“Ivy…” His hoarse voice was cracked; his eyes beamed with a sea of relief, coupled with a hint of fear as the thought of losing her was still fresh in his mind.
“Hubby…” Ivy picked up her pace to reach him, and they enveloped in a tight embrace. She nestled deeper into his embrace, feeling his warmth seep into her bones as her hands were firmly wrapped around his neck. Her pulse settled, returning to normal, with her eyes moist but no tears flowed down her cheek. She never thought she would feel this way in his embrace. The mild air of emotions swirling around her was something she simply couldn’t ignore.
“Are you hurt?” Zack withdrew from their embrace and examined her with concern, checking for any harm.
Ivy shook her head, still gripping onto his sleeves.
“Are you sure?” Zack asked uncertain, he could feel the coldness on her skin from his fingertips. “You’re cold.” He then wrapped his hands around her, he didn’t have his suit with him, so he used his arms instead and took her to the car.
Bryan opened the door to the passenger seat with a small, gentle smile. “I’m glad you are safe and sound, ma’am.”
Ivy breathed a sigh and returned the smile. She knew what both men must have gone through when they found out about her abduction. ‘But how did they find out?’ ‘When was I even kidnapped?’ She questioned herself inwardly, then her mind flashed back to the last thing she heard before falling asleep. “Don’t I have a wonderful voice, Ivy? You never admit that.” She began to recall how she left the set and Susan offering to take her home…
“Susan, where is Susan, what happened to her?” Her pulse that had settled began to race again. “Have you seen her? Was she the one who informed you?” She threw tons of questions towards Zack, and he only tightened his arm around her to help her calm down.
“I think she was the one who called me using your phone,” he said, and led her inside the car, but Ivy wasn’t done inquiring about her. “That means you’ve seen her right?”
“No,” Zack replied, only intensifying her worry. “We need… to find…”
“Don’t worry, Bryan will inform the police…” Zack interrupted her to reassure her. “Bryan…” Bryan understood and exited the car when he gestured for him to go. Zack realized that Ivy would continue to worry until they found her manager, so he made Bryan let the police know right away.
Ivy managed to gather herself a little. Isabelle had already told her that she was her aim and that upsetting her manager would not benefit her. She buried herself in Zack’s chest, as though his coziness and warmth would make her feel at ease.
Zack, in turn, wrapped his hands. “I won’t let this happen again…”
Ivy lifted her face to meet his eyes, piercing with resolve. “I promise from now on, I’ll take my responsibility more seriously….”
Ivy stared deep into his eyes trying to comprehend him, “but you’ve been…”
“No, I haven’t…” He cut her off. “I haven’t at all…” His eyes were flickering with disappointment; he was disappointed in himself for letting his guard down. He had been watching over from the start, but he slowly began to drift while he tried shutting his feelings out. “I’m sorry.”
“No, don’t be, it’s not your fault, things happen. Sometimes we blame ourselves for unfortunate situations while we shouldn’t. I’m fine. I’m not hurt in any way. But I’m glad you came in time, just like the way you always do.” Her face lit up with a warm smile, and a small fetching dimple appeared on her cheek, making her look more adorable.
Zack couldn’t stopped himself from hugging her, he held her tightly, embracing those lingering feelings he had been trying to push away for a long time. Why was this woman different? Her smile was on a different league, not to mention her sensible words that were causing a surge of overwhelming emotions all over him. He shut his eyes tight, enjoying the wonderful moment until Bryan interrupted with the sound of the door clicking. “I did what you asked, Sir…” As he said this, his eyes were pinned on the front view mirror incredulously, watching the couple’s display of… should he call it love? His boss’ demeanor had totally changed; his eyes were shut, he had a smile on his face, hugging his wife. Bryan scratched his head, averted his eyes away from their intimate moment. The day he had been wishing for was finally approaching. At last, after a long time, his boss finally experienced a sense of emotion that had been absent from his life.
“Take us to the hospital…” Zack’s voice jolted him from his thoughts. “O… Okay, Sir…”
As the first light of the dawn crept in, Zack’s emotional landscape shifted, and he felt an emotion he thought he lost forever. His gaze averted from the moving scenery from the car window and fell upon the woman leaning on him, fast asleep. A slight smile was plastered on her cheek, as her eyelids were gently drooped, veiling her face with a soft serene repose. He just couldn’t stop looking at her. “We are here, Sir..” Bryan announced as they halted at the parking deck.
Zack tried to lift his arm, but Ivy’s head was currently resting on it. His small movement disrupted her peaceful sleep. Her eyes fluttered open. “Are we home yet?”
“No, wifey, we are at the hospital.” He replied, opening the door.
“Hospital?” She said, looking through the car window. “But I’m fine, hubby….”
“I insist you see a doctor.” Zack held her wrist to help her out of the car, but Ivy withdrew her hand. “I’m fine, can’t you see I’m not hurt.” She argued, slightly pouting.
The expression on her face made Zack chuckle. “Stop pouting like a baby…”
Ivy placed her hand on her mouth, batting her eyelashes. “I’m not a baby…”
“Are we really arguing about this?” Zack scowled, and crossed his arms.
Ivy sighed. “Fine, I won’t argue with you again,” she dropped the stubborn act and got out of the car, while Bryan was smiling, obviously entertained by their banter.
As they reached the receptionist, she was promptly checked in and whisked away to an examination room. The doctor examined her and ran some tests, but thankfully, the effects of the drug were wearing off; she was groggy but otherwise okay. But the doctor decided she should be monitored for a few hours to ensure her vital signs remain stable.
______
Meanwhile, Susan had left the old abandoned church looking for a way to contact Ivy…