Every time they apologized to her, it was only to placate her – always with something to gain in return.

But this time, Ivy sensed that Baillie truly understood his mistake.

“We were all fooled by Emma,” he admitted. “From the day you were kidnapped, to the rumors about you having HIV, to claims that you’d had a child with some old man – we believed every word. So when you came back, we were terrified, anxious, sure you’d infect us with something…”

Ivy’s expression was complicated; she let out a cold laugh. “She’s the adopted one, but you believed everything she said. I’m your own flesh and blood, and you never trusted me – not even once.”

“Ivy, I’m not trying to excuse myself,” Baillie said, his voice weary. “But honestly, you weren’t exactly warm to us then. Communication was impossible. And during that time – your skin was covered in sores, you were so thin you were almost skeletal – anyone would have had suspicions.”

“Still, as a family, no matter what illness you had, or what you’d been through, we should have been understanding and supportive. That was our failing. Now you’re strong, successful, and you’ve already gotten your revenge on us. Can’t you let go of this resentment?”

He looked at his sister with pleading, miserable eyes – he was only a step away from dropping to his knees and begging.

Ivy’s face stayed calm as she met his gaze. “So what changed your mind? You weren’t like this before.”

Baillie gave a self-deprecating smile and stared off into the distance. “A few days ago, Emma called me, sobbing because she had nowhere to go. I gave in and went to see her. On the way, I asked if she regretted what she’d done – after all, if it weren’t for her jealousy and the things she did to hurt you, she wouldn’t be in this mess.”

Ivy’s lips curled into a bitter smirk. “Let me guess – she said she didn’t regret a thing. If she could do it all again, she’d still team up with those men and have me kidnapped.”

Baillie stared at her, surprised. After a moment, he said, “Ivy, you’re incredibly perceptive. You see right through people.”

She gave a mocking little smile. “What good did that ever do me? I still trusted the wrong people. My own family betrayed me. I barely survived.”

A flicker of guilt and sympathy crossed Baillie’s face.

He continued, “When I asked her, she just glared at me and said she didn’t regret it at all. She insisted we adopted her for selfish reasons, that she refused to be a sacrificial lamb, and that all she ever wanted was to replace the real Miss Windsor. She said if she could turn back the clock, she’d go even further – she’d have you killed, just to get it over with.”

Ivy laughed again, cold and sharp.

How ridiculous – all these tragedies, all this pain, stemmed from Adkins and Rosetta’s old-world superstitions, from believing some charlatan’s words.

Just because she’d been a sickly child, and a so-called “seer” claimed she was cursed, they went to an orphanage and adopted a girl whose birthdate supposedly “balanced” hers – to serve as her scapegoat.

But then, they’d let Emma overhear the truth, sparking the jealousy and hatred that led to everything that followed.

The person meant to take her misfortune away ended up bringing her the gravest, most devastating disaster of all.

What a bitter, absurd farce.

“We were all deceived by Emma, manipulated by her,” Baillie finally said, his voice low. “Ivy, you were the only true victim. Our entire family owes you an apology.” The words stung, as if he were slapping his own face, but for the first time, he felt a weight lift from his chest.