My Nate
“What are you implying—that I am cheating?” Nate shot back, his voice a mix of disbelief and anger.
“Then clear my doubts, Nate Hart!” Ivy demanded, her frustration rising as Nate rushed toward her, desperate to collect his phone. But Ivy wasn’t about to make it easy for him.
“Ivy, this isn’t a joke. I’m going to miss my flight!” he pointed out, fury clear in his tone.
“We need to talk about this—I demand an explanation,” Ivy decl
“If you must know, that was my cousin. The one I always talk about—you’ve met her,” he explained, trying to bring some clarity to the chaos.
Ivy scoffed, “We both know there are no kids in this house who would agree with that—your kids are twenty!” Ivy snapped, anger thick in her voice.
“Are they really?” Nate replied with a nonchalant gaze, as if weighing her words. Ivy stood there momentarily shocked.
“What do you mean by that?” she pressed.
“I love you, Ivy. You have to know that everything I’ve done for the past twenty-one years has been because I love and respect you. Should a phone call be the cause of an argument on our anniversary? I guess not!” Nate said, his calm demeanor penetrating the emotional storm stirring around them. “I’ll call you as soon as I land,” he added, leaving Ivy engulfed in her thoughts.
Their 21st anniversary had taken an unexpected turn. Why was something from the past creeping into their present? Ivy wondered. She sank onto the bed, struggling to catch her breath.
How could such a beautiful marriage begin to melt? Would she let that happen? The answer was a firm no.
Determined to distract herself, Ivy quickly took a shower and resolved to throw herself into work.
Ivy led a successful cosmetic company nestled in the heart of New York, thriving amidst the city’s hustle and bustle. With Nate, the heir to Nitro Groups—a major tech firm—by her side, she had built a desirable life. Ivy was undeniably one of the most successful women in the country, and she was committed to maintaining her status.
After preparing for the day and admiring her reflection in the mirror, Ivy smiled at her own beauty, though a part of her longed for Nate's presence, his compliments worth more than any beauty product.
“Mom?” Kendra’s voice echoed, startling Ivy from her thoughts.
Ivy turned to her daughter, who had silently entered the room. “Yes, Pookie? What’s up?”
“Where’s Dad? I thought we were going to share the cake?” Kendra asked, confusion stamped on her face.
“Well, Dad had to run. He left for a business trip a couple of hours ago,” Ivy said, adjusting her tight-fitting dress. “But don’t worry, he’ll be back in two days.”
“A trip on your anniversary?” Kendra scoffed, arms crossed defiantly. “I should have stayed at school! Justin and I skipped lectures to make this day special, only to get pranked and then have Dad jet off without even saying goodbye? What’s going on?”
Ivy felt her heart sink, struck by her daughter’s disappointment. What could she say that would reassure her?
“Kenny, he’ll be back soon, and everything will return to normal,” Ivy urged, but her words fell flat.
“How? You’re already dressed for work anyway—this is outrageous! What about the reservations we made to make you guys have a lovely time? I told Justin coming home was a mistake, and now, here we are,” Kendra snapped before storming out of the room, her frustration palpable.
“Kenny? Kendra?” Ivy called after her, but the door slammed shut, leaving her alone with her thoughts.
The day felt ruined, and Ivy was left questioning how everything had gone so wrong.
Ivy grabbed her bag and left the room right after a call from her assistant rang out. In the living room, Tika, the chief of staff, welcomed Ivy with a bright smile and a small box.
“Happy Anniversary, ma'am! It may not cost millions, but... I hope you like it,” Tika said, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Ivy grinned back, feeling a rush of gratitude for the thoughtful gesture. “Who said a gift is measured by the cost? It’s the heart that gives that matters, and I’m truly thankful. This is so sweet of you,” Ivy replied as she eagerly opened the gift.
Inside, she found a simple silver bracelet with her name elegantly carved on it. Ivy was enchanted and leaned toward Tika, wrapping her arms around her in a warm embrace.
“Thank you so much, Tika! This means a lot to me, even if you didn’t have to,” she said as they broke the hug.
Tika smiled, sincerity shining through her words. “I’d do anything for someone with a kind heart like you. Remember how you paid for my granddaughter’s heart surgery? This is the least I could do, and I only wish I could do more.” said Tika.
“You’re too kind. I only did what felt right. I’ll wear this proudly,” Ivy replied as Tika helped her slide the bracelet onto her left wrist. The bracelet looked lovely on her hand, sparking excitement about the day's potential.
“Thank you so much, Tika! And about the cake, please make sure everyone gets a slice… Kendra is already dying to have some,” Ivy said, a smile on her face as Tika nodded enthusiastically.
With that, Ivy headed off to work, her mind buzzing with anticipation.
A few hours later, Ivy settled into her office, surrounded by paperwork and the excitement of anniversary gifts from her employees. Everyone adored Ivy and appreciated what she was doing. However, amidst reviewing proposals from a potential investor, Ivy couldn’t shake the thoughts of her husband, Nate. He hadn’t called or texted, which felt unusual.
Setting aside her papers, she removed her reading glasses and grabbed her cell phone, dialing Nate’s private line, though it rang without answer. She felt a sense of anxiety; she wanted to apologize for earlier, and she realized she might have misjudged the situation. Nate had never shown signs of cheating.
“Please pick up, Nate!” she muttered under her breath as she stood by the window, gazing at the vibrant city below, while trying his number once more, but it remained unreachable.
Turning to Alvin, she dialed his number next, her pulse quickening with a mix of hope and concern. Moments later, Alvin’s voice came through.
“Yes, beautiful…” he said, his tone smooth yet uninterested.
“Hi, Vin. I’ve been trying to reach Nate, but I can’t connect. Did he, by chance, call you?” Ivy asked, a hint of anxiety creeping into her voice.
“No, why? You know Nate wouldn’t call me after that stunt I pulled, sexy…” Alvin replied casually.
“Okay, thanks. I’ll just—”
“Did you guys argue?” he inquired, showing little interest.
“If he didn’t contact you, it’s fine. I’ll keep trying…” Ivy said, hanging up with a sigh. Rubbing her temples, she continued dialing Nate’s number, but still, no answer.
The fact that even the driver and Nate’s assistant were unavailable left Ivy feeling increasingly unsettled. What if something had gone wrong?
“Be positive, Ivy!” she scolded herself, trying to shake off the anxiety.
After a few minutes of trying to reach Nate with no luck, her phone buzzed with a call from an unknown number. She hesitated, assuming it might be one of Alvin’s pranks. But when the call persisted, curiosity got the better of her, and she finally answered.
“Vin, can you quit trying so hard?” Ivy snapped, frustration bubbling to the surface, only to be greeted by a soft, unfamiliar voice.
“I’m so sorry, Mrs. Hart, this isn't Vin. I’m Maya, calling from Bubbles’ Agency. There’s a surprise package available for pickup. Would you prefer it dispatched to you, or would you like to come get it?”
Ivy’s expression shifted to one of surprise as confusion mingled with intrigue. “A surprise package? From who?” she asked, her mind racing.
Who could have sent such a package? The tension built within her as she awaited a reply.