Time passed, and before long, Leo excused himself and headed upstairs, leaving only Ivy, Aaron, and Edward in the living room.

Silence lingered for a moment before Aaron let out a quiet sigh.

"I honestly never imagined Nora would go this far just to impress her friends," he muttered, shaking his head. "She really made a fool of herself this time."

He had only learned about the incident earlier that day after his mother, Lilianna, showed him the video that had spread across social media.

Edward frowned, glancing between the two younger people.

"Nora?" he asked. "Am I missing something here?"

He recognized the name. Nora was Ivy’s younger sister.

However, the way Ivy lowered her eyes and the heaviness that settled over the room told him there was far more to the story than he knew.

Aaron leaned back against the sofa with an exasperated sigh.

"She went around telling everyone that I’m her boyfriend. Not only that, she even claimed we’re getting married soon."

Edward blinked.

"...What?"

Aaron gave a helpless laugh.

"I wish I were joking."

He rubbed his forehead before continuing.

"After Ivy told me what Nora was really like, I had already decided there was no future between us. I respectfully rejected any possibility of marriage, and thankfully my mother supported my decision."

"But apparently..." Aaron shrugged, "...that wasn’t enough."

"She kept telling people we were together."

"And now that the truth has come out..." he sighed. "She’s become the laughingstock of her own circle."

Edward’s expression slowly darkened.

The more he listened, the more ashamed he felt.

For years he had believed Ivy and her family had willingly traded her future for money.

He had judged her without ever trying to understand the circumstances.

But the more he came to know Ivy...

...the more he realized she had never truly belonged in that family.

"They’re unbelievable," Edward muttered under his breath.

Ivy offered him a small smile, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes.

"Florine may have raised me," she said softly, "but she was never someone I could depend on."

The room fell silent.

There wasn’t a trace of resentment in her voice.

Only quiet acceptance.

"I don’t want anyone to misunderstand the situation because of me."

She looked directly at Edward.

"If Florine tries to use my relationship with Xander or this family for her own benefit... I won’t allow it."

"I’ve already spent enough years being used."

Aaron silently nodded.

He knew better than anyone that Florine saw relationships as stepping stones.

If Xander’s identity became public, Florine would undoubtedly cling to him for status and influence.

But she had overlooked one thing.

Ivy would never let anyone exploit the people she cared about.

Edward stared at her for several seconds.

His chest tightened.

How much had this child endured while carrying herself so calmly?

Finally, he let out a slow breath.

"I don’t know what kind of life you’ve lived until now," he admitted.

"And I regret never asking."

His voice softened with rare sincerity.

"But from this day forward..."

He reached out and gently patted her hand.

"...you’re family."

"You don’t have to fight everything alone anymore."

His eyes became unusually warm.

"As long as I’m alive, no one will ever look down on you again."

"And if anyone dares bully you..."

A proud smile spread across his face.

"They’ll have to answer to this old man first."

Ivy felt warmth spread through her chest.

It had been years...

No.

Perhaps her entire life...

No elder had ever spoken to her like this.

Not because they wanted something from her.

Not because of obligation.

But simply because they cared.

"Thank you..."

Her voice trembled ever so slightly.

She blinked quickly, but the tears gathering in her eyes betrayed her.

A single tear escaped before she could stop it.

Just then—

"Who’s making my woman cry?"

A deep, familiar voice echoed through the living room.

Everyone instinctively turned.

Xander had just entered.

Still dressed in his tailored black suit, he strode inside with long, confident steps.

The moment his eyes landed on Ivy wiping away a tear, his expression instantly darkened.

Without greeting anyone, he walked straight over and sat beside her.

His hand immediately wrapped around her shoulder.

"What happened?"

His voice was calm.

Too calm.

But Aaron knew that tone.

It was the calm before a storm.

Xander gently tilted Ivy’s chin toward him.

"Did someone upset you?"

His sharp gaze slowly shifted toward Edward.

"...Did he threaten you again?"

Edward froze.

Aaron pressed his lips together.

Ivy stared at Xander in disbelief.

For three long seconds...

The room was completely silent.

Edward’s eyes widened.

Then his beard practically quivered in outrage.

"You ungrateful brat!"

He pointed an accusing finger at Xander.

"Is that the first conclusion your brain comes to?"

"You see one tear and immediately assume I bullied her?"

"I may have scared half the business world, but I’m not some villain who goes around making young girls cry!"

Aaron couldn’t hold it anymore.

A laugh escaped him.

Edward shot him a glare.

"And you!"

"What are you laughing at?"

Aaron quickly coughed into his fist.

"Nothing, Grandpa."

Edward snorted.

"I was comforting my granddaughter!"

"I finally managed to say something heartfelt after all these years..."

"And the first thing this rascal says is, ’Did you threaten her?’"

He looked toward the ceiling dramatically.

"What terrible karma did I accumulate to deserve such an ungrateful grandson?"

Xander didn’t look even remotely guilty.

His eyes remained fixed on Ivy.

"I asked because she was crying."

"Anyone who makes her cry becomes suspicious."

Edward nearly jumped from his seat.

"You little—"

Aaron hurriedly grabbed Edward’s arm before the old man could march over.

"Grandpa, calm down."

Edward huffed.

"Look at him!"

"I’ve known him since the day he was born."

"I changed his diapers."

"I taught him how to walk."

"And this is how he repays me?"

"He suspects me before asking what happened!"

Xander finally looked at Edward.

His expression remained perfectly serious.

"You’ve threatened me enough times over the years."

Edward opened his mouth.

Closed it.

Opened it again.

"...That’s different."

Aaron burst into laughter.

Even Ivy couldn’t stop the smile that spread across her face.

Seeing her smile, Xander visibly relaxed.

He brushed away the remaining tear beneath her eye with surprising gentleness.

His voice lowered.

"I don’t care what happened before I got here."

"But remember this."

"You never have to cry alone."

"If something hurts you..."

"If someone troubles you..."

"You tell me."

"I’ll handle the rest."

His fingers remained intertwined with hers.

Firm.

Protective.

As though silently reminding everyone in the room—

She wasn’t alone anymore.

And anyone who thought otherwise would have to answer to him first.

The couple spent a few more hours at the Emerson residence. After dinner, they said their goodbyes and headed home.

The drive back was peaceful.

Leo had fallen asleep halfway through the journey, his little head resting against the car seat.

When they arrived, Xander carefully lifted the sleeping boy into his arms and carried him upstairs. After gently tucking him into bed and making sure he was comfortable, he quietly closed the bedroom door before returning to his own room.

The moment he stepped inside, he froze.

Ivy stood by the bed, waiting for him.

She met his gaze before slowly unzipping the back of her evening gown, letting the fabric loosen around her shoulders.

"You said something earlier tonight," she began softly.

Xander locked the bedroom door behind him, his eyes never leaving her.

"What did I say?"

She smiled.

"You told me that if something was bothering me, I could tell you, and you’d handle it."

"I did."

She let out a small sigh.

"My whole body is sore from today’s shoot."

She rolled one shoulder with a slight wince.

"I was wondering if you could help me relax a little."

For a brief moment, silence filled the room.

Xander watched her carefully before the corners of his lips lifted into a faint smile.

"Of course."

His deep voice was gentle.

Crossing the room, he effortlessly scooped her into his arms.

Ivy laughed in surprise, instinctively wrapping an arm around his neck.

"You really like carrying me around, don’t you?"

"It’s faster than waiting for you to walk."

She playfully pinched his shoulder.

"What a terrible answer."

"I thought it was practical."

He set her down on the bed with surprising care.

"Lie on your stomach," he said. "I’ll start with your back."

Ivy obeyed without protest.

Xander opened the bedside drawer and retrieved a bottle of essential oil before sitting beside her.

He poured a few drops into his palms, warming the oil between his hands.

As he reached over to unfasten the strap at the back of her dress so it wouldn’t get in the way, he paused.

"Comfortable?"

She nodded.

"Mhm."

Only then did he place his hands gently against her back.

His movements were slow and careful, easing the tension from her stiff muscles.

A quiet sigh escaped Ivy’s lips almost immediately.

"I didn’t realize I was this tense."

"You’ve been overworking yourself," Xander replied. "Long filming hours, action scenes, endless retakes... your body needs time to recover."

She rested her chin on the back of her hands and turned her head slightly, watching him.

There was something mesmerizing about him.

The calm focus in his eyes.

The quiet confidence in every movement.

Even after spending so much time together, she still found herself captivated by him.

Xander noticed her lingering gaze.

"What?"

She smiled to herself.

"Nothing."

"I don’t believe that."

"I was just admiring the man sitting beside me."

One of his brows rose.

"Oh?"

She chuckled softly.

"Have I ever told you how ridiculously handsome you are?"

"You have not."

"Then let me say it now."

She looked at him with complete sincerity.

"If you ever got tired of running a company, you could easily become a runway model."

"I’m certain you’d outshine half the fashion industry."

A quiet laugh escaped Xander.

"Should I consider a career change?"

He continued massaging her shoulders.

"I wouldn’t mind doing a photoshoot."

His lips curved into a teasing smile.

"Especially if you’re standing beside me."

Ivy’s heartbeat skipped.

She buried her face against her folded arms to hide the warmth creeping into her cheeks.

Seriously...

Does this man even realize how effortlessly he flirts?

Or perhaps...

He knew exactly what he was doing.