Jamison understood immediately and picked up where she left off. “So, the Carters have cast her out.”
“Exactly. I’m sure they started to suspect that child isn’t Sheridan’s, and to save face, they kicked her out.”
None of this surprised either of them.
Ivy dialed the number. The call barely rang before it was answered, and Rosetta’s voice came through, edged with surprise. “Ivy? Is that you?”
Ivy got straight to the point. “Has Emma come back?”
Inside the Windsor estate, Rosetta glanced uncomfortably toward the living room, where her adopted daughter sat sobbing. After a moment’s hesitation, she answered, “Yes. How did you know?”
“Why is she back? Does she expect you to shield her?”
Rosetta’s tone was strained. “She’s run into trouble, Ivy. Didn’t you and Mr. Jamison have them taken to the police? Sheridan’s looking at prison, and Emma’s all alone, pregnant and desperate. Where else could she possibly go?”
Ivy’s voice was icy. “You really think you can protect her when you can barely protect yourselves? Or are you hoping she’ll charm her way into another marriage and fetch you another dowry, even with that bastard child?”
Honestly, Ivy couldn’t think of any other reason Emma might be of value to them.
Rosetta abruptly snapped, her voice sharp. “Ivy! That’s enough! You’re being cruel.”
“Cruel?” Ivy replied, her smile turning cold. “You haven’t heard cruel yet. I’m now the majority shareholder of Windsor Enterprises. I control the company’s future. If you dare take Emma in, I’ll make sure Windsor Enterprises changes hands by tomorrow. Mr. Windsor and his brother can enjoy an early retirement–permanently.”
Jamison wrapped his arm around his wife, admiring the way she delivered her threats with a sweet smile. His brows lifted, and a hint of a grin played on his lips.
Before Rosetta could respond, Emma snatched the phone away and shrieked, “Ivy, you snake! You’ve been spying on me! Good thing Sheridan saw it coming.”
The fact that Ivy knew Emma was back at the Windsors the moment she arrived meant she was being watched.
Ivy caught Jamison’s eye, understanding dawning in both their gazes.
She was nestled in his arms, and though the phone wasn’t on speaker, he could hear everything.
So, the bodyguards they’d sent had been discovered. It explained why Sheridan had shown up to deal with Roberta–he must have realized the surveillance was focused solely on Emma.
“You really are something,” Ivy said sarcastically. “You’ve got Sheridan so wrapped around your finger he’s willing to ruin himself for you. Too bad your knight in shining armor is about to drown, and you’ll be left to fend for yourself.”
“Ivy, don’t gloat just yet! You and Jamison have put Sheridan in prison–the Carters won’t let you get away with this!”
“Oh, really? Well, before the Carters come for me, I think I’ll deal with you first.” Ivy’s voice was unhurried, almost pleasant. “I’ve already told Mrs. Windsor: if they take you in, Windsor Enterprises will have a new owner by morning. Mr. Windsor and his brother can start their retirement early–kicking back somewhere far away. So, what do you think they’ll choose? You—or everything they’ve ever worked for?”
Emma had truly run out of options when she returned to the Windsors.
After being bailed out of jail, she’d gone back to Sheridan’s house, only to have the Carters show up today, hurling insults at her.
To them, she was nothing but a curse; if Sheridan hadn’t married her, he’d never be facing prison.
When they found out she was pregnant, their reaction was anything but joy. They branded her a tramp, called the child illegitimate, and demanded she get rid of it–to save themselves from public shame.
Emma knew if she stayed at Sheridan’s place, the Carters would drag her to a clinic for an abortion. But she couldn’t let that happen–not just for the baby’s sake, but because if she did, she’d go right back to jail, and this time, she’d face a real sentence.