"Master Martin, I have found out about Jared Augustus," Alvis spoke, and this time, Joshua was not angered on being interrupted, for he had been waiting for this.

"What have you got, Alvis?"

"Master Martin, Jared is currently involved in constructing a resort at the..." 

"This was the project Noah rejected which now Jared has taken over." Joshua did not allow Alvis to continue and explained the situation to Ivy. "I see. What else?"

"Master Martin, he seems to be in contact with a bioscientist from Japan, and they have been in constant touch for three weeks now."

"Wait a minute. Why does he need to contact a bioscientist? I don't think he is in any way involved in such kind of matters or research." Ivy stated.

"Unless he is thinking of executing his failed plan again." Joshua analyzed, and Ivy's eyes widened the next moment.

"He is such a scoundrel." She hurled profanities without hesitating. The man sure knew how to destroy people and the world around him for his benefit.

"Yes, he is. If he really succeeds in releasing the virus this time, it would be a disaster to our country. We need to stop him before that."

"I agree, and I presume Noah is preparing a strategy to deal with Jared and his shithead of a Godfather," Ivy revealed what they had discussed during his absence. Joshua had never heard her curse this much. Heck, he had never heard her curse at all. To see her this riled up, Joshua could not help but chuckle at her.

"What else do you have, Alvis?"

"Master Martin, Jared is trying to find details about you and your friends. His list includes Noah, Ian, Ivy, Aria, and among the group, he is most interested in Noah and Ivy."

"What the fuck!!" Now, it was Joshua's time to curse. How could he sit still when a scumbag was targeting his girl. Jared was a venomous snake who did not hesitate to destroy people, and considering all that he had found about him before, Joshua was sure that he was planning something against Ivy. 'I need to increase the security around her. I need to make sure she is safe and away from that disgusting man.'

"A few months ago, he brought back a woman from the slums of Leval, and she goes by the name of Amber."

This caught the couple's attention, and Ivy raised an eyebrow immediately. "How did Alvis find out about this?"

"Alvis, please answer her."

"The moment he brought her back, they were captured together on one of the surveillance footage recorded in the system. I ran an image search on them, and it popped up."

"Alvis is amazing. I love you, Alvis." Ivy chirped happily, and Joshua glared at her.

'Is my own creation my rival in love?' He wondered and had the sudden desire to kill Alvis. It seemed as though his intentions were showing on his face, for Ivy shook her head at once.

"If you do anything to Alvis, I will stop talking to you. Mark my words, Joshua Martin. Mark my words." She lowkey threatened him, and Joshua gave up on his thoughts instantly. He sulked lightly and pouted in annoyance, waiting for Ivy to pacify him. However, the girl just gave him a look before she scoffed at him.

"Aren't you going to appease me?" Joshua could not tolerate her teasing smirk anymore and wailed like a kid.

"Why should I?" Ivy caught onto his act at once. It was as pathetic as ever.

"Because I am wounded, and you promised to take care of me," Joshua complained. "For life."

"When did I promise you? I don't recall speaking such words ever." Ivy frowned and tried to recall if she had ever spoken such words. However, she could remember it whatsoever.

"You promised me in my dreams, and a promise is a promise. It does not matter where you did it." Ivy let out a helpless chuckle at his excuse and rolled her eyes in exasperation.

"Are you serious? You are such a drama king." 

"I know. Now come and appease me or..."

"Or? What will you do?" Ivy lifted her chin and provoked him with utmost confidence.

"Or, I will not let you go." The words had barely left his lips when he pulled Ivy towards him and wrapped his arms around her, trapping her in his embrace. Even before Ivy could think, Joshua's lips came down on hers, taking her by a storm.

At first, it was slow and gentle. However, in the blink of an eye, Joshua turned wild, and he started to kiss her fervently, not giving her any chance to breathe. Their chests were pressing each other while their saliva created a mixture of their as they deepened the kiss. All of a sudden, Joshua hissed into the kiss, and Ivy pulled back at once, forcing him to stop their passion.

"Joshua, what happened? Are you alright? Did your wounds open? Did you strain your shoulders?" She started to question him, and at the same time, unbutton his loose pajama shirt.

"Ivy, what are you doing?" Joshua crossed his arms in front of her, stopping her from going any further. "Are you sure you want to do this now? I am hurt. I may not be able to satisfy you completely." Although the man said the words seriously, his face barely giving away any expression, Ivy was certain that he was enjoying the fun in his mind. His twinkling eyes said it all, and she had the sudden urge to kill him. Sometimes, Joshua tested her patience until Ivy went mad.

Ivy glared at him, and Joshua dropped his hands after a wink, allowing her to take a peek at his wounds. Fortunately for him, the wounds had not opened and the bandages were still clean. Ivy sighed in relief and shook her head lightly. 

"You idiot!" She punched him in his thigh. "Who does that? Do you have any idea how scared I was?" Ivy gritted her teeth and reprimanded him, even though she knew that it would not affect him.

"Then, why didn't you appease me? If you had tried your best, you wouldn't have ended up in such a situation." Joshua replied nonchalantly, driving Ivy crazy.

"Are you saying that it was my fault?"

"Isn't it?"

"Please elaborate." Joshua did not know what to say now. How could he say that he was jealous of Alvis, of his own creation? Ivy would only laugh at him, and that was the last thing he wanted. The only option he had now was to lie, and he did just that. "I forgot."

"What?"

"I forgot why I wanted you to appease me." Joshua gave her an innocent look, and Ivy realized that it was all an act. But she did not dwell on it more. They had other issues to think about first.

"What do we do now? How do we deal with Amber?" Her face turned serious and Joshua too stopped his mischief.

"The easiest way to deal with Amber is to deal with Jared first. Once Jared stops supporting her, she wouldn't dare to act on her own."

"How can you be this sure?"

"Amber cares a lot about her image, and if she is this desperate to get back with me, she would want to appear regal and flawless before me. Considering how she had been living a pathetic life, I don't think she would have much savings, and all her necessities are being sponsored by Jared. Either we need to end Jared first or end whatever their deal is." Joshua knew how Amber was, for he had been with her for a long time. He could easily analyze what her thought process was.

"I agree. I hope everything goes back to normal soon. I was to live my life peacefully." Ivy was already tired of everything that was happening in her life, and she wanted to take a break. She wanted a vacation and go on a trip with Joshua. She wanted to be with him, only him without being disturbed. Of course, she kept her intentions a secret, for she knew that once Joshua learned about it, he would set to execute it the next moment.

What could be more exciting to Joshua than having Ivy all for himself?

"Soon, darling soon. Jared will pay for his crimes soon, and Amber too for her stupidity. All we need is to execute our plan as quickly as possible."