~Chapter 002

With her eyes still glued to the TV and her heart hammering in her chest, a journalist began explaining the scene, confirming her thoughts.

“The daughter of the former CEO of XIAO Designs; Sheila had returned. As everyone knows, she is now a famous designer in New York City, and her designs are known globally. Hold on as I interview her to verify if she is back here in Los Angeles to stay for good, or just a visit, as you can see, with her is her ex-fiancé or maybe she is back for a reunion? Let's find out”

The journalist spoke and left to meet Sheila, but Ryder protected her, blocking everybody from coming close as he led the way.

Ivy had her fist tightened.

Just because his Ex was back, he couldn't come back home at his usual time, why was he there? Why was he the one to accompany her from the airport? She had her family.

She bit her lower lip.

Then her phone began buzzing.

It was Larisa; her friend.

She picked it up right away, her jaw still clenched and her heart thudding faster in her chest, Sheila was back and Ryder was quick to run off to her as though he had been waiting for her all his life.

It was her first day coming into California and her husband already got like this, she was already getting in between them. Ryder never goes anywhere without informing her. If it was for work, he was going to say it, whatever it was, Ryder never left her out.

He had never given her any reason to be sad.

For the past three years of her marriage, she had never felt anything like this.

"Hi Ivy, I've been trying to get to you, but sorry, I got too busy.. there's something I need to tell you."

Ivy had a hunch it was about what she had just watched.

Larisa was her very good friend and was often on the lookout for her.

"Yes Lar, I'm listening.."

"Did you see the news?" She goes.

Ivy breathed deeply.

"Or wasn't that your Ryder I saw?"

"He is the one Lar, I just saw it too.."

"Wow that's weird, is Ryder back home?" Larisa asked and Ivy bit her lower lips.

"No, he is not back." She balled her fist.

Larisa gasped.

If a man's Ex was back, and he didn't hesitate to go to her, then there was a problem.

"I'll call you back Larisa," Ivy muttered and ended the call.

At this point, her heart was already beating faster, uncertainty crawling into her stomach, and she lumped in her throat.

Then she decided to make a call to Ryder.

But he didn't pick up her calls.

This only heightened Ivy's panic.

She paced up and down in her living room.

What was Ryder up to?

Why was Sheila back?

Her Father's company was bought off a long time ago and she had a booming business in New York, what was she back here for?

And why was her Ryder still with her? They were over and he was married to her now, why did he leave her to go be with his ex?

Their bundle of joy was on the way, but Ryder was nowhere to be found. It was supposed to be a moment of happiness for both of them, but Ryder decided to be with his ex, instead of her, his wife.

Ivy was still calling Ryder, but he wasn't picking up.

Her hand went down to her stomach, her eyes stinging with tears now as she rubbed it delicately. At this point, she wasn’t sure whether she should inform Ryder about it anymore.

Slowly, on the sofa there, she drifted off to sleep.

And before she knew it, it was already morning.

Sun rays pierced through the window of her living room.

She squinted her eyes, looking down at her body, and she realized she had dozed off on the sofa yesterday while waiting for her husband.

If she were still here till this morning, then Ryder did not return home last night.

Her heart dropped, her eyes stung with tears.

Ryder didn't come back home yesterday. This had never happened. If it were work, it'd have been better, but he was with his ex.

Ivy cleaned a side of her eyes that had tears.

She slowly walked back to their room.

Having slept off on the couch, she had a few body aches and she seemed very exhausted.

She took her bath anyway and got ready for work.

When she was done dressing up, she picked up her bag to leave.

Ryder always made their breakfast, but this morning when he wasn't here, Ivy was going to leave on an empty stomach, even though she could make something up for herself, she didn't really have the appetite.

Slowly, she was becoming paler.

She walked into her car and drove off.

----------

When she got to the office, whispers were flying around, she could hear them clearly.

"I heard our CEO's fiancée is back."

"Yes she is, we could have a wedding to prepare soon. Oh gosh, I'd come with my new red body con I just got,.."

"You really want to catch one of his CEO friends don't you?.."

"You got the point."

Every angle seemed to be covered with the gist.

"I heard the CEO and Ivy used to have a thing?" One of the girls muttered upon sighting Ivy, her voice clearly above whispers, she heard, everyone heard.

"Our CEO is a hottie, everyone has a crush on him, poor Ivy she took it deeply to heart."

"It serves her right, how can a lowlife like her dream of ever having Mr Ryder to herself? Such a joker."

Ivy bit on her lower lip.

She was torn inside, how could she explain she wasn't just a crush or a thing between them but his wife!

When Ryder insisted they keep their marriage a secret back then, she didn't have any problem with it as Ryder already loved her so much, she felt that was enough, but now she wished it had never been a secret.

"Desperate b!tch.. haha.." Another one muttered, Ivy balled her finger into a fist.