Chapter 199
“What the hell do you mean by that!” Thomas asked, stepping forward. That’s impossiblet”
-Do not ye
yell at my wife!” Silas snapped.
For a moment, by thought the tension would escalate, that the Stone brothers might go at each other’s throats in a room full of strangers.
She bit her lip, silently scolding herself for rushing in, especially when the atmosphere was still so tense.
What happened? Wade asked, tuming to her.
She repeated herself. “It seems like she’s in a tight spot. I don’t fully understand it either.”
Theresa had sounded angry on the phone, but Ivy had also heard exhaustion in her voice. She had been excited to get a call from her, only for it to be filled with frustration and distress.
“Where did she say it happened?” Silas asked.
“On her street, by replied,
Let’s go
“I’m coming too.” Thomas said, already striding toward the door.
“No, you’re not.” Silas’s tone was sharp, his eyes sharper, as if daring Thomas to argue,
Ivy held her breath, watching both proud men locked eyes in stubborn silence. No one else in the room dared to speak.
Finally, Thomas stepped back. “I have better things to do anyway.”
Silas scoffed. “Great” Then he took Ivy’s hand. “Let’s go, baby.”
She followed, but not before glancing at Thomas. For a fleeting second, his eyes gleamed with guilt. But when they landed on her, he scowled and turned away,
Outside, Silas was already speaking to Bud, arranging more security. “Are you coming in my car or..!”
“I brought Jonathan,” she replied, looking away
She half–expected him to object–but he didn’t. And that, strangely, hurt.
She made her way to her car and found Jonathan
“Hey, we’re waiting for Silas,” she told him, climbing in.
After a few minutes, Silas gave the signal to begin. Ivy’s two vehicles followed behind his convoy.
Ivy upped the edge of her phone against her palm, her heart leaping with fear.
How had Theresa ended up beating someone up! It was so unlike her.
The anxiety gnawed at her and so did curiosity. Before she could control herself, she unlocked her phone and searched for Theresa Stone
The headlines made her heart drop:
Theresa Stone Fled After Causing Road Accident.
Grandfather and d Kids Barely Survive Collision with Theresa Stone’s Car
Public Stunt or Personal Collapse? Exclusive Details from the Victims
ly groaned, tossing the phone away.
So it was Theresi
Her stomach twisted, recalling the accident scene. She exhaled slowly, allowing the realization to sink
Then her mind drifted, none of the articles mentioned a physical assault, and now she wasn’t sure if to be happy or terrified.
Theresa had admitted to hitting the reporter, which only meant Ivy hadn’t found articles on that yet
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Chapter 199
Giving in to the curiosity, Ivy picked up the phone again and searched for Theresa Stone’s fight.
To her dismay, there was already a video, and it seemed to be going viral. She groaned again, her heart clenching
“Everything okay, ma’am?“]
*Jonathan asked, glancing at her through the rearview mirror
“Yes,” she replied quickly.
She hesitated for a full minute, before eventually hitting play
In the clip, a young woman in a turquoise gown stretched a microplione towards a car window, the camera too close to her.
“Hello, Ms Stone,” the reporter said, tapping lightly on the glass,
At first, Ivy couldn’t see Theresa, but then she appeared in the back seat, clearly trying to shield her face.
The video went shaky and silent for a second, with the camera jostling out of view. When the camera was refocused, Ivy saw and heard Theresa
“Go away!” Theresa yelled, storming out of the car, her eyes blazing as she approached the young lady.
“Mrs. Stone, we would
The reporter’s words were cut off by a sudden, forceful push.
Ivy gasped, clutching her phone.
*Stay the fuck away from my house!” Theresa yelled.
The camera briefly caught her enraged expression before it went tumbling down. Off–camera, Ivy could hear the chaos, the yelling.
There was a man’s voice. Then the reporter screamed, followed by Theresa’s screams.
Someone picked up the camera and shouted, “Theresa Stone just injured our reportert Send help!
Then the video ended.
“What the hell” Ivy whispered, her chest tightening, her head spinning. She hadn’t expected such a thing from Theresa, and it was alarming
The carslowed, and she looked up.
“The hell.“Jonathan muttered.
There were a ton of reporters stationed outside Theresa’s house. Far more than when Thomas had been arrested
Her phone rang and she answered. It was Silas
“Hey,” she said.
Tell your drivers to follow my car. Do not deviate? Silas said firmly.
“Follow the car in front,” she said to Jonathan, her voice shaking.
“Stay safe. See you inside,” Silas added before hanging up.
Ivy’s stomach dropped as they slowly made their way closer to the crowd.
“Do not lower the windows Ivy warned, reminded of earlier.
“Yes, ma’am,” Jonat
Jonathan said.
The instant their cars were spotted, all the reporters surged forward, flooding the car.
Panic spiked as multiple reporters gathered the car, banging on the windows, waving their microphones like spears.
“Straight line, Jonathan,” she sud, her voice cracking.
There was nowhere to turn, the car felt trapped. Both windows had been surrounded, darkening
is the car interior.
Ivy covered her face with her hand, hiding from them. The car gained montentum and soon they pulled into Theresa’s driveway.
“That was insane,” Jonathan muttered, wiping sweat from his forehead
Chapter 199
Silas tapped on the other side of her window and she opened the door.
“Are you good?” he asked
“Yes,” she replied, stepping out
I thought Theresa was waiting on her street,” Silas said, frowning. The seriousness in hi
“I thought so too,” Ivy said. “Maybe it just took longer to get in.”
“Maybe,” Silas said, though his tone was uneasy. “Let’s go.”
They entered the house, fear gripping Ivy as she stepped into the quiet living room.
“Real” Silas called.
“Here” came a hoarse voice from the comer.
Ivy spotted her and rushed over. “Hey, T
his tone made her heart leap.
Theresa’s eyes were red and puffy as she sat on the floor, her hair disheveled, her belongings scattered around her.
She collapsed into Ivy’s arms. “I lost control,” she sobbed.
Ivy’s licart broke as she sat beside her, pulling her closer.
Silas kucht beside them, his serious features now softened into concern. “What happened!”
Theresa cried some
me more, and Ivy ran a gentle hand down her back. For a moment, the only sound was her tears.
Aher a while. Theresa sniffled and wiped her eyes. “I was coming back from. I went out, and then I met the reporter on about the accident and 1 just.. flared up. I couldn’t control-
“What accident? Silas’s tone turned sharp with panic.
Theresa sat upright, moving away from Ivy’s arm. The gesture stung Ivy a little, but she understood why.
“I bumped into someone’s car after I left Aunt May’s house.”
Why didn’t you say anything?”
Salas stood, his eyes wide. “Why
the street. She asked
“She couldn’t,” Ivy said before Theresa could speak. She stood as well, her cheeks burning up. “Something happened at Aunt May’s house.”
Then she told them everything.
“I get that you’re mad about it, and I’m sorry,” she said to Theresa afterward,
“Oh, Ivy,” Theresa whispered, breaking down again.
“How could Aunt May say something like that?” Silas said, his voice twisting with disgust
Pain burned in Ivy’s chest, but she swallowed it as she sat beside Theresa again. She couldn’t break down, not when her friend needed her.
“I’m sorry,” she said softly as Theresa collapsed in her arms again.
Ti sorry too. I should have listened, Theresa said through her tears.
“It’s okay,” Ivy replied, rubbing her back.
They stayed there in silence until Theresa finally lifted her head. “Silas, can I talk to Ivy alone?”
Silas didn’t hesitate. “Of course. I’ll be by the bar if you need me.”
Quice he was gone, Ivy turned to Theres, concem racing through her. “What is it?”
Theresa snillled and leaned in closer. “I was coming back from the hospital when I saw that reporter.”
Ivy’s stomach dropped. “Are you okay? Is the baby okay?”
Theresa sighed. “Yes. I got the DNA results. The baby is Wilson’s.
