Chapter 196

• Ivy's hands trembled as she smoothed her dress, her mind racing with memories of her father's absence. She felt like a fragile vase, on the verge of shattering. What would he say? Would he apologize? Or would he dismiss her feelings? Her nerves began to fray, but Zack's reassuring grip on her hand helped calm her. But as they arrived at the location, her heart pounded in her chest. What would she find? Would her father finally explain why he never came back until now? So many disturbing questions that would never go away until they were finally answered, and she was getting right at it.
• She took a deep breath and glanced at Zack with a curt nod. But then a brief furrow of awareness struck her.
• "Are you the one supposed to finalize the deal with Smithson's business?" Ivy asked incredulously, as it had just occurred to her that Bryan could handle such a small operation without Zack's direct involvement. He had multiple businesses and more important dealings to attend to, yet he chose to invest in Smithson's company personally.