Chapter 1925
“Dad, I don’t know a thing about showbiz, and as for who Clara managed to tick off, that’s her mess, not mine!”
Finn hadn’t expected Ivy to be so defiant and snapped, “Ivy, have you grown too big for your britches that you’re not showing respect to me anymore?
If you didn’t want to set up a date with Vincent for your sister from the start, you should’ve just said so. Why agreed and then bailed? I won’t get into this matter now, but tomorrow we’re going to pay a visit to this Mr. Vincent, and you’re coming with us to clear up what happened that day!”
Ivy felt a deep sense of helplessness. It seemed no matter how she tried to explain, her words fell on deaf ears; her parents always took Clara’s side without question.
She knew from her father’s tone that Clara had been spinning tales at home, playing the innocent.
Taking a deep breath, Ivy closed her eyes for a moment.
Well, if that’s how it is, time to cut the cord! She thought to herself.
When she opened her eyes again, there was a new resolve in them. “Dad, Clara should clean up her own mess. I never agreed to help her with Vincent, and I won’t be explaining anything for her.”
With that, she hung up the phone.
This was the first time she had flat-out refused Finn’s orders. Maybe it was because she no longer had to worry about
where to live if she got kicked out; she felt more grounded.
After ending the call with Finn, Ivy didn’t bother with her family drama and continued packing her things.
During her stay in the guest room, she knew she’d eventually have to move back in after Balfour’s grandparents got out of the hospital, so she hadn’t taken much with her in the first place. Moving back now didn’t require much effort.
As she was sorting her belongings, Tessa’s call came through.
Staring at the phone, Ivy felt dizzy. Her family were certainly in a hurry to drag her back to their chaos.
It had only been five minutes since she hung up on Finn!
Like a bad penny, her family just kept turning up.
“Hello, Mom, if you’re also trying to force me to meet with that big shot, save your breath. I’m not going,” Ivy cut to the
chase.
Tessa was about to lay into her but suddenly softened her tone, remembering the reason for the call. “Ivy, I know I’ve done you wrong, sometimes neglecting you.”
Her words caught Ivy off guard, and her tone mellowed. “Mom, what are you trying to say?”
“I’ve always taken more care of your sister, and I know that’s sometimes been unfair to you. But Ivy, I didn’t have a choice.”
It was the first time Tessa admitted to favoring Clara, and Ivy wasn’t sure how to respond.
She had kept this hurt bottled up for so long and had never spoken of it to anyone.
After a long silence, Ivy sighed, “Mom, what are you trying to say?”
“Your father married me because I was obedient and could take good care of Clara. If I fail to do so, he’d divorce me in
a heartbeat. Ivy, your dad hasn’t spoken to me several days. I’m scared that if this continues, he might really kick me out from the family.”
Tessa’s voice was tinged with tears.
Deep down, Ivy also knew that Tessa’s life with the family hadn’t been easy over the years.
