Chapter 1913
It was as if Tessa finally took notice of her daughter, Ivy, but it was a tad too late.
Ivy stood up, crossing the living room to face her parents squarely, “Dad, Mom, I came home today to clear the air about the rumors swirling around me and to let you know that I got married.”
“Ivy, marriage isn’t a trivial matter! You didn’t even discuss it with us beforehand. Making such a decision on your own is downright disrespectful!” sneered her sister Clara, seizing the chance to stir the pot.
Her few words ignited the anger of Finn and Tessa.
Tessa shot up from her chair, striding forward to slap Ivy across the face, “Who gave you permission to get married? Who did you marry without consulting us? Don’t tell me you’ve been someone’s mistress and now you’re trying to play house?”
“Mom, I told you, I’ve never been anyone’s mistress! Marriage is my own business. It doesn’t require anyone else’s approval,” Ivy protested, covering her stinging cheek and turning to face her cold-hearted mother.
All her life, Tessa had been so desperate to please her husband that she’d poured all her attention onto her stepdaughter, Clara, constantly doting on her and neglecting her own flesh and blood.
“Who is he, Ivy? Who did you marry?” Finn finally spoke up, his voice stern with questioning.
“You wouldn’t know him,” Ivy replied, casting a glance his way. “After the wedding, I’ll find a time to bring him over.””
“Sis, don’t tell me you’re really trying to go from mistress to madam with some old geezer?” Clara said, feigning concern as if she were the protective older sister fearing for her sibling’s well-being. “He’s probably deceiving you, and he won’t leave his wife for you. Ivy, come back to your senses; don’t do something foolish!”
Clara’s words sparked a reaction in Tessa, who grabbed Ivy’s arm tightly, Ivy, I won’t allow you to chase after some old man, wrecking someone else’s home!”
“Mom, I’ve explained this to you over and over. It’s not me who’s tangled up with an old man! If you don’t remember, I can play the video we just watched again!” Ivy was truly exhausted.
Tessa frowned, “Even so, Ivy, you can’t just marry willy-nilly! Tell me, what about the wedding and betrothal gift?”
So that was it. Her mother didn’t care about who Ivy was marrying; she was only concerned about the financial benefits preceding the agreement.
Ivy looked down with a wry smile on her face, “No betrothal gift at all.”
“What!” Tessa shrieked, “That’s unacceptable! We’ve raised you for years, spending so much money. How can we just marry you off for nothing? No, I don’t agree.”
Clara stood to the side, arms crossed over her chest, looking on with amusement, “Ivy, what’s going on really? You didn’t marry some penniless guy, did you? How could he not afford even a small sum of betrothal gift? Are you planning to skip the wedding altogether?”
Ivy couldn’t be bothered to explain further and simply responded, “No wedding. My marriage isn’t a show for others.”
“How can there be no wedding? In our family, we have no precedent for sneaking around! Ivy, you’re being so thoughtless!” Finn looked at her with disappointment. “I do not approve of this marriage!”
Ivy scoffed at him, “Like I said, I’m here to inform you of my marriage, not to seek your approval. It doesn’t matter if you disagree!”
“How can you speak to your father like that?” Tessa charged before Finn could reply. “We’ve raised you all these years and spent so much money. Was it all for nothing?”
In the end, all they cared about was money.
