Ivy stood at her mirror as though it were a witness. Her room was dim except for the soft yellow glow of the bedside lamp. It cast a hollow around her reflection, illuminating the sharp lines of exhaustion on her face. She was staring at the coffee cup that sat abandoned on the table beside her. It was cold and forgotten, having a thin brown crescent marking the bottom like some proof of a failed attempt to stay steady.Slowly, her gaze shifted to the wall clock. It was 4:11 a.m, and she still hadn't received any call from anyone.Her jaw tightened, and she let out a sigh.Down the hall, she could almost feel the tension in the study. The other Lorenzo family members had gathered there just after midnight–no one sleeping or admitting how truly terrified they all were.The lights were left on, and the curtains were drawn. Even coffee was poured and left untouched.Pa Lorenzo would return from the hospital soon, and if nothing changed by then, they'd have no choice but to inform him t

Ivy didn't listen to the receptionist. Her heart thudded violently against her ribs, her breath shortening as she moved to take the turn.But a strong hand wrapped firmly around her arm. "She's fine, Ivy." The voice was familiar, one that made Ivy freeze at the spot. Her entire body went still before she slowly turned her head,disbelief already forming in her eyes.Her gaze lifted, her eyes widening and lips parting immediately."Derrick?" she whispered. "Oh my God." He stood before her in a dark coat, hair slightly disheveled as though he'd been running his fingers through it repeatedly. His eyes were soft on her.Ivy stared for a second, noting how her fear, panic, and breathless sprint through the hospital halls all cracked at once."Oh my God," she breathed again, yanking her arm gently out of his hold. She stepped forward quickly and threw her arms around him.The force of it startled even her.Her hands clutched tightly at the back of his coat, fingers curling into the fabric

"And what do you think I know about you?" Ivy demanded, her voice rising before she could stop it. "You're mysterious to me just as you are to them, Derrick." "Ivy–" he started to say."What's with all the secrets?" she pressed on, brows knitting tightly. "You appear out of nowhere, you fix impossible problems, and you walk into danger like it's nothing. To cap all the mystery up, you tell me you didn't bring a car to the hospital." Her voice had grown louder than she intended, and the realization hit her almost immediately.She stopped talking, swallowed hard and forced her shoulders to relax. Then she inhaled deeply, exhaling slowly afterwards."I'm sorry," she said quietly, glancing quickly at him. "I didn't mean to raise my voice." Derrick didn't look offended in any way. If anything, his expression had even softened.He leaned back slightly in his seat, one hand resting against his thigh. The other brushed absently along his jaw."You're not a fool, Ivy," he said calmly. "And

"Yes," Ivy's father added, shaking his head. "Armed guards would be stationed on the roof, in the garden, even by the pool–" "And snipers in the trees," Derrick added lightly. This drew even fuller laughter. The heaviness that had blanketed the house all through the previous day finally began to thin. They spoke of repairs, the hospital visits, and upcoming plans. But the moment the conversation started shifting toward trivial matters, he excused himself with a polite nod. "I'll just check on Ivy," he said casually, dipping his hands into his pocket and leaving without waiting for a reply. When he got to the door, he paused for a fraction of a second before pushing it open. The room was completely still, and fresh morning light illuminated the faint dust in the air. Ivy stood near the window, her hands folded across her chest, and her back to the door. Derrick stepped fully into the room, gently shutting the door behind him. He took a step toward her, but his stomach suddenly

"Just a little further," Moses muttered as sweat soaked the burrowed scrubs. His legs trembled, threatening to give out at any moment. He reached a bend, and in no time, he reached the apartment he was going to. Staggering up the short steps leading to the porch, he stopped and knocked. His knuckles thudded violently against the wood as he knocked again and again, leaning his forehead against the door. "Open up," he gasped with final strength. "Open the hell up." Footsteps approached from inside, and the door swung open. His girlfriend stood before him–breathing hard, hair slightly disheveled. Beads of sweat glistened along her collar bone, and her chest rose and fell quickly as though she had been in the middle of something intense. "Moses?"Her eyes widened, and she shot a quick glance inside the apartment before turning back to him."What the hell happened to you?" she asked, shock draining the color from her face as she sized him up. He feigned a smile and managed steps ins