"I... I don't feel well," Ivy managed, her voice wavering as she touched her forehead lightly, a feeble attempt to mask the turmoil raging inside her.
Mr. President's expression softened with immediate worry. "Oh dear, you must rest," he insisted gently, his protective instinct kicking in immediately. With a brief exchange of nods, he motioned for a nearby guard, who approached promptly to escort Ivy home.
Ivy kissed Mr. President goodbye, a mixture of gratitude and apprehension in her farewell gesture. She followed the guard quietly, her mind racing with conflicting thoughts and emotions. The weight of recent events pressed heavily upon her as they made their way through the bustling city streets towards the Blue House—the opulent residence that would now be her home as the First Lady.
Arriving at the imposing gates of the Blue House, Ivy felt a wave of mixed emotions wash over her—fear and happiness intertwined in a dizzying whirlwind. The gates opened ceremoniously as they approached, revealing the grandeur of the mansion that loomed before her. The car ascended the sweeping driveway, each turn bringing her closer to a reality she had never imagined for herself.
As the vehicle finally came to a stop, Ivy stepped out, her heart pounding with a blend of awe and trepidation. A guard hurried forward to open her door, and she emerged to the gentle chorus of maids, their welcoming smiles and respectful greetings filling the air. Among them was a poised woman who introduced herself as Mrs. Tania, the head servant, extending a welcoming hand and offering to escort Ivy to her prepared room.
"Welcome, Madam First Lady. Please, allow me to show you to your quarters," Mrs. Tania said warmly, her demeanor calm and reassuring amidst Ivy's inner turmoil. Ivy nodded gratefully, silently following Mrs. Tania through the ornate corridors of the mansion.
"This is your room. Please, make yourself comfortable and rest," Mrs. Tania said kindly, opening the door to a lavishly appointed suite that surpassed any expectation Ivy had dared to form. Ivy stepped inside, her breath catching at the opulence that surrounded her—a stark contrast to the humble origins she had known.
"I can't believe this," Ivy whispered to herself, her voice barely audible as she took in the gilt-edged mirrors, the sumptuous fabrics, and the meticulous attention to detail that adorned every corner of the room. Her thoughts raced with the weight of her new responsibilities, the sudden shift in her status, and the overwhelming sense of duty that now lay heavily upon her shoulders.
"It's real. I'm here now. I have power," Ivy murmured, her fingers trembling slightly as she touched the intricate designs of the antique furniture. "But with power comes decisions. Choices that will shape lives, futures..."
Lost in her contemplations, Ivy was abruptly jolted from her reverie as the door burst open with a force that echoed through the room. Her heart skipped a beat as she recognized the familiar face of the man who had once been an intimate but regrettable part of her past.
"What the heck!" Ivy exclaimed, her voice filled with a mix of shock and alarm as Leo stormed into her sanctuary, his presence disrupting the fragile calm she had struggled to maintain.
"You! What are you doing here?" Leo's voice cracked with accusation, his eyes blazing with a mixture of anger and disbelief as he advanced towards her, his presence a sudden and unwelcome intrusion into Ivy's carefully controlled environment.
Instinctively, Ivy retreated a step, her mind racing to process the implications of Leo's unexpected appearance. Fear gripped her heart as she faced the stark reality of his presence in the heart of her new domain—a domain where she had hoped to find solace and purpose amidst the complexities of her new role.
"Oh no, how did he find me here? This is a disaster," Ivy thought frantically, her thoughts a chaotic whirlwind of fear and uncertainty. "What do I do now? I'm trapped!"
Leo's eyes narrowed, his expression hardening with determination as he closed the distance between them, his voice low and intense. "This is my house and what the heck are you doing here??"
Ivy's mind raced as she tried to find a way to defuse the situation, her pulse quickening with each passing moment. She knew she couldn't afford a scandal, not now, not in this delicate juncture of her life and career. She needed to act, to protect herself and the fragile stability she had fought so hard to achieve.
"This is his house. What the heck is happening?" Ivy's mind raced, a cold sweat breaking out on her forehead. Panic clawed at her chest, tightening her breath.
"Could he be the son of Mr. President?" she mumbled to herself, her eyes widening in shock. The gravity of the situation hit her like a freight train, making her heart pound even harder.
"I... I don't know what you're talking about," Ivy stammered, her voice quivering. She instinctively took a step back, trying to put as much distance between herself and Leo as possible. "You need to leave. Now."
Leo's gaze hardened, his eyes narrowing with a mix of anger and hurt pride. His features twisted into an expression that sent a shiver down Ivy's spine. "I asked, what are you doing in my home?"
Ivy swallowed hard, trying to steady her breathing. "We shared nothing—nothing happy between us," she insisted, her voice gaining strength as she sought to assert control over the escalating confrontation. "It was a mistake—a moment of weakness. It can't happen again."
Leo's jaw tightened, his hands curling into fists at his sides. The room seemed to shrink around them, the tension so thick it was almost suffocating. "What are you saying? So, you are really the girl I had sex with last night?" Leo's voice was low and dangerous, each word laced with a mixture of confusion and betrayal.
Ivy felt her heart stop for a moment, her stomach churning with dread. "No, I'm not," she replied firmly, forcing herself to meet his piercing gaze. "We're just seeing each other for the first time." Despite the tremor in her voice, her resolve solidified. "I have a new life now—a responsibility I can't afford to jeopardize."
Leo's expression darkened, his eyes flashing with a storm of conflicting emotions. "But you look so much like her. Do you take me for a fool?" His voice rose sharply, echoing off the walls and making Ivy flinch.