Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of Passions that right belongs to James E. Reilly. However I do own the rights of the characters that I made up in this story.

Ivy grew worried because she still hadn’t heard from Julian since he called her and told her to go to the hospital. When she arrived at Harmony General, she rushed in and asked if she could see the boys. Dr. Samuels was immediately contacted and once he arrived, he explained everything about the boys’ condition to her. Then it suddenly dawned on her…something wasn’t right. Why was it that only the boys and Eve became ill and not Julian? And what the hell happened to their bodyguards?! Digging into her purse and pulling out her cell phone, Ivy dialed a few numbers and waited for the person to answer.

“Hello…”

“Honey it’s me. I’m at Harmony General.”

“Ivy what is it?! Are you sick? Is something wrong?”

“No, no, it’s not me. It’s Kellen and William.”

“What’s wrong with the boys?”

“Marco, they had traces of mercury in their system.”

“Mercury? Oh my god,” Marco whispered, “are they alright?”

“They’re going to be just fine, but that’s not the only reason why I called you.”

“Go on…”

“Only the boys and Eve fell ill. Julian is just fine.”

Silence-

“Marco?”

“I’ll be there in ten minutes.” Marco simply said, then hung the phone up.

Elsewhere, an unconscious individual lay perfectly still on a bed with covers covering their nude body as another individual watched them sleep. Three hours had passed and the person lying on the bed had yet to show any indication of movement what so ever. Standing up from their chair on the side of the bed, the person stretched their aching muscles then walked around to the other side of the bed, stripped down to the underclothing and climbed in.

Marco waited patiently as the elevator steadily moved from floor to floor before coming to a stop on the floor that Ivy was on waiting for him to arrive. The short drive from his apartment to the hospital had given him only enough time to think of what Ivy had told him over the phone. Eve and the boys were all suffering from mercury poisoning, but only Julian was healthy. Suddenly, the last day he was over to their house flashed before his eyes.

{Flashback}

“WHAT THE HELL?!” Marco shouted as he jumped back in fear.

Julian lowered the bat slowly, then walked outside of the door and looked around before walking back to a shaken and confused Marco.

“I’m sorry about that. I thought you were someone else.”

“What’s going on? Was it Carlo?”

“No, it was someone else.” Julian said then stepped aside and let Marco in.

{flashback ends}

Marco had never seen Julian look so frightened before, not even after everything his brother put him through. He would later learn the reason for Julian’s frightened look that day. Once the elevator doors opened, he got off and walked down the hall until he found Ivy talking to Dr. Samuels.

“Ivy…” he called out to her.

Ivy looked his way, then turned back and said something else to Dr. Samuels before walking over to him and kissing him softly on the lips.

“I’m glad you’re here.”

“How are the boys?” he asked as he pulled her to his body and wrapped his arms around her.

“Dr. Samuels just told me that William is doing a little better, but he’s really worried out Kellen.” She whispered somberly and held on to Marco tighter.

“How is Eve doing?” Marco asked, then looked around and noticed Julian wasn’t anywhere in sight. “And where is Julian?”

Ivy released him slowly then took him by the hand and walked over to the nearby chairs to sit down. Once they were seated, Ivy took a deep breath and began telling everything.

“And that’s the last time you heard anything from Julian?”

Ivy nodded.

“I’m worried Marco. What if something happened to them? And where the hell were their bodyguards?!”

“On the way over here, I got a call from one of my men. He told me that most of the men I had guarding Eve and kids had fallen ill…”

“What?”

“They were poisoned as well. They fell sick around the same time as Eve and the boys. Ivy I think I know who’s responsible for this…”

“Who?! And it better not be that damn brother of yours?” She snarled.

“Ivy seriously…why would Carlo poison Eve and the boys? If she’s dead, then he can’t have her…” he said.

“Alright…if not him then who?”

The look Marco gave her, made Ivy rethink what she just said. Suddenly she gasped and nearly passed out in her chair.

“Rebecca Osborne…” she whispered and instantly turned as white as a ghost.

Marco nodded.

“It makes sense now. She wants Julian, but she knows that he’ll never leave Eve for her. She wants Eve dead and the boys too. And only Eve and the boys fell ill but Julian is perfectly fine.”

“She nearly killed two innocent children because of this crazy notation that with them and their mother out of the way, that she could have Julian!” She shouted in complete outrage.

“Ivy…”

“When I find that b*tch, I’m gonna snap her damn neck!”

Blinking their eyes slowly, the newly awakened individual groaned then sat up on the bed carefully. Bring their hands up to their face, they tried rubbing their hands over their eyes to help them see more clearly because everything was blurry. Once their vision was good enough, they took the time to take in their surroundings.

‘Where the hell am I?!’ They thought frantically. Suddenly the bed shifted next to them and they instantly tensed up. Turning slowly to the right, the sight before them scared the living hell out them.

“OH MY GOD?!” Julian shrieked then jumped out of the bed as fast as he could.

Rebecca turned over slowly with a lecherous smile on her face. Standing before her was very nude and shocked Julian. Then she lowered her eyes and literally took in all of his masculine glory.

“Hey there Pookie…” Rebecca said then blew him a kiss.

“You crazed bitch! What did you do to my wife and kids?!”

“What, you’re not happy to see me?!” she asked while batting her eyes. “And really Julian, you have the nastiest mouth.” She said this time rolling her eyes. “I told you what I was going to do.”

Julian looked at her viciously.

“Where is Eve?!” he demanded.

“I thought she was dead. Oh well guess not.” Rebecca scoffed. “Anyways, I don’t have her.”

“What?!”

“I said I don’t have her.”

Julian nearly passed out when the realization hit him, but he quickly recovered.

“That bastard! I’ll kill him!” he spat venomously then focused his eyes on Rebecca. “But I’ll have to deal with you first.” He sneered.

“And I’m looking forward to it Pookie. I love it when a naked man has his way with me.” She smirked.

Carlo stood by Eve and watched as she moaned out softly in her sleep. He knew she was terribly sick, but couldn’t take his chances with taking her to the hospital. Walking into the bathroom, he arrived in front of the sink and wet the face cloth he was using to keep her cool. The last few hours, Eve had been burning up and she yet to awaken. Once the face cloth was cold enough, he walked back into the room and sat down softly on the bed next to Eve.

“Eve…” He called out to her before pressing the cold face cloth to her forehead.

Eve moaned out again then slowly opened her eyes. She tried to open them up all the way, but the pain was excruciating.

“Ju-lian…” she mumbled.

“No Eve, it’s me Carlo.”

If Eve could’ve jump up and slapped the hell out of Carlo she would’ve, but she just stayed stilled and cursed him out in her mind.

“I’m sorry if I was rude to you earlier, but you left me no choice. I had to have with me.”

“And how many times do I have to tell you?!” She sneered weakly. “I love Julian and I will never love another man ever again.”

“He doesn’t deserve you Eve, he never did.”

“But you do?!” she scoffed.

“He could never love you the way that I can. I love you with every ounce of my being. Don’t you see that you’re my destiny? That I am your true soul mate and you are mine?!”

Eve would’ve rolled her eyes at him if she could, but she couldn’t yet because it still hurt like hell to move any part of her body.

“You are so delusional Carlo. Julian is the one man for me, he is my true soul mate, not you. Why can’t you get that through that thick head of yours?! I could never love you! I will never love you!”

“But you must have some kind of feelings for me…”

“The only feelings that I feel for you right this minute is pure unadulterated hatred. You mean absolutely nothing to me Carlo. Nothing at all.”

Carlo bent closer to her face until he was certain that Eve could feel his breath on her lips.

“You can deny your true feelings for me all you want, but I know the truth and I don’t have a problem waiting you.” He said then pressed his lips to hers.