The first person that crossed Susan’s mind when she regained consciousness was Ivy. The fear she felt before passing out was still fresh in her mind, eliciting anxiousness for Ivy’s safety. She navigated her way out of the abandoned area and reached the main road. Since she didn’t have her phone with her, she couldn’t contact anyone, so she flagged down a car and pleaded for a ride.
______
Meanwhile, at the hospital, in the VIP room, Ivy was sitting on the bed with a tray of food placed on her lap. While she ate her meal with quiet contentment, Zack was gazing at her, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he watched her savor each bite.
“Won’t you eat?” Ivy asked as his intent stare was making her feel uncomfortable. “Aren’t you hungry?”
“No, I’m not, just eat up wifey…” He said, nudging her to continue with her meal.
Ivy chewed on her food, peeking to see if he was still watching her as she still couldn’t shake the awkward feeling his stare was giving her.
“Don’t you have somewhere you are supposed to be? I can stay on my own…”
“You desperately want me to leave, isn’t it?” Zack responded with a frown, which made Ivy regret what she had said. “That’s not what I meant…”
“Then what did you mean?” Zack inquired.
“I….”
“Sir…..” Bryan’s arrival interrupted their debate. “The chief called, the kidnappers have confessed Susan’s whereabouts…”
The moment Ivy heard him, a glimmer of hope flickered in her eyes. “Where is she? Is she safe?”
She then held her breath as she awaited Bryan’s reply.
“She is being held at an old church on the outskirts of town. The police are en route to rescue her.” Bryan informed, then his phone rang and he answered, listening intently.
The call disconnected, and Bryan’s expression dropped. “They didn’t find her there; maybe she left before they got there….”
Ivy heaved a sigh of relief. For Susan to leave the location where the kidnappers left her meant she was safe. Then a thought crossed her mind. “Wouldn’t she be worried about me?”
“Don’t you think they should still try to find her? She might think I am still abducted.”
Bryan nodded. “I’ll tell them to search for her at the hotel.” He excused himself out of the room to call the chief.
Few minutes later, he returned. “Sir, the conference will begin in an hour’s time….”
Zack waved his hand casually. “Cancel it.”
“But…. sir….” He shut his mouth immediately his eyes met Zack’s glare. “I’m sorry, sir.”
“Make sure the news of her abduction is kept under wraps. I don’t want the media finding out about this,” Zack instructed in a serious tone as he relaxed on the sofa.
Bryan nodded affirmatively. “Yes, I will ensure that. And Edmond…”
“Where is Edmond? I hope he is alright,” Ivy interrupted. At the mention of Edmond, after her shoots the other day, she was expecting him to take her to the hotel but didn’t see him. According to Isabelle’s confession, Ivy assumed Isabelle must have tried to get rid of Edmond in order to successfully abduct her. Not knowing her assumption was not far from the truth….
The expression on Bryan’s face said it all; he sighed, his gaze fixed on her with a solemn face.
“I’m sorry, Ma’am, he fell into a coma….”
Ivy’s eyes widened as she stared at Bryan in shock. “What? How did it happen….”
“Wifey, don’t stress yourself out; just calm down….” Zack stroked her shoulders to comfort her. “He will be fine…”
Ivy took a deep breath to calm her nerves, but she still wanted to know how it happened because she didn’t see him throughout that day. “Was he also abducted?”
Zack then narrated how he found Edmond including what Edmond told him at the alley.
“Isabelle was so adamant about getting her revenge to the extent of hurting those around me to successfully carry out her plan….” Ivy said in deep realization. “I’m sure she had been monitoring my whereabouts all this while….”
“And that’s why I’ve decided to take extra precautions to ensure your safety…” Zack said, and Ivy’s brow knitted. She knew whatever he was planning to do would make her extremely uncomfortable. “What do you mean, hubby? Please don’t tell me you’re going to hire more bodyguards….”
Zack’s silence and the sight of Bryan nodding in understanding as if responding to an unspoken message only confirmed her thoughts.
“Hubby, how many?” She asked, just to be sure of the numbers of bodyguards. But Zack’s next reply made her turn speechless.
“Up to…. seven.”
“…” She blinked, staring at him incredulously. Inwardly, her head was screaming ‘No, why should I have such a number of bodyguards following me around, how suffocating…’
“What? You can’t be serious, right?”
Her question was met with silence from her hubby. “Hubby, please, that’s way too much. It will only make me uncomfortable….”
“You promised not to argue with me,” Zack finally responded with a stern look.
“I never promised that, and I totally disagree with that decision.” Ivy shot back, her eyes narrowed in defiance.
Zack turned to Bryan and commanded in an authoritative tone. “Do as I say and make it quick.”
Bryan’s eyes darted between the two arguing couple before responding. “O… okay, sir.” Though his response indicated he would do as he was told, he still stood there with a slight smile. He had to admit to himself that he was truly enjoying watching their argument.
“Why are you being so domineering. I don’t want more bodyguards,” Ivy insisted firmly. “As if being a celebrity isn’t enough, I would have to be surrounded by a team of bodyguards, making me feel like a high security risk rather than an actress trying to do my job.”
All her words fell on deaf ears; Zack was just staring at her silently, listening to her complaints, which only irked her more.
“Zack, I’m serious, I don’t want more… Hubby, please, please, I’m begging you,” she said, then stroked her forehead. “Now I’m having a headache because of you.”
Zack still remained silent, he averted his eyes away from her, and placed his gaze at the door. That’s when he sighted Bryan still standing, trying to hide his smile. What was even more amusing for Bryan was Ivy’s grumbling.
“Why are you still standing there?” Zack’s voice suddenly interrupted his mirth, sending him into a state of unease. How could he forget Zack usually likes things to be done with immediate effect.
“Forgive me, sir, I’ll make the call immediately…”
He apologized and walked to the door, but as soon as he opened the door, Zack’s words made him halt.
“Don’t make the phone call, Bryan. I was just teasing her…”