Transmigrated: I Bec Chapter 75: Broccoli has bad energy

Chapter 75: Broccoli has bad energy

It had been quite some time since Nora visited Xander and tried exposing Ivy, hoping that by now he would have acted on her words and thrown Ivy out of the mansion.

But despite all the doubts she planted in his mind, nothing had changed.

In fact, things somehow seemed worse.

"This isn’t working," Nora muttered bitterly to herself while absentmindedly stirring the food on her plate. "If Xander had truly believed me, Ivy should’ve been out of that house already."

At first, Nora genuinely believed feeding Xander suspicion would slowly push him away from Ivy and create an opportunity for her instead.

But now? She was beginning to lose confidence in her own plan. And what frustrated her the most was one painfully obvious fact—Xander Emerson simply didn’t seem interested in her.

No matter how beautiful she looked. No matter how carefully she dressed. No matter how much attention other men gave her.

Xander remained completely unaffected, and honestly, that bruised her pride badly.

Now, seeing her plans gradually fail only made her more irritated.

"What’s wrong with you?" Florine suddenly asked while taking a sip of coffee. "Why aren’t you eating?"

Nora blinked before looking up at her mother, who was currently eyeing her suspiciously across the dining table.

"I know you don’t exactly have a job to keep yourself busy," Florine continued bluntly, "but the way you keep staring into space makes me wonder what nonsense is going on inside that head of yours."

Nora frowned immediately.

"Mom, how can you say that? You know I’m not useless like France," she argued defensively.

"Then prove it." Florine merely shrugged. Her calm response only irritated Nora more.

"How long do you plan on living in your mother’s house doing nothing?" Florine asked while casually sipping her coffee. "At least use your beauty for something useful."

Nora’s face stiffened slightly.

Then Florine casually added the one sentence that instantly darkened her daughter’s expression.

"Look at Ivy. Despite not even being my real daughter, she still ended up making me rich. At least she repaid us for all the years we fed her."

Nora immediately slammed her fork down. "Now you’re comparing me to that stray?" she snapped angrily.

Florine calmly looked at her. "No," she replied coolly. "I’m simply pointing out the difference."

That only made Nora angrier. She had always believed that despite everything, her mother still favored her and France over Ivy. Yet now, hearing Florine openly praise Ivy in front of her felt humiliating.

"Don’t overthink it," Florine continued lazily. "I know you’re not particularly capable, but at least find a man who can provide you with a luxurious life."

Nora’s expression shifted slightly at those words.

Wait... is she talking about Xander Emerson? The thought instantly brightened her mood. But what Florine said next left her speechless.

"Aaron Emerson recently returned from his trip."

Nora blinked in confusion.

Florine leaned back in her chair calmly. "He’s unmarried, rich, and an Emerson," she stated matter-of-factly. "Why don’t you focus your charm on him instead?"

Nora stared at her mother as though she had just suggested she apply for a government job.

"Mom... I don’t even know that man."

"Then get to know him," Florine replied immediately. "If you’re so desperate to compete with Ivy because she caught Xander Emerson’s attention, then go catch someone else’s."

The words made Nora stiffen. Slowly, realization dawned on her face.

All this time, she thought she had hidden her intentions carefully from her mother. But now, seeing the grim expression on Florine’s face, Nora suddenly understood something terrifying.

Florine already knew.

"I know exactly what you’ve been trying to do, Nora," Florine said firmly. "And this time, I’m stopping you from chasing after men connected to Ivy."

Nora’s pride immediately flared up.

"Why?" she snapped. "You think I can’t get Xander?"

Florine sighed tiredly like a mother exhausted by a particularly difficult child.

"I’m saying he’s not the man for you," she replied sharply. "So stop wasting your time chasing him and focus on Aaron Emerson instead."

Her tone left no room for argument.

Truthfully, Florine had already grown suspicious the moment Nora started behaving secretively.

At first, she ignored it. But knowing her daughter’s personality too well, Florine eventually decided to follow her one day, only to discover Nora secretly visiting Globe International.

From that moment onward, Florine understood exactly what her daughter was planning. And honestly? It terrified her. Because if Xander Emerson ever found out Nora’s real intentions...there was no way he would spare them.

Florine might be greedy, but she wasn’t stupid.

She had no intention of letting her daughter ruin the comfortable life they currently enjoyed because of one reckless obsession.

After giving Nora one final warning look, Florine calmly resumed drinking her coffee, assuming her daughter would eventually think carefully about her words.

Meanwhile, across the table, Nora silently clenched her fists beneath it, her expression growing darker with every passing second.

***

Back inside the Old Emerson Residence, Ivy and Xander took their seats while Ivy continued staring around the extravagant mansion with wide eyes and an equally wide mouth.

Honestly, she had already accepted one important fact—

The Emerson family was offensively rich.

Every corner of the house practically screamed money.

Even the flower vase beside her probably cost more than her yearly rent.

Meanwhile, Xander wasn’t paying attention to the mansion at all.

Instead, his gaze remained fixed on Ivy.

Watching her expressions change every few seconds somehow made his chest feel strangely light.

One moment she looked impressed.The next moment personally offended by rich people decorations.

And for some reason...

Xander found it adorable.

Realizing where his thoughts were heading again, he quickly looked away and took a slow breath.

Right at that moment—

"Mommy!"

Leo’s excited voice echoed through the hall.

"You came!"

Ivy instantly turned toward the little boy rushing toward her at full speed.

Without hesitation, she immediately stood up and caught him in a warm hug.

The moment Leo wrapped his little arms around her neck while calling her Mommy again, Ivy felt something inside her soften completely.

She hadn’t realized it before, but hearing him call her that filled her heart with an unexpected warmth and pride.

So naturally, she hugged him even tighter.

"Hehehe..." Leo giggled happily while squishing against her.

But then—

"Ahem."

The deliberate throat-clearing immediately reminded both of them that someone else was standing nearby.

Leo blinked before quickly looking toward Xander.

"Daddy!"

He instantly let go of Ivy and ran straight toward his father instead.

Xander calmly reached down and ruffled the boy’s hair affectionately.

"I missed you both a lot," Leo announced dramatically with a bright grin before immediately returning to Ivy’s side again like a loyal duckling.

"I missed you too," Ivy said softly while pulling him into a side hug.

Leo’s eyes sparkled instantly.

"Really, Mommy?" he asked excitedly. "You missed me?"

Ivy bent slightly to his level before nodding seriously.

"I missed you so much," she replied dramatically, "that I had to play video games to distract myself."

Leo burst into giggles.

Honestly, he had missed Ivy terribly despite having Edward and Aaron around the entire weekend.

But hearing that she missed him too immediately made him happier.

"And still managed to lose against a bot," another voice suddenly interrupted from nearby.

Ivy’s smile instantly froze.

Slowly... very slowly... she turned her head.

Aaron casually walked toward them looking entirely too pleased with himself.

The moment their eyes met, the atmosphere immediately shifted into silent war.

You just wait, hooligan, Ivy thought while narrowing her eyes at him. Next time I’ll destroy you.

She scoffed aloud.

"That’s funny coming from someone who died falling down virtual stairs."

Aaron instantly looked offended.

"That happened once!"

"It happened three times."

"The controls were broken!"

"Your brain was broken."

Leo instantly covered his mouth, trying not to laugh.

Meanwhile, Aaron pointed dramatically at Ivy.

"Grandpa!" he suddenly shouted loudly toward the hallway like a bullied child calling for parental support. "See? She’s attacking me again!"

Right on cue, Edward finally entered the room with Butler Ben beside him.

The old man barely glanced at Aaron before calmly asking,

"What did you do this time?"

Aaron gasped in betrayal.

"Why do you automatically assume it’s my fault?!"

Edward looked unimpressed.

"Experience."

Meanwhile, Ivy quietly looked away while pretending innocence.

This was the first time she was meeting the Elder Emerson properly, and from everything she had heard, the man possessed eyes just as sharp as his grandson’s.

Edward Emerson rarely tolerated strangers around him and could read people frighteningly well. Which honestly made Ivy slightly nervous.

Meanwhile, Edward calmly observed her in silence.

His sharp gaze swept over her carefully, studying every little reaction and expression she made.

For a brief moment, the entire room seemed unusually quiet.

Even Aaron stopped complaining.

Ivy quickly recovered herself under that intimidating stare before giving Edward a respectful bow.

"Greetings, Elder Emerson," she said politely.

Edward remained silent for another second, still observing her thoughtfully.

"Sit down," he said calmly while gesturing toward the seat beside Leo.

Ivy blinked slightly, clearly not expecting the old man to sound so approachable.

Still, she quickly nodded.

"Thank you."

The moment she sat down beside Leo, the little boy immediately attached himself to her side like he had been emotionally abandoned for years instead of two days.

"Mommy, Gappy made me eat vegetables yesterday," Leo complained instantly.

Edward frowned.

"That is because vegetables are healthy."

"But broccoli looks suspicious," Leo argued seriously.

Ivy immediately nodded in agreement.

"He’s right. Broccoli has bad energy."

Edward stared at her.

Aaron instantly burst out laughing.

"HAHA! Grandpa, you finally met someone worse than Leo!"

Edward rubbed his forehead slowly while Butler Ben silently looked away to hide his amusement.

Meanwhile, Xander sat quietly nearby watching the interaction unfold.

And strangely enough—for the first time in a very long while, the Old Emerson Residence actually felt lively.