for Ivy’s offer.

The entire gang bowed to her as she felt Ray’s sturdy arms by her shoulder and she gratefully leaned onto them. Her eyes darted around the room looking for Peter.

“Dad… I need to explain to him…” She tried to make her way to him but she felt dizzy when she began to feel the sharp pain from her abdomen. While making her way to Peter, she collapsed onto the ground and blacked out into Ray’s arms.

If I were to leave this world today, I would gladly exchange all of their freedom with this sacrifice. Ivy pleaded to the skies that night but found herself opening her eyes to the bright orange-litted skies in her paracosm with Jason in front of her.

“Ivy! Ivy! Wake up!” Ray shook her as he forced himself to not cry at the sight of the blood stain on her dress at her abdomen which no one had noticed.

She hid it well under Jeremy’s coat and Ray knew she endured to the end to not want to worry Jeremy or the entire gang. He could only wish for the couple to have a better future after this as it reminded him of the times of Jason’s accident.

Jin and Ray were hastily calling for medical help as Ivy drifted back into the abyss of her paracosm.

“So…” Ivy was startled by a familiar voice as she turned around to see Jason.

“How was a second chance at a changed destiny for you?” Jason asked while standing coolly on one side.

“If only you could see…” Ivy mumbled as she looked away not wanting for him to see her cry but he knew as he walked closer to her.

“I know…” He sighed as he embraced Ivy who finally sobbed in his arms.

“I know… after so long how would I not know… You’re great and always will be. I wasn’t wrong about you, Ivy. Now, it’s time for you to rest.” Jason gently caressed her hair overlooking the bright orange sunset skies by the cliff.