"I hate to admit it… but this property is ridiculously vast," Ivy muttered, her lips twitching as she stood in the sprawling lawn of the Emerson mansion, finally following Xander's advice from the morning.
After spending hours idling in her room, she had given in and decided to explore.
And to her surprise—
This was easily one of the largest estates she had ever seen.
As she glanced around, something seemed to click in her mind. She turned over her shoulder and called, "Butler Rupert, this spot."
The old man paused for a moment, slightly confused, but nodded nonetheless. Without questioning her further, he walked away—only to return shortly with a few servants and the items Ivy had requested.
"Ah… now this is what I call a good day."
Leaning back against a reclining chair, shaded by a large multicolored umbrella, Ivy took a slow sip of the orange juice Rupert had arranged for her.
For a moment—
Everything felt… calm.
Raven had always dreamed of moments like this.
Traveling the world.
Sitting by the beach.
Listening to the waves, the wind, the distant cries of seabirds.
There was no ocean here—only the soft splashing of a fountain nearby.
But the cool breeze and the gentle chirping of birds were enough to relax her muscles, to ease the constant tension she carried.
"Madam, do you require anything else?" Butler Rupert asked politely.
Ivy shook her head. "Nothing more, Butler Rupert."
He gave a slight bow before excusing himself, leaving her alone to enjoy the quiet.
She leaned her head back, closing her eyes briefly.
"…I wish Leo were here," she murmured absentmindedly.
Her gaze drifted to the time.
A soft sigh escaped her lips.
And just then—
Buzz.
Her phone vibrated.
"Hmm?" She straightened slightly, pulling it out with mild curiosity.
But the moment she saw the name flashing on the screen—
Her brows drew together.
"Hello?" she answered.
The voice on the other end made her frown deepen instantly.
"How could you betray me, Ivy?"
Her instincts reacted before her thoughts could catch up.
"France?" The name slipped from her lips naturally.
It seemed Ivy's body still remembered him—because the tone, the voice… even his face surfaced faintly in her mind, leaving her slightly uneasy.
"Yes, it's me."
Ivy pursed her lips as she listened to his uneven, heavy breathing on the other end.
"How could you agree with Mom's decision? How can you stay with that man?" His words were laced with venom, leaving Ivy momentarily confused.
She recognized him.
But at the same time… something about his behavior didn't sit right with her.
"Don't forget, Ivy," he continued, his tone turning reckless, almost obsessive, "you're mine. And I'll make sure you remember that."
The call ended abruptly.
"…What was that?" Ivy muttered, pulling the phone away and staring at the now-black screen.
Raven could only access fragments of memories—brief flashes that came and went without warning. But something about that call stirred something deeper.
Frowning, she unlocked the phone again and began scrolling through older photos.
Then—
She stopped.
A picture.
Old. Faded slightly with time.
She looked younger—around eleven.
Standing beside her adoptive parents.
And two other children.
Nora…
And—
France.
A strange uneasiness crept into her chest.
Without another thought, she locked the screen again, unable to fully process what she had just uncovered.
Meanwhile, inside the Fort household—
The door burst open.
"Brother, where the hell have you been?" Nora demanded as she stormed in.
But her voice faltered the moment she saw him.
France lay sprawled across the bed, half-conscious, his phone resting loosely on his chest.
"France, what the hell have you done to yourself?" she panicked, rushing toward him.
He looked terrible.
Disheveled. Pale. Completely out of it.
France had never been the picture of discipline. His bad habits were no secret. Seeing him intoxicated wasn't unusual—
But this?
This was worse.
Nora's gaze shifted to the phone in his hand, and instantly, her expression turned cold.
"Go away, Nora," France muttered, waving her off lazily before turning onto his stomach. "I'm not in the mood for your lecture."
His voice was slurred.
Careless.
But Nora didn't move.
Instead, she stared at him—her eyes hardening with something far more dangerous than concern.
Without wasting another second, Nora stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her with a loud thud.
Her steps were quick and restless.
She didn't even realize how she made it downstairs before dropping onto the couch, anger radiating off her.
"What happened? Isn't he still not awake?" Florine asked, lowering the magazine she had been reading.
"Mom, we need to do something," Nora snapped, her voice tight with frustration. "France can't keep falling apart like this over Ivy."
Florine's expression shifted instantly, her eyes turning cold as they flickered toward the staircase—toward her son's room upstairs.
She would be lying if she said she didn't understand what was going on.
She knew her son.
And she knew the girl he was obsessing over.
But to her, Ivy was nothing more than a girl her husband had brought into their lives out of misplaced kindness. And France had crossed the line when he began to see that lowkey as a woman.
"Don't worry," Florine said calmly, though there was no warmth in her tone.
"He'll get over it."
Nora met her gaze—but instead of reassurance, her anger only deepened.
What's so special about Ivy? she thought bitterly.
First France… and now—
Her jaw tightened.
Xander.
Nora couldn't help but feel a surge of rage at how everything had turned in Ivy's favor.
And it had all started the moment they found out—
Ivy had slept with Xander Emerson.
And worse…
They had a son.
If their mother hadn't discovered what Ivy had been planning back then, she would never have approached Xander or agreed to the deal he proposed.
Everything would have been different.
But now—
Now Ivy was living the life Nora had always dreamed of.
Luxury. Status. Power.
Nora clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms.
Regret burned within her.
It should have been me.
Why did it have to be Ivy?
Why did she get everything while Nora was left watching from the sidelines?
You may think you're living a fairytale, Ivy… but I'll make sure to ruin it.
The corner of Nora's lips curled into a wicked smile as the thought settled firmly in her mind.