After the funeral, Ivy stayed over at the welfare home where there was a room she used to sleep over with the boys when they stayed over back then. She had no choice but to let Jeremy stay over too as it was too late to drive back to Landsfield when everything was cleared up.
She isolated herself outside the balcony after showering on purpose. She was thinking to herself about her decision to break off the engagement while he showered.
Ivy you don't want to do this… How could you break his heart for loving you so much? How could you push away someone you had waited for so long? She took a deep breath from the chilly breeze.
But you know it's not right. You should have realised this earlier Ivy before pleading for him to return quickly… You should never drag someone down with you. It's your family's fault. With the inheritance, do something in return for him as a support eventually but not by staying by his side… It does nothing good at all for him. Ivy closed her eyes to blink away the tears at her devastating conclusion.
He knew if he did not get the chance to confront her that night, she would definitely come up with a rash decision and she would even fall sick sitting in the cold wind. He went over after drying his hair with a towel and squatted by her side as she stared out into the blank space while fisting her hands nervously.
"I have my reasons… I can explain." He said while trying to intertwine with her right fingers which she was fisting up.
"I will move out of Rahi's residence tomorrow…" She gently shook his hands away in a weak and tired tone. Watching her forcing herself to be determined with their break up broke his heart.
"I have read all of your letters. I long to reply to each of them…" He continued to pester her.
"What's the point now? We have broken our engagement…" She wanted to get up but he pinned her down on the seat.
"I didn't agree to that…" He protested with strong yearning gazes at her.
"I didn't agree willingly to your proposal either…" She said weakly while avoiding his disappointed gaze.
"So, I don't expect you to do the same about the breakup. I just hope you respect the decision..." Ivy calmly retaliated. He knew it was hopeless to reason with her so he continued to reply to her letters.
"I am happy you're a young millionaire and won't care if you're broke now 'cause I am here to feed you for good." He held onto her hands tightly.
"I am here to accompany you to heal more of the broken souls you still have not done so." Ivy was reminded of her first few letters, and he answered them as she slowly coaxed the courage to meet with his desperate gaze.
"I do not want to play any more games… I'm proud of how you brought the charity home and welfare to what it is today. Who cares what anyone thinks and wants you to do? You're always free to be yourself." He tried convincing her as her gaze softened.
"I do miss you. Very much Vivi." Both their eyes reddened as she forced herself to hold back her tears while he gently caressed her hands.
"Words cannot describe… just how much my heart aches each time I read what you had to do in repentance and yes, the lost little souls deserve all the goodness you had planned for them." Ivy blinked away her tears recalling her first time sending off the first death among the orphans as Jeremy held her by her shoulders and she did not resist him. His eyes teared up watching her struggle to deny him.
"I'm sorry I wasn't there when you needed me, Vivi…" He helped to wipe her tears away.
"But here I am making it up to you for good. I'm sorry I left you a hard time getting used to the little gifts I left you. I had no idea of their post-trauma condition 'cause I always thought they would toughen up and sure you did a great job helping them out, Vivi." He caressed her cheeks as she leaned into his warm hand.
"You were heavenly in those dresses. Everyone envied me that my fiancee was that pretty…" He praised as she watched him smile and reality broke through her once again to keep denying and not give in for his own good.
"We have already broken off the engagement…" Ivy insisted while bursting into tears as he held her this time in his arms tightly.
"Who cared about the stereotyping when what you did with these hands was healing all those we had no choice but to sin against others? You withstand all the toughest challenges you can Vivi. Of course, everyone respected you this very young and talented lady. Even if you no longer want to be in corporate, you could go very far and I will support you all the way." Ivy began to waver and she knew it was his tricks. Compliments were no doubt her weakness as she tried her best to resist giving in.
"I'm so proud of you for your double degree Vivi. The best birthday gift for me was this news. Happy belated birthday Vivi. From now on I want to be there to celebrate every birthday, every Christmas, and every New Year together. Accompany you to visit my brother and Nancy, your grandma and my grandma on their anniversaries…" Ivy forcefully wiped her tears away while pushing him away but he did not give up.
"Never have I thought you of all people would deal with so many deaths. You had toughened up so much better than before. They all would rest in peace with your good heart and sincerity." He coaxed further as she kept shaking her head and shuddered from the pain of her heart.
"You don't have to be jealous anymore of other people's weddings cause I would definitely give you one blissfully if you want. And one thing I am so glad about was that I left you an award from your little imaginary world I materialise for you… And the reconciliation with your dad, I'm sorry for making him my accomplice." He held onto her hands again as she struggled to find the willpower to deny him this time.
"You don't have to change the owner of the bar. It was meant for you and since it was legally profit-making, even better. Hazel's part… Thank you for helping me give her the best of everything on behalf of her best friend who had past on. I owe her that much for keeping the boys alive back then." He could feel her grip tightening on his hands as he smiled knowing she would not be able to break off anymore with him.
"I'm glad you dated someone. If it's because of him that you're breaking up with me…" Jeremy nearly broke down but regained his composure as she let her tears flow while unknowingly caressing his hands to comfort him.
"I can accept it, Vivi…" His voice cracked as she closed her eyes tightly.
"But if it was because you are doing this for me, Vivi…" He tightened his grip and sounded serious which made Ivy open her eyes and stare at him.
"Don't… I would never let you go…" Ivy looked away as tears flowed. "I would make you walk down the aisle like Nick and Phyllis did no matter how busy you are with the new legal job in the orphanage home or the chaos on Rahi's side." Jeremy held her fragile self in his arms tenderly as they both broke down together. "Don't leave me, Vivi… You were my strength when I was away. I want to shower you with my love and pamper you for life… Let me…" He pleaded as she took a deep breath knowing he had reached the end of her letters.
"Then why? Tell me why had it been so long for you to be here…" Ivy demanded.
"I had my reasons Vivi…" He rested his head on Ivy's. She could not deny him any further and let him.
"Then why? Why make me wait so long? Make me endure the solidarity and long for you… What is it that you cannot even tell me till now?" Ivy vented firmly but gently while gazing into his guilty eyes.
"Kyle… had a daughter with Melissa. Melissa died the same way my fiancees did…" Ivy teared up and reached out to him instinctively while trying to digest the news. He lifted her and put her on his lap as he sat on the chair.
"The little girl should be in your orphanage all this while." He was forced to tell her that way as she hugged him for comfort.
"Vivi… The girl is to be named Milicent and she was left in a wheelbarrow…" He added as he held her tightly.
Ivy knew who exactly it was as he watched her eyes' pupils grow wider.
"She is …" He continued but she interrupted.
"Three years old…" Her grip tightened on his arms.
"Do you know who she is?" He asked as she nodded with teary eyes.
"The wheelbarrow. She was the only one. How could I not know? Why didn't you tell me earlier? What were you doing in jail so long for?!" She smacked him lightly while she cried finally knowing they were both sacrificing for others all the while.
He held her tightly with a smile as his chin leaned on her head.
"I'm sorry… I was trying to get to Kyle and speak with him to get his permission to adopt little Mili. I only managed to get hold of him lately…" He explained.
"Why do you want to adopt her?" She questioned as he sighed.
"It's a long story. Kerala is released soon and he may not rest well with things being changed outside this way. So, Kyle and I finally agreed to have me out early as appealed by you my dearest." He kissed her forehead.
"But you're both victims of Charles' doing… Kerala should be held in longer…" Ivy protested.
"Kerala had always been his sidekick. His loyalty is pledged, Vivi. We can only hope he turns over a new leaf when he is out." He explained as she gazed into his eyes with intense worries.
"You're not a savior Vivi… You can't help everyone though you inherited that much and had given away that much… But I need you to help me adopt Milicent. With my records…" He shook his head.
"Melissa side…" She asked.
"Her parents don't know about baby Mili… Maybe only Kyle's father." He said as she nodded, realising the asset Kyle mentioned was this.
"She goes by the name of Angel here. That could be her nickname moving on. We should speak with Mr. Oshia…" She suggested as he shook his head.
"Kyle doesn't want anyone to know other than us…" He updated while gently putting away loose hair.
"I had a feeling he knows…" Ivy said as he sighed. "Kyle made me promise only we know for certain." He insisted as she nodded again firmly to not let Mr. Oshia know directly.
"Kyle made me promise too to look after his asset with you…" Ivy said with twinkling eyes staring into Jeremy's gaze. "I will sign the adoption papers and prepare them tomorrow." She concluded as he nodded and smiled.
"The next thing…" He held up her hand to show her the same ring he proposed to her many times years ago which he secretly slipped into her finger earlier.
She held up her finger closer and noticed the ring was not the same simple typical diamond but there were entrails of ivies on the side of the pink diamond. She beamed as he held her closer till they could feel each other's breath.
"Marry me, Vivi. This would be the last time I propose to you." He said as she looked up at him and sealed it with a kiss that they both could no longer hold back.
"I will always be by your side. Didn't I promise you this?" He asked gently when they pulled away as she nodded with tears springing from her eyes, recalling that faithful night.
"But…" She wanted to reject him again though she knew it was too late.
"I thought I wouldn't be able to see you after that night… I didn't know he had attacked you back then, or else I would have held you till you had medical care and was out of danger like now…" He comforted her as she embraced him and sobbed a little.
"And the way you push me away when I return… I know I deserve it… But we all know with my records, there's no point taking over from my father. Everyone knows…" He watched her tears well again.
"But at least try…" She pleaded as he shook his head. "Instead, let's sort this out when things settle down. We still need to do the site visit." He wiped her tears away.
"Stop denying me. Stop thinking for others. Think of what here needs." He touched her heart. "What does it want?" He asked gently holding her gaze.
"I'm sorry I was …" Ivy was lost for words as he held her tightly.
"I'm sorry I wasted so much time…" He added while pulling her in for an intense kiss.
She welled with blissful tears this time as he swooped her into his arms and carried her into the room before they finally succumbed to a night of intense love proclamation as they both knew they wanted each other for good.