Ivy had to head back to Golden Maple Estate that afternoon to pack her things and really didn’t have time to babysit. But when she saw how much Halley wanted to tag along, she couldn’t bring herself to say no.

“You can come with us, but you have to go home tonight. No sleepovers,” Jamison declared.

“Why not? I always used to stay over before!” Halley shot back, indignant.

Before Jamison could answer, Naylor piped up, barely containing his excitement. “Because tonight your uncle and aunt want to try for a little brother or sister for you. They don’t want anyone around to interrupt.”

Boyd burst out laughing and quickly clapped a hand over his mouth.

Ivy’s cheeks flushed crimson. She wished she could crawl under the floor.

Jamison shot Naylor a death glare. “No one’s going to mistake you for a mute if you keep your mouth shut.”

Hearing that, Davina felt even more embarrassed about letting her son crash their evening. She hurried to call him back. “Hal, I’ll take you to the amusement park this afternoon.”

“No, I’m fine. I just want to go to Uncle Jamison’s and see my future siblings.”

Everyone fell silent.

In the end, after much back-and-forth, Halley got his way and went with Jamison and Ivy–though he promised he’d be home by nightfall.

Never in his wildest dreams did Jamison expect his biggest rival wouldn’t be someone from the outside world, but his own nephew.

From the moment they got in the car, Halley claimed Ivy for himself.

Ivy sat in the back with the little guy, the two of them chattering away.

Jamison glanced back at them through the rearview mirror a few times, curiosity piqued. “Didn’t think you were so fond of kids.”

Ivy answered honestly, “Depends on the kid.”

“Exactly! If my brother were here, Aunt Ivy wouldn’t like him at all!” Halley immediately chimed in, throwing his older brother under the bus.

Ivy only knew that Thad’s eldest was studying abroad; she’d never met him. “Why? Is your brother not nice?”

“He’s the worst! He’s way older but always steals my stuff and picks fights. I can’t beat him! Thank goodness he’s away at school and only comes back every few months.”

Ivy couldn’t help but laugh. “What about your sister? Do you like her?”

Halley considered. “She’s okay, I guess. My mom always says my sister’s the queen and I’m her loyal servant. She makes me do everything–bring her drinks, fetch her snacks–but at least she doesn’t steal my toys. Sometimes she even brings me treats.”

Jamison added dryly, “It’s the power of genetics.”

Ivy got the joke right away and couldn’t stop giggling.

It wasn’t that his sister didn’t want his toys, she thought; it was just that boys‘ toys didn’t interest girls.

Halley didn’t get that, though. He was just grateful his sister left his things alone.

Ivy thought of her own childhood, also growing up with three kids in the family–an older brother above, a younger sister below.

Emma was adopted, but Ivy had always treated her like a real sister, without a second thought.

Baillie Windsor had doted on her, too, always indulging her every wish.

Emma’s twisted actions–everything she’d done–could almost be understood, Ivy told herself. After all, there was no real blood bond.

But why had Baillie changed so much after those three years? That was something Ivy simply couldn’t figure out.

Maybe, deep down, he’d inherited the same selfish streak as their parents.

She thought back to that morning at the hospital, bumping into her mother and Emma at the doctor’s office, and a wave of bitterness washed over her.

Her own health had been fragile ever since she returned home, but her mother had never once shown genuine concern, never even accompanied her for a checkup.

Her biological daughter had lost all value–less than nothing compared to the adopted one who’d betrayed them.

The more Ivy thought about it, the more her heart twisted, resentment winding through her like ivy wrapping a tree, tightening with every breath.