BITTER NIGHT FOR IVY (EIGHTEEN)

Author Pov

"Hi..."

Jayde sat next to Ivy who was daydreaming playing with her feet dipped in the pool. The water rippled softly as Ivy lifted her legs out of the water and tucked them under her body so that her pants were slightly wet.

"Where have you been? Didn't I tell you to wait for me here?"

"I took this."

Jayde placed two coffee cans between them. He picked one up and opened it before taking a sip with a soft sigh. Ivy's eyes followed Jayde's sexy Adam's apple. Up and down with sighs that made Ivy's heart flutter. Ivy quickly turned her eyes towards the pool water which was now starting to calm down without the small ripples she created.

"You don't want coffee?"

"No, thank you. You can take it yourself if you want."

"Yeah, thanks. I really like this coffee."

Ivy pursed her lips in annoyance to see Jayde who excitedly took her coffee and opened it. Jayde did what he did before, sipped the coffee while sighing so deliciously that Ivy felt disgusted and reflexively pushed Jayde's shoulder hard. Even that is too loud.

"What are you doing?"

Jayde coughed. Coffee liquid spilled onto his shirt collar and some melted down his neck. The coffee can flew from his hand and landed on the dewy grass.

"You disgust me. Don't sigh like that next to me."

"You're really sensitive today, huh. It must be because Axel treated you roughly."

"I don't need to explain, do I? You've seen for yourself how drastically his attitude has changed since he returned from Spain. Why aren't you sleeping instead of peeking at me there like an idiot?" Ivy suddenly remembered her goal of asking Jayde to come to the backyard. She wanted to confront him about why he was hiding behind a pillar like a peeping pervert.

"I haven't slept because I've been thinking about a lot of things. When I was daydreaming I heard the roar of a car engine. Yeah, and you know the rest."

"You deliberately wanted to spy on me."

"I saw you this morning when your dad forced you to marry Axel."

Jayde's words suddenly made Ivy very sad. The heartache that she had been holding back since this morning suddenly pushed her tears to spill from her eyes. She put her head on her knees and sobbed softly that she couldn't stop herself.

"Sssshhh, why are you crying all of a sudden? Forgive me. Please don't cry anymore, Ivy."

"My dad is very evil. My dad didn't stick up for me one bit after I told him the truth about Alscot Silas. My heart hurts, Jayde."

Jayde was speechless not knowing what to say to stop Ivy from crying.

This really sucks, he thought angrily.

"Hey your eyes are swollen like a frog. Stop crying if you don't want to look ugly."

"What? I know I'm ugly. To hell with your words."

Jayde gaped in disbelief. His attempt to get Ivy to stop crying was a failure. Instead, Ivy sobbed even more until he could hear the sound of snot coming from her nose.

"Okay, you can cry as much as you want. You can lean on my shoulder."

"Thank you. You are so kind. Though to be honest I was irritated when you taunted me like a frog."

Had they been on normal terms, Ivy would not have let Jayde off the hook for taunting her. She would scream angrily at Jayde, even swearing at him for saying such mean words in his opinion. But now Ivy is sad and helpless to face her condition. Everything felt bad and wrong in her eyes.

"Wanna tell me what's going on?"

"A lot of things have happened to me since this morning. My dad really forced me to marry Axel."

Ivy spoke softly with tears flowing from her eyes again. Jayde put his arm around Ivy's shoulders and gently stroked the top of her head. This morning's incident wouldn't stop him from hugging Ivy. In fact he would do that all night if it really helped Ivy ease her grief.

"Ssshh... don't cry, it won't solve the problem. You still have two weeks before your wedding day arrives. Use that opportunity to think of a way out."

"No. I still have about a month and two weeks."

Ivy suddenly raised her head and smiled broadly.

"How could that be? What happened at dinner?"

"Well, you should listen to my story."

Ivy quickly wiped the stupid tears from her eyes and straightened up in her seat. She had completely forgotten her grief over her dad's cruelty, and now she had her spirit back.

"I managed to get Jonathan Krueger to postpone my wedding to Axel!"

"You must be kidding? That's great news. Tell me everything."

Ivy enthusiastically recounts all the things she experienced at dinner with Axel's parents. Ivy doesn't miss a single chapter in her story. Even Ivy also told about Lindsay Krueger who tried to persuade her husband to cancel the postponement of the wedding, but failed.

"I'm really glad to hear that. At least you'll have more time to annul your wedding."

"Yes. Unfortunately Axel became my next problem. He was so adamant. And after we separated from his parents, Axel's violent nature emerged. He's threatening me. He said that I could never cancel our marriage. God, I'm scared, Jayde."

"Axel is definitely not the right guy for you. He hasn't even married you yet, and yet he threatens you like that?"

"He's a dangerous damn bastard. He managed to enlist the support of my dad. That is my problem now." Ivy bit her lip nervously.

"Aren't you going to find a man to replace Axel as your future husband?"

"I think Danise Parker would be a good candidate. I will see him tomorrow and try to approach him."

"Oh that's a good plan."

Ivy narrowed her eyes in annoyance when she saw that Jayde didn't look enthusiastic about her plan.

"You don't like my plan?"

"When did I say that?"

"Your face says everything. Tell me, Jayde. Do you have a more brilliant plan than mine?" Ivy smacked Jayde's arm hard and sneered sarcastically.

"Aww! That hurts, Ivy. I don't have any brilliant plans." Jayde rubbed his hot arm repeatedly. "Besides, I'm having problems with Rachel myself."

"Oh, I'm sorry. How are things with you and Rachel now?"

"Stuck. I'm too lazy to think of a way to make things up with Rachel."

"Jeez, why are you so passive. Tell me what I can do to help you?"

"Tsk, nothing. Just think about your problem. Don't mind me and Rachel. We're okay."

Bugh

"Liar!"

Ivy punched Jayde in the shoulder quite hard while laughing out loud. It felt good to be able to laugh and forget a bit about the sadness.

"We are two pitiful people right?"

"I think so."

Ivy feels her relationship with Jayde is very strange and seems very stupid. That is, they both have problems with their love story. Everything was completely unexpected, and it amused Ivy at their state. Tonight the two of them were like two frustrated people bemoaning their bad luck by the quiet pool.

"Look, a shooting star. Let's make a wish."

"Don't be stupid. Only children do that. I don't believe in shooting stars."

"Try it, tell me what you want."

Ivy forced Jayde to clasp his hands together in front of the chest and make a wish. But Jayde threw his hands away and inched back.

"Just do it yourself. Don't force me."

"Tsk, you're annoying."

Ivy ignored Jayde and started making her own wish. She was very solemn as she prayed while closing her eyes. There were many things she asked for. Hoping the stars will deliver her prayers to God.

Meanwhile Jayde looks curious about what Ivy is doing. She seems very serious. Ivy's lips were moving the prayers that came from her heart. Jayde then moved closer to Ivy and planned to hear what Ivy was asking for in her prayers.

"You were trying to eavesdrop, huh?"

Ivy suddenly opened her eyes and hit Jayde on the head hard. Jayde jerked back and groaned in pain as Ivy did it with all the strength she had.

Hey, that hurts. Why did you beat me tonight?"

"Because you suck. You should be praying that things get better between you and Rachel."

"If I want my relationship with Rachel to improve, I will think of a solution and not pray to a shooting star like an idiot."

"Whatever, Jayde! But by the way I haven't apologized to you yet. I shouldn't have run off this morning and tried to explain to Rachel."

"No need to apologize. It already happened."

"Still I have to apologize to you. I've been monopolizing you to myself lately, and not thinking about Rachel's feelings."

"It's not your fault Ivy. I'm also guilty of not paying enough attention to Rachel. I thought she was okay with our closeness, but it turns out she's a little jealous. Yeah woman's problem number one. Never mind, it doesn't matter now. All we have to do now is find a solution to your problem before your and Axel's wedding day arrives. Weren't you going to approach Danise?"

"I don't know, I'm not sure."

"Why do you look so resigned now? Come on, cheer up!" Jayde exclaimed loudly while pinching Ivy's cheek gently to make her smile.

"Yeah Jayde! Let me go! It hurts…. Come here, I'll pinch your cheek too so you know how it hurts."

"Ssshhh... don't scream, you'll wake up the whole house resident. I did it anyway so you won't be sad anymore. I don't like seeing you gloomy."

"Thanks. But still it hurts."

They both exchanged smiles. After that it was silent. Jayde and Ivy were busy with their own thoughts.

"Oh I have something for you. As my apology."

Ivy took two tickets out of her pajama pocket. She had almost forgotten she had the tickets until she rummaged through her closet for the perfect dress to wear tonight, and the tickets flew into the air when she pulled out a dress that she thought would be perfect for tonight.

"Tickets to a musical. Go with Rachel."

"Are you serious?"

Jayde just stared at the ticket and didn't take it from Ivy.

"If this is for an apology, you really don't have to. I have already forgiven you."

"No, this isn't just an apology." Ivy took Jayde's hand and placed the two tickets in his palm.

"At first I wanted to invite Axel. Like you said, we had to go somewhere, do romantic things that most couples usually do to get to know each other. But well, it didn't work. I mean, I don't have to bother to do those things. Axel has shown his personality to me. So I don't need that ticket anymore. Go see a musical with Rachel to mend your relationship."

"Are you sure?"

"Very sure."

Jayde smiled happily and hugged Ivy tightly.

"Thank you. Rachel must have loved this surprise. She likes musicals."

"You're welcome."

Ivy hugged Jayde back and rested her chin on his shoulder. It feels really comfortable and fun. She didn't know when was the last time she felt this safe with someone. It seems never. The only man who was supposed to protect her and defend her, trusted another man more.

Ivy took the opportunity to hug Jayde for as long as she wanted because she wanted to continue feeling that comfort. But she knew that they couldn't stay like that forever.

When Jayde pulled his body away from them both, Ivy felt lost.

"Well, time to bed. Good night."

Jayde stood up first and picked up the two empty cans that were lying on the ground. He gestured with his head to Ivy that he would enter the house first. Ivy nodded slowly in response.

"Nite, Jayde. Have a nice dream," Ivy whispered weakly while staring blankly at Jayde's back which was slowly moving away.