The second week of the fourth year
I thought I wouldn't be counting but here I am telling you that it's been four years. Sigh, I thought you would have decided to come and see me finally since I told you I tried dating but yet why am I waiting here all by myself? I am even graduating tomorrow from law. Well, I can finally put my name on the papers to appeal for your early release. I bet you have already received the papers. So, are you coming out?
I'm very busy you know. You're not my only client now. I have the orphanage cases to run with Mr. Oshia other than all the other businesses and of course, writing up my assignments for the last year of my business degree.
Come on… come and see me in a robe when I graduate else I will walk down the aisle with my date!
John was playing chess with Peter while James accompanied them both one evening in the Ophal's house when Peter could not pay attention.
"What's wrong with you brother? You're always sharper than this…" James paused the game as Peter sighed and took a sip of his tea. John chuckled.
"This must be Ivy again…" John said as James relaxed a little. "That daughter of mine will someday be too out of my control anymore…" Peter lamented.
"Don't you think it's time to just let go?" James asked as Peter looked at him pondering a little. John gently patted Peter's back.
"Why don't I give you a help?" John suggested as Peter and James stared at him curiously as he unfolded his secret plans to them.
1st February of the 4th year
I don't know why I keep coming back to writing to you. Cassie is finally pregnant and close to delivering in half a year's time. It was an accidental baby for Jin but fortunately, he was graduating soon. So, Dad had them register their marriage and Cassie had been bedridden ever since with this delicate miracle baby. If you think that was fun, then it isn't cause Hazel is pregnant too now. Yes, we had two couples register their shotgun marriage. I mean it's meant to be for Ray since they had already dated long enough. I'm just glad that the boys finally legally had an adoptive father. However, that meant the boys were more or less around me and Mum most of the time as both ladies were enduring a very delicate pregnancy.
Ryu and Melody are the blissful ones. Though apart, they had never failed to meet up once a week at least and definitely still going strong.
You might think I am so free to write to you but I'm not. I am rushing my assignments for my business degree but I am also looking into Daddy's new business venture of building a hotel in a place called "Rainbow Village". With my affairs at the welfare house, there's so much to do that I had yet to do a site visit. Not to worry you but it only makes sense to tell you Daddy had been admitted to the hotel for a close heart attack.
Anyway, got to go!
Jeremy panicked finally for once when he read the letter from Ivy as the next document in hand was a paralegal document with Ivy's name on it but also the write-up proposal on the new hotel takeover. There was a note from John telling him to accept the early bailout as Ivy's condition was dire.
Jeremy was also finally having the chance to meet with Kyle.
"Been many years I heard yet you're not letting go… Just what is it that you want so much of my permission to take care of my daughter?" Kyle sat on the bench while Jeremy calmly sighed.
"Because she was once Ivy's friend. Ivy had been paying for the sins outside and it's only right if we take care of your daughter like ours while you're in here…" Jeremy explained as Kyle scoffed.
"My problem I know what to do. I don't need you…" Kyle rejected it proudly before wanting to leave.
"Kyle… You and I both lost our loved ones during the battle. I lost mine twice. I understand what you're going through. The persons who were at fault had all been punished. I just want to let Ivy be at ease. She… Of all people should not be guilty and repaying for all the sins… So, please… Would you let me know the details of your child and also others whom we could help and reach out to?" Jeremy pleaded as Kyle was reminded of Melissa's last moments in full regret.
Jeremy went up to him and held his shoulder. "This many years of feud is useless when Charles is dead. We should move on and try to live a better life, Kyle."
"Fine I will but I have a few conditions." Kyle finally agreed which delighted Jeremy.
"Her relationship with me is to be kept a secret." Jeremy nodded.
"You must protect her at all cause especially when Kerala…" Jeremy reached out to his shoulder and grabbed it tightly to assure him as he nodded.
Kyle finally looked less tense. "She was left at the orphanage which Charles built back then in a wheelbarrow." Kyle's eyes reddened. "Melissa wanted to name her Milicent…" His voice cracked as Jeremy gently patted his shoulder to comfort him.
"I promise I will keep you updated and informed or even try to request an early bail for you," Jeremy promised as Kyle smiled.
"One last thing. Your sweetheart… would you like me to check for you on her feelings?" Kyle teased as the men finally laughed together.
A day before Jeremy was released, Kyle purposely set a request to meet with Ivy. Ivy hesitated for a moment but she still went cause knowing it was the closest she would get to be around Jeremy.
However, she found herself walking to the jail with a heavy heart as the person she wanted to see was not willing to see her. She began to hesitate about tomorrow.
As she sat waiting for Kyle, she never had imagined this meeting. He looked all sluggish as he walked in but still smiled when he saw her.
"Glad you came," Kyle said trying to sound cool but Ivy unexpectedly sighed.
"You should be smiling. You should be happy at how successful you are with all your goals." He praised which Ivy was taken aback for a moment.
Ivy suddenly lost her voice as he chuckled. "That always worked isn't it?" He teased as Ivy raised an eyebrow in question.
"Praises. Jeremy was right about that. He knows everything about you…" He said in a sad tone as Ivy squinted her eyes while he shifted in his seat to face her closely.
Ivy could not help but felt sad knowing about Jeremy from Kyle this way but she was even more sad for Kyle, recalling about Melissa.
"You're not all that bad you know. If only you realise it earlier, perhaps…" Ivy paused recalling how he was relieved when he learned she was alive from the bombing three years ago as his eyes lit up for a moment which surprised her.
"Perhaps?" He shrugged.
"Was there ever a chance for us to happen?" He questioned as Ivy felt her tongue-tied and she cleared her throat.
"Have you ever truly loved me before?" She questioned in return. His eyes twinkled a while but he could not bring himself to answer the question as he did not know the answer himself either.
"Have you?" He had been wanting to hear from her the answer.
"If things weren't this way. If we met in a different setting or environment…" Ivy shrugged. "Who knows." She said smiling as he smiled too.
He kept quiet for a moment trying to capture the beautiful moment of her smile. It was because of a future they could have been together which made her smile for them and he wanted to remember it for good.
"What is it you want me here for?" She asked trying to brush the awkward stares.
"I don't think I have the privilege to see you moving forward do I?" He asked as she kept quiet wanting to say no but did not want to hurt him.
"I'm hoping you could help me out with my little asset I am going to leave into your hands and I hope when Jeremy is out he will too help you out to handle my little asset..." He said wanting to stand and leave when Ivy stopped him.
"Kyle…" It had in a long while since he ever heard her calling his name and it felt different. With a hinge of friendliness, not too close but engaging.
She wanted to ask more about the little asset he mentioned but the look in his eyes told her otherwise. He turned around to see her as though it would be his one last time ever seeing her again. "I promise to look after the asset though I have no idea what is it yet but I will do my best. Would you do the same to yourself in there? You know it's not a bad thing after all being in there. They provide you with education if you need and living skills. You could equip yourself and come out to help me out. No, help your own empire. Some are still pledging their loyalty, waiting for you..." She asked unexpectedly as he laughed.
"Look on the bright side. You could help the people inside who have second chances after that. It's an opportunity." She tried to get assurance that he would be fine as he chuckled this time.
"Ophals think alike. The Rahi brothers weren't wrong about you sweetheart. You are going to be great. Don't forget to tell me about it by then." He replied as she nodded and flashed her smile knowing he liked seeing her that way.
"Looking forward to it. Surprise me!" He said before leaving as Ivy chuckled at his unexpected answer.
"See you." She said delightfully.
"See you…" He replied in a low sad tone as though they would not be meeting again but at the very least he felt his shoulders were a lot lighter from the burden he had finally let go. Ivy left with teary eyes as she drove to the cliff and contemplated picking up Jeremy the next morning.
Your brother is finally released as I wished but why am I not happy? I should be excited and jumping on cloud nine but here I am lamenting to you, Jason. I had never thought this was the reaction I would end up with. Do you know why? Ivy mockingly laughed at herself as her eyes reddened.
He should have stayed in there till he served everything cause now, I don't want him to be blamed by anyone. He had already served his punishment and it wasn't supposed to be his fault in the first place. It was my uncle's and I should shoulder them cause in the end his inheritance falls into my hands. Ivy contemplated for a while on a thought.
Should I distance myself from him? Maybe break the engagement too? Ivy let her tears flow as she came to the conclusion.
The next day, she went about with her busy daily routine with John's secretary first to sort out some of John's tasks in the office and ensured the welfare home's affairs and the bar businesses were in order. Jonathan and Joseph accompanied Daisy over to pick up Jeremy instead. Though John wanted to be there, he knew he had to keep his act in place. So, he could only wait for them all to be home.
The look of a buff man walking out of the main door of the jail made Daisy instantly know it was her baby. She ran and flew into his arms leaving him dropping all of his stuff from the box while the boys ran up to them.
"Mum…" He called as he sniffed.
"Oh Jeremy… My boy… You're finally home…" Daisy said as she teared up for him to wipe them away.
"Yes, mum. Have you been well?" He asked as she nodded. "Thank you for everything…" He said earnestly before he squatted to take a good look at his sons.
"Jon Jon… Jo Jo?" He called gently to his sons.
"Daddy!" They both called him in unison as they hugged him and at that moment he broke into tears realising how much he missed them both.
"Daddy's home." He said as the boys cheered. A part of him frowned when he noticed it was just the three of them.
Daisy smiled knowing he was longing to see Ivy as she urged them all to get into the car. As Daisy drove, they chatted about John, Ivy, and everything.
"Your dad had been so busy with the Ophals business dealings that he had a heart attack lately. Ivy at the same time trying to help out and she must have slept in. It's getting very very tiring for her lately." Daisy updated as Joseph was eager to interrupt.
"Yea! Auntie's tummy always pain pain…" Joseph said indicating Ivy often had gastric and Jeremy knew that lady must have been skipping her meals. Jeremy patted Joseph's head and noticed Jonathan was quiet. He kissed Jonathan's forehead to shower him with some love while his worries about Ivy grew.
The first thing she does is to make me worry about her. Yet she is hiding… Let's see how I would pamper her later… Jeremy thought to himself.
"Good boy… We should go see Auntie later…" He said as Joseph clapped excitedly while he noticed Jonathan was still and quiet with a frown occasionally. Jeremy gently patted Jonathan's head.
"Are you alright? Have you been sleeping well? Since Auntie Ivy is busy, whom have you been sleeping with?" Jeremy asked knowing about Jonathan's sleeping issues condition due to the trauma back then from Ivy's letters.
"Me… He hasn't slept very well. It's good to let them see Ivy tonight. He must be worried about her and misses her." Daisy updated as Jeremy looked over the back mirror at Daisy's gaze.
Daisy comforted him with a smile instead while an idea of coaxing Ivy back grew in his mind with all the great insights Daisy filled him with.
Happy New Year 2025!