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“Doc, please,” Emmanuel implored.

“Don’t Doc me. I can’t do this… won’t do this anymore! It’s over. I want a divorce.”

Ivy’s image became translucent, then transitioned into smoke before she disappeared altogether. Emmanuel’s eyes flew open as he took a deep inhale and sat up.

“Baby, are you okay?” Her sleepy voice was full of concern.

Emmanuel felt regret that she was now up. He reclined back onto the bed and reached over and placed a kiss on her temple.

“Yeah, Doc. I’m fine. Go back to sleep.” By the time his words were completely out of his mouth, she had wrapped her arm around his torso and was following his instruction.

Nightmare.

This whole situation was a fucking nightmare. Almost as bad as the dream he just had. Things between them were… tense. Emmanuel noticed Ivy struggling… tried to get her to talk about it. She brushed it off. Although he had direct evidence that things between them weren't right. A few weeks ago, when she returned from her girl’s day out, he had tried to kiss her in greeting. It had hurt like fuck when she turned away slightly, and his lip brushed the corner of her mouth instead. Sure, she had apologised later that night, but the fact remained she had turned away from his affection. He couldn’t help but wonder if that was just the beginning.

It wasn’t just Ivy. His parents hadn’t taken the news well. For decidedly different reasons. At least his mother gave thought to his family and how this could be affecting them.

“Emmanuel, I know you are saying that you didn’t do this. No, one wishes more than I do that is true. Just, think of Ivy in all of this. I know she is standing by you. Don’t let it be in vain. Okay?”

It had hurt to hear the doubt from his mom, but he took solace in the fact that they both loved Ivy. His mother did. Very much so… almost from the moment his mother met Ivy.

“I can feel it. She’s the one, Emmanuel. I am so happy.”

While his mother seemed uncertain. His father held no such belief.

“This has to be the dumbest shit you have ever done. You realise that woman?—”

“My wife, Ivy. Or if you want to be formal Dr. Ivy Scott. Don’t you ever refer to her as ‘that woman’ again.”

“I didn’t mean it like that. All I am saying is IVY could take you for everything.”

“It doesn’t matter. If I lose Ivy, I lose everything anyway.”

“Well, Christ! For a man that thinks that way. You should have kept your pants on. You are lucky revenue is at an all-time high. Otherwise, the board wouldn’t be so laid back about your predicament.”

Although Emmanuel didn’t have proof that his father was being an absolute hypocrite. Despite the devotion over the years he suspected that his father had a wandering dick. Ultimately, all Larson Scott cared about was the legacy of his company. So far, the paternity issue wasn’t negatively impacting the company’s bottom line. Emmanuel knew if it ever did, his father would not be standing in his corner. The only thing that would stop him from actively working to have him removed would be a Scott needed to sit at the head of the board.

On the upside. Frank had done a one-eighty. Over the holidays he had gone on a retreat to get in touch with ‘your inner self’. A lot of focus had been made on trusting your gut despite the appearance of things.

Armed with that belief, Frank was one hundred and ten percent team ‘the baby isn’t yours’.

“You are being set up man. Now I don’t know how, but I know you are.”

It was good to have his best friend by his side after everything they had been through.

After what was arguably the worst dream Emmanuel ever had, his mind wouldn’t allow him to ease back into a peaceful slumber. The only thing that kept him from fidgeting was the woman on his chest. Moments like these were always the best part of his day. Having her wrapped in his arms was a guarantee to keep the outside world and troubles away. Now the comfort of her wasn’t enough.

Gah… Emmanuel must have finally drifted back to sleep. Ivy was standing beside the bed with a cup of coffee.

“Here, I thought you might need this.”

He sat up and took it from her. “Thanks, Doc.”

The first sip of the black bitter elixir made him sigh in contentment. For a moment all the worry was pushed to the side. Especially when Ivy slipped in beside him and cuddled up to his side. This moment of quiet was all theirs. The first Saturday after the New Year and the sun was barely up. They had nowhere to be until the evening. So, they could just be. Her hand traced his tattoos like she often did when they were in this position. It was an artistic ode to the love Emmanuel had for Ivy. A chronicling of their commitment.

As a couple in their infancy, they had come across a couple, and the man had the woman’s name tattooed on his neck.

“That is the stupidest shit I have ever seen. Not to mention that that is the kiss of death. You don’t put your partner’s name on your body, it’s a surefire way to guarantee your relationship will fail. If anyone I was with did that foolishness I would walk.”

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