Chapter 399
Ivy knew Emma all too well—her heart was even smaller than the eye of a needle. Having been upstaged, Emma was sure to stew in jealousy and look for some way to get back at her. But Ivy hadn’t expected things to backfire so spectacularly, leaving Emma to suffer the consequences of her own scheming.
Balancing unsteadily on a pair of four-inch stilettos, Ivy had nearly toppled over earlier. If Jamison hadn’t reacted quickly and caught her, she would have taken quite a nasty fall.
Now, Emma was trying to turn the tables and blame Ivy for everything.
“Who’s out to get you? It’s my engagement day—why would I ruin it for myself?” Emma protested, her voice rising.
Before she could finish, someone from the Carter family stormed over and cut her off sharply.
“That’s enough! Haven’t you embarrassed us enough already? Go change your clothes and pull yourself together. The ceremony’s about to start, and if you keep this up, there won’t be any engagement at all!” Sheridan’s mother snapped, her face livid as she tore into Emma.
Rosetta, ever the peacemaker, forced a smile. “Please, Mrs. Carter, it’s all just a misunderstanding. No need to get upset.”
Mrs. Carter shot Rosetta a cold glare and muttered, “How exactly does the Windsor family raise their daughters? One’s the picture of elegance and grace, and the other’s just a gaudy mess with no manners at all.”
Rosetta fell silent, her smile frozen.
Having finished berating the Windsors, Mrs. Carter turned her ire on her own son, giving him a withering look. “And you—what’s wrong with your judgment? Every woman you bring home is the same disgrace. You’re dragging the Carter family name through the mud!”
Sheridan clenched his jaw, unwilling to argue with his mother in front of all these guests. He grabbed Emma’s arm and hurried her away to get changed.
Of course, there was always someone in the crowd eager to stir the pot. A voice called out, “Take it easy, Mr. Carter! We’re all waiting to witness the ceremony—don’t get too distracted while your fiancée’s changing.”
The implication was obvious—and sent a ripple of laughter through the crowd.
Jamison led Ivy to a seat in the lounge area and gently lifted her foot to check it. “You didn’t twist your ankle back there, did you?”
Ivy shook her head. “I’m fine.”
She quickly withdrew her foot and smoothed her dress, glancing around with a small frown. “Don’t fuss. People are watching.”
Then, lowering her voice, she added, “Emma shows up dressed like that in public, and Sheridan doesn’t even bat an eye? I thought guys loved it when other women dress provocatively, but when it’s their own wife, they want her covered from head to toe.”
Jamison chuckled. “Clearly, you don’t know Sheridan very well.”
“What do you mean?” Ivy asked, even more confused.
“His last wife—I mentioned her before—was a social media influencer. After they got married, Sheridan started a few media companies and made her his star. They made a killing. Rumor has it, he’d even bring her along to business dinners and, once she was tipsy, pass her off to entertain his clients…”
“What?!” Ivy was horrified.
How could anyone be so monstrous?
“Didn’t his wife fight back?” she demanded.
“I’m sure she tried. But when it’s a man against a woman, the odds aren’t exactly in her favor.”
“She could have gone to the police!” Ivy said hotly.
“They were tied together by business interests. If she went public, it would hurt her too. In families like these, marriage is just a front. Most couples barely tolerate each other, but they can’t afford to split up because the stakes are too high.”
“Eventually, the influencer ended up with severe depression. She was no longer profitable to Sheridan, so he finally let her go.”
“Unbelievable,” Ivy muttered, her fists clenched in anger. “He’s worse than scum.”
Jamison gave her a thoughtful look. “So, do you pity Emma now? Judging by the way Sheridan treats her, it’s only a matter of time before he sends her out to charm his clients too.”