Chapter 177
“What’s going on?” Ivy asked Wade as soon as the cars left with Silas.
Wade turned to her, pretending not to understand but did a terrible job of it.
“I don’t understand what you mean,” he said, too quickly.
She stepped forward, folding her arms. “Don’t give me that, Wade,” she snapped, emphasizing his name.
He sighed. “Fine. I’m not a hundred percent certain, but I think something’s going on with Silas and Thomas.”
The honesty eased her a bit, and she dropped her arms. “What do you think the issue is?”
“No idea,” Wade admitted with a shrug. “But it’s not looking good.”
Oh, she knew it. She had known it after that call. Silas had looked painfully uncomfortable.
“I have to go now. Later.”
Before she could say anything else, Wade had returned to his car without even stepping inside.
She waited until he was gone before
toward the house. Inside, Aria, Theresa, and Hector were seated in the bving room.
“Hey, guys,” she greeted, collapsing into the
couch beside Aria.
“Now it’s officially insane,” Aria said, her voice slightly shaking. “Why the hell is Rosie shooting people? How does she even have a gun?”
The questions startled Ivy, but she tried not to show it. It was indeed getting crazier. If Mason, of all people, could be shot by Rosie, none of them were
safe.
“Or you think it’s a stunt?” Theresa said, her hands resting on Hector’s thighs. “You know those people are weird.”
“I checked the news. Mason is currently unconscious,” Aria added.
Ivy sighed, unsure of what to say.
“Why the hell hasn’t she been caught?” Theresa said, her voice cracking. “Knowing she’s out there, walking freely, it makes me so uncomfortable.”
Hector pulled her into a hug, and she settled into his arms.
Aria leaned forward. “I have two theories. Either Rosie is extremely sharp and careful, which is terrifying, or someone very prominent is helping her.”
Ivy huffed. “Someone prominent? Who in their right mind would help Rosie?”
As much as she wanted to dismiss the theory, she knew there was some truth in there. Rosie had been slipping away too often, and Ivy hoped someone was helping her, because if Rosie was doing all this alone, then they were all in serious trouble.
“You’d be surprised, Ivy,” Aria replied.
They all fell silent, until Hector and Theresa stood up.
“I’m sorry you’re all going through this,” Hector said calmly. “I hope
“Thank you Hector,” Ivy smiled.
“I’ll see you guys later,” he added with a wave.
a solution comes quickly
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Chapter 177
“Bye she and Aria said as Theresa followed him out.
When they were alone, Ivy turned to Aria, her voice soft. “How are you doing?”
“Just there,” Aria admitted.
She reached for her hands and squeezed them gently. “I’m so sorry. Have you heard from them? Any news?”
“Nothing,” Aria replied dryly.
“If you want to talk, I’m here.”
Aria slowly pulled her hands away, surprising Ivy. “Sure.” Then she stood up. “I’ll just go back to the room.”
Ivy wanted to say something, but she thought against it. They all had gone through a lot and it was okay for Aria to feel this way.
She sighed and stood up too, her heart aching at the realization of everything.
When she reached her room, she settled into bed and took out her phone to confirm Mason’s condition. Then she noticed several missed calls from Cole.
Her stomach tightened as she immediately dialed his number. When he picked up, she sighed with relief.
“Hey, how are you?”
“I’m good,” Cole replied, sounding a little sad and exhausted. “I called you several times.”
Guilt twisted in her chest. “I’m just seeing them. Sorry. Are you good? Did something happen?”
“I got discharged. I’m home now.”
Relief surged into her and it showed in her voice. “That’s great. I’m sorry I couldn’t come. Had a lot to handle.”
“We figured.”
“We?”
“Geo and I. He helped me home. Dad didn’t come either, ” Cole added, his voice lifting slightly.
“Oh… I hope it wasn’t so hard. Just the two of you?”
“Yeah. Geo was helpful.”
She played with the edge of the bedsheet.
“I’m sorry.” Then her thoughts drifted to Patrick. “Where is Dad? Why wasn’t he there?”
“I don’t know. He hasn’t been around since yesterday.”
Fear gripped Ivy, and she stood up from the bed. “Let me call you back, Cole.”
“Alright,” he said, and ended the call.
As much as she didn’t care about Patrick, she was concerned about his well–being. Rosie was unhinged now, and regardless of how she felt abou would still hurt if something happened to him.
She dialed Patrick’s number, but he didn’t answer.
“Pick up the damn call!” she snapped, her heart pounding with twenty thousand questions a minute.
10:21 Tue, 3 Jun ON.
Chapter 177
Each ring intensified her panic. Just when she was about to redial, a text message came through:
“My service is bad here. When I get back to California, I’ll text you.”
Relief flooded her, followed by frustration. Patrick had said California, not San Francisco. Where the hell was het And why wasn’t he with Cole?
Before she could spiral further, a knock came at her door. She exhaled as she reached for it.
Theresa stood outside, and Ivy opened the door wider for her.
“Hey,” Theresa said, moving to sit on the bed. “Your room is nice.”
“Oh, this is your first time here,” Ivy chuckled. “Welcome, ma’am.”
Theresa smiled. “Thank you.” Then her smile faded.
Ivy sat beside her and squeezed her hand. “Sorry you went through all that.”
“It’s okay,” Theresa said. “I wanted to say I’ve been through worse, but I haven’t. This is the worst.”
Ivy swallowed. “It is.”
“That bitch is crazy,” Theresa said, her voice shaking. “She didn’t even let me celebrate my good news.”
Ivy raised a brow. “What good news?”
Theresa told her about Hector’s reaction to the pregnancy.”
you imagine that?” she said, tears welling up her eyes.
“Oh, T. I’m so happy for you,” Ivy said, pulling her into a hug.
“Thank you, Ivy. Thank you for the encouragement.”
“You’re welcome,” she smiled. “At least there’s one good thing in the middle of this madness.”
“Yes,” Theresa nodded, then stood. “I think I need to rest. It’s been a long day.”
“Absolutely,” Ivy said, rising as well. She walked her to the door and down the stairs. “When you’re more relaxed, we’ll talk.”
“Definitely,” Theresa said, waving as she walked down the hall.
Ivy waved back and returned to her room.
Alone again, she crashed into her bed. She had barely gotten comfortable when her phone chimed with a message.
Fear surged inside her, but she reached for the phone. As she read the message, her fear turned into relief, and then anger.
“Ma’am, I wanted to inform you that those crazy women came for the baby again. It got loud, but we sorted it out. Mother and baby are safe. Just texting to let you know, ma’am.”
Ivy clenched her fists, pissed that even with everything that happened to Mason, Martha and Paige still had the effrontery to go back to the hospital.
She knew she should cuss Mason out for his family’s insane behavior, but she decided against it.
Instead, she replied: “Thank you for this information. Keep them both safe.”
“Yes, ma’am.” The reply came instantly.
She dropped the phone on the bed and cranked her neck. Just as she was about to lie down again, her phone rang.
Tue, 3 Jun
Chapter 177
With a grunt, she reached for it. When she saw the caller ID, she adjusted her tone.
“Aunt May,” she said, her chest swelling with excitement.
“My sweet girl,” Aunt May said, her voice warm. “How
are
you?”
Ivy’s stress almost dissolved at the sound of her voice, but she didn’t tell the truth.
“I’m good. How are you? I came over earlier.”
“Oh,” May’s voice rose with surprise. “I didn’t know that.”
Ivy sat up straight, her heart tightening. Something was off. “Then… why
are you calling?”
“Cheryl is here,” May said, disappointment thick in her voice.
Ivy’s stomach turned. “What? How? Are they safe?”
“They?” May echoed, surprised.
“Yes, she and the baby,” Ivy said, pacing now.
The surprise in May’s voice deepened. “What baby?”
AD
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