Chapter 22

Micah had been holding his breath so long his head felt light. He turned to glance at her when she spoke.

“Well…nothing’s set in stone yet. Your brother and his girlfriend are talking about marriage, so maybe they’ll go first. She’s coming over tonight to discuss it with your brother.”

“Oh…” Ivy nodded, then, curiosity flickering across her face, she asked, “Who’s my brother’s girlfriend?”

“Ms. Miller.”

“Lauren Miller?” Ivy’s eyes widened in surprise. She turned to Micah with a sly smile. “Wasn’t she into you before? After you and I got together, she even came to stir up trouble, trying to pressure me into giving you up. How’d she go from that to falling for my brother?”

Ivy grinned mischievously, lowering her voice in mock speculation. “Or maybe… she couldn’t have you, so now she’s determined to become my sister-in-law just to spite me?”

Micah’s expression turned sour. “I… I really don’t know.”

As they chatted, the Bentley rolled to a smooth stop in front of Windsor Mansion.

The second Emma caught sight of her fiancé’s car, she all but flew out the front door, flitting across the drive like a butterfly. “Micah!”

But the moment she saw Ivy climbing out of the passenger seat, her face fell.

Ivy glanced at her younger sister, then turned to Micah with a dazzling, sweet smile. Her voice was gentle, almost affectionate. “Micah, thank you. I knew you still had a soft spot for me. You’re nothing like certain imposters – so heartless, so cruel.”

Emma’s face flushed with anger and embarrassment. “Who are you calling an imposter?”

Ivy shrugged, her tone light. “It’s obvious, isn’t it? Of course I mean you.”

Emma was speechless, her lips pressed into a thin line.

Micah got out quickly and went to Emma, trying to calm her. “Emma, don’t get upset. I just ran into her on the way here and gave her a ride, that’s all.”

“Don’t touch me!” Emma pushed him away, recoiling as if from something foul. “You know she’s got issues – why would you let her get so close to you?”

Micah threw a helpless glance at Ivy, then mumbled, “I… I didn’t touch her. It’s fine.”

Hearing this, Ivy gave a half-hearted, chilly smile and walked into the house.

Inside, the living room was bustling with chatter. When Ivy entered, she caught sight of a familiar face.

Lauren.

Her old rival in love – now, apparently, her soon-to-be sister-in-law?

The lively mood dissolved into awkward silence as all eyes turned to the doorway.

Baillie, her older brother, fixed her with a stern look. “Ivy, go to your room. Dinner will be brought up to you. Don’t come out.”

Ivy glanced toward the dining room, where a lavish dinner was already spread out.

She smiled, unfazed. Instead of heading to the cramped little maid’s room, she strolled straight to the table and sat down.

“No need to trouble yourselves bringing food back and forth. I’ll just eat here.” With that, she picked up a fork and started helping herself, as if she belonged at the head of the table.

The entire room fell into stunned silence.

Micah and Emma followed them in, eyes wide at the scene.

“Ivy! Are you deliberately trying to pick a fight with all of us?” Baillie’s voice rose, barely controlled.

Ivy kept smiling. “Come on, big brother. At least pretend to be gentle in front of your future fiancée.”

Baillie clenched his jaw, clearly furious.

Their father, Mr. Adkins, barely kept his own temper in check. “Ivy, go to your room. After tonight, you can cause whatever drama you want.”

“Dad, when have I caused any drama? I just want to have dinner.” Ivy’s tone was calm, almost bored. Then she shifted her gaze to Lauren.

“Ms. Miller. We meet again. Last time, you cornered me and demanded I give Micah up – you said you were madly in love, that you couldn’t live without him, that you’d-”