Ivy POV:

I opened my eyes to a blur of pale white and soft humming machines. The air smelled faintly of antiseptic, sheets tucked too tightly around my body. My mind drifted as I remembered the episode from last night. Derrick and Aria dealt with me. How they were able to receive me for a whole year. I couldn't explain it. Tears kept dropping down my face as I thought my life had ended after the accident.

" Ivy? Grace called. I looked in her direction, surprised to see someone who at least cared about me.

" Hi, Grace. I responded softly

" How do you feel? Does your head hurt? The doctor said you will be fine. What happened? Why did you run off like that?" She asked with care, but was still nosy. I smiled within knowing her so well.

" Nothing, Grace, I will be fine", I assured her

Unconvinced, she looked at me and smiled

" Why are you smiling? I asked

" Because you don't know how to lie, Ivy? I saw Derick at the hotel. He tried running after you but stopped halfway. Did you both quarrel because I saw that red-bottomed heeled lady arguing with him? She asked and rolled her eyes as she mentioned Aria.

I smiled at Grace. She never hid her dislike for Aria, and no matter how much I told her how Aria was good to me when I was in school. She never believed. I guess she saw what I wasn't seeing.

The thought alone brought tears back, and I started crying because it hurt so much. I have never experienced such betrayal.

" Oh dear! Grace hugged me. I needed that hug as I cried bitterly.

It's okay. You will be fine. She consoled me.

" I ran into Derrick and Aria at the hotel,on my way to the restaurant room. They were kissing each other,I just can't believe what I saw, Grace. My boyfriend and best friend are having an affair. You know, since he got that job, he became so busy, hardly responds to my messages and even when he does, he complains. I thought he was just busy, but it's clear now, " I sobbed

" It's clear now. I'm just a baker and he is a graduate, had degrees and all, but I suffered to support him. I just wasn't good with school, that's why I quit. I feel like a loser, Grace". I told her.

" No, Ivy.I won't let you condemn yourself because of those wicked souls that do not deserve your kind heart. You are a chef, and without you, Sweet Crust Bakery wouldn't exist."

"Who is going to make almond croissant, chicken baguette, macarons and lots more, but you know it all, so you are unique, Ivy", she encouraged me

I smiled all through, listening to grace.She was a sweet girl and very close to me.

" It's okay, they aren't worth this tears. You're gonna need a lot of energy to face, Clara Reyes." She smirked

As I was about to respond, the nurse walked in to check up on me. She told me I will be discharged soon.

I had to request the bill, but she confirmed it was taken care of.

" By who, ma'am? I asked confused

"Elias Black", she smiled and walked out

" Who is he? " I asked Grace who was smiling like she won a jackpot.

" The CEO of Blackwood Group, the host for the event. He is the same person who hit you. So he brought you here and took care of the bills. Simple," Grace said

" Oh! Fuck!

That moment, I felt uneasy as I remembered how I ran, limped and crossed the road, hit the car, and fell.

His last words to his driver

"You fired." I could remember how he cursed till we got to the hospital.

I felt so made making someone jobless.

I have to find him and apologize.

Elias Black POV:

" Okay," I hung up.

I decided to check on the lady I crashed into.

After I dropped her at the hospital, I rushed back to the opening ceremony of my Blackwood Group in Los Angeles. This was my dream come through to establish my company in my city, but I knew that wasn't all that brought me here. Memories of how my dad died, still fresh in my heart, the struggles we had to make and then the betrayal of my mother.

Mom had always been bitter about her lifestyle with Dad. My dad married her when he had a lot going on, well, for him, at the local bank in Mandeville Canyon, where he worked.

Unfortunately, the bank caught fire, lost everything, staff became stranded as they had to look for other means to survive since they were not planning on renovating soon.

My mum lived comfortably and she couldn't afford to work because it would change her status. She had always been so proud of herself, flaunting my father's achievements, that when he lost his job she couldn't bear what people would say.

My father still tried, doing odd jobs just to put food on our table, but it was never enough for her. I watched my mother look down on my father, calling him names in my presence.

A year later, we discovered that my dad was ill, but he never told anyone, not until the day he fainted and was told he was diagnosed with cancer at the hospital.

Mom attitude towards dad became worse. I came back from school, had to tend to my father's needs because my mum was always absent.Sge bad friends from the city so she still went out.

One evening, Mom told us that she was travelling to London to seek a better life.

" This is not what I want for myself, she told me dad bluntly. I need to get my life back, I'm too pretty to do all this, do your laundry, cook, bathe and take you to chemotherapy."

"And our son, Clara," my dad asked weakly. What happens to him after am gone? "

I looked at Mom, thinking she would reconsider, but her eyes and emotions were unreasonable. She said nothing.

Everyone was asleep when Mom left. I knew when she got up, picked up her suitcase and left the house.

I watched her from the window as she left without looking back at me, our home. Then I saw a car parked in front of the house. A Ford Model 1907 picked Mom up and drove off.

I refused to let the tears drop. My mother betrayed me

I hardly allow myself to think about my past , because it fuels the anger and hatred I have.

The thought of her made me so mad. I picked up a tag that fell off the lady I had crashed into

Sweet Crust Bakery was going to be mine, and the girl just made my first action very simple.

I smiled as I looked at the tag and threw it back into the drawer.

"I'm coming for you, Mom," I mocked as my fist tightened.

I picked up my phone and called my lawyers

" Dominic,I want to sue that stupid bakery for their unprofessionalism.I want them to pay for damages.Do whatever the fuck you can to make them stay off the market since they don't know how to train their employees." I said witso much irritation.

" Yes sir. As I hanged up