Transmigrated: I Bec Chapter 76: It was the biggest mistake of my life

Chapter 76: It was the biggest mistake of my life

Initially, Edward had planned to confront Ivy about her intentions toward Xander and Leo after disappearing from their lives for years.

But after speaking with Butler Ben the previous night, he realized something important— Leo genuinely loved her. And somewhere deep down, even Xander trusted her too.

And for Edward, interfering with the happiness of the people he loved was something he never wanted to do.

Sharing a quiet knowing look with Butler Ben, Edward calmly watched Leo chatter happily beside Ivy while Aaron sulked dramatically on the side after being completely ignored by his nephew all morning.

Finally, Edward shifted his attention toward Ivy.

"How are you feeling now?" he asked calmly.

The question immediately caught Ivy’s attention.

"I heard you took a bullet for my grandson and had to undergo surgery afterward," Edward continued. "I hope you’re being properly taken care of."

His tone wasn’t cold.

Nor overly warm.

But it carried enough sincerity to catch Ivy slightly off guard.

Edward had learned the attack was called on Xander, and before the bullet could reach him, Ivy had stepped in without hesitation and taken it herself.

Despite Xander’s difficult life and previous attempts to harm him, Edward never expected a woman who had not seen him in years to come to his rescue. And Xander trying to keep the details from him, Edward couldn’t deny one thing— he felt grateful toward her. And perhaps that was exactly why his feelings toward Ivy had become so conflicted.

Meanwhile, Xander, who had been quietly sitting nearby, noticed the brief glance Edward threw toward him.

But the person most shocked in the room was Aaron.

"WHAT?!" Aaron nearly yelled while jumping up from his seat. "Brother, you got shot at?! WHEN?! WHERE?! HOW?!"

His horrified gaze bounced between everyone in the room before landing dramatically on Xander again.

Meanwhile, Xander simply ignored his overreaction entirely.

Aaron genuinely had no idea about the attack.

But now that he heard Edward mention Ivy taking the bullet instead, his emotions became incredibly complicated.

Slowly, he turned to look at her differently.

"Uncle Aaron," Leo suddenly chimed in proudly, "Mommy didn’t just save Daddy. She also beat up the guards trying to take me home. She’s a hero!"

Leo smiled brightly while hugging Ivy’s arm proudly.

Aaron blinked slowly. Then blinked again.

Wait. Was that why she attacked me too? Because she genuinely believed he was kidnapping Leo?

Suddenly, Aaron felt emotionally conflicted.

Meanwhile, Ivy awkwardly smiled and gently pinched Leo’s cheek.

"Leo," she sighed helplessly, "you don’t have to praise Mommy like that." Ivy was flustered by how proudly Leo praised her, but the moment she finished speaking, Edward burst out laughing, freezing everyone in the room.

Even Butler Ben appeared stunned.

’....Did I accidentally say something funny?’

Aaron stared at Edward like he had just witnessed a supernatural event.

"...Am I hallucinating?" he whispered dramatically. "Did Grandpa just laugh?"

Honestly, nobody could blame him for being shocked. Edward Emerson was notoriously difficult to amuse. Most of the family spent years trying to earn even a small smile from the old man. Yet now he was openly laughing because of something Ivy casually said.

Even Xander looked mildly surprised. But the second his eyes landed on Ivy’s confused expression—as though she had just seen a ghost— a quiet scoff escaped his lips.

"You’re a funny lady," Edward said while finally calming himself down.

Ivy blinked again before awkwardly scratching her cheek. "Hehe... is that so?"

The moment she noticed everyone staring at her strangely, she immediately laughed awkwardly too.

Honestly, Ivy had fully prepared herself to get interrogated today after all the nonsense Aaron probably told Edward about her.

But now seeing the old man laughing so comfortably around her, she finally relaxed slightly.

"Oh, it seems I arrived at the perfect time."

Another voice suddenly echoed through the hall, and everyone immediately turned toward the entrance.

A woman elegantly walked inside wearing luxurious designer clothing with a graceful smile on her face.

Clara.

Aaron instantly groaned dramatically under his breath. "Oh great," he muttered loudly enough for everyone to hear. "Now even the background music changed."

Clara shot him a single glance before completely ignoring his existence. Instead, she calmly approached Edward first and greeted him respectfully.

"Hah, as if I care," he fumed, clearly not happy seeing an uninvited guest.

"Grandpa," she said, smiling as she turned to face the others.

"Good morning, every—oh?" Clara’s gaze suddenly landed on Ivy sitting beside Leo.

"Who is this lady with you, Leo?" she asked with a graceful smile.

Aaron instantly looked offended. But the moment he realized Clara was specifically talking about Ivy, his frown deepened slightly.

Meanwhile, Ivy remained quietly confused. She had no idea who this elegantly dressed woman was, though something about her smile already felt strangely calculated. But before Ivy could introduce herself, Leo excitedly answered first.

"She’s my Mommy, Aunt Clara!"

Aaron immediately closed his eyes and sighed internally.

Leo... you really didn’t have to announce it like that.

Meanwhile, Xander calmly observed Clara’s expression subtly shift from polite amusement to visible surprise.

"Is that so?" Clara replied smoothly. "But didn’t she leave you right after you were born?"

Her tone remained gentle and refined. But the words themselves landed like a blade.

Leo’s bright smile faltered, and the little boy lowered his eyes slightly as his earlier excitement faded visibly.

Ivy, on the other hand, immediately noticed the change in his expression. However, now that she looked back at Clara again, she finally recognized her.

Wait... isn’t she the second daughter-in-law of the Emerson family?

Ivy mentally gaped for a second. But the moment she realized Clara intentionally hurt Leo with those words, her expression cooled noticeably.

She really looks like trouble, Ivy thought.

Raven had spent most of her life surviving around dangerous people. And over the years, she had become exceptionally skilled at recognizing hidden intentions beneath fake smiles and polite conversations.

So the moment Clara smiled earlier, Ivy already sensed something unnatural about her. But now that Clara openly wounded Leo emotionally while pretending innocence— it confirmed everything.

Meanwhile, Aaron silently gritted his teeth.

This woman seriously can’t stay quiet for five minutes, he thought irritably while preparing to interrupt. He was about to step forward when Ivy suddenly did.

"It was the biggest mistake of my life," she said calmly, "to leave my child behind when he needed me the most."

The quiet sincerity in her voice instantly caught everyone’s attention. Even Leo slowly lifted his head to stare at her with wide eyes.

Truthfully, Raven had no idea why the Ivy abandoned her child years ago. But now that the soul inside this body belonged to her instead, she had already made up her mind.

’She is going to be mother to Leo, giving him every happiness he deserves in his life.’

Clara’s lips curled slightly, almost amused by Ivy’s response. "How touching," she said lightly while folding her arms. "But children don’t forget abandonment so easily. Especially after years."

The atmosphere instantly grew tense as Leo’s little fingers quietly tightened around Ivy’s sleeve.

Meanwhile, Ivy simply smiled calmly.

"Then I’ll spend the rest of my life making up for those years," she replied without hesitation.

The confidence in her answer actually made Clara pause slightly. And for the first time since entering the room—Edward Emerson finally looked at Ivy with genuine approval in his eyes.