Micah was at it again, whining in that pitiful, melodramatic way that grated on everyone’s nerves. Jamison’s patience snapped.

“Micah, how long are you going to keep lying to yourself? Do you really think Ivy will come back to you just because I step aside? She’s not interested in you. Can’t you at least admit that much to yourself?”

Micah’s face twisted with sorrow. He fell silent. Of course he could see it–he just couldn’t accept it. He was unwilling to give up, unwilling to lose.

“Even if she doesn’t want me anymore, even if she ends up with someone else… it can’t be you. Anyone but you…”

Jamison let out a cold laugh, finally seeing right through his nephew. “Well, you’re out of luck. Ivy’s fallen for me, and we’re about to make things official.”

He said it with absolute certainty, a quiet joy glinting at the edges of his eyes and lips. Micah’s head snapped up, disbelief written all over his face. He stared, frozen, for several seconds before shaking his head and mumbling, “No… no, that’s impossible. Ivy would never agree to be with you. She hates me–hates that I betrayed her. There’s no way she’d say yes… and if she did, it’d only to spite me…”

Jamison was momentarily speechless. So the brat understood everything after all–he just chose to throw tantrums, shielded by the family’s indulgence.

Carla hurried in. She found her son slumped miserably on the living room sofa. Anger and frustration warred on her face, but beneath it all was a mother’s pain.

“Micah, get up. We’re going home.” She and the driver hauled him to his feet.

But Micah clung desperately to her arm, pleading in a broken whisper, “Mom, please–talk to Uncle for me. Tell him not to take Ivy from me. You know how much I love her. I can’t live without her… Uncle says Ivy wants to be with him–that can’t happen, it just can’t…”

Carla’s face grew darker with every word, but when she heard the last part, her expression changed completely. “Jamison, are you really planning to be with Ivy?” She turned to her brother, her disapproval clear.

Jamison strolled over to the bar, poured himself a glass of water, and replied in a calm, measured tone, “Absolutely. I hope you’ll both give us your blessing.”

“This is ridiculous!” Carla snapped. “You know Micah can’t let her go, and you still insist on being with Ivy? If we really become a family, what do you expect Micah to do? Are you going to repeat what you did years ago, when you–”

She cut herself off as Jamison set down his glass and fixed her with a stare so cold it seemed to chill the air. Despite being the eldest, Carla had always been intimidated by her much younger brother. She fell silent immediately.

Jamison, after all these years, finally spoke the truth that had been buried in his heart. “Since you all remember what happened back then, maybe you should try to understand me for once. Years ago, I stepped aside for our older brother and gave up the woman I loved. And now you expect me to do it all over again for Micah? Do I have to sacrifice my happiness every time?”

“That’s not what I meant… It’s just–Ivy, after everything she’s been through, she’s not right for you. And the Windsor family, well–”

Jamison cut her off, voice dripping with disdain. “You thought Emma was good enough, but Ivy–who’s a hundred times better–suddenly isn’t? Sis, maybe you ought to get your eyes checked.”

“You-!” Carla was left speechless, seething. She jerked her arm free and snapped, “Fine. I can’t stop you, and I won’t try. Maybe we’ll let Mom and Dad handle you next time.”