Chapter 1994
As Ivy watched Clara struggle to retort, a sense of unprecedented satisfaction washed over her. She had finally vindicated the grievances she once endured!
“What’s the matter, Clara? Cat got your tongue? You’d just realized that you have nothing left to threaten me with.” Ivy taunted, her voice dripping with triumph.
“Ivy, what do you want from me?” Clara spat back, her pride refusing to concede despite the dawning realization that she couldn’t threaten Ivy at all.
Ivy’s lips curled into a sly smile as she lowered her gaze, “I don’t want much. You tried to smear my name with those photos, so I thought it was only fair for you to get a taste of your own medicine. What’s the saying? Turnabout is fair play.”
The surveillance footage Ivy now held was enough to unleash a social media storm on Clara, but she had no intention of ruining her. Ivy wanted Clara to know there were consequences and to ensure she wouldn’t dare cause any more trouble.
After all, driving someone into a corner could lead to desperate and unpredictable acts, a desperate fighting that could make Clara a bigger handful.
Ivy didn’t want to destroy Clara or risk her own safety. As long as she had this leverage, Clara would think twice before crossing her again.
Peace was all Ivy sought.
“Just stay out of my way, and this video will stay hidden and unseen by anyone else. But if you try to mess with me again, I’ll release it and you’ll be finished in the industry. Weigh your options carefully.”
The video indeed became Ivy’s ace in the hole, a guarantee of Clara’s newfound docility.
“Ivy, you’ll regret this,” Clara hissed, her threat empty as she tottered away on her heels; her retreat was hastened by defeat.
Although she was still giving out scathing words on her way out, she was really just bluffing; at least she didn’t dare to go against Ivy for
now.
Watching Clara’s hasty departure, Ivy felt a weight lift off her shoulder. A big trouble was finally settled.
As Clara stormed out of the studio with a venomous glance back, her mind was racing with the day’s deceitful events.
Ivy had cunningly trapped her and now she was holding a Damocles’ sword over her head.
The thought was intolerably bitter.
Deflated, Clara slumped into her car and headed back to the Dunhill residence.
Ivy, meanwhile, fished a USB drive.from her bag among the audience seats, intent on securing the surveillance footage for the long
term.
As she entered the security room to copy the video, she was jolted by an unexpected presence.
‘Bal… Balfour? What are you doing here?”
Inside the surveillance room, Balfour was gazing at her with a raised eyebrow and a cryptic smile, “Someone told me that there would be quite a show here. Couldn’t miss it.”
Ivy’s brows furrowed in concern, “How long have you been here? You didn’t see everything that just happened, did you?”
Balfour’s smile widened, countering her question with one of his own, “Ivy, have you ever considered acting?”
He had been in the security room from the start to witness Ivy’s carefully laid plans unfold and her cool composure as she observed Clara’s unwitting performance. Balfour found himself intrigued by this woman who seemed to defy his earlier judgment.
Initially, he pegged Ivy as a woman
else entirely. She played the role of the would do anything for money. However, upon closer interaction, she appeared to be something
else entirely. She played the role of the dutiful daughter-in-law to Dean and Alyssa with dedication and care.
Taking on the burden of a hefty debt, she sought employment with determination to settle her three million financial obligations. Balfour concluded that Ivy seemed to be stronger and more genuine than he had anticipated.
