At the foot of the stairs, Emma’s face faltered the moment she overheard the exchange. She spun around and hurried back to the living room. “Are you saying my sister is really missing?”

Katrina’s brows drew together. “What’s that supposed to mean? Did you know Ivy was missing?”

“I–I didn’t know,” Emma denied quickly, but her discomfort was written all over her face. “She left last weekend and never came back. I just thought she went on vacation with you.”

Katrina’s gaze pinned her, and in that instant, she was certain – something was off with Emma. A glimmer of satisfaction flickered in Katrina’s eyes, though she tried to suppress it.

“No, I haven’t seen your sister,” Katrina replied, her expression falling with genuine worry. “If she’s not home, I’ll head out and keep looking elsewhere.”

But as she turned to go, Katrina couldn’t help herself. She looked back at Rosetta, voice trembling with contained anger. “Mrs. Windsor, Ivy is your daughter – your own flesh and blood. How could you treat her that way? Does being sick or hurt make her any less your child? There are parents who spend their whole lives searching for lost children. And you – you push away your daughter who’s barely survived, all while spoiling some adopted girl beyond reason. Aren’t you afraid of the consequences?”

“Enough, Katrina! Since when do you get to comment on the Windsor family’s business?” Emma snapped, leaping to Rosetta’s defense, eager to prove her loyalty. “What do you know? My mom’s been good to Ivy – it’s Ivy who’s never satisfied, always picking fights with the family!”

Katrina turned to her, even less polite now. “Emma, who’s ‘family’ with you? You’re nothing but an imposter trying to play the part. Do you really think that with Ivy gone, you’ll become the queen bee of Neo Haven? You couldn’t hold a candle to her.”

Emma was practically shaking with rage. “And who are you, Katrina? You’re not even valued in your own family – always the outsider. Now you come here trying to make yourself important? What a joke!”

As their voices rose, Micah pinched the bridge of his nose, exasperated. “Enough. The priority is finding Ivy. Arguing gets us nowhere.”

“Find her? Micah, we’re about to get married! I’m pregnant with your child, and you’re still hung up on her?”

“Emma, I–”

“Go then! Go look for her! See if you can find her!” Emma’s temper snapped. She shoved Micah toward the door, her control gone.

Katrina caught the slip immediately. “What do you mean, Emma? Why are you so sure she won’t be found? Do you know something happened to Ivy?”

“–” Emma nearly blurted something out, but managed to rein herself in at the last second. “How would I know? I’m home all day, I just… oh…”

She broke off, clutching her stomach. That old trick – never failed.

Sure enough, both Micah and Rosetta rushed to her side, anxious and doting. Katrina watched her little performance with utter disdain. She couldn’t help but feel that Ivy deserved better than this excuse for a family.

But she’d gotten the answer she came for. Without another word, she turned and left.

Back at the Windsor estate, Micah stayed for lunch, doing his best to calm Emma down. As soon as he could, he made an excuse about work and left in a hurry.

The moment he got into his car, he dialed Ivy’s number – but as expected, there was no answer. Anxiety gnawed at him. He racked his brain, but couldn’t think where to start looking. Both Ivy and her car had vanished. Had something really happened to her? Scrolling through his contacts, Micah considered calling someone he knew at the traffic department to ask if there had been any accidents reported in the past couple of days.

But before he could make the call, his phone rang – it was the house.

“Young Master, Mrs. Shepherd had sudden stomach pains after lunch. She wants you to come home and take her to the hospital,” the family housekeeper said, her voice thick with worry.

Micah’s frustration was palpable. “Just have the driver take her. Why do I have to come back?”

“Micah, you haven’t even gotten married yet and you’re already forgetting your mother?” Carla’s voice came on the line, sharp as ever. “Is Emma stopping you from leaving?”

“No, I’m out already.”

“Then get back here and take me to the hospital!”

Micah had no choice but to turn the car around, heading home to drive his mother to the hospital himself.

On the way, he called Jamison. “Uncle Jamie, Mom’s stomach is acting up again. Could you call ahead and see which doctor is available?”

“Call your mother yourself,” Jamison replied.

“Oh, okay.”

Micah handed the phone to the housekeeper in the backseat, and Carla Ludwig took it, launching into a conversation with her brother.

At the hospital, Carla directed him. “Go straight to the gastroenterology ward – the admission’s already arranged.”

Micah and the housekeeper accompanied Carla to the department, where the doctor began examining her immediately. Jamison happened to be free and soon joined them.

Micah, still preoccupied with Ivy’s disappearance, wasted no time pulling Jamison aside and lowering his voice. “Uncle Jamie, can you stay here with Mom? I’ve got something urgent to handle.”

“What could possibly be more urgent than your mother’s health? You’re a vice president in title only – when are you ever going to step up?” Jamison chided him, unfiltered.

Micah frowned. “It’s just Ivy’s missing. I’m worried something’s happened to her and want to send someone to look for her.”

Jamison’s expression flickered, his eyes narrowing as he considered this. Ivy’s accident had happened days ago – was the Windsor family only now noticing she was gone? Clearly, that daughter meant little to them.

“Aren’t you set to marry Emma? Still worried about Ivy?” Jamison said, his tone serious but withholding the full truth. “I warned you the other day – don’t play with fire. Make a choice.”

But Micah didn’t get it. “Uncle Jamie, it’s not about that. This is a matter of life and death!”