Who is Nate?

Who is Nate?
“He was a good man,” the calm, deep voice broke through the silence, drawing Ivy’s attention. She turned to face him, a flicker of desperation lacing her words. 

“You know him?” 

The man before her was strikingly handsome, his neatly trimmed beard complementing his long hair. His brown eyes sparkled with kindness, matching his jacket, and his skin radiated a warmth that felt almost palpable. In just a brief encounter, Ivy sensed a deep sense of fulfillment emanating from him.

“I knew Mr. Nate Hart. He was a business partner of mine once,” he said thoughtfully, pausing as Ivy struggled to grasp the meaning behind his words. “He was truly a good man.” 

As his sincerity hung in the air, Ivy felt the mood around her shift, darkening like a storm cloud gathering above. 

“Sometimes the good ones are the first to go,” he continued, a hint of sadness in his tone. “It happens, but let me tell you, Miss, they leave you with an emptiness while still filling you up when you’re at your lowest.” 

Ivy tried to wrap her mind around the gravity of his words, but the sound of his light footsteps crunching against the dried leaves faded into the distance. With a heavy heart, she promised herself she wouldn’t return until justice was served.

As Ivy stepped away from the somber scene, the sound of distant voices reached her ears. A crowd gathered at Olive’s Central, the city main district, protesting and crying out for justice for Nate. 

Wasn't this supposed to be confidential? Who leaked the rumors? Ivy’s mind raced with questions, watching through the tinted glasses. She glanced at the driver and asked if he knew anything about it, but he shook his head, clueless. Frustrated, she pulled out her cell phone and dialed the detective.

“Calvin, I don’t get it. People are out here protesting—screaming for justice. What is going on? Did you talk to the press about this?” Her words tumbled out in a rush.

“Um… Ivy, you need to relax,” he replied, his voice steady. “I didn't speak to the press. One of the patrol officers sent me a report claiming your mother-in-law was involved.” 

Ivy’s heart sank. She shut her eyes briefly, then opened them wide. “Isn’t this supposed to be… a private matter? I’m not comfortable with this.”

“We're on it, and I’ll see if I can get the crowd to disperse soon,” he assured her.

“Thanks, detective,” Ivy said, the tension bubbling just beneath the surface as she hung up the phone.

Once home, Ivy walked into the living room, her mood darkening. “Where’s Prisca?” she demanded, fixing her gaze on Tika.

“You mean the late boss’s mother?” Tika asked, startled. Ivy never referred to her mother-in-law by her first name in front of the staff, so Tika immediately sensed something was amiss.

“Yes, her,” Ivy snapped, frustration carving her features. 

“In her room, ma’am,” said Tika, watching Ivy dart off without another word. 

Ivy reached Prisca’s room and knocked sharply. Before Prisca could respond, Ivy burst in. 

“Prisca, what are you doing?” she questioned firmly, anger flaring inside her as Prisca chuckled dryly.

“I’m simply doing the right thing,” Prisca replied coolly, unbothered.

“Right thing? You’re just making everything worse!” Ivy shot back. “You can’t expect the culprit to just confess because of a protest!”

“Well, I wasn’t searching for the culprit because I already knew who it was,” Prisca said, her gaze sharp as a dagger.

“Who?” Ivy leaned in, now intrigued despite her frustration.

“It’s you.” Prisca’s words hung heavy in the air. “I almost mentioned your name outright, but I felt a pang of pity for you, young lady.”

Ivy rolled her eyes, exasperation welling up once more. “Seriously? If I had a hand in this, I wouldn’t wait for you to catch me. Why would I ever harm Nate?” my gaze sharpened. 

“Tell me!” Prisca yelled, her voice rising. “My son was healthy and thriving until you destroyed him with your deceit.” 

Ivy stepped forward, fury coursing through her. “Look, Prisca, I’ve respected you for long enough. You’re the only one who resented my marriage to Nate. I could easily accuse you of hurting him and not the other way around!”

“Nonsense, I would never hurt my son,” Prisca retorted defiantly.

“Oh, really? Let’s set some ground rules then. First, you need to call off that protest coordinator of yours and stop this chaos. The police and my family are working on this without your distractions. Secondly, if you refuse to behave like a normal person, I will gladly send you to that nursing home your sons had planned for you before I stepped in,” Ivy said firmly, locking eyes with her mother-in-law.

Guilt washed over Prisca as she rubbed her neck. 

“You dare not threaten me, Ivy. You have no right.”

“Oh, I dare you. You’ve overstayed your welcome. It’s either you return to Arizona and enjoy the privileges of wealth or behave yourself while you're here. And make no mistake—I won’t warn you twice,” Ivy concluded, her resolve unyielding.

Ivy strutted back to the living room, pacing from corner to corner, her mind racing with endless possibilities. With a mix of anticipation and unease, she finally settled into a chair and ordered a maid to bring her a glass of water. Just then, Lana walked in, dressed in a short black dress, radiating confidence.

“Hey, Ivy!” Lana flashed a bright smile as she strolled toward her, and they shared a warm hug, a moment of comfort amidst the uncertainty. 

“Girl, you look incredible!” Lana teased, and Ivy couldn’t help but scoff, a blush creeping onto her cheeks.

“The funeral was just moments ago, have you forgotten?!” Ivy reminded, taking a sip of her water as if to ground herself.

“It didn’t make you look cheap, did it?! Just kidding,” Lana replied, sitting next to Ivy and crossing her legs. “But seriously, how are you holding up?”

Ivy sighed, rubbing her temples lightly, her thoughts swirling. “I’m trying, really. I miss him,” she said, her gaze drifting away. “I truly do, Lana. It’s been almost two weeks, but it feels like two years. What will it feel like in a month?” Her voice wavered as she looked away, shaking her head slowly, the weight of unresolved feelings heavy on her heart. 

“I understand it’s hard, but… Nate is gone. Accept that he’s never coming back to you or any of us,” Lana urged, her tone now a blend of compassion and firmness. 

“It’s just difficult when… we could have had a future together. This can’t be all there is. If I hadn’t accused him of cheating, wouldn’t he be alive now? I mean, he would have changed his mind and stayed back for me—tor us,” Ivy expressed, frustration bubbling over as she relived her past decisions. 

“He could have gone anyway,” Lana interjected, trying to soften her tone yet she was confident about it. 

“Yeah, but I was planning to try harder,” Ivy insisted, turning to her friend, desperate for understanding.

Lana scoffed and glanced away. “You don’t really know who Nate is, do you?” The sharpness in Lana’s voice piqued Ivy’s curiosity. What did she mean by that? The path forward seemed unclear, but Ivy couldn’t shake the feeling that their conversation was leading to something bigger, something that could reshape everything she thought she knew.