"You should never have been taunted for something that your father and I did. I didn’t have any way to protect you from what was being said. I couldn’t even protect myself. You don’t seem interested in this," Ivy noticed.

"I am not," Ian replied, unamused by what he already figured out.

Scarlet touched his leg to get him to calm down. This was only the beginning so he didn’t need to be so ready to argue.

"Right. Layla revealed that it was your father who killed Noelle. I didn’t know that she had passed. Your father was adamant that he didn’t have any reason to kill her but I believe Layla. She has a habit of spreading lies but I believe she was honest at that moment," Ivy said and then waited like Scarlet to hear from Ian.

"Well, that changes nothing. My only question now is why you were there for Layla to tell you this.? What pushed her to bring this up now?" Ian asked as it wasn’t like Layla.

"I told you that your father invited me back. He no longer wants to be married to Layla and brought me to replace her. I know it sounds foolish of me to return after everything but I knew that it was a good way to get you back inside the estate. That and I wanted to see Layla be forced out," Ivy admitted.

Part of her plans were in fact to embarrass Layla just as she had been embarrassed.

"Are you still in love with him?" Ian asked as he started to get that feeling.

Ivy looked down at her lap. "I would be lying if I said that a small part of me doesn’t love him but not enough to spend the rest of my life with him. I know that Hank will never be satisfied. When I am no longer useful to him, he’ll cast me aside as he once did. I only have enough love left to get us what we are owed."

"I don’t believe you. I have not forgotten the way you would get up to brew tea, trying to use having to serve him as a way to fool around with him. You won’t want to give him up because you get to taunt her. Thank you for telling me about Noelle but we are done here," Ian said, turning to Scarlet. "I can take you back home."

"I came from the hotel," Scarlet answered.

Ivy kept her gaze focused on her lap due to shame. She didn’t know Ian had seen through her lie about going to serve Hank’s tea. He didn’t need her to make tea. She just needed an excuse to leave the cottage for a moment to see Hank.

"I was foolish then. Caught up in what I thought was a passionate love story with your father. Yes, I should have at least woken up when he placed us in the cottage but I didn’t. I don’t have anyone to blame other than myself. I thought that a moment would come when he would leave her for me," Ivy said, realising how delusional she had been.

She might have been able to see the truth faster if Hank had not been leading her on. Telling her that he would bring her back into the big house or spoil her as his wife. She had believed him then. It was the first time she fell in love so she believed every word.

"I am not only angry with Layla but with your father. As much as I once loved him, I can never let him do that to me ever again. Victor must be careful as his father is ready to throw him to the side with Layla. You are all that Hank wants now. Well, the two of you," Ivy looked at Scarlet. "You are the perfect woman to marry."

"The town wasn’t thinking that weeks ago when I got divorced. Money will always be quick to change their opinions. Can I go now?" Scarlet asked but then sighed as Ian held her hand.

Scarlet was starting to feel uncomfortable since this conversation only needed to be done with Ian and his mother.

"I will go. I will give you the time you need until you are ready to speak to me. You have done well for yourself. I am proud to see that my son has a business to his name. It was nice meeting you Scarlet," Ivy said, standing up from her seat.

Ivy looked at Ian, hoping he would change his mind and hear her out. She wouldn’t mind if he wanted her to stay so he could yell at her. Tell her that she was a bad mother. She could admit it now that she had not done her best in the past. She had chased after what was stolen from them instead of paying attention to Ian.

Her chest ached as Ian did not spare her another glance. Ian was more interested in Scarlet’s hand.

Ivy walked to the door, satisfied with their visit. She had gotten to see his face and know that he was well so she could take that for now. She wasn’t going anywhere this time so she had plenty of chances to come here to ease her way back into his life.

Scarlet felt relieved now that Ivy was gone. She was on edge the entire time and this had nothing to do with her. "Next time I will call to let you know your mother is on her way. I cannot sit through something like this again. What do you feel?"

"Nothing," Ian answered. "She is like a stranger to me. Her explanations didn’t affect me. It is the result of us not seeing each other for years."

"At least she understands that you wouldn’t just jump into her arms and act like you have a wonderful relationship. It is something to be applauded that she did not come here and try to force you to forgive her. Now that you know it is your father, will you only deal with him?"

"Layla has done things she is deserving of death for. If not for Noelle, I might have died eating the food sent to us. I wouldn’t put it past Layla to have tried poisoning my mother as well. I will be busy tomorrow but I will be in time to take you and Alanae to the party the day after. Then we can leave Lockwood like you wanted," Ian promised.

"I hope the days go by quickly before there is something to stop us going on a trip," said Scarlet.