Chapter 19: Laurel Donovan

Tristan's voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly through the deserted hall. The call ended swiftly, and Tristan stood up to leave the living room. At that moment, a figure appeared at the corner of the staircase. "It seems Uncle Quinlan was right," Ivy muttered to herself, watching Tristan's departing back with mixed feelings. She had her suspicions about Sterling's identity from the start and had conducted her own investigation. Sterling belonged to a commercial dynasty, one tier below Master Ashford by generation but immersed in the business world from a young age, making his words carry weight. Tristan's phone call had Ivy on pins and needles. Resting was out of the question, let alone staying at home any longer. After a moment of contemplation, she changed her clothes and left. "Ms. Ashford." The call startled Ivy, who instinctively felt threatened by the overly polite address. Yet, she stopped and turned around, only to see two figures in black approaching her. "What is i