Ivy had no idea how long she had been asleep.

When she finally stirred awake, the first thing she noticed was the steady warmth surrounding her. Blinking away the last traces of sleep, she realized she was lying on the couch, tangled in Xander’s embrace.

For a brief moment, she froze.

Then the memories of the previous night came rushing back.

They had spent hours buried in files, reviewing every piece of evidence they had collected. By the end, neither of them had the energy to keep their eyes open.

A faint smile curved her lips.

"Maybe we really needed this," she murmured.

It had been a long time since either of them had gotten proper rest.

Then something suddenly occurred to her.

"Wait..."

She distinctly remembered falling asleep at the study table.

So...

How had she ended up on the couch?

Her cheeks warmed as she glanced at the man still sleeping peacefully beside her.

"You carried me."

The realization made her smile despite herself.

Just then—

Her phone vibrated repeatedly on the side table.

She quickly reached over and picked it up.

Before going through the files, she had switched it to silent mode because she didn’t want any interruptions.

As the screen lit up, her smile disappeared.

Twenty-three missed calls.

All from Florine.

"...What?"

Ivy frowned.

Had that woman stayed awake the entire night calling her?

She had already made herself perfectly clear outside the academy. She wasn’t going to obey Florine anymore.

After that conversation, Ivy had assumed Florine would finally stop bothering her.

Apparently, she had underestimated her persistence.

The phone began vibrating again.

Florine.

Again.

Ivy stared at the flashing screen in disbelief.

"Seriously..."

She glanced at Xander, who was still asleep.

"Damn it, can’t she take a hint?"

Not wanting to wake him, Ivy carefully slipped out of his embrace, climbed off the couch as quietly as possible, and walked onto the balcony before answering.

The moment the call connected, she spoke first.

"You really are one of the most persistent people I’ve ever met, Florine."

There wasn’t even a greeting.

On the other end, Florine’s panicked voice immediately rang out.

"Ivy! Please help me!"

The desperation in her voice caught Ivy slightly off guard.

"Xander refused to get Nora released! They’ve charged her with attempted murder!"

Ivy knitted her brows.

"What?"

None of that made any sense.

"What are you talking about?"

"You have to convince Xander!" Florine cried. "Tell him to withdraw the complaint. Tell him to speak to the police. Nora was framed!"

Ivy remained silent for a moment.

"Florine..."

Her voice became noticeably colder.

"I have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about."

"You don’t know?"

"No."

Florine hurriedly explained everything that had happened at the bar, conveniently leaving out the parts that made Nora look guilty.

She painted Nora as an innocent victim while placing all the blame on Polly and Olivia.

Ivy listened quietly until Florine finished.

Then she asked one simple question.

"So you’re asking me to persuade my husband to interfere with a criminal investigation?"

Florine hesitated.

"...It’s just one phone call."

"No."

"Ivy—"

"I said no."

Her tone was calm but firm.

"If Nora is innocent, the investigation will prove it."

"If she isn’t..."

Ivy let out a quiet sigh.

"Then she should face the consequences."

There was complete silence.

The next second, Florine’s voice turned sharp.

"Have you forgotten everything I did for you?"

Ivy’s eyes hardened.

"No."

"I remember everything."

"I also remember being manipulated, threatened, and treated like a tool whenever it suited you."

Florine’s breathing became heavier.

"So this is how you’re repaying me?"

"I don’t owe you my conscience."

"Ivy!"

"If that’s all, I’m ending the call."

"I said help me, or you’ll regret it!"

The threat only earned a faint scoff from Ivy.

Click.

She hung up.

Looking at the phone for a few seconds, she let out a slow breath before returning inside.

The moment she stepped into the study, she stopped.

Xander was already awake.

He was sitting on the couch with two cups of coffee on the table in front of him.

He looked up at her.

"Was that Mrs. Ford?"

Ivy blinked.

"How did you know?"

Xander smiled faintly.

"I expected she’d call you after Taylor rejected her."

He patted the empty space beside him.

"Come here."

Curiosity flickered across Ivy’s face.

She walked over and sat beside him.

"What happened?"

Xander leaned back against the couch.

"Last night, after you fell asleep, Taylor called me."

"Florine contacted him."

"She claimed Nora had been falsely accused and wanted me to pressure the police into releasing her."

Ivy frowned.

"And?"

"I asked Taylor to verify the facts before responding."

He unlocked his phone.

"I think you should see this."

He played a surveillance video.

The footage clearly showed Nora grabbing Polly before violently shoving Olivia against a table.

The altercation escalated until security rushed in.

Every movement had been captured from multiple angles.

When the video ended, Ivy quietly handed the phone back.

"So that’s what happened..."

Xander nodded.

"Taylor also obtained witness statements."

"There wasn’t enough evidence to conclude attempted murder immediately, but there was enough to justify the charge while the investigation continues."

Ivy rested her chin on her hand.

"It was never really about Nora."

Xander looked at her.

"What do you mean?"

Ivy gave a small, knowing smile.

"Florine wanted to use your family’s influence."

"She wasn’t looking for justice."

"She wanted the Emerson name to force the police into backing down."

She shook her head.

"Nora did exactly the same thing before."

"She kept telling everyone she belonged to Aaron."

"She believed his name alone would make people fear her."

"Florine and Nora aren’t that different."

"They both think connections are meant to be used as weapons."

Xander couldn’t help smiling.

"You figured it out quickly."

"It wasn’t difficult."

Ivy folded her arms.

"They share the same mindset."

"They mistake influence for immunity."

Xander nodded in agreement.

"I refused immediately. Which is why she came looking for you."

Ivy nodded.

"She thought I’d convince you."

"And?"

She looked him straight in the eye.

"I won’t.Not now. Not ever."

"If Nora truly committed a crime, then the law should deal with her."

"I won’t ask you to compromise your principles for someone who wouldn’t hesitate to use us."

A smile slowly appeared on Xander’s face.

"I’m glad we’re thinking the same thing."

Just then the peaceful atmosphere was shattered by the loud sound of a car screeching to a halt outside the mansion.

Both of them instinctively turned toward the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the front courtyard.

A black car had stopped abruptly at the entrance. Before the driver could even open the door, Florine stepped out herself.

She slammed the car door shut with far more force than necessary before marching toward the mansion.

Her face was pale, her hair slightly disheveled, and her eyes were swollen from an obvious lack of sleep.

She no longer cared about appearances. She only had one goal and that was to get Nora out of prison.

Inside the study, Ivy slowly stood.

"So...She came herself."

Xander calmly followed her gaze, his eyes holding no sympathy what so ever.

"Looks like she finally realized threats over the phone wouldn’t work."

A few seconds later, a knock echoed on the study door.

Butler Rupert entered with his usual composed expression.

"Master."

He glanced briefly at Ivy before continuing.

"Mrs. Florine Ford is outside. She insists on meeting both of you."

Xander and Ivy exchanged a quiet look. Neither of them appeared surprised.

Outside, Florine stood in the grand foyer of the Emerson mansion, her fists clenched tightly as she waited.

This time, she wasn’t calling.

She had come personally.

And judging by the determination in her eyes, she wasn’t planning to leave empty-handed.

***

A few moments later, Xander and Ivy walked down the grand staircase side by side.

Florine, who had been pacing anxiously in the living room, immediately looked up. The moment she saw them, relief flooded her face.

"Ivy!"

Without caring about her dignity, she rushed toward them.

"Ivy, please..." Her voice trembled as she clasped Ivy’s hands. "Please help Nora. She’s your sister. She made a mistake, but she doesn’t deserve to stay in prison."

Ivy gently pulled her hands away.

"Mrs. Ford, calm down."

"How can I calm down?" Florine cried, tears welling in her eyes. "She’s my daughter! You only need to say one word to Xander. The police will listen to him."

Before Ivy could respond, Xander stepped forward, placing himself slightly between the two women.

His expression was calm but distant.

"Mrs. Ford."

Florine looked at him hopefully.

"Mr. Emerson, please. Nora was confused. She didn’t mean any harm. Just make one phone call. That’s all I’m asking."

Xander met her pleading gaze without a trace of hesitation.

"I’m afraid I can’t do that."

Florine’s face stiffened.

"W-Why?"

"Because the law isn’t something to be negotiated."

His voice remained steady.

"If Nora is innocent, the investigation will prove it. If she’s guilty, then she must accept the consequences of her actions."

"But you’re Xander Emerson!"

"I am," he replied evenly. "Which is precisely why I won’t misuse my position."