Chapter 9: I Am Ivy

Tristan approached Ivy, pausing briefly to shoot her a piercing glare before striding towards the door. "Aunt Gwendolyn! Call Uncle Xavier over, and let's get rid of all these tainted dishes from the table!" Ivy's voice, loud and clear, chased the receding footsteps. Predictably, the steps faltered momentarily, then hastened anew. Tristan, if you refuse to acknowledge me as your daughter, don't expect me to treat you as a father. Once the trio had departed, Ivy's shoulders, which had been rigidly held, sagged instantly. Aunt Gwendolyn took the fish back from Ivy, hastily placing it on the table before returning to her side. Her hands, weathered with age, gently covered Ivy's back, the warmth from her palms seeping into Ivy's body. "Madam, don't be saddened." She could sense the sorrow in Ivy's heart. After all, he was her biological father, and this was their home. Ivy offered Aunt Gwendolyn a smile, shaking her head, "It's nothing, I've grown accustomed to it." Yet, her trembling hands betrayed her. Despite Aunt Gwendolyn's sympathy, there was little she could do but hurry to prepare a warm meal for Madam. Sitting alone on the living room sofa, Ivy noticed the photograph of Yvette Ashford, her mother's favorite, was missing from the table. It had to be Tristan's doing! Rising swiftly, she dashed towards the side room, encountering the trio about to leave for dinner. "Where is my mother's photograph?!" Ivy strode over, pushing past Elise to grasp Tristan's arm, her eyes blazing with fury. Tristan, initially ready to scold Ivy for her abruptness, found his anger halved upon her inquiry. "Your Aunt Wynn has moved in now, my lawful wife. It's inappropriate to keep the photograph of an ex-wife in the house." "Aunt Wynn? Lawful wife? Ex-wife?" Ivy felt every fiber of her being revolt at the words spewed by the man before her, the world's vilest vocabularies made manifest. "Tristan!" It was the first time Ivy addressed her biological father by his name, shocking him visibly. "Do you believe I won't throw you and your new family out this very moment?" She could tolerate Tristan's antics to a point, but Yvette, her mother, was her ultimate boundary. Just then, Ivy's phone rang. Seeing it was the hospital, panic surged within her, accompanied by a dreadful premonition. "Hello? What?! What's happened to my mother!... Alright, I'm on my way." After hurriedly ending the call, Ivy's gaze swept over the three, settling finally on Tristan. "If you possess even a shred of conscience, you'd better hope my mother is alright." With that, Ivy rushed out to hail a cab, knowing she was in no state to drive. She couldn't afford an accident now. On the way, Ivy couldn't stop trembling, her mind racing to contact her grandfather. But this time, her grandfather's phone remained unreachable. What to do... Cecil! Yes, Cecil, with his close relationship with Grandfather, would surely be able to reach him. Filled with hope, Ivy dialed Cecil's number, finding him in the midst of a crucial meeting. After three rings, a man's voice finally came through. "What's happened?" It was uncommon for Ivy to call him. "Cecil!" Ivy clutched her phone tightly, her voice tinged with urgency as she took a deep breath to steady her emotions, "Can you get in touch with my grandfather?" "What's the matter?" Cecil stepped out of the meeting room, his brow furrowed in concern. "My mother... she seems to be on her last breath. I'm on my way to the hospital now." Cecil's heart tightened at her words. After a moment, he replied softly, "Understood," before hanging up. Yet, Ivy felt a significant ease in her heart. Upon rushing to the hospital, Ivy was met with the astonishing sight of Yvette awake for the first time since the accident! But Ivy's joy was short-lived as she noticed something was terribly wrong. Yvette was awake, yet unable to speak or move her eyes properly. "Mom, mom! It's Ivy, can you hear me?" Ivy knelt down, gently holding Yvette's hand, her voice full of tentative hope. Tears instantly filled Yvette's eyes, but no sound came forth. However, Ivy could feel a slight tightening in her mother's grasp. She was sure of it. "Critical! The patient's heart has stopped! Prepare for emergency procedures!" A nurse's shout broke the moment, and Ivy was pulled away as Yvette was rushed into surgery. Before Ivy could fully grasp the warmth of her mother's touch, it was gone. "What's wrong with my mom?" Ivy stood, trying to follow towards the surgery room, but the nurse simply shook her head. "Ms. Ashford, it's best you wait outside for a moment." The door to the surgery room slowly closed in front of Ivy, sealing away her newly risen hopes and, unbeknownst to her, her mother forever.