Chapter 1993
“There’s no show, Clara. The whole thing was a setup,” Ivy confessed; her words were laced with a mischievous undertone, “Sis, you always loved the spotlight, didn’t you? I went through all this trouble, getting everyone involved just to play along with you. Aren’t you thrilled?”
Clara’s realization hit her like a ton of bricks-she had been duped. Anger flared in her eyes as she lashed out, “Ivy, how could you deceive me like this? What on earth are you up to by orchestrating this elaborate farce?”
As she spoke, Clara’s hand shot out, aiming to slap Ivy to vent her anger first.
But Ivy sidestepped with the agility of a cat, avoiding the incoming blow, “Oh, Clara, you really shouldn’t try to hit me. Because if you so much as lay a finger on me, I assure you that I can find many ways to ruin you utterly and completely.”
Clara, her pride wounded, didn’t buy Ivy’s threat for a second. Yet, the memory of Ivy effortlessly snatching a coveted advertising deal from under her nose made her hesitate, “What are you getting at, Ivy?”
“You really have to ask?” Ivy pointed a slender finger towards several security cameras. “Sure, the audition wasn’t filmed, but everything’s been caught on surveillance video. How do you think the internet will react if I edit the footage and leak it online? Maybe they’ll consider this as reality and give you a bad review.”
Clara’s gaze snapped to the cameras, and with that, the penny dropped. She was furious, “You wouldn’t dare frame me. You’re so underhanded, Ivy! Even if you post it, nobody would believe your lies.”
“Should we test that theory?” Ivy taunted, her hand hovering over her phone as if ready to call Quinton to edit the video.
Clara, fearing the worst, snatched at Ivy’s phone, “Don’t you dare, Ivy! If you leak that video, I’ll make sure Tessa’s life in the Dunhill family becomes a living hell.”
The irony of Clara’s threat wasn’t lost on Ivy. Ever since she paid that three million, Ivy had resolved to sever the maternal bond with Tessa once and for all.
“Those photos of me and Nolan that went viral were your doing, weren’t they?” Ivy secured her phone once more. “I can’t decide if you’re foolish or just plain stupid, Clara. To sabotage me, you’ve crossed the Harris Group. Do you really think the fallout is worth it?”
The Harris Group held significant clout in the industry with countless advertising deals and the power to make or ruin some performers’
career.
Yet, Clara had sullied Nolan and Ivy’s reputations. And in doing so, she had the Harris Group as her big nemesis. If Ivy could trace the leaked photos back to Clara, the Harris Group could surely do that as well.
In her blind pursuit, Clara had barred her own path. But ironically, she was oblivious to the self-inflicted wound.
“Ivy, I don’t know what you’re talking about! I didn’t spread any photos! But I’m warning you, if you dare post today’s footage, I’ll never let you get away with it.” Clara’s threats rang hollow, a desperate attempt to intimidate without any real leverage.
To Ivy, Clara’s words were meaningless.
“Do you really think you have anything left to threaten me with?”
“I…” Clara tried to muster some final harsh words, but as they reached her lips, she realized ivy no longer cared about anything she could throw at her.
Once, Ivy might have compromised for the sake of her bond with Tessa in the Dunhill family, but now, having disowned her mother, Clara had nothing left to hold over her.
