Transmigrated: I Bec Chapter 58: hardly qualifies as good company

Chapter 58: hardly qualifies as good company

Ivy tilted her head slightly, watching Xander drift into his own thoughts.

Is he seriously going to bring that up again? She sneered internally. How low can he go just to embarrass me? Digging up something from ages ago...

Ever since waking up in Ivy’s body, Raven had been quietly gathering information about both Ivy and Xander. From what she had learned, the two of them had shared a one-night encounter that eventually led to Leo’s birth.

But as the one now living in Ivy’s body, she had no memory of it at all.

Ugh... why am I even thinking about this? Raven cringed inwardly before shooting Xander a sharp glare.

"You can’t bring up that topic, Mr. Emerson," Ivy said, her tone firm. "We both know the circumstances under which that night happened."

On the surface, she sounded serious and composed. In reality, she was just trying to steer the conversation away—anything to avoid the embarrassment that crept up every time she remembered waking up beside him that morning.

Xander blinked, snapping out of his thoughts. His gaze shifted to Ivy, who was clearly avoiding eye contact.

But her words... he heard them loud and clear.

He understood what she meant. That night had not been something either of them chose freely. It had been orchestrated by his grandfather, leaving them with no real control over what happened.

There was no point forcing her to acknowledge something she didn’t want to remember.

"Ahem."

He cleared his throat again and stood up, adjusting his suit as his expression returned to its usual calm.

"I was only warning you after what happened this morning," he said evenly.

Ivy looked up, surprised by the sudden shift in his tone.

D-Did I offend him?

She watched as he walked away, leaving her behind with a swirl of confusion.

Meanwhile, Xander stepped outside and got into his car, instructing the driver to leave.

Yet, despite his composed exterior, Ivy’s words lingered in his mind.

"Did she not feel anything?" he muttered under his breath.

That night... it had changed something in him. Even if it lasted only a few hours, it had made him feel something he had never experienced before. For the first time, he had felt... complete.

And yet, the way she dismissed it so easily—it left him conflicted in a way he couldn’t quite explain.

***

Meanwhile, the atmosphere at the Emerson ancestral residence was calm and serene.

Elder Emerson sat in the pavilion, leisurely sipping his tea, while Butler Ben stood beside him in respectful silence.

"So, you’re saying my grandson signed a deal with Ivy’s stepmother to make up for what happened?" Edward asked.

Butler Ben nodded in confirmation.

"Interesting," Edward murmured, setting his teacup down with quiet precision.

He had specifically asked Butler Ben to gather details about the woman who claimed to be Leo’s mother.

Back then, Edward had felt a tinge of regret. The woman he had arranged to seduce his grandson had backed out at the last moment, and the one Xander ended up with had been a complete stranger.

But now...

Now that it had been confirmed that Ivy was indeed Leo’s mother—and more importantly, the woman who had awakened desire in his otherwise indifferent grandson—Edward found himself deeply intrigued.

Very intrigued.

Especially after learning that she had taken a bullet for Xander. If she hadn’t stepped in, Xander would not be alive today.

The mere thought sent a chill down his spine.

Edward had never wanted his grandson to step into the dangerous world he had once been part of. Yet somehow, it was his own actions that had dragged Xander into it—a world filled with endless rivalry and bloodshed.

He had founded Phantom with the intention of eradicating illegal operations one by one. And for a time, it worked. The influence they built was powerful enough to shake their rivals.

But not everyone accepted it.

Many resented their rise, and that resentment soon turned into relentless retaliation—until it cost him his son and daughter-in-law.

That loss had carved a permanent wound in his heart.

Burdened by guilt, Edward chose to step away from that life and focus on raising his grandson, who had already suffered more than any child should.

And yet...

The very boy he had tried to protect from that darkness had grown up to take the position of the leader of the same clan Edward had abandoned.

Fate, it seemed, had a cruel sense of irony.

Edward knew Xander was surrounded by enemies. Not just from the outside, but from within as well. Even those close to them harbored resentment, especially toward Edward’s favoritism—making Xander’s path even more difficult.

Slowly, Edward’s gaze shifted to a photograph resting beside his cup.

He picked it up.

It was a picture of Ivy.

As it turned out, she was just as intriguing as the circumstances surrounding her.

She had been an orphan, taken in by Florine Ford’s husband, Henry. Under his care, she had lived a relatively stable life. Even after his passing, she continued to stay with the family for some time before eventually choosing to leave.

The reasons remained unclear.

However, to support her education, she had taken on multiple jobs—doing whatever it took to stand on her own feet and pay her way through life.

Edward’s eyes lingered on her photo, his expression thoughtful.

He had no clear idea what Ivy’s true intentions were. But knowing Xander was not someone who made reckless decisions, Edward chose not to jump to conclusions—at least not yet.

"Master."

Butler Ben’s voice pulled him out of his thoughts.

"Master Gavin is here."

Edward’s expression shifted instantly—from mild curiosity to cold seriousness.

"Clear this," he instructed.

Butler Ben quickly gathered the documents from the table and stepped aside.

"Grandpa."

Gavin walked in without hesitation, pulled out a chair, and sat across from him.

Edward glanced at the uninvited guest before calmly lifting his teacup again. Gavin’s visibly agitated state did not appeal to him, and given his surprisingly good mood today, Edward had no intention of entertaining unnecessary drama.

"Why weren’t you answering my calls, Grandpa?" Gavin demanded, frustration evident in his tone. "Am I not even worth speaking to anymore?"

Edward paused briefly, then set his cup down with measured calm.

"Someone who remembers his grandfather only when he needs something," he said coolly, "hardly qualifies as good company."

The blunt response only made Gavin’s expression darken further.

"You think I only call you when I need something?" he shot back.

Edward gave a small, dismissive shrug. "Is that not the case?"

Gavin clenched his jaw.

If not for Edward’s position, he wouldn’t have bothered lowering himself like this—not in front of someone he internally referred to with far less respect.

This old man...

But he forced himself to stay composed.

Xander might be the president of Globe International, but Edward was still the chairman—the one who held ultimate authority. And offending him was not a risk Gavin could afford.

"Grandpa," Gavin said, tempering his tone, "this is not the time to ignore me. This is something that needs your attention."

Edward remained silent, watching him.

"Xander can’t keep acting recklessly just because he holds power in Daffodil Academy," Gavin continued, his frustration slipping through despite his efforts to control it.

This time, Edward’s gaze sharpened slightly.

Now that... sounded like something worth listening to.