10 A Cruel Request
I stared at Ivy across my desk, her question still hanging in the air. “What more could you want from me?” The words had left my mouth in a whisper, betraying a vulnerability I hadn’t meant to
show.
Ivy’s thin lips curved into a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. She shifted in her seat, arranging her frail body more comfortably. Despite her pallor and the dark circles under her eyes, she looked triumphant.
“Actually,” she said, “there is one more thing.”
Of course there was. With Ivy, there was always one more thing.
I crossed my arms. “What now? You’ve already taken my fiancé, my wedding dress, and threatened my company.”
“I want you to be the official witness at our wedding.”
The request struck me like a physical blow. For several seconds, I couldn’t speak, couldn’t even
breathe.
“You can’t be serious,” I finally managed.
“I’m completely serious.” Ivy leaned forward, her voice dropping to an urgent whisper. “People are talking, Hazel. They’re saying terrible things about me stealing Alistair from you.”
“You did steal him from me.”
She waved her hand dismissively. “It wasn’t like that. But people will believe what they want unless we show them otherwise.”
“And how exactly would my presence help?” I asked, my voice dripping with sarcasm.
“If you’re there, giving your blessing publicly, it shows there’s no bad blood between us.” Ivy’s eyes glittered with calculated innocence. “It would silence the gossip immediately.”
The sheer audacity of the request made me laugh – a harsh, bitter sound that filled my office.
“You must think I’m completely spineless.” I stood up, placing my palms flat on the desk. “Get
out. Now.”
Instead of leaving, Ivy’s face crumpled. Tears welled in her eyes, spilling down her hollow cheeks.
“You’ve never understood what it’s like,” she whispered, voice trembling. “Living in your shadow all these years.”
“Don’t you dare play victim with me.” My voice was ice.
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“It’s true!” Ivy’s hands shook as she wiped away tears. “You were always the talented one, the beautiful one. Dad might have favored me, but everyone else preferred you.”
I watched her performance with growing disgust.
–
“And now,” she continued, “when I finally have something you had something I’ve always wanted – I’m dying.” Her voice broke on the last word. “I won’t even get to enjoy being Alistair’s wife. I’ll be dead within months.”
The room fell silent except for her soft sobs. Despite everything, a tiny part of me felt a flicker of pity. Then I remembered all the years of her deliberate cruelty, the calculated ways she’d undermined me at every turn.
“Your illness doesn’t excuse what you’ve done,” I said quietly.
“I know.” Ivy looked up at me, eyes red–rimmed. “But can’t you find it in your heart to grant a dying woman’s last wish? Just be there. That’s all I’m asking.”
“Last wish?” I repeated incredulously. “Your ‘last wish‘ was marrying my fiancé. Now you have a new last wish? How many more will there be, Ivy?”
“This is it, I swear!” She reached across the desk, grabbing my arm with surprising strength. “Please, Hazel. I’ve never begged you for anything before.”
I yanked my arm away. “Stop it. Just stop.”
“I’m dying!” she cried, voice rising. “Can’t you show me just a little kindness before I go?”
“Kindness?” I was nearly shouting now. “Where was your kindness when you took everything that mattered to me? Where was your kindness all these years?”
“I was jealous!” Ivy admitted, tears streaming down her face. “I’ve always been jealous of you. Is that what you want to hear?”
“What I want is for you to leave my office.”
She clung to my arm again. “Hazel, please—”
“Let go of me!” I shouted, shoving her away more forcefully than I intended.
Ivy staggered backward, lost her balance, and collapsed to the floor with a cry that seemed deliberately theatrical. She lay there, looking fragile and broken, just as the door swung open.
Alistair rushed in, eyes darting between us before fixing on Ivy’s crumpled form.
“What the hell is going on?” he demanded, dropping to his knees beside her. “Ivy! Are you alright?”
She whimpered in response, turning her face into his chest.
Alistair looked up at me, his expression hardening with accusation. “Did you push her?”
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“She grabbed me. I told her to let go.”
“So you shoved a sick woman to the ground?” His voice cracked with disbelief. “What’s wrong with you?”
I stared at him, suddenly feeling nothing but ice–cold detachment. “She came here to ask me to be a witness at your wedding. Did you know about that?”
His eyes shifted away guiltily. “We discussed it.”
“And you thought it was reasonable?” I shook my head slowly. “You two deserve each other.”
“Hazel, you don’t understand-”
“I understand perfectly.” I gestured toward the door. “Take her and get out of my office.”
Alistair helped Ivy to her feet, supporting her weight against him. “You’ve changed,” he said, looking at me with disappointment. “The Hazel I knew would never act like this.”
“The Hazel you knew died the moment you called off our wedding.” I turned my back on them
both. “Now leave.”
“How can you be so heartless?” he pressed. “Look at her! She’s sick and-”
“I said leave!” I spun back around, my voice sharp enough to cut glass.
Ivy moaned suddenly, doubling over. Before either of us could react, she coughed violently, one hand flying to cover her mouth.
When she pulled it away, her palm was smeared with bright red blood.
Alistair’s face drained of color. “Oh God,” he gasped, panic rising in his voice. “Ivy? Ivy!”
Another cough wracked her body, more blood spattering on her pale blouse. She sagged against
him, legs buckling.
“Call an ambulance!” Alistair shouted at me, his eyes wild with fear as he gathered Ivy into his
arms.
I stood frozen, watching as blood trickled from the corner of my stepsister’s mouth. Her eyes found mine over Alistair’s shoulder – glazed with pain, yet somehow still triumphant.
In that moment, I realized with perfect clarity that I was witnessing yet another one of Ivy’s performances. The most convincing one yet.
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11 The Victor’s Smile
