Chapter 214: Worse-Case-Scenario

Third POV

Vivian's eyes remained fixed on the door as she continued to dial Ivy's number, her mind consumed by the memories of her struggles. The humiliation of kneeling before Regina and begging for mercy lingered, a painful reminder of her vulnerabilities.

As the phone continued to ring without an answer, Vivian's concern for her son's marriage grew. She had been so caught up in her problems that she had neglected to pay attention to the issues brewing between Daniel and Ivy.

The last conversation she had with Ivy echoed in her mind. Ivy had been desperate to have a child with Daniel, and Vivian had sensed a hint of desperation in her voice. Ivy had also mentioned her desire to reclaim her father's company and secure a future for herself, where she wouldn't be left broke and helpless.

Vivian's instincts told her that something was amiss, and she needed to get to the bottom of it. She tried calling Ivy again, her fingers drumming impatiently against the armrest as she waited for an answer.

Vivian's thoughts had been consumed by the recent events at her company. Despite her efforts, she had been unable to regain control, and the board had unexpectedly appointed a new CEO. While she wasn't angry about stepping down, she couldn't help but feel a sense of loss and disappointment.

However, she was determined to put the past behind her and focus on the present. She had come to visit Ivy, and she wanted to sort out her daughter-in-law's problems.

Vivian snapped out of her thoughts and knocked on the door. A moment later, a maid in her sixties opened the door and welcomed her in. "Good day, ma'am. Please come in," she opened the door for me.

"Do you need something, ma'am?" She asked.

"Water is okay,"Vivian replied, and the maid immediately scurried away.

As Vivian waited for the maid to return, she took in her surroundings. The house was beautifully decorated, and Vivian couldn't help but notice the sense of elegance and sophistication that permeated the air.

But despite the luxurious surroundings, Vivian couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. She had a sense of unease, a feeling that Ivy was hiding something from her. And Vivian was determined to find out what it was.

She continued staring around until she heard a strangling sound coming from upstairs. Vivian's curiosity got the better of her as she slowly made her way up the stairs, her eyes fixed on the door from which the sounds were coming. She felt a growing sense of unease, her mind racing with worst-case scenarios. What if Ivy was betraying her trust? What if she was doing something that would hurt Daniel and their family?

As she reached the top of the stairs, the moans grew louder, and Vivian's heart sank. She felt like she was intruding on something private, but she couldn't bring herself to turn back now. She had to know what was going on.

With a sense of trepidation, Vivian slowly turned the handle and pushed open the door. What she saw took her breath away...

Vivian's eyes widened in shock as she stood frozen in the doorway, her mind struggling to process what she was seeing. The room was dimly lit, but she could make out the figures on the bed. The woman on top of the man on the bed was indeed who she thought it was. Ivy, her daughter-in-law, was on top of a man, their bodies entwined in a passionate embrace.

Vivian's heart sank, her worst fears confirmed. She felt a wave of nausea wash over her, her mind reeling with thoughts of betrayal and deception. She couldn't believe that Ivy would do something like this, especially after everything Vivian had done for.

As she stood there, frozen in shock, Ivy suddenly sensed her presence. She turned around, her eyes locking onto Vivian's, and for a moment, they just stared at each other. Ivy's face was a picture of guilt and shame, and Vivian could see the fear in her eyes.

Vivian's voice was barely above a whisper as she spoke, her words trembling with emotion. "Ivy..." she said, her voice trailing off as she struggled to find the words to express her shock and disappointment.

"Ivy?" Vivian repeated, her voice trembling with a mix of shock.

Ivy's face turned pale as she quickly scrambled off the man, her eyes wide with fear and guilt. "Vivian, I... I can explain," she stuttered, her voice barely above a whisper.

Vivian's eyes narrowed as she took in the scene before her. The man on the bed was still lying there, a mixture of shock and embarrassment on his face. Vivian's mind was racing with questions, but one thing was certain - Ivy had betrayed her trust, and Vivian felt like she had been punched in the gut.

"How could you, Ivy?" Vivian asked, her voice cold and detached. "How could you do this to Daniel, to our family?"

Ivy drew the sheet close to her chest to hide herself, her hands raised in a placating gesture. "Vivian, please listen to me. It's not what it looks like. I swear, I was just...just trying to..."

But Vivian wasn't interested in hearing Ivy's excuses. She turned around and walked out of the room, leaving Ivy and her lover behind. Vivian's heart was heavy with sorrow and anger, and she knew that things would never be the same again.

Vivian's eyes blurred with tears as she drove away from Ivy's house, her mind reeling with emotions. She felt disgusted and betrayed by Ivy's infidelity, but more than that, she felt ashamed of herself. She had been so blinded by her desires and ambitions that she had made terrible decisions, hurt the people she loved, and lost sight of what truly mattered.

As she drove, Vivian's thoughts drifted back to Derek, her son who had passed away. She felt a wave of grief wash over her, and she couldn't help but think about how she had treated him. She had been so cruel and heartless, rejecting him and denying him the love and acceptance he deserved.

Vivian's eyes welled up with tears as she realized the enormity of her mistakes. She had been so desperate to erase her poor past and the pain she had suffered that she had lost sight of what truly mattered. She had let her desire for wealth and status consume her, and in the process, she had lost the people she loved.

As she drove, Vivian felt a sense of emptiness and despair wash over her. She didn't know where to go or what to do. She felt lost and alone, haunted by the ghosts of her past and the mistakes she had made.

The sound of her phone ringing snapped out of her thoughts.

Vivian's heart skipped a beat as she pulled over to the side of the road, her eyes fixed on the screen of her phone. Darryl's name flashed on the display, and a sense of foreboding washed over her. Darryl never called her unless it was something serious, something that required her immediate attention.

A chill ran down her spine as she hesitated for a moment, wondering what could be wrong. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart, and answered the call. "Darryl, what is it?" she asked, her voice laced with concern.

His voice was laced with urgency, and Vivian's instincts told her that something was terribly wrong.

"Vivian, it's Daniel," Darryl said, his words sending a chill down Vivian's spine. "He's been involved in an accident on his way to the airport. He was going to catch up with Regina's plane."

Vivian's mind went blank as she processed the information. She didn't think twice, immediately starting the car and driving to the hospital. Her hands were shaking as she dialed Regina's number, which she had managed to obtain from her private investigator.

As soon as Regina picked up, Vivian's fear and anxiety boiled over. "Stay away from my family," Vivian warned, her voice trembling with emotion. "You've done enough damage already. Never meet Daniel again, never have anything to do with us."

Vivian ended the call, her hands still shaking as she gripped the steering wheel. She couldn't lose another child, not after what had happened to Derek. The pain of his loss was still fresh, and the thought of anything happening to Daniel was unbearable.

As she drove to the hospital, Vivian's mind was filled with worst-case scenarios. She prayed that Daniel was okay, that he would be safe. She couldn't bear the thought of losing him, not now, not ever.