Chapter 43
Emma’s face froze in shock. She could barely get a word out. “You-”
She’d heard Ivy had HIV and the disease had already progressed. And she still dared go around doing things like that? Wasn’t she afraid someone might beat her to death?
Adkins’ cheeks flushed with embarrassment. “Ivy, watch your mouth! Where are your manners?”
Ivy shot him a cold glance. “Didn’t your precious little daughter ask first? Or is it only rude when I respond?”
How was this her fault again?
When Emma didn’t answer, Ivy offered a sweet, careless smile and confessed, “Fine. I went to see an old friend–actually, my ex-boyfriend, who happens to be your soon-to-be brother-in-law.”
She watched their faces twist in utter horror, then sighed dramatically. “Micah’s the only one with a conscience left. He knows how tough things are for me in the Windsor family and, well, let’s just say he was very generous.”
“That’s a lie! You’re making that up!” Emma’s composure snapped. “Micah isn’t like that! He loves me now. He wouldn’t mess around with you. You’re sick–he wouldn’t go near you if you begged!”
A moment ago, Emma had thought she was winning. Now, Ivy’s words drove her past the brink of reason. She screamed and lunged at Ivy, but Baillie stepped in just in time, grabbing her arm.
“Emma, calm down! She’s baiting you, can’t you see?” Baillie understood exactly what Ivy was doing.
Rosetta’s expression darkened as she studied her eldest daughter. She wasn’t fooled for a second. “Ivy, you got that money from selling those jewels, didn’t you? This has nothing to do with Micah.”
Ivy pressed her lips together in a serene smile. “No, I used the money from the jewelry to put a down payment on a car. This cash is from Micah, believe it or not.”
“A car?” Rosetta’s voice shot up an octave. “What kind of car costs that much?”
Ivy shrugged, utterly unbothered. “A Maserati. I just walked in and asked for their most expensive model. It should be ready for pickup next week.”
The entire Windsor family was struck speechless.
Emma, meanwhile, had always suspected that Micah still had unresolved feelings for Ivy. After all, he’d taken Ivy’s side more than once, and just the other day, he’d helped her assemble a wardrobe. Now, hearing Ivy say that Micah had given her money, Emma’s anger flared–and so did her suspicions.
Ivy left the house every morning and often didn’t return until evening. Who knew what she was really doing? Maybe she and Micah were already sneaking around behind her back.
The thought made Emma want to storm out and confront Micah right then.
“I’m exhausted. I need to rest,” Ivy said, feigning weariness. “Emma, since your dear sister is so sick and frail, why don’t you take the money and fix your necklace yourself?”
With a faint, amused smile, she closed the door in their faces.
Three neat stacks of hundred-dollar bills lay on the floor. No sense letting them go to waste.
Baillie, wearing gloves, bent down and handed the money to Emma.
“I don’t want it! It’s filthy!” Emma recoiled, her voice trembling.
“So you’re not fixing your necklace, then?”
“I don’t care about the necklace!” Emma’s voice cracked. She didn’t even want Micah anymore–why should she care about a piece of jewelry?
The more she thought about it, the angrier and more miserable she became. Tears streamed down her face as she clung to her mother’s arm, sobbing. “Mom…do you think Micah will leave me for Ivy? What if he goes back to her?”
Rosetta wasn’t sure how much of Ivy’s story was true, but right now, all she could do was comfort her youngest. “Of course not. Micah loves you. We’ve all seen it. Don’t let your sister get under your skin.”
Emma just stared into space, tears sliding down her cheeks, mumbling, “If Ivy had never come back, Micah would have loved me for sure. But now that she’s here…”
Inside her room, Ivy heard every word. Turning a page in her book, she let a sly smile curl at her lips.