The hot girl next to Zach filled his glass with whiskey. She also poured one into my glass, and since I never refused, I drank it in one gulp.

The whiskey had a high concentration of alcohol, and the aftereffect was unpleasant. I gritted my teeth at the warm and burning feeling in my throat as I stood there, thinking that if I could just get Zach to sign the contract, we could discuss everything else later.

Zach took over halfway through my seventh glass of wine. My throat was on fire, and my eyes were filled with tears. His eyes were filled with concern as he looked up at me.

He said, "Stop," in an almost gentle tone.

I was taken aback. He narrowed his eyes and mockingly raised his thin, cold lips.

"It's no fun drinking like this; how about we just drink it straight from the bottle?"

The waiter standing at the table quickly brought over a dozen of brandy and politely asked, "How many of them would you want me to open, Mr. Dempsy?"

Zach pulled out a cigarette and lit it up with his head crooked. He took a flirty glance at me and said, "Let's open them all. "

My heart was as cold as ice. I knew he wouldn't have any mercy on me. He knew how little my alcohol tolerance was. Was he planning to kill me through alcohol poisoning? That would be a good way to get rid of me immediately.

"Don't you like money, Ivy? Here, I'll give you $10,000 for every bottle you drink, and once they're all gone, I'll sign the contract."

I bit my lower lip, feeling as if someone had just ripped open my chest.

"How generous of Mr. Dempsy to pay for all these drinks and still pay me money," I said, squeezing out a smile and trying to sound confident. "I certainly have to drink them all, then."

The wine went right into my throat and burned all the way into my stomach. The anger ignited in his eyes, those deep blue eyes like a pond of water. Halfway through, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me close to him with all his strength.

Bottles fell and smashed on the ground. With my knees on the ground, I couldn't help but sigh.

Zach pinned me down in front of him, holding my wrist with one hand and my chin with the other.

"Do you really love money that much?"

Even when I gasped in pain, I was still stubborn. I wouldn't wave a white flag, even if I already knew I was done for.

"Who doesn't love money, Mr. Dempsy? I mean, unless you are stupid."

With rage on his face, Zach squeaked the words between his teeth, "Fine, and you want to be a bitch, I'll let you be."

Then he lifted me off the ground and walked away. I stumbled downstairs to follow him despite the excruciating pain in my knees and wrists. He drew me into a car. He slammed the door shut and accelerated to the road.

It was raining heavily outside, and the car was speeding on the road. We didn't say a word to each other the entire time until he drove out of the town and stopped at a house—a mansion—near a mountain. Then he told me to get off.

Because of the alcohol, I was drenched and shivering. I followed him into a house, where he pushed me onto the couch and smashed his lips on mine.

His mouth was filled with the kind of cruelty I hadn't felt in a long time. The kiss felt like a violent storm, but it wasn't like that anymore. Zach was acting more like a ferocious beast at the time, his big hands moving ruthlessly all over my body. And I was becoming tense by the second.

Obviously, I still love him. But at that moment, I unexpectedly felt hopeless, even terrified.

Lying on top of me with his lips still rubbing against my cheek, he mumbled, "Ivy, tell me you didn't take that money."

His voice sounded pleading. Like he was wishing that I didn't. That it would break his heart all over again if I confirmed I did.

I felt the lump in my chest tighten, tears instantly coming out of my eyes as it dawned on me that Zach still felt the pain in his heart. Even after so many years, he still couldn't let it go. But there was also something that stuck in my heart, and it was like a thorn that kept aching night after night.

"I took it."

He abruptly came to a halt. I could feel his fingertips burning as he lifted my face with his hand. I could see the lust in his eyes slowly fading away and replaced by disgust in the dim light.

Zach took out a cigarette and lit it. Under the light of the fire, his side face was blurry. He sat there, motionless.

After a while, he took my briefcase from the drawer and said, "Ivy Dikkens, there's nothing that can connect us from now on; you and I are strangers."

'Nothing linked us together, and we were strangers.'

My heart finally broke into pieces, and my ears kept buzzing at the sound of his painful words. All those words I had held in for six years were stuck in my mouth. I lost my last chance to tell him the truth.

I couldn't look at Zach even when I left, and I had no idea how I had left his place. For the first time, I burst out laughing in the pouring rain.

I had no idea Zach's wealthy family had such complicated relationships six years ago.

With the baby, I figured we'd be able to start our own family soon. But all I got was his predicament and his mother going out of her way to separate us.

I had never been a material person, but I still took the money from his mother in the end. It was only because my mom was seriously ill, and it would take our family forever to pay off that 50,0000 dollars fee for her treatment.

I loved him, but I also loved my family. So I had to choose. And no matter how painful the choice I made, I would be glad to do it again.

As I cried, the rain became heavier, and the alcohol became stronger. I stumbled to the main road, hoping to catch a taxi, but this was a suburb, and few cars were passing, let alone a taxi. I was lying on the side of the road, barely able to stand up, and let the rain pour on my spinning head.

The phone in my purse kept ringing. I wanted to respond, but my mind and body were already out of control. I had no idea how long that phone had been ringing before it stopped. I wasn't sure if it was because of the rain or if the phone had lost power.

I had no idea how long I had been lying there until my body was lifted from the ground by someone. In the haze, I heard someone calling my name anxiously, and then I closed my eyes and blacked out completely.

When I woke up again, I was in the hospital bed.

With a bit of hangover and an IV hooked on my hand, I glanced around and realized that I was in a VIP room.

There was no one around. I was about to ring the doorbell when it suddenly opened. Tyler leaned against the door, arms wrapped around his chest. He was staring at me intently, his jaw clenched as if trying to control himself from lashing out.

I tried to break the ice by asking, "What are you doing there? Do you have enough of being a boss and just decide to be the doorman?"

I couldn't stand how bad my voice sounded.

Tyler remained silent. He walked in, poured a glass of water, and handed it to me without saying anything. It took two gulps of water for the burning pain in my throat to go away.

His sharp eyes were fixed on me, and his brows were twisted and haughty.

"Why are you looking at me like that? You want a fight?" The hairs on the back of my neck sprang up due to his scrutiny. I turned my head stiffly.

"A high fever of around 100 degrees Fahrenheit, knee damage, and alcohol abuse; I only averted my gaze from you for one day, and now look at what you've done to yourself, Ivy Dikkens!"

Tyler finally spoke up, but he didn't say anything. I had no idea how he found me last night, but I knew he had been through a lot.

He leaned his body close to me, and I could smell his perfume scent mixed with tobacco.

"What were you doing at the Lost Woods last night? And how did you end up with Zach Dempsy from S&D?" he asked angrily.

I could see the storm surging up at the bottom of his slanted eyes, which were sharp with a strong sense of pressure.

Tyler's property included The Lost Woods, so I couldn't keep what happened last night a secret from him. He had always been a jerk in front of me, and this was the first time I had seen him so enraged. I was taken aback by his sudden outburst and was at a loss for words for quite some time.

"You're not going to tell me? Really?" He continued as he gave me a death glare. I simply averted my gaze and fumbled with my fingers.

"Fine," Tyler said, raising the corners of his mouth. "I can still figure it out myself, anyway. Zach better didn't do anything to you last night, or else I would make sure he's out of this city before the weekends."

He smiled, his beautiful slanted eyes making him appear charming and innocent, but the cruelty in his eyes was terrifying. I knew he could do it, at least in this city.

"He did nothing to me; don't cause any trouble, Tyler." My brows knitted together as I looked at Tyler. "He's Caleb's father," I admitted.

Tyler remained silent, but I could see his tensed shoulders. His pupils constricted slightly.

After a while, he raised his head, an incomprehensible expression on his face, and asked, "What? Does he want to be back with you?"

I smiled bitterly. Thinking of what Zach said last night, how he said he wanted nothing to do with me ever. I still felt miserable, but I knew it would happen eventually.

"How is that possible? He hates me."

"And you?"

"What?"

"Do you still want to get back together with him?" His voice was demanding and angry as he spoke those sentences. It was as if Tyler didn't like the idea.

I shook my head. "How can we still be together when he broke my heart before? I'm not stupid."

I knew everything could be repaired nowadays, not people's hearts. My conversation with Zach proved that.

Trying to mend two hearts that already had too much pain was painful.

Tyler smiled and raised the corner of his mouth, looking arrogant as usual.

He suddenly bent down and kissed me on the forehead while rubbing his big hand on the top of my head. He moved so quickly that he avoided being slapped by the hand about to hit him.

"What the HELL is going on?"

"Don't be such a wuss. I lost sleep last night worrying about you. What? Don't I deserve a small prize?" Tyler smirked, his eyes back to its sparkly and bright aura. "Well, I will eventually be the only man in your heart for as long as it's still available."

Pretending to be tough, I glared at him. Looking at his red eyes, I felt warm in my heart.

Tyler may be possessive, but I knew he sincerely cared about my son and me.

I had not given it much since I returned from Zach's house that night, but now, I realized that it didn't matter what had happened.

I made a mistake first. He was not over what happened, and I didn't expect him to, but he could've given me a chance to explain. Still, he didn't, so I didn't think it was necessary to correct him on what had happened in the past.

Zach already made his decision and conclusion without hearing my side first, so why would I bother?

I hadn't lost hope, though. I still wanted to be civil with him, for Caleb's sake. Maybe one day, we could resolve it.

It was comforting to think that way, so instead of desperately begging for a chance to talk to Zach, I focused on staying away. It was also time to buy a bigger house because my mom had complained that I barely saw her and Caleb. Her health was improving, and since Caleb was already attending kindergarten, I figured we could all stay in one house instead of jumping from one place to another.

It was reasonable because Mom could assist me with caring for Caleb while I was at work. She didn't have to travel far just to have a day with me and her grandson.

After several days of house hunting, I found a nice place near my workplace and kindergarten. The surrounding environment was also outstanding. My mother and I took Caleb on a house tour over the weekend.

I thought it would already be perfect, not until I ran into Zach while taking Caleb to the bathroom.

He was in the building's display room, behind the model area. A woman in a white gown stood beside him. She was not tall but had a nice figure. Looking back at her, I could already tell she also had a nice-looking face.

"Mom, mom, there is a handsome man over there who has been staring at you," Caleb's voice resounded around the area. I wanted to grab my son and run away, but I knew that it would look suspicious, so instead, I greeted Zach with a short nod.

It was a quick interaction, and I immediately grabbed Caleb's arm and left, but my son just had to stop and pull my hand.

"Mom, that guy is walking over here, and I think he's coming to you."

"What did you call her, kiddo?" The familiar voice sounded in my ears, and my heart missed a beat.

Caleb blinked, his wide eyes filled with innocence. "I called her mom. She's my mom, and I'm her son, Caleb Dikkens."

Zach was dressed in a dark tracksuit, which made him look even taller, but my gaze couldn't help but be drawn to the woman next to him. The girl was not too old, perhaps only in her early twenties. Her skin was delicate. She was the kind of girl who would be breathtaking even with the most simple make-up.

"Nice to see you, Mr. Dempsy," I greeted with a forced smile.

Feeling a little awkward, I kept wondering how small this city was. Zach didn't say anything, but his eyes were glued to Caleb. His deep eyes were looking at him over and over again, very carefully.

After a long while, Zach asked again, "Your name is Caleb Dikkens? How old are you?"

Caleb smiled at him and raised his hand, saying, "I'm four and a half years old, and it's three months until my birthday. Mommy said I'd be five after my birthday."

Standing back, I clenched my hands. After hearing what Caleb said, I noticed a solid light flickering in Zach's eyes, and I knew I'd never be able to keep Caleb away from him.

Zach was clever enough to figure out that Caleb was his son just by the way he was talking to him. Not to mention, Caleb inherited his looks. They have similar eyes and eyebrows.

Zach walked away, not saying anything. I could see the joy in his eyes as he looked delighted. The girl who accompanied him smiled politely at me and quietly followed him away; she didn't say anything the entire time.

I hadn't seen Zach since that fateful day at the sales office. However, I had felt uneasy since then, as if something terrible was about to happen. As expected, I received a text message from an unknown number two days later. The content was straightforward: the time and the address of a high-end restaurant.

It didn't have any other details like who I was meeting, but I already knew I would finally talk to Zach.