Serena’s POV
Grandmother Blackwood glanced at the receipts, then let out a cold laugh that sent chills down my spine. With a flick of her wrist, she tossed the papers directly into Ivy’s face.
"Have I gone senile? I don’t recall any connection between the Blackwood family and you, Ivy Hart. These clothes you’re buying—why should the Blackwoods pay for them?"
The humiliation on Ivy’s face was imdiate. Around us, the store employees began whispering, barely concealing their amusent at her predicant. I fought to keep my expression neutral, but inside I was experiencing a shaful sense of satisfaction.
"Mrs. Blackwood, I was only—" Ivy stamred, her usual confidence crumbling.
"Don’t think I’m unaware of your recent antics," Grandmother cut her off with brutal efficiency. "You’ve been dismissed from Blackwood Enterprises. Where you work now is none of my concern, but if you ever misuse the Blackwood na again, I won’t be so lenient!"
Her eyes narrowed dangerously, radiating an authority that could make anyone cower.
I knew within hours this incident would spread throughout Century Plaza like wildfire.
Ryan might not care about the money—Ivy had clearly been doing this for quite so ti—but now, without access to funds and accustod to a lavish lifestyle, Grandmother’s words had effectively crushed Ivy’s last hope.
"Mrs. Blackwood, please hear out! It wasn’t what you think," Ivy pleaded, her composure completely gone. "I can explain everything—I was set up! Soone frad !"
Before I could react, Ivy lunged forward, desperately trying to grab onto Grandmother’s legs in a pathetic display of begging.
I quickly pulled Grandmother back a few steps, and imdiately the security guards stepped in to block Ivy’s advance.
"It really wasn’t my fault!" she cried, mascara beginning to run down her cheeks.
Grandmother snorted dismissively and turned to the store staff. "Her bills are her responsibility. If she can’t pay, handle it according to your store policy."
The employees nodded in understanding. The ssage was crystal clear: Ivy’s Blackwood connection—her al ticket—had been permanently revoked.
Grandmother squeezed my hand gently, her stern expression lting into warm affection as she turned to .
"Serena, dear, did that frighten you? This is exactly how you should handle won trying to attach themselves to Ryan. You’re young and perhaps too kind-hearted, but you can always tell Grandmother, and I’ll take care of it for you."
I nodded automatically, but my heart was filled with conflicted emotions.
The truth was painfully obvious—Grandmother had always known about Ivy’s existence. She simply hadn’t intervened before because Ryan had protected Ivy.
Now that there seed to be problems between them, she was finally wielding her authority, trying to win over.
Still, watching Ivy’s spectacular fall from grace did give a certain satisfaction. After everything she’d done to sabotage , seeing her reduced to begging was...vindicating.
The unexpected confrontation had dampened both our moods. After a few more minutes of halfhearted browsing, Grandmother suggested we head ho.
"Serena, why don’t you co back with ? Ryan is ill, and we don’t know how he’s doing right now."
I shook my head slowly, not ready to face him yet. "Grandmother, please give ti to think."
She sighed, disappointnt evident in her eyes. "Very well, but don’t wait too long. Serena, I’ve lived long enough to know that a man’s heart will grow cold if you don’t keep it warm.
You’ve invested three years in this marriage—don’t give up at the final hurdle."
I watched her car disappear into traffic, wondering if she was right.
Had I really invested too much to walk away now? Or was this exactly the mont when I needed to be strongest?
My phone buzzed in my purse—Maya checking in on .
I sent her a quick ssage that I’d be back at the studio soon.
Whatever happened with Ryan, I still had a life and career of my own to build. That, at least, was sothing no one could take from .
---
Author’s POV
"YOU DARE DEFY ?"
Evelyn Blackwood burst into the hospital room like a storm, her designer heels clicking sharply on the polished floor.
Her face was flushed with fury, her perfectly styled hair trembling with every breath.
Ryan looked up from the small table beside his hospital bed, where his laptop was open and a few docunts were neatly arranged.
"Grandmother, you’re back."
"Don’t you ’Grandmother’ ! What’s going on between you and that insufferable Ivy Hart?" She jabbed a bony finger in his direction.
"I took Serena shopping today and ran into that little parasite strutting around Century Plaza, bragging that you’d pay for everything she buys!"
Ryan coughed weakly, attempting to calm the situation. "Grandmother, I’ve been too lenient with her in the past. I’ll be more careful going forward."
"Lenient? Who exactly is she to you?" Evelyn’s eyes narrowed dangerously.
"Don’t ntion Sophie Hart to —I can’t stand hearing that na! If you want any chance with Serena, you will cut ALL ties with Sophie’s family, imdiately!"
Ryan opened his mouth but wisely closed it again, recognizing the dangerous glint in his grandmother’s eyes.
"Your silence ans agreent," Evelyn declared, pointing an accusing finger at him.
"If I discover any more interaction between you and Ivy Hart, I’m washing my hands of your marital problems!"
With a dramatic huff, she swept out of the room, leaving Ryan exhaling in relief.
Desperate to escape further lectures, Ryan checked himself out of the hospital against dical advice. The empty house greeted him coldly—Serena hadn’t returned.
The vast master bedroom felt hollow without her presence.
He sank onto the edge of the bed, noticing how illness had made him unexpectedly emotional. His phone vibrated suddenly, but the na flashing wasn’t Serena’s.
Ivy Hart. Again.
The persistent buzzing irritated him beyond asure. Ryan imdiately blocked the number, his jaw tight with resolve.
Monts later, an unknown number lit up his screen. He answered with caution.
"Ryan, you can’t abandon like this!" Ivy’s voice ca through, tearful and desperate. "I’ve lost my studio, I have no money, I’ll be sleeping on the streets soon!"
Her pitiful sobbing echoed through the speaker. Just weeks ago, he would have rushed to her rescue without question. But everything had changed now.
"Ryan, if not for , then for Sophie’s sake! I’m her only sister!" Ivy played her trump card, knowing full well how Sophie’s mory had controlled him for years.
"ENOUGH!" His voice thundered through the room. "Haven’t I helped you enough all these years? You made your mistakes—now face the consequences."
Ryan gripped the phone tightly, his knuckles turning white. "Ivy, don’t call again. Your problems are no longer my concern. Ever."
A shocked gasp ca from the other end. "Ryan, how can you be so heartless?"
"Perhaps it’s ti you reflected on your own actions." He ended the call with a decisive tap.
Leaning back against the headboard, Ryan let out a long, weary sigh. The weight of his decision pressed heavily on his chest. Breaking ties with Ivy felt like another step away from Sophie’s mory.
Would Sophie understand? Or would she hate him for abandoning her sister?
For the first ti, Ryan realized he cared less about that answer than he once did.
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