Ivy couldnât see her future through the fog that clouded her vision, but in that moment, she knew one thing for certain: she had to escape the suffocating grip of the family that had always entangled her.
The family was a quagmire that dragged Ivy deeper with every struggle to break f If she didnât rip herself away with fierce resolve, maybe sheâd remain shackled for l It pained her even more because she knew her parents, Tessa and Finn, werenât the kin offer their support like others did.
For many times, Ivy wondered if it was something about her that made them treat her this way.
Clara was just a girl like her, but why did they shower Clara with affection?
Moreover, Clara wasnât even their biological daughter. Years of this treatment had sown seeds of doubt in Ivyâs self-worth.
âWell, I really thought if I just complied with all their wishes and demands, theyâd come to like me just as they like Clara. But in the end, I was dreaming. No matter how hard I try, theyâll never like me.â
Balfour gazed at Ivy with eyes brimming with compassion, gently caressing her cheek. He couldnât fathom how parents could find fault with such a sensible daughter. And Ivyâs so-called sister, selfish to the core, chose to slander her instead of clearing Ivyâs name online during her time of need!
It was hard to imagine what kind of twisted family this was.
âYouâve done so well already and you havenât done anything wrong. Choosing to flee from that family was the best decision. Staying with them would have bled you dry, not just of happiness, but of your future too. Let me worry about Clara and the news online. You donât need that stress, okay?â Balfour literally couldnât bear to let Ivy witness any more of this mess.
It was a harsh reality that Tessa and Finn were harsh to Ivy, but having her see it all unfold was way too cruel.
Before he came into her life, Ivy had to endure it all alone. But now that he was here, he wouldnât allow her to be hurt by those things anymore.
The unworthy and the irrelevant needed to stay as far away from Ivy as possible.
Ivy resided in Balfourâs arms and felt his gentle touch. The touch and warmth he brought her made her find solace. When the family had hurt her in the past, she used to hide away and silently shed tears, alone. No one had ever held her as tenderly as Balfour did and reassured her that none of it was her fault.
In the warmth of his embrace, Ivy drifted off to sleep. Balfour waited until her breathing evened out before he picked up his phone and stepped away.
âMr. Howard?â Leo looked at the caller ID on his phone with a hint of surprise. Why was the boss calling him now?
âHowâs the task Grandma assigned you coming along?â
Although Alyssa had recently inquired about the progress on Ivyâs case, Leo reported every detail to his boss.
âIf the evidence gathering goes smoothly, we should be able to file the lawsuit by next Monday. Seren has been more foolish than we anticipated, leaving a digital trail of legal blunders. Weâre just biding our time, waiting for the right moment to gather all the evidence and strike hard, ensuring she canât stir up any more trouble.â