Chapter 2454
Ivy was battered and bruised, her spirit waning from the constant barrage of hurt dealt by those she once trusted. She had no masochistic streak within her-why should she gravitate towards those who harbored no affection for her? After all, she was surrounded by a sea of faces that beamed with genuine appreciation for her.
It was through Balfour’s unwavering love and steadfast loyalty that she found clarity. The best response to the naysayers was a cool, detached indifference. She resolved to put as much distance between them and herself as possible. Her own happiness, she realized, would be the ultimate vengeance.
She wanted to show them that without their shadows looming over her, she would only rise higher.
Watching Ivy slowly regain her vigor filled Balfour with unspeakable relief. He had fretted over her fragile state, worried that without professional help, he was ill-equipped to mend her frayed emotions. Yet, to his surprise, Ivy’s strength was a testament to her resilience-pain was a demon she had learned to vanquish time and again.
In a tender gesture, Balfour wrapped his arms around her shoulders. He closed his eyes, hiding the pain that flickered behind his lids.
The investigation into Finn and Tessa’s relationship left him deeply perplexed. Was Tessa’s disdain for her own flesh and blood solely because Ivy was not the son she had hoped for? Did she believe that having a male heir would have secured her standing within the Dunhill family? The irony was not lost on him; gender bias in the 21st century seemed absurdly anachronistic.
Clara had also made a mockery of herself by pinning her misdeeds on Ivy.
Did Tessa never once suspected the truth? Or, did she know but still chose not to trust her own daughter?
In a comedic twist, Clara had gone to great lengths to lend credence to her fabrications, broadcasting the saga of her and Ivy’s past on the internet, with a cunning role reversal of victim and perpetrator. This, however, played right into Leo and his team’s hands as they gathered evidence.
“Let’s make this quick. Our boss wants this wrapped up with priority.”
The day Ivy’s studio was launched, and the verdict of her and Seren’s legal battle was made public, the internet erupted. Most netizens couldn’t fathom that they had been duped by a woman who hadn’t even finished high school.
Eudora shared the post, attaching a photo of the court record between her and Seren. The verdict was yet to be finalized, but this move had Ivy’s fans cheering with satisfaction.
[Our Ivy has been through so much since her debut. It’s hard to know where to start the tears. She’s finally got her own studio, and here’s the verdict for all to see. Now, will everyone believe she’s been wronged?]
For most of her fans, Seren’s words were irrelevant; their allegiance was to Ivy herself.
But when someone you admire is relentlessly slandered, and you live in an age where such information is inescapable, you can’t help but feel aggrieved.
Throughout this ordeal, Ivy’s supporters had kept a low profile, cautious not to draw more vitriol towards her with their comments.
Ivy saw this, and it pained her deeply. She had never imagined these strangers-many of whom she had never met-would so selflessly stand by her side. It was a mix of heartening surprise and disquieting fear.
