“No need to be so formal, Mr. Windsor. I’m just here with Ivy—pretend I’m not even here.”

Adkins’s outstretched hand froze in midair, and his smile instantly vanished. A hush fell over the room. Standing at the back, Baillie let out a derisive snort. Trying to cozy up to people who couldn’t care less—what a sight. Adkins’s face darkened even further. Ivy kept her expression serene, but she could barely contain her amusement. Jamison always knew how to shake things up. With his background and that stubborn streak, he wouldn’t even show courtesy to his own siblings, let alone an outsider.

Rosetta glanced nervously around, seeing her husband’s pride wounded. She quickly tried to smooth things over. “Emma, your sister’s back—aren’t you going to say something? Baillie, your little sister’s home!” She was doing her best to lighten the mood.

Emma snapped to attention, put on a different face, and stepped forward. “Sis, it’s been a while.”

Ivy looked her up and down, her smile hinting at mischief. She picked the worst possible moment to bring it up. “Emma, you look thinner. Was the stress in there too much for you these past few days?”

Emma froze. Silence fell again, and Emma’s face was now nearly as strained as Adkins’s. Baillie couldn’t stand it any longer and scoffed. “Ivy, now that you’ve found someone to back you up, no one in this house can say a word to you, huh?”

Ivy turned to him with a cool gaze. “Mr. Windsor, you look like you’ve lost weight too. I’m sure your time in holding was unforgettable. Heartbreak and betrayal—most people couldn’t handle it. Try not to take it too hard.”

Baillie was speechless. Three faces turned to stone in quick succession, and the tension thickened yet again. Rosetta looked as if her face might crack. She glanced from one to the other before forcing herself to keep things moving. “Well… let’s head inside. Dinner’s ready and waiting. Ivy, I had the kitchen make all your favorites—you’ll love it.”

Ivy didn’t respond. Instead, she glanced at the man beside her. “Let’s go eat.”

“Of course.” The two exchanged a look so tender it made everyone else fade into the background. Adkins’s face went stormy, and he clenched his jaw in frustration. Rosetta shot her husband a look and squeezed his arm. “Let it go—they’re family. Don’t worry about it. Let’s just go inside.” With that, she hurried after Ivy, smiling as she tried to catch up. “Ivy, what have you been up to lately? You should come home more often. I think about you all the time.”

“Thank you for thinking of me, but for the sake of your family’s peace, I’d better stay away.”

Rosetta was left speechless. The whole group made their way into the living room, where Rosetta once again tried to play the gracious hostess. “Come, sit down! Ivy, make sure Mr. Ludwig is comfortable. These are all your favorite dishes.”

Ivy walked to the table, but before she could say a word, Jamison pulled out her chair like a perfect gentleman. “Thank you,” Ivy said, taking her seat without hesitation. The rest of the Windsors stared at her, each wearing a different expression. “Aren’t you going to sit? Dinner’s served, isn’t it?” Ivy smiled lightly, sensing the awkwardness. She’d been the one cast out, the one everyone had tried to exclude—yet here she was, the guest of honor. Now the whole family had to watch her for cues.

Emma looked like she might explode, yanking her chair back with a loud scrape. Ivy glanced over. “What’s wrong, little sister? You don’t want me here for dinner? But you sounded so eager on the phone just now.”

Emma bit back her anger, forcing a smile. “Of course not, just slipped.”

Rosetta laughed along, eager to keep things civil. “We’re all so happy you’re home, Ivy. You should move back in. We’ve redone your room upstairs—after dinner, go have a look. If there’s anything you don’t like, we’ll fix it.”