She stared, motionless, as Rosetta busied herself—so much so that when Rosetta finally turned and their gazes met, Ivy still didn’t look away.

Katrina, noticing the scene, looked equally taken aback, then a smug satisfaction flickered across her face.

Well, what goes around comes around.

Rosetta was clearly flustered. She’d never imagined Ivy would catch her in such a humbling position, bending over backwards to please customers. No matter how good or bad their relationship was, being seen like this by her own daughter was unbearably humiliating.

An awkward silence blanketed the boutique. Even the sales associates on the side looked mortified, practically curling their toes in embarrassment for Rosetta.

But Mrs. Burke, who never missed a chance to stir the pot, watched with gleaming eyes and piped up, “Mrs. Windsor, since you’ve run into your eldest daughter, why not just ask her directly? The project payment is only two million–surely that’s pocket change for Mr. Jamison.”

Rosetta snapped out of her daze, her face going pale as she quickly straightened up. “Ivy, you… you’re here shopping for clothes too?”

Ivy’s expression was unreadable. “Has the Windsor family come to this? Is the lady of the house now working retail to make ends meet?”

She made no effort to save face for the Windsors–on the contrary, her words were sharp and cutting in front of everyone.

Rosetta’s face froze, her humiliation deepening.

Mrs. Burke let out a peal of laughter, her tone dripping with disapproval. “Miss Ivy, that’s too much. After all, she’s your mother–she gave you life, raised you. And now that you’ve married up, you won’t even acknowledge your own mother? Aren’t you afraid of tempting fate?”

It was obvious Mrs. Burke wasn’t standing up for Rosetta. She was trying to guilt-trip Ivy, to force her hand and make her foot the bill for the Windsor family—so she could get her money back sooner.

Everyone had heard the rumors: the Windsors were on the brink of bankruptcy. If they really went under, Mrs. Burke’s project payment would be lost for good.

Ivy turned her cool gaze on the outspoken woman.

Since Ivy was standing while Mrs. Burke sat trying on shoes, Ivy’s eyes naturally looked down on her.

“So you’re Mrs. Burke? Funny, I could’ve sworn I just heard you say it was the Windsors who kicked me out of the house. Now you’ve done a quick turnaround, speaking up for them?”

“Guilt trips won’t work on me. The Windsors owe you money, not me. Whether it’s two million or two dollars, I don’t have it.”

Mrs. Burke’s composure cracked. “You married Mr. Jamison–how could you not have money? The Ludwigs are worth billions. Even if Mr. Jamison never inherits the family fortune, he’s got to be worth tens of millions by himself.”

“Tens of millions?” Ivy arched a brow, her voice suddenly soft and lilting. “You really underestimate him…”

Katrina shot her a look—what did that mean?

Mrs. Burke’s eyes lit up, thinking Ivy was about to change her mind. She smiled eagerly, “If Mr. Jamison is so wealthy, and he’s so good to you-”

But Ivy cut her off, her tone light but cold, “Even if he had a fortune of billions, he wouldn’t waste a penny bailing out the Windsors.”

The hope in Mrs. Burke’s eyes was snuffed out in an instant. She sneered, “Hmph! More like he won’t spend a dime on you.”

Ivy raised her brows, feigning innocence. “Exactly! You understand perfectly–so why are you pressuring me? Actually, I’m a bit strapped for cash myself these days. Maybe you’d like to lend me something, Mrs. Burke? Call it a charitable act.”

She smiled, but there was no warmth in it.

Katrina couldn’t hold back a laugh, her shoulders shaking.

Realizing she’d been played, Mrs. Burke’s face darkened. She shot to her feet and snapped, “Ivy, are you out of your mind? You have the nerve to ask me for money?” Ivy’s smile remained icy. “Well, you’re asking me for money—so where’s your shame?”

“You-” Mrs. Burke was practically purple with rage and lurched forward, ready to lash out. But she’d only managed to get one foot into her high heel while the other was still bare; as she tried to step forward, she lost her balance and pitched face-first toward the floor.

“Ah! Mrs. Burke-!”

“Careful!”

Rosetta and the two sales associates rushed to catch her, but they were a second too late.

Watching the heavyset woman sprawled on the floor, Ivy’s smile grew even sweeter. “No need to bow to me, Mrs. Burke.”

With that, she turned and strolled out, utterly unbothered.

“Ivy! You just wait!” Mrs. Burke screamed from the floor, pounding it with her fist.

When Ivy was gone, Mrs. Burke rounded on Rosetta. “None of you Windsors are worth a damn! I’m telling you, if the payment isn’t in my account in three days, expect a summons from the court!”

Rosetta, helping Mrs. Burke up, pleaded in a whisper, “Please, don’t sue. If our assets are frozen, the Windsor family will be finished…”

“I don’t care! You Windsors have gone too far!”

Out on the street, Ivy could still hear Mrs. Burke’s shrill tirade behind her. A cold, amused smile flickered across her striking features.

Katrina looked at her, frowning slightly. “You’re deliberately making enemies for the Windsors. Sure, it’s satisfying, but you’re giving yourself a bad reputation. Soon everyone will be saying that Dr. Ludwig won’t give you a penny, and you’re a Windsor in name only.”

Ivy smiled faintly, utterly unconcerned. “That’s exactly what I want.”