“You–” Ivy was so furious she could barely get her words out. “We’ve only lived here for a few days! And plumbing is hidden away under the cabinets—how are we supposed to know if you didn’t just buy the cheapest parts and cut corners?”

“Me? Cheap?” Jamison let out a sharp, incredulous laugh.

“Maybe you got scammed,” Ivy pressed. “Paid full price for name-brand, got stuck with knockoffs.”

Jamison gave a cold, dismissive snort. “What, you think I’m as gullible as you? Still clueless after your own family sold you out.”

The words hit Ivy right where it hurt. Her lashes fluttered, her gaze icy as she stared Jamison down, suddenly at a loss for a comeback.

Katrina frowned. “Mr. Jamison, that’s out of line. Ivy’s the victim here—who could possibly expect to be stabbed in the back by their own family?”

Katrina had always admired Jamison, often defending him to her best friend. But now, hearing him insult Ivy, Katrina didn’t hesitate to step in.

Jamison pressed his lips into a thin line, his expression grim. For a moment, something almost like regret flickered in his deep-set eyes as he looked at Ivy. But with his pride, an actual apology was out of the question.

Just then, the plumber emerged from the kitchen and turned to Jamison. “Mr. Ludwig, the pipes are fixed.”

Jamison turned away, lifting his arm slightly to correct him. “Miss Windsor is the homeowner.”

“Oh.” The plumber nodded and approached Ivy. “Miss Windsor, the pipes are all set. We checked the rest of your plumbing too—no other issues.”

Ivy forced down her anger and nodded. “Thank you. How much do I owe you?”

“Parts and labor come to five hundred,” the plumber replied.

Ivy pulled out her phone, ready to pay, but Jamison stepped forward, pulled out his wallet, and handed over six hundred in cash.

“Keep the change.”

He even covered the tip.

The plumber grinned, bowing slightly. “Thank…”

Ivy watched the exchange, a flicker of surprise passing through her eyes.

Katrina glanced nervously at Ivy, about to say something nice about Mr. Ludwig, when she suddenly caught sight of her friend’s swollen, bruised face—and her expression changed instantly.

“Ivy, what happened to your face? Who hit you? And your ear—are you bleeding?” Katrina’s concern was obvious. She reached out, but hesitated, afraid of hurting her.

Ivy had been so riled up by Jamison she’d forgotten all about the pain in her ear. Now, with Katrina’s reminder, she felt a deep ache and a strange pressure inside her ear canal, her brow furrowing in discomfort.

“Come on, sit down,” Katrina urged, guiding her to the sofa with a guilty sigh. “I should have gone back to your family’s place with you. They went too far—how could they hurt you like this?”

Ivy gave a bitter smile. “Well, they didn’t get away with it. I trashed my family’s house—probably cost them a few hundred thousand.”

“What?” Katrina gaped, then broke into a mischievous grin. “Serves them right! If this weren’t a civilized country, torching the place might’ve been even better.”

Meanwhile, Jamison had already seen off the plumber and paid the cleaning ladies, instructing them to leave the floors spotless before they left.

The two women, energized by the tip, polished the tile until it gleamed.

Jamison might have refused to take the blame or admit fault, but his actions spoke louder than his words.

After handling everything, he planned to say a brief goodbye to Ivy. But as he stepped into the living room, he overheard the girls’ conversation and couldn’t resist a cold, sardonic smile.

“Only a brute resorts to violence. You’re lucky you didn’t end up behind bars.”

Ivy shot him a glare. “Easy for you to say, standing there with nothing at stake.”

“Hard truths aren’t always pleasant. If you don’t want to listen, that’s your choice.” Jamison’s tone was cool as ever. He jerked his chin toward the hallway. “I’ve arranged for the cleaners to finish up. Luckily, the downstairs is all tile, so the water wasn’t a big deal. Everything’s taken care of. Any problems from here on out—they’re not my concern.”

Ivy gave a dismissive snort, making it clear she had nothing more to say to him.