Chapter 178
Panic blinded Ivy for a few seconds before it began to fade. Her chest tightened, and sweat beaded along her forehead.
“Is… she there?” she asked, trying her best to keep the panic from her voice.
“Cheryl? Yes, she is,” May replied, her tone high with confusion. “What’s going on, Ivy?”
“Nothing crazy,” Ivy said quickly. “Just keep her there. I’m coming.”
She ended the call and dashed downstairs. At the bottom of the stairs, she saw Monica.
“Hey, Ivy,” Monica greeted, her voice light.
“Good. Great.”
If Monica noticed Ivy’s distress, she didn’t show it. Instead, she stepped closer, a bright smile spreading on her face.
“Is it okay for Bailey and her girlfriend to come home for dinner tomorrow? I wanted to ask for your permission before 1-”
“Sure, sure. Sounds nice,” Ivy said hastily as she headed for the door. “Dinner is great.”
Monica said something else, but Ivy didn’t catch it. When she reached the guards‘ quarters, she summoned five bodyguards.
“You’re all coming with me.”
Quickly, all of them found their way into two of Silas’s Rolls Royces and got to Aunt May’s house.
The entire ride was filled with silent panic and when they reached, she dashed inside.
“Aunt May?” she called.
Instead, she found Cheryl sitting in the living room, calmly eating a big bowl of chicken soup and rice.
Ivy moved closer, expecting to see the baby by Cheryl’s side–maybe Aunt May hadn’t noticed him earlier. But to her dismay, the chair was empty.
Panic surged through her again, but she held it together as she perched on the arm of the couch.
“Cheryl, how are you?” she asked gently.
“I’m good. How are you?” Cheryl responded calmly, lifting a spoonful of soup to her mouth.
Ivy’s hand trembled as she touched Cheryl’s shoulder. It was then she noticed Cheryl wasn’t wearing the hospital gown.
The panic multiplied, tearing her up inside.
Her thoughts raced. Where was the baby? Did Martha and Paige have him?
Only one way to find out.
She pulled out her phone and dialed the guard who had texted her earlier.
He picked up immediately, his breathing heavy “Ma’am, we have a problem. I… can’t… find your friend.”
“She’s here,” Ivy said, trying to calm her racing nerves. “Where’s the baby?”
“He’s in the baby ward, ma’am. I… didn’t know how she left.”
1/4
Chapter 178
Relief surged inside Ivy as she stood up from the couch. “Keep that baby safe. I’m coming soon.”
“Yes, ma’am,” the guard replied, and she heard the relief in his voice too.
Just as she ended the call, Aunt May walked in with a tray of fruits. “Ivy. I didn’t know you were here.”
“I am,” Ivy said, taking the tray from her and setting it on the table in front of Cheryl, then hugging her.
“I missed you, my sweet girl,” May said, kissing her forehead.
“I missed you more,” Ivy replied with a soft smile. She sighed, releasing some of the tension in her chest as they both faced Cheryl who remained oblivious as she ate quietly.
“I’m sorry she came here,” Ivy murmured under her breath.
“Oh, it’s okay,” May said softly. “I think she has PPD.”
Ivy turned to her, her eyebrows raised. “PPD? What’s that?”
“Postpartum depression. Many women experience it after giving birth,” May explained. “I guessed that since you asked after the baby.”
“Oh.”
Ivy’s heart shattered at the discovery. Cheryl was sick and that sucked to know.
“How will they treat her? Does she need surgery?” Ivy asked.
May burst into laughter. “Surgery?”
Ivy glanced at Cheryl, then back at May, her eyes narrowed with confusion. “I thought it was a disease.”
“Oh, bless your heart,” May said, still chuckling. “It’s not a physical illness. It’s a mental health issue. She needs care, rest, and therapy.”
“Then let’s take her to the hospital.”
“We should,” May agreed. She moved to Cheryl and knelt beside her. “Hey, dear. Let’s go to the hospital.”
Ivy watched as May gently wiped Cheryl’s mouth and helped her to her feet. Together, they led her outside and into the Rolls Royce.
“I know I shouldn’t be nice to her after everything, but she needs help,” May said quietly beside Ivy.
Ivy nodded, understanding perfectly. After all, she wasn’t in a place to judge–she had done more.
When they arrived at the hospital and led Cheryl inside, she suddenly gasped. “My baby!”
“He’s safe,” Ivy said quickly, holding her waist to keep her from collapsing.
Cheryl wailed until some nurses rushed to them. They took her and May and Ivy followed them.
“We’ve been looking all over for her,” one nurse said frantically. “She said she was going for a walk… but… she never came back.”
“You’re obviously not capable of doing your job,” May snapped.
“I apologize, ma’am,” the nurse said. “She was discharged earlier and we thought she was fine.”
“Doesn’t change anything,” May said sharply.
The nurse didn’t say anything until they got to a doctor’s office. By then, Cheryl had stopped crying, but her eyes remained swollen.
2/4
32
Chapter 178
“Good evening, Ms Stone,” the doctor greeted.
“Good evening, doctor,” Ivy replied, pulling out a chair for May and then for herself.
“I apologize for today. We didn’t catch the signs earlier,” the doctor said gently.
Ivy nodded, her heart tightening. It was now obvious Cheryl needed serious help, and it terrified her.
“Is the baby okay?” she asked.
“Yes, he is,” the doctor replied. “But we need to focus on Cheryl now.” He gestured to Cheryl who seemed to have blacked out of the conversation.
“This happens more often than you’d think,” the doctor continued. “She needs rest and a strong support system. I suspect those recent events might have triggered her condition.”
Ivy’s jaw clenched as she thought about Martha and Paige.
“The baby will be discharged tomorrow,” the doctor said. “I’ll prescribe some medication for her. She can go home today and return for her baby in the morning. He’ll be well taken care of until then.”
Ivy shifted uncomfortably.
Home? Where would Cheryl go? Mason was unconscious, and her place wasn’t safe–not with Rosie lurking around.
As if sensing her worry, Aunt May leaned in. “She can stay with me until she gets better.”
Ivy gently squeezed her aunt’s hand in appreciation.
“So shall I proceed with the prescription? You can make payments at the nurses‘ station,” the doctor said with a smile.
Ivy mentally rolled her eyes. Since the baby’s birth, she had been more of a father than Mason would ever be.
“Alright, doctor,” Ivy said, standing up. May followed.
“Thank you, Ivy,” Cheryl said softly.
Ivy nodded. “We’ll be back.”
Outside the office, May turned to Ivy. “What happened? How did this happen?”
Ivy sighed and told her everything. “Heard Martha and Paige came back today.”
“Those witches,” May spat.
“Are you sure you’re up for this? It’s Cheryl.”
“She doesn’t deserve this, but I’m doing this for the infant,” May said, patting Ivy’s shoulder. “You’re a good friend, and she doesn’t deserve you.”
Ivy smiled and looked away to hide her blush. At the nurses‘ station, she filled out the forms and paid all the bills.
Just as she finished, the two guards approached.
“We apologize, ma’am,” one said, his voice trembling. “He went to see the
baby, and I went to use the restroom. When I got back… she…”
“It’s okay,” Ivy said. “She’s safe now. Stay with the baby overnight until we return.”
“Yes, ma’am,” they chorused.”
Ivy and May returned to the doctor’s office to collect the prescription. Ivy got the medication, then drove Cheryl and May home.
3/4
09:58 Wed, 4 Jun
G
Chapter 178
She spent some time with them, and left without seeing either Ryan or Rita.
When she got home, she was surprised to find Silas there.
“Hey, baby. You’re-” She paused when she saw the blood on his lip. Her stomach dropped as she moved closer. “What happened?”
But Silas didn’t reply, instead he handed her a small purple envelope.
“What’s this?” she asked, her voice shaking as she opened it. As she read the message inside, she gasped.
“If this was a letter bomb, you know y’all would be dead by now.”
Fear gripped her and her eyes widened. “It’s Rosie. How did she get this in here?”
