Chapter 128: A Clash of Two Worlds

“I don’t understand,” Ivy whispered, leaning closer to Aria, her confusion heightened.

Before Aria could speak, Sonja said, “What is our perfect Miss Sunshine doing here? Isn’t this place too unprocessed for you?”

“Oh, if it’s not miss grumpy,” Catherine shot back, folding her arms, her eyes gleaming with defiance. “Aren’t you supposed to be somewhere else destroying the planet and making a profit from it as usual?”

Sonia scoffed, her voice sharper. “Destroying the planet? That’s rich coming from someone who acts like they care about our planet, preaching about sustainability and then doing the opposite?”

Catherine let out a sharp laugh. “My products are biodegradable. I don’t lie or kill people before I make my profit, unlike you and your heartless business, always taking people’s land and pushing them out of their homes.”

Ivy’s stomach turned as uneasiness settled there. She had no idea there was a rift between them. She stepped forward, an unsteady smile on her lips. “Ladies, ladies. Let’s just… try and come to an understanding.”

“Oh no, Ivy!” Sonia snapped. “I can’t come to an understanding with someone who just accused me of hurting people.” Then she turned to Catherine, a frown tugging at the corners of her mouth. “So you’re saying you’ve never had to sacrifice something for something else?”

Catherine tilted her head, and Ivy noticed the small gold nose ring gleaming on her nose. “No, I haven’t, Sonia.”

Sonia scoffed. “All you eco-activists are the same. You point fingers without actually understanding the reality of business. How do you think the real estate world works? You think the fantasy forests you save are actually doing something for the world?” Her laughter was harsh. “Wake up and see the world for what it is. This is not a fairy tale.”

Ivy saw the anger in Catherine’s eyes and knew the issue was about to escalate. She stepped forward, raising her hand. “Let’s just take a breather, please,” she said, her voice tinged with apology.

She paused, watching as both women glanced at each other before letting their guards down.

“Eddie!” Ivy snapped her fingers. “Take Ms. Shaw to the editing room and Ms. Raj to the… meeting room. We’ll all calm down and start again.”

Sonia hissed as she followed Eddie, her heels clicking hastily on the floor.

Catherine turned to Ivy, a small smile on her lips as she took some hair away from her face. “I apologize, Ms. Stone. That… was not planned. This is such a bad first impression.”

Ivy winked. “Don’t worry, we’ll start afresh.”

“Alright,” Catherine nodded, adjusted her gown, and followed Eddie when he returned.

Once she was out of the room, Ivy exhaled loudly.

“Oh, Ivy. You didn’t tell me there was a show. I would have brought my popcorn,” Aria teased.

Ivy laughed just as her phone rang. She glanced at it and turned to Aria. “Excuse me,” and went to her office.

Mason was calling back, and her heart pounded with excitement at what she was about to do. Before Ivy picked up the call, she hit the recorder on her phone and waited a few seconds to be sure the recording had started.

When she was certain, she picked up the call, keeping her voice as smooth as possible. “Hello, Mason.”

“Hello, Ivy,” Mason replied. “With the way you keep calling me, one might think you miss me,” he said smugly. “Is your husband’s attention not enough? I remember how clingy you used to be.”

Ivy rolled her eyes, refusing to give in to his tease. “Why are you calling me, Mason? Haven’t you done enough?”

He chuckled. “Enough of what?”

“Hurting me, harassing me?” Ivy said, keeping her voice low.

“Oh dear. You call breaking some windows and writing some names on your walls harassment?”

Oh, that was it. That was the confession.

Still, she pressed, determined to hear him say more. “So you’re responsible for the vandalism of my new building?”

“Tell me, Ivy,” Mason said, ignoring the question. “Are you hurt enough? Or would you like me to do more?”

Ivy bit her lip. She just wanted him to steer the conversation back to the vandalism.

Mason scoffed. “I know everything, Ivy.”

She rolled her eyes again, knowing that he wouldn’t pass up an opportunity to brag. “How exactly?”

“That is for me to know, and for you to worry about,” he laughed. “Does that bother you?”

“Yes,” she admitted, hoping that would make him say more things. “Now tell me why you did it?”

The laughter that followed was harsher and longer. “This delights me. Did you cry?”

She tapped her forehead, her jaw tightened. He wasn’t going to say more, she knew that already. “Have a lovely day, Mason.”

“Wait,” he said sharply, and she paused. “Did you think about it all day, or…”

“Goodbye, Mason,” she snapped and ended the call.

She sank into her chair and quickly played the recording. “Good,” she smiled, pleased with herself.

Then she texted it to Silas and went back downstairs to continue work. When she got there, she was surprised to see Catherine and Sonia going at it again.

“It doesn’t matter.” Sonia’s voice was sharp as a razor. “I care about progress. About growth. You can’t build a future when you’re still whining about the past.”

Ivy’s throat tightened. This wasn’t just an argument—it was a clash of two worlds, of two women unwilling to bend their beliefs.

“Ladies,” Ivy interrupted. “I thought we had moved past this.”

“Oh, we have, before Miss Perfect came over talking about resources,” Sonia scoffed, gesturing to Catherine, who was frowning.

“I am celebrating you guys,” Ivy said, moving closer. “It doesn’t matter what you do or how you do it. Your opinions matter, and that’s all. This is not a debate stage, please.”

Catherine exhaled sharply, stomping her feet while Sonia rolled her eyes.

“Fine,” Sonia said, adjusting her hair. “Let’s take the damn pictures. But I’m going first, so I don’t have to deal with… this.”

“Alright then,” Ivy said. “Eddie, please take Sonia to the studio and talk her through the outfits and the concept. I’ll be there in a moment.”

As Eddie and Sonia left, Ivy’s phone chimed with a message from Silas.

‘I received the recording. I’ll send it to Wade and get back to you. Good job.’

Ivy’s cheeks flushed as she read the message. Silas was proud of her, and that already made her day. As she was about to turn to the studio, the front door opened and Theresa walked in.

“Theresa!” Ivy exclaimed, running to her. “I didn’t think you would come.”

Theresa gave her a kiss on her forehead and laughed. “Come on, I keep my promises, baby.”

Aria walked over to Theresa. “My sister. You smell good as usual.”

“Thank you, love,” Theresa said, then she glanced around. “This place is beautiful. Well done, Ivy.”

“Thank you,” Ivy said, but she was studying Theresa.

There was a glow about Theresa which intrigued and frightened Ivy at the same time. Theresa’s hair had been done, her nails were painted red, and she looked like a woman who was living in denial of her life’s situation or who… had gotten over it.

Theresa noticed Ivy’s look and laughed. “Can I see you privately?”

Ivy nodded and led her to her office. The instant Theresa closed the door, she blurted out. “I slept with Hector.”

Ivy blinked. “What?”

“I slept with…”

“I heard you the first time,” Ivy interrupted, recovering quickly. “I’m… just shocked.”

“It just happened, Ivy, and I don’t regret it,” Theresa said, her eyes twinkling with joy.

Ivy nodded. “You don’t have to, you’re free now.”

“Yes, and speaking of freedom, I want you to accompany me to the attorney’s office later today. Wills will be there to officially end… this disaster,” Theresa said, her eyes darkened for a moment. “And I don’t trust anyone else to be level-headed when they see him. So will you?”

“Yes, sure,” Ivy replied quickly, yet she couldn’t shake off the feeling that Theresa still hasn’t processed everything.

As if she read Ivy’s thoughts, Theresa’s brow furrowed. “I’ll be fine, I promise. I’m just taking my time.”

Ivy hugged her tightly. “I’m always here for you.”

“I know,” Theresa hugged her, then straightened up. “I also want to talk about the divorce when you release the pictures. I don’t want him painting a narrative before I say my piece.”

Ivy nodded, squeezing Theresa’s hand. “I understand, T. Yes, I can do that.”

“No need to be grumpy then. Let’s go take some nice pictures,” Theresa chuckled.

Ivy laughed as she led Theresa out of her office.