h4Chapter 168: Disgusting Liar/h4

    Ruby felt something twist in her gut at the emptiness in Ivy’s voice.

    Ivy turned her eyes back to her, the hate in now, raw and unfiltered. "If I could’ve killed you a long time ago," she said quietly, "I would’ve."

    Ruby flinched, her breath catching. How could her own twin hate her to the extent of wishing her death? Looking at how unremorseful Ivy looked, Ruby realized Ivy wasn’t her sister anymore. She was an enemy, one she would have to avoid.

    Ivyughed darkly, her eyes gleaming with twisted satisfaction. "What? Surprised? You wanted honesty. That’s how much I hate you."

    "And if you want to survive this little game, you’ll leave Stefan. He was mine. You took him."

    Ruby stared at her for a long moment, then slowly shook her head. "Never," she said, her voice like steel. "There’s no way I’m leaving Stefan. Not for someone like you. Especially since you’re the one who ran away. You made your choice. You walked away from the life you im was yours."

    Ivy narrowed her eyes. "If you hadn’t fallen in love with him, none of this would’ve happened. I would’vee back, and taken my ce again. Like nothing ever changed."

    "But it did change," Ruby snapped. "You lost that ce the moment you ran away, Ivy. You abandoned it, and now you think you can just walk back in and pick up where you left off?"

    She took a step forward. "You had a chance. And you threw it away. Don’t you daree back now and try to steal mine and no matter what you do, Stefan and I are not leaving each other, ever, you pathetic loser!"

    Ivy raised her hand to p Ruby but before her palm could connect to Ruby’s face, a voice from behind made both of them freeze.

    "So you can be such a pathetic liar."

    They both turned. Mr. Rogers stood a few feet away, arms crossed, his expression filled with utter revulsion.

    "I’ve seen liars before," he said, voice low, "but you, Ivy? You’re on another level. I thought I’d seen the worst in business. But this? This is disgusting."

    Ruby’s breath caught. Though she’d wished she hadn’t been alone with this evil sister of hers, she would never have thought Mr Rogers would be there, listening.

    Stefan appeared secondster, walking briskly toward them. "What’s going on?" he asked, confused. "I heard—"

    But Mr. Rogers raised a hand.

    "Security is on their way," he said coldly, ring at Ivy. "You’re being removed from this premises immediately. I’m just happy I saw this with my two eyes and can correct my mistake before it’s toote."

    "What?" Ivy spun around, eyes wide. "You invited me here. You can’t throw me out!"

    "Oh, he can and should," said Rayna, stepping into the light. She was holding up her phone. "And so can the inte, by the way."

    Ivy’s eyes bulged. "What the hell is that?" she asked, hoping it wasn’t what she thought it was.

    Rayna smiled sweetly. "A livestream. I caught every word of your confession. Every lie. Every threat. You should know that thousands are watching, right now. You’ve officially outed yourself to the world, Ivy."

    "You... you bitch!" Ivy screeched, lunging toward Rayna, but Stefan stepped between them in an instant.

    "Don’t even try it," he said tly.

    Ruby stepped forward too, holding her chin high. "It’s over, Ivy. You’ve lost."

    Two security guards arrived at the hallway entrance, and Mr. Rogers pointed without a word.

    "Get her out of here."

    Ivy thrashed as they took her by the arms. "Let go of me! I’m not done! She’s a liar—Stefan was mine! She stole him!" She kept screaming and yelling but no one was listening anymore.

    Everyone who was at the party was watching even those online could see her too through the Livestream.

    The act was up and she couldn’t deceive anyone again through the media.

    As she was dragged away, Ivy let out a long, animalistic cry of frustration—a sound that echoed with bitterness and defeat. Her silver heels scraped the floor as she fought against the inevitable.

    Ruby exhaled, her entire body trembling with the adrenaline of what had just happened.

    Mr. Rogers turned to her, eyes softening slightly. "I owe you an apology. I was wrong to doubt you." He looked at Stefan. "And you."

    Stefan nodded. "I appreciate that."

    Rayna handed Ruby her phone. "Proof. Just in case she tries anything else."

    Ruby smiled faintly. "Thank you."

    Rayna gave her a wink. "Told you it would alle crashing down for her."

    "Are you okay?" Ethan asked as he joined them since the person he’d stopped by to talk to had shown him the stream and he’d quicklye looking for them. Unfortunately, he’d arrived after the whole drama had finished unfolding.

    "Yeah. I’m just d she can’t go to the public anymore. Now she’d have to live in hiding until another scandal greater than this unfolds."

    The tension slowly began to fade from the air, reced with something else. Something lighter. Hope.

    Stefan slid his hand into Ruby’s, entwining their fingers.

    "Let’s go home," he said.

    Ruby looked back onest time—at the now-empty hall, the lingering eyes from the other people and hushed whispers, the scattered mess Ivy left in her wake—and nodded.

    "We should," she said and they all trooped out of the hall.

    The moment Ruby, Stefan, Rayna, and Ethan stepped out of the grand event hall into the cool night air, the sh of cameras exploded like lightning.

    Dozens of reporters had gathered outside, their microphones extended like spears, voices ovepping in a sea of chaos.

    "Miss Quinn! Is it true your twin sister tried to frame you?"

    "Was it all nned, or did she act alone?"

    "Stefan! Were you aware Ruby was impersonating Ivy before the incident?"

    "Is it true Ivy Quinn threatened to kill her own sister?"

    "Ruby! How do you feel knowing the public knows the truth now that you’re not a homewrecker as they thought?"

    "Rayna! Was the livestream your idea?"

    "Stefan! Are you going to press charges for all Ivy did?"

    "Does this mean the Rogers deal is officially back on?"

    Ruby instinctively flinched at the overwhelming noise, her arm tightening around Stefan’s. Rayna held back a sigh, her posture calm but guarded.

    Stefan raised a hand, his jaw firm, expression unreadable. "Enough," he said sharply. "One at a time. And only a few questions."

    The crowd briefly quieted, enough for a brte reporter to step forward. "Stefan, you’ve been with Ivy for the longest before the wedding. At any point, did you suspect the deception?"

    Stefan nodded solemnly. "There were suspicions. But that’s my personal business so that’s all I can say for that."

    Another journalist, a man in sses, asked, "Will there be legal action taken against Ivy Quinn for defamation of character?"

    Ethan stepped forward, his voice calm but firm. "Whatever action is necessary to protect Ruby and thispany—we’ll take it."

    A third reporter looked directly at Ruby. "Ruby, do you have anything to say to your sister, if she’s watching this?"

    Ruby’s lips parted, but Stefan gave her a subtle nce. She closed her mouth, took a breath.

    "She has nothing to say to someone who tried to destroy her," Stefan said, stepping in smoothly. "But I do. Ivy—if you’re watching, know this: Ruby is loved, protected, and she’s not alone. Whatever power you thought you had over her, it’s gone. For good."

    A few camera shutters clicked at that, the statement hitting like a deration of war.

    A woman with a mic turned to Rayna. "How did you know to livestream it all?"

    Rayna smiled. "I didn’t. I just trusted my instincts. And let’s just say Ivy was too busy being evil to notice she was giving herself away in front of the world."

    Laughter broke out among some of the reporters.

    "Rayna, any regrets?" someone shouted.

    She smirked. "Only that I didn’t start filming sooner."

    Before another wave of questions could follow, Ethan stepped beside her, voice firmer now. "We’re done here. We’ve said what we needed to. Let us leave in peace."

    He and Stefan began gently ushering their partners toward the waiting ck SUV, both men shielding the women with their bodies. shbulbs continued to pop, and voices shouted behind them, but neither Stefan nor Ethan flinched.

    Stefan opened the back door, helping Ruby inside first with a reassuring touch to her back.

    Ethan did the same for Rayna.

    Reporters were still shouting—

    "Stefan! Will you still be with Ruby despite everything?"

    "Ethan! Will the Quinn scandal affect yourpany?"

    "Rayna, are you the reason the truth came out?"

    "Ruby—will you forgive your sister?"

    But the door shut with a firm thunk, and the noise was muted.

    Inside the car, Ruby leaned back against the seat, finally allowing herself to exhale. Stefan took her hand again and brought it to his lips, kissing her knuckles softly.

    "You okay?"

    She nodded. "I am now."

    Rayna twisted around from the passenger seat, grinning. "Honestly, that was kind of exhrating."

    Ethan chuckled, sliding in beside her. "Only you would enjoy a media ambush."

    "Hey, we made it out alive, didn’t we?" she winked.

    As the car pulled away from the chaos, the bright lights fading into the distance behind them, Ruby rested her head on Stefan’s shoulder, her fingers still entwined in his.

    It was finally over.

    Or so they thought.