Sorry for the delayed upload of this short chapter. Work gets busy and I lost my muse for a little bit. But I do commit to complete this story. Anyone is still reading? Please leave a review. Appreciate you all! Thank you.
Back to Reality
Ethan and Ivy's morning began with the serene orchestration of the city awakening outside their window. The gentle hum of early risers and distant traffic merged with the soft, golden rays that slipped through the blinds, casting elongated, dancing stripes across the hardwood floor of their shared apartment.
As they moved about, preparing for the day, their actions were steeped in a quiet efficiency, each lost in contemplation of the hours that lay ahead. Ivy, meticulous and thoughtful, double-checked her bag for all her day's necessities — her laptop, charger, a neatly folded stack of files, and her planner. Meanwhile, Ethan, in an attempt to lighten the mood and ease the tension of their return to routine, held up his necktie with a playful grin.
"Remember how these work?" he joked, his eyes crinkling with amusement.
Ivy laughed, the sound warm and light, as she rolled her eyes affectionately. "I think you just might manage, Mr. Caldwell," she teased back, her tone light but carrying a subtle weight of unspoken thoughts about their professional boundaries.
Their banter, though light and familiar, couldn't quite mask the undercurrent of Ivy's decision to travel separately to the office that day — a silent assertion of her desire to maintain their individual professional identities despite their personal closeness.
"Good morning, Mr. Caldwell. Welcome back," Rob greeted Ethan as he got into the car.
"Thanks, Rob. Hawaii was great, but I can't wait to return to the office."
"Of course, Mr. Caldwell. Anything you want me to get for lunch for you?" Rob filled the drive to the office with casual conversation, trying to help his boss ease the transition back into his busy schedule.
"Bring me the usual, Rob. Just for me; Ivy will probably go out with her colleagues," Ethan responded with a slight sigh, knowing that Ivy would likely prefer to have lunch with her peers rather than sit with "the big boss" at the office. Understanding Ivy, Rob simply nodded and accepted Ethan's request.
When Ethan arrived at the office, the familiar hustle and bustle greeted him. Leaning a little heavier on his crutches, he was welcomed warmly by the receptionist. "Welcome back, Mr. Caldwell," she said with a bright smile. "It's good to see you back."
Ethan made his way to his office. As he entered, Cheryl was already there, going over some documents. She looked up and grinned. "Welcome back, Ethan. How was Hawaii?"
"It was great, Cheryl. Thanks for rearranging my schedule at the last minute. What do we have today, by the way?" Ethan replied, straight to business while easing into his chair.
Cheryl nodded, "Just a bunch of files you need to review, but nothing too urgent."
"Thanks," Ethan said, feeling a sense of normalcy returning.
Ivy arrived a few minutes after Ethan. She quickly made her way to her own desk, trying to ignore the awkward feeling that lingered. As she walked through the office, a few colleagues approached her, expressing their relief at her return and their curiosity about her trip.
"Welcome back, Ivy," Jane, her colleague sitting next to her cubicle, said, giving her a quick hug. "We missed you around here."
"Thanks, Jane. It's good to be back," Ivy replied, feeling a warmth spread through her at the support of her colleagues.
Once at her desk, Ivy dove into her work, catching up on emails and reviewing reports for Henry. The familiar rhythm of the office was comforting, and she felt herself slipping back into her professional persona.
Meeting with Mark and Jason
Meanwhile, in Ethan's office, he scheduled a meeting with Mark and Jason to get an update on the situation with Scott.
Mark entered first, followed by Jason, both looking relieved to see Ethan back.
"Ethan, welcome back," Mark said, shaking his brother's hand.
"Thanks, Mark. Jason, good to see you too. Let's get to it," Ethan said, his tone serious. "Tell me about Scott. How did you deal with him?"
Jason leaned forward, placing a file on Ethan's desk. "Scott has been relocated far enough from D.C. We've set him up with a small job and a place to stay. My buddy Jackson will keep an eye on him. We've made it clear to him that if he comes back or tries to contact Ivy or you, there will be severe consequences."
Mark nodded in agreement. "Any signs of trouble, and Jason will be on it immediately."
Ethan listened intently, nodding as he absorbed the information. "Good. I don't want him to cause any more problems for Ivy or anyone else here. Thank you both for handling this."
Jason smiled slightly. "It was our pleasure, Ethan. We just want to make sure everything is under control."
Ethan leaned back, feeling a sense of relief. "Alright, let's move on. I need to get back to the Thomas Bennett case. I need to prepare."
Mark and Jason exchanged glances, and Mark leaned towards Ethan, crossing his arms with a smirk. "So, what did you think we did with Scott? Locked him in a dungeon somewhere?"
Ethan raised an eyebrow, a small grin playing at his lips. "Well, I wouldn't put it past you, Mark. I just hope you didn't rough him up too much. We need him to stay out of trouble, not seek revenge."
Mark chuckled. "Don't worry, little brother. We were very professional. No dungeons, no roughing up. Just a strong message and a fresh start somewhere far away."
Jason nodded. "Scott knows the consequences if he steps out of line. He's not exactly the bravest guy around, so I doubt he'll cause any more problems."
Ethan sighed, his smile fading slightly. "Good. I just want this whole mess behind us. Ivy's been through enough."
Mark patted Ethan on the shoulder. "We've got it under control. You focus on your work and health. Leave the rest up to me, okay?"
Ethan groaned, running a hand through his hair. "Thanks, brother."
Preparing for the Thomas Bennett Case
Ethan returned to his office and asked Cheryl to get Henry to come to his office with the Bennetts' file. Henry arrived promptly, and Ethan raised an eyebrow, ready to dive into the details.
"What's your strategy?" Ethan asked as soon as Henry entered.
Henry responded, "We're approaching it from both a practical and emotional angle. Emotionally, we can argue that the affair was a result of his wife's neglect and emotional abuse. But that's a hard sell, especially with the evidence we have against him."
Ethan nodded. "Yeah, that's the best we can approach it for now. We just have to prepare for all the possible rebuttals. It's going to be an uphill battle. I'll talk to Thomas and prepare him."
As Henry left the office, Ethan turned his attention back to the piles of documents on his desk, determined to prepare the best possible case for Thomas Bennett.
Ivy's Day at the Office
Meanwhile, Ivy was still feeling the awkwardness of her colleagues knowing about her relationship with Ethan. Although they weren't outwardly indifferent towards her, she still felt a bit left out. Lunchtime conversations and casual office chats seemed to exclude her more often than not.
As she worked through her tasks, she couldn't shake the feeling of being under a microscope. She caught snippets of whispered conversations and noticed the occasional sideways glance. It was as if everyone was trying to figure out how to approach her now that her relationship with the boss was public knowledge.
During a break, Jane stopped by Ivy's desk with a cup of coffee. "How are you holding up?" she asked gently.
Ivy sighed, accepting the coffee with a grateful smile. "It's a bit weird, honestly. I feel like everyone is watching me, waiting for me to slip up or something."
Jane nodded, understanding. "Give it some time. People will get used to it, and things will go back to normal. Just keep doing your job as you always have. They'll see that nothing has changed."
Ivy appreciated Jane's support and tried to focus on her work. She knew it would take time for things to settle down, but she was determined to prove that her relationship with Ethan didn't define her professional capabilities.
Evening at Home
As the workday came to an end, Ethan and Ivy met up in the lobby, both ready to head home. They were tired, but there was a sense of accomplishment in the air.
"Ready to go home?" Ethan asked, smiling at Ivy.
"Absolutely," Ivy replied, smiling back. "Go ahead, I'll see you at home. I'll stop by the supermarket to get us dinner."
Ethan nodded and got into his car, where Rob was waiting for him in the lobby.
When Ivy arrived at the apartment, she found Ethan sprawled out on the sofa, fast asleep. She wanted to give him a kiss but decided not to, for fear of waking him. Instead, she went to the kitchen and began preparing a light dinner for both of them.
It was almost 7:30 p.m. when she decided to wake Ethan up for dinner. She sighed, knowing that as simple as sleeping on the couch with no preparation could cause him pain the following day. Everything with Ethan required careful planning. It ached Ivy, but she quickly pushed her thoughts aside and focused on what needed to be done instead.
"Ethan, dinner's ready," Ivy said softly, waking him up gently.
Ethan stirred and winced, realizing that his leg was dangling off the sofa. "Here, let me help you up," Ivy offered her hand.
Still groggy, Ethan snapped, "I can get up myself."
Understanding, Ivy simply stepped aside and handed him his crutches silently.
Once they were both seated at the dining table, Ethan whispered without looking at Ivy, "Sorry I snapped."
Ivy smiled and quietly enjoyed their dinner.
As they ate, Ivy gathered her courage, feeling a knot of anxiety tighten in her stomach. She took a deep breath and looked up at Ethan. "Ethan, I've been thinking about submitting my law school application for this fall," she said quietly.
Ethan's eyes widened with excitement. "That's fantastic, Ivy! Whatever you need from me, I'll help you. Do you have schools in mind? Georgetown, perhaps?"
Ivy shook her head, her voice filled with insecurity. Ivy took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts. "Ethan, I appreciate your confidence in me, really. But I need you to understand something," she said, looking into his eyes. "I don't want to apply to a big brand-name school. I just don't feel that's the right path for me."
Ethan listened intently, nodding for her to continue.
"I want to learn and be a good lawyer, but I want to do it within my means. I am not sure if I have what it takes to get into at those big-name schools, plus I don't want to graduate with a lot of debt, especially since I have my mother and sister to think about," Ivy explained, her voice steady but sincere. "But, I'm worried you'll be disappointed because your family comes from such a strong pedigree."
Ethan reached out and took Ivy's hand, his eyes filled with pride and affection. "Ivy, I'm proud of you no matter where you choose to go. You have the drive and determination to succeed anywhere. But I also believe you have what it takes to thrive at a brand-name school like Georgetown. I've seen your dedication and hard work firsthand, and you're more than capable."
He paused, squeezing her hand gently. "And if finances are a concern, please let me help. I know you want to do this on your own, but I'm here for you in every way. If you want to aim for a prestigious school, we'll make it work. You don't have to worry about graduating with a lot of debt. I've got your back, Ivy, always."
Seeing Ivy's hesitant expression, Ethan continued, "I know you might think I'd be disappointed because my family has a history with those big-name schools but that's not what matters to me. What matters is that you find the right place for you, where you can grow and be happy. Whether it's a big-name school or not, I support you fully. Your happiness and success are what count."
Ethan grinned to lighten the mood, "Plus, it's not like you'll have to look for employment anyway, Ms. Ivy. You'll always have a place at Caldwell and Caldwell."
Ethan quickly corrected himself, realizing his mistake. "Ivy, that's not what I meant. I said you'll always have a place at Caldwell and Caldwell because I see you do a great job. Your supervisors love your work ethic and the quality of your work. You will excel, whether at Caldwell and Caldwell or elsewhere."
Ivy finally smiled, feeling the tension ease. "Nice save, Mr. Caldwell. But for now, I need to begin my night job. So if you please, Mr. Caldwell, follow me to your bedroom so I can get you ready for bed." She winked naughtily, handed Ethan his crutches, and led him to the bedroom.
Ivy finally smiled. "Nice save, Mr. Caldwell. But for now, I need to begin my night job. So if you please, Mr. Caldwell, follow me to your bedroom so I can get you ready for bed." She winked naughtily, handed Ethan his crutches, and led him to the bedroom.
Evening Routine
The reality of Ethan's situation, with the lingering presence of bone cancer, added a layer of complexity and urgency to their nightly routines. Ivy, deeply committed to Ethan's well-being, approached each evening with a mixture of determination and tenderness, understanding the importance of these moments not just for physical relief but for emotional support as well.
Gently Ivy led Ethan to sit at his bed. She gathered everything necessary, creating a soothing environment to help ease Ethan's discomfort. She dimmed the lights in the bedroom, knowing that softer lighting helped create a calming atmosphere. She then filled a small basin with warm water and brought it over to where Ethan sat on the edge of the bed. Adding a few drops of lavender oil to the water, she soaked a washcloth, wringing it out gently before applying it to Ethan's leg.
The warmth from the cloth helped soothe the deep-seated ache in his bones, a kind of pain that was often hard to describe and harder to ease. Ivy watched Ethan's face for any signs of relief or discomfort, adjusting the temperature of the cloth as needed.
"Is this helping Ethan?" she asked gently, her voice low and comforting.
Ethan nodded, managing a small smile. "It does, thank you," he replied, his voice reflecting the fatigue of dealing with constant pain yet also his appreciation for her efforts.
Once the warm compress had done its work, Ivy carefully dried his leg, her touches as gentle as they were methodical. She then began a more targeted massage, using a pain-relief cream prescribed by Ethan's oncologist. As she massaged the cream into his leg, she used techniques she had learned from a physical therapist, designed to maximize relief without causing additional pain.
The room was quiet, filled with the soft sounds of their synchronized breathing and the distant hum of the city. Ivy's focus was entirely on Ethan, watching for any signs of discomfort or relief that flickered across his face. Each gentle stroke was both an act of love and a measure against the pain, her fingers working carefully over the areas that caused him the most distress.
After the massage, Ivy helped Ethan to lie down comfortably, arranging the pillows to support his leg in a position that alleviated pressure on the affected bone. She covered him with a light duvet, ensuring he was warm but not overly so, as comfort could sometimes be a delicate balance.
"Anything else you need?" Ivy asked, her hand resting lightly on his shoulder, ready to provide whatever additional comfort she could.
"Just stay with me a little longer," Ethan requested, his voice soft and carrying a hint of vulnerability. Ivy nodded, understanding that his request was as much about emotional comfort as it was about physical presence.
She climbed gently into the bed beside him, careful not to jostle the mattress too much. Lying next to Ethan, she turned to face him, her hand finding his. Their fingers intertwined, a silent expression of solidarity and support.
As they lay there, the outside world faded away, leaving only the soft, reassuring presence of each other. Ethan's breathing gradually deepened as he drifted towards sleep, comforted by Ivy's presence and the care she had administered. Ivy stayed awake a while longer, watching over him, a silent guardian against the night's challenges.