Ivy''s fingers trembled slightly as she scrolled through her phone, her long, manicured nails clicking rapidly against the screen. Her lips parted in disbelief, and her eyes widened as she stopped at a headline that caught her attention:

    "TRAGIC UPDATE: ELIANA HOWELLS CONFIRMED DEAD AFTER LENGTHY COMA"

    The apanying picture showed Eliana, smiling brightly in a corporate g photo, beneath the bold words announcing her "death." Ivy''s eyes scanned the first few lines. It was vague—intentionally vague. No details. No timestamp. No hospital confirmation.

    But it didn''t matter. She was being pronounced dead and no one was refuting it.

    A slow, triumphant smirk crept across her face. "Finally," she whispered.

    Should she call to confirm?

    Was Eliana really dead and out of the picture, forever?

    Now, no one was going to ever find out what she did with Eliana. Should she also find a way to get rid of the guy that had ran Eliana over?

    Maybe she''d do that after she used him to get rid of Ruby.

    Her heart soared.

    With hands still trembling, not from fear but from excitement, she picked up her phone again and dialed the one number that had always known how to clean up her messes—her mother''s.

    Deciding it was best she talked to her in person, Ivy got dressed and headed out but first dropping by the hospital to confirm if truly Eliana was dead.

    The sliding ss doors of Zeden General Hospital whooshed open with a quiet sigh as Ivy strolled in, her heels clicking softly against the marble floor. She wore a long ck coat and oversized sunsses that hid the gleam in her eyes—a gleam that had nothing to do with grief.

    Her heart was racing, but not from sorrow. It was the thrill of confirmation, of tying up loose ends. She had always known Eliana''s survival could spell her downfall. But if she was truly dead now… then it meant her mother had indeed taken care of her as promised.

    Approaching the front desk, she pasted on a solemn expression. Her shoulders slouched just slightly, lips tugged into a faint pout. She even let her eyes glisten, blinking rapidly to fake unshed tears.

    The young receptionist at the counter, a short-haired woman named Thea who had been briefed by Stefan and the police, looked up with a polite smile.

    "Good morning. How may I help you?"

    "I''m here to see Eliana Howells," Ivy said, her voice trembling just the right amount, practiced over years of drama and maniption. "She''s—she''s a patient here. Or… she was. I saw an article this morning and I—I just needed to know…"

    Thea''s expression softened as she leaned forward, typing Eliana''s name into theputer slowly, almost theatrically.

    "Eliana Howells…" Thea murmured, then sighed gently, as if delivering painful news was part of her daily duties. "I''m really sorry. Miss Howells passed awayst night. Around 8:27 p.m. Her body has been moved to the hospital morgue for further documentation before transfer arrangements are made."

    Ivy gasped lightly and brought a perfectly manicured hand to her mouth.

    "No… no, it can''t be," she whispered, though her insides were doing somersaults of satisfaction. "Are you sure? She was… she was my best friend."

    Thea nodded solemnly, pushing a faux sympathy smile onto her face. "I understand. I''m so sorry for your loss. Would you like us to connect you with the hospital''s grief counseling team?"

    "No. No, that won''t be necessary," Ivy said quickly, her face folding into a sad, dignified smile. "I''ll… I''ll manage."

    She stood there for a moment, head bowed, as if offering a silent prayer. But inside, her mind was racing—plotting the next move. Eliana was out of the way, and that left only Ruby. One more piece off the board and she''d finally be free of the ghosts threatening her carefully constructed world.

    "Can I… see her?" she asked suddenly, looking up. "Just onest time?"

    Thea hesitated, fingers hovering over her keyboard. "I''m afraid the morgue is restricted to immediate family members only."

    "Oh," Ivy said with a nod, swallowing her disappointment. She didn''t need to see a cold body anyway. The headline, the confirmation—it was enough. More than enough. "Then I won''t trouble you further."

    "Again, I''m very sorry," Thea said, standing slightly as Ivy turned to leave.

    As Ivy walked away, her mouth curled into the barest hint of a victorious smirk once more, quickly hidden behind the shield of her dark sses.

    She didn''t waste time as she quickly got in her car and drove straight to her mother''s house.

    The ck sedan pulled into the curved driveway of Regina''s house, the tires crunching softly on the fine gravel. Ivy sat in the driver''s seat, her face radiant with satisfaction as she stared out the tinted window at the grand house she had grown up in—a symbol of power, legacy, and secrets.

    Ivy quickly got out and headed straight into the house.

    Inside, the house was quiet except for the faint murmur of Regina''s voice from the living room.

    Ivy paused at the doorframe, eyes narrowing.

    Regina was saying into the phone, her voice low but intense. "Just let them go. It''s done."

    There was a beat of silence and then Regina ended the call and let out a weary sigh, pressing a hand to her temple.

    Ivy stepped in, her smile wide and triumphant.

    "Mum."

    Regina looked up in mild surprise. "Ivy? What are you doing here? If it''s about Eliana, I already confirmed."

    Instead of answering, Ivy strode over and threw her arms around her mother, hugging her with a warmth she rarely showed.

    "I came to thank you," Ivy said into her mother''s shoulder. "Though I wanted to tell you I confirmed in person, I also wanted to show you how grateful i am to you for taking care of this when I didn''t think it was anything."

    Regina pulled back slightly, giving her daughter a long look. "I did what I had to do," she said slowly. "To protect what''s left of this family. And our legacy."

    Ivy nodded, her eyes glinting with fresh malice. "Now there''s only one piece left to deal with. Ruby. Once she''s gone too, everything will be perfect."

    Regina''s expression stiffened. "Gone? What do you mean gone?" she repeated carefully.

    "I mean finish her off," Ivy said calmly, as though it were the most natural next step. "She can''t just walk away after everything. Not after the humiliation she brought on me. She doesn''t deserve to be part of this family."

    Regina''s voice hardened. "That wasn''t the agreement, Ivy. We said we''d make her lose her memory and have Stefan feel the pain of having someone they love but not being loved back. Not… kill her."

    "Well, I''ve changed my mind," Ivy said, her voice cold. "Killing her is cleaner. She''s a threat to my ns, and I won''t let het live. As long as she''s alive, Stefan can always get her to fall in love with him again."

    Regina''s brow furrowed as she stood. "No. I said no. No matter what, Ruby is still my child. And I will not have my daughters killing each other over a man!"

    Ivy''sposure cracked. "Daughters? Since when is she your child? Why are you suddenly growing a conscience now?"

    "This isn''t a conscience," Regina snapped. "It''smon sense. Sanity. We''re already dancing on the edge. I''m trying to hold on to what''s left of us."

    She may not love Ruby, her husband loved her and she''d keep her alive because of the love her husband had for her. If she let Ivy kill Ruby, how would she face her husband in the afterlife?

    Ivy''s eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint settling in them. "Well, I don''t want Ruby in this family anymore. You''re going to have to choose, Mother. It''s either her… or me."

    Regina stared at her, stunned. "What?"

    "I''m serious. I''m not going to stand by and watch you protect her. Either she''s out of this family for good—permanently—or I am."

    Regina''s voice rose. "Have you lost your mind? You''re asking me to choose between my daughters? Do you know what that even means?"

    "Why are you acting like you care now?" Ivy snapped. "Have you ever supported Ruby in anything? It''s always been me! You''ve always been on my side!"

    "Yes, I have," Regina said tightly. "But that doesn''t mean I want one of my children dead."

    "Well maybe you don''t have a choice anymore," Ivy said darkly.

    Regina''s voice dropped, her words sharp with disbelief. "You really are out of your mind."

    Without another word, Ivy spun on her heel and stormed into the kitchen.

    Regina, rmed, followed quickly, calling after her. "Ivy—what are you doing?"

    Ivy didn''t answer. She reached for the knife block by the marble counter and pulled out a long, glinting de. Her hand trembled—not from fear, but fury. Her chest heaved, eyes wild.

    "I won''t let her ruin us," she hissed, turning to face her mother.