Ivy's Pov

I glared at Julian's turned face, my chest heaving, tears burning my eyes. I was fuming-and positively so.

I still couldn't believe this. I didn't want to believe this. The same man that had acted like my white knight in shining armor just the day before was engaged to marry my mother of all people!? What kind of cruel joke is the universe playing on me?! No amount of alcohol had been able to get the information out of my system, and frankly, I didn't think anything could.

Julian let me go after I had steadied myself, slowly turning to face me. There was remorse in his eyes but also resignation. It landed on me like a ton of bricks, and I bit back a whimper.

"I didn't know who you were. I had no idea you were her daughter," he murmured truthfully, the tenderness and guilt in his voice making me waver.

My lips trembled, but I refused to cry. For what reason, exactly? The fact that I didn't get to sleep with him or that he was now my mother's fiancé? Maybe it was both.

Suddenly exhausted, I sucked in a deep breath, stepping away from him. His hands flexed as if trying to reach me, but he stopped himself just in time, a shadow crossing his eyes. I didn't want to think about this anymore. Side-stepping him, I stumbled my way up the stairs, making it to my room. The cool wood of the door pressed into my back as I slid down it, my legs too shaky to stand. Slipping from my hands, the whiskey bottle clattered to the ground, forgotten.

Unbiddenly, memories of the night before rushed through me and I shuddered, wrapping my hands around myself. The way he'd kissed me, the way I'd clung to him, the desperation in our touches... He didn't take me that night, but this? This burned worse. The tears I had been keeping at bay all day finally filled my eyes, spilling out. I buried my face in my hands, sobbing quietly.

What's up with my life? Why am I so unlucky?

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I woke up with a head-splitting headache in the morning. My entire body felt like lead, my stomach filled with nausea. Groaning, I buried myself into the pillow, trying to shut out the throb. Incredibly thirsty and hungry, I wanted nothing more than to run into the kitchen and fill my stomach, but I couldn't move a limb. Aside from that, I didn't think I wanted to see anyone.

I stayed on the bed, staring into nothingness, but the headache only worsened, and the hunger pangs were too much to ignore. Forcing myself to stand, I trudged to the bathroom and washed, running cold water all over my head. Raising my head up, I stared at my reflection in the mirror and cringed.

My hair was a mess, my makeup had smeared all over my face thanks to my sobbing, and I looked like I had just walked out from a catfight. Miserable was an understatement of how I felt and looked.

I remembered my altercation with Julian the night before and grimaced, my cheeks flushing. That had been so unnecessary. But then, I wasn't thinking straight.

Letting out a sigh, I stripped out of my clothes and stepped into the shower, washing off the mess of the day before. Once I was thoroughly cleaned and I felt slightly better, I stepped out and dried myself, slipping into a fresh set of clothes. Putting my hair into a ponytail, I collected a pack of hangover pills from my wardrobe and stepped out of my room, making my way to the kitchen while secretly praying I wouldn't find anyone there.

The gods in heaven didn't answer that prayer because as I approached the dining area, I could hear my mother laughing and Julian's deep voice as he spoke to her. Moths exploded in my chest, my entire body prickling. It was too late to turn back. Clenching my jaw, I walked past them, heading straight to the kitchen.

They instantly stopped talking and I could feel their gazes following me.

Clarissa was the first to speak. "Oh... When did you return?" I pulled out a bottle of water from the fridge, popped out some pills, and threw them into my mouth, washing them down with the water.

"Julian was up waiting for you, you know?" she continued, and I cast a sidelong glance at them. Julian held my gaze, tensing. Clarissa chuckled, misreading the tension as silence instead of suffocation. "Already playing the role of a good stepfather." She murmured, gazing at him fondly.

"I doubt I'll be much of an influence..." Julian said as he slowly looked away from me, giving Clarissa a tiny smile. "She's all grown up and perfectly capable of handling herself. I was just concerned."

Yeah, and we almost fucked two days ago.

"That's true, but Ivy also needs a father figure. It's what she has been severely lacking in her life," my mother said.

I slammed the water bottle hard on the kitchen counter, my anger exploding. Turning to her, I narrowed my eyes. "I am perfectly fine. I don't need anyone playing the role of a father figure. Besides, isn't he supposed to have left the house already?"

"Actually, he'll be moving in soon. He's staying with us," Clarissa announced matter-of-factly. I froze, my eyes widening.

"W-what!?"

She let out a coy smile as she laid her head on his shoulder. I caught his tension. "Julian might be wealthy, but he's spent the last twenty years living like a pilgrim. Which means he doesn't have a home he calls his. He wants to settle down now, but at the moment, he'll be staying with us."

Ah... come on!

"I'll be out of your hair, I promise you. You wouldn't even know I'm here," Julian tried to assure me, but it was landing in all the wrong ways. A mirthless chuckle escaped my lips, and from the corner of my eyes, I could see Clarissa snickering.

"The two of you are unbelievable!" I screamed and stalked out of the room, my initial plan to get food forgotten. Julian's stare trailed me throughout, and a prickle of awareness went through me. I debated going out but realized I was already running low on cash and would just spend the entire day drinking.

Screaming into a pillow, I pulled at my hair, trying to think of what to do to get out of this place when a knock came on the door.

"Get out!" I yelled at whoever was behind it. When no one answered, I stood to my feet and walked toward the door, pulling it open. No one was behind it, but when I lowered my gaze, there was a tray filled with food waiting for me. I paused, staring at it in surprise.

When the delectable scent hit my nose and my stomach growled in response, I immediately picked it up. Looking around to see if anyone was around, I brought it into my room and started eating. The entire meal was gone in a matter of minutes. As I drank water to wash it down, I realized that my foul mood had cleared.

I shrugged, deciding to stay holed up in the room instead. Evening rolled by and I was getting increasingly bored. Pacing about my room, I stared out the window to see Julian going on a walk with my mother.

My face contorted in disgust watching my mom giggling at whatever he was saying, clinging to him like a slug. Anger began to simmer within me at the sight. What does he even see in her? She's all plastic. I know I am better than her.

Plus, Clarissa doesn't deserve to be happy. Not after what she has done to me. Not after ruining my life. I scoffed at my proud thoughts, feeling disdain toward myself. How could I still want him again after all of this? He's marrying her. My mother.

A sinister idea dropped into my mind and I almost smiled as I watched them. What if I ruined their engagement? These two would never be married. My mother still doesn't know I had almost slept with her fiancé, and it's clear even with the way he hides it that he still wants me. It was there in his eyes last night, in his actions. I am seducing Julian. Those two would never be together.

I kissed him once. I'll do it again.

This time, I won't stop.

Ivy.

Julian moved into our house days later, and just as I expected, Clarissa was ecstatic about it. She wouldn't stop gushing and following him around, acting like a little child that had been handed their favorite toy. I won't deny it - I was very envious watching them like that - but I did my best to ignore them, going about my life and acting like they didn't matter.

I found it strange they didn't immediately start sharing a room but concluded it must be because they hadn't tied the knot fully. That gave me a measure of relief. That would have been the push that would have driven me over the edge.

The very next night, my mother threw a party to celebrate. People filled our house, celebrating the newest couple in town. My mother was all smiles, arms linked with Julian as she paraded him around the living room, talking with the guests. I sat in a corner, a bottle of liquor in my hands, completely invisible as I watched and drank, my jealousy and hatred mixing within to become a truly vile concoction.

Occasionally, Julian and I would hold gazes, and the smile on his face would drop. I just looked away, pouring more liquor into my system. Now wasn't the time to confront him. If he wanted to play father, I wanted to see how far he was willing to take it. If I couldn't make him want me, at least I could make him squirm.

Later that night, when I had the chance, I took his number from my mother's phone and saved it. I had been doing some research about him but hadn't found much on the internet other than the fact that he was a wealthy businessman. Sitting at an obscure point in the room, I brought out my phone and texted him:

I: I miss you... I typed, then clicked send.

It took him a while to bring out the phone from his pocket, but he did so, swiping the screen and stiffening slightly. His gaze darted around before landing on me. Seeing the phone in my hands, I watched him clench his jaw. With a deep breath, he put the phone back in his pocket and continued speaking with the guests.

I: So, you're not going to ask who this is? I sent another text, hating its pathetic tone.

Watching him grow uncomfortable, he excused himself from the group he was with and brought out his phone. The three bubbles appearing on my private chat told me he was responding to me.

J: How did you get my number?

I scoffed, rolling my eyes.

I: You're seriously asking that? It's easy now. All I need to do is go through my mother's phone. Welcome to the family.

More of those bubbles.

J: What do you want?

I: I missed you. I want you. I wrote. Clicked send.

There was a delay this time around. When I looked at him from across the room, he was still looking at his phone, perhaps too scared to look at me.

J: You know that's not possible anymore. I'm engaged to your mother.

I: You're still engaged, not married. I think you can play around a bit.

I watched him scratch his hair, feeling a dark satisfaction at seeing him so restless. He soon began texting furiously.

J: Play around with my fiancée's daughter? That would be too much of a scandal.

I smirked as I replied.

I: It won't be if no one knows about it. Don't you want me too? You found it hard to resist me that night. Even now, you can't stop staring at me.

J: Please, Ivy, stop doing this. Don't contact me again.

Just then, my mother walked up to him, and he placed the phone back into his pocket, giving her a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. They talked for a bit, and she led him back to the party. I decided I was done. But there was still one more thing to do.

I waited until he held eye contact with me again. And I smiled at him. It wasn't kind. It wasn't gentle. It was a calculated, manipulative one - the kind that said, "You're stuck with me now." Only then did I rise to my feet, finish the alcohol in the bottle, and amble all the way to my room, feeling the peculiar heat of his gaze on me.

I landed on my bed and, thanks to the alcohol in my system, fell into a dreamless slumber. When I awoke, it was late in the morning and to a pounding headache. I groaned, gripping my head as if I could somehow stop the assault to my senses. After gaining a semblance of control, I went to the bathroom to freshen up and dressed, ready to go out.

With my hair flowing freely over my shoulders and my favorite shade of red lipstick on, I checked my outfit in the mirror. Simple, yet sexy. Exactly the look I was going for. Packing up my bag, I headed out of the room to the dining area where I met my mother and Julian.

She was grinning at something Julian said, but they both stopped when they saw me approach. My mom immediately frowned, raising a questioning gaze at my outfit.

"Where are you going, young lady?" she asked as I filled my plate with waffles and some cut-up fruits.

"I'm going to look for a job," I answered as I poured syrup all over my waffles, then sat down. Julian had begun staring at me with an indescribable look on his face.

"Where?" my mom pressed.

"I don't know. Anywhere it's available." The atmosphere dropped ten degrees, the air becoming stifled as they both stared at me.

"How are you going to move around then?" Julian finally asked, and I glanced at him, still munching on my waffles.

"I'll take a taxi."

He furrowed his brows. "You don't have a car?"

"No... I sold it. Needed the funds," I muttered.

My mother blanched, growing uncomfortable. She'd never provided anything for me before, and with the image she had created for herself, this revelation might cause a huge dent. I didn't care. I was enjoying this way too much.

Julian, on the other hand, seemed uncomfortable with the idea of me moving around in a taxi. But I wasn't done.

"Also, I need cab money. Anyone here mind borrowing me some cash?"

"You don't have?" Julian asked, sounding stunned.

"No, I've run out of that too," I said, leaning back in my chair. My mother was glaring furiously at me. I wished I could smile back.

"You can take my car..." he started to offer, but I cut him off.

"No, thanks. I don't want anything from you. I would appreciate it if you borrowed me some money, though. I'll be sure to pay it back once I get a job."

"I think I have some money in my bag..." my mother started to say when Julian slapped something on the table. He pulled his hands away, and I saw it was a black card. I straightened up in my seat. He didn't look at Clarissa once as he slid the card across the table.

"The pin is 6745. You can use it. And no need to pay me back," he muttered in a gruff voice. I looked at him, shocked, but quickly recovered, snatching the card off the table.

"Thanks, J," I said, smiling at him as I stood to my feet. He mumbled a response I didn't quite catch, and I returned my mother's silent glare with a wink, sashaying out of the house.

The moment the door closed behind me, I stared at the card once more, feeling my heart pound. There was going to be so much money in this... I bit back a squeal. So much money. So much power.

Oh... I'm going to be having so much fun with this.

Ivy.

I did originally set out to look for a job, but when everywhere I was applying to didn't have any openings and no one was hiring, I decided to go shopping instead. I boarded a taxi to the most expensive mall I could find and spent hours perusing stores, buying a lot of extravagant things-whether or not I needed them.

Though a part of me felt guilty for being so wasteful, it didn't take long for me to ignore that feeling and focus on the adrenaline rush buying things always gave me. I spent a pretty penny on newer clothes, even going as far as getting lingerie, latex, and finally, sex toys. Satisfied with the amount of things I had gotten, I packed all my bags and headed home.

My mother was around the moment I arrived. One look at the sheer amount of shopping bags I was holding, and she immediately started fuming. She didn't even let me enter the house before she began yelling at me.

"How dare you spend so recklessly!" she screeched, all in my face. "Julian gives you his card out of the goodness of his heart and you do this?!"

I scoffed, and she hit my face before pulling at my hair, making me wince. "Let me go!" I gritted through my teeth, trying to dislodge her grip. It took a while, but I finally managed to get rid of it.

"Need I remind you, it was Julian who gave me his card? I didn't ask for it. I'm sure he must have seen all of my transactions. If he didn't have a problem with it, why are you so concerned?!" I snapped at her, and her eyes widened.

She tried to raise her hand at me again, but I caught it mid-air. "You wench! Don't think I don't know what you're doing! You better not come between me and Julian, or else-!"

"Or else what?" I yelled at her, cutting her off. Throwing her hand away, I let out a delirious chuckle. "You'll ship me off to Russia? Oh please, at this point, I think I'll appreciate it." Taking a couple of steps toward her, I stared her down. "Unlike you, I have nothing to lose. I'm not the one with a dirty money-laundering secret disguised as charity and more scandalous pasts!"

Running a hand through her well-made hair, I gripped her chin, watching as her eyes flared with anger and something that looked suspiciously like fear. "So, if you don't want me screaming to the press about your ugly past, just keep your mouth shut and enjoy the show."

Clarissa paled, opening her mouth to speak, but no words would come out, so she snapped it shut. Exactly what I wanted. I bit back the smile budding on my face-now isn't the time yet. "I will return the card to Julian when he asks for it," I murmured, letting every distaste I felt for her seep into my voice. Pulling my hand away, I picked up the shopping bags and headed straight to my room.

I dumped them on the ground, locked the door behind me, and started arranging everything I had gotten. Then brought out the lingerie set and dildo I had purchased, walked straight to the mirror, and placed the clothing on my body, assessing it. A devious smile appeared on my lips.

Time for the real show to begin.

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Dinner that night was tense, with everyone glancing furtive looks at each other, unspoken questions hovering like a cloud. I ignored everything, focusing on the meal before me. Finally, Julian cleared his throat.

"How was your job hunt?" he asked with a deep voice, his gaze fixed on me. I took a bite from my mashed potatoes, then glanced at him.

"Uneventful," I muttered as I swallowed. Dabbing my mouth clean with a tissue, I leaned back in my seat. "No one was hiring."

"Better luck next time," he said, and I nodded, going back to my meal. Clarissa exchanged glances between us, a look of confusion on her face. Then, in an attempt to bring the attention back to her, she scooted close to Julian, interlinking her arms with his.

"Babe..." she murmured in a sultry voice, giving him a saccharine smile. He glanced at her, still chewing.

"Hmm?"

"Have you thought of our wedding date yet?" she asked, leaning her chin. I saw him stiffen subtly, but he managed a grave smile.

"Whatever day you feel is comfortable is fine with me. I'm not in a rush."

Clarissa didn't look too pleased with the answer he gave her, but she tried to hide it with a smile-and to be honest, I almost chuckled. She looked like a spoiled kid who always wanted to be the center of attention all the time. I finished my meal and dropped the spoon with a decisive sound.

"I'm tired. I would like to go and rest," I announced, pulling back my chair. Julian watched me as I stood to my feet.

"Okay. Have a good night," he murmured. I lingered for a bit, hoping he would ask for his card back, but when he didn't say anything, I started to leave.

"Aren't you forgetting something?" my mother's voice suddenly broke through, and I stopped, turning my head to face her.

"Am I?"

She glared at me, narrowing her eyes. "Oh... Right! Your card!" I announced in a stunned manner, rushing back to the dining table.

"By the way, thank you for lending me your card, Sir Ashford. I'm sure you must have seen it, but I did some shopping with it. I hope you don't mind. I'll pay you back," I said, pulling the card from my shirt, where it was tucked inside my bra, and slapping it on the table.

My mother's mouth fell open in shock, and Julian looked stunned. He stared at the card, pressing his lips into a thin line, a muscle ticking in his jaw.

"Keep it," he growled, his voice uncharacteristically low.

"Really?" I perked up like an excited kid, my hands already curling around the card.

"Yes," he muttered, his voice tight, briefly holding my gaze.

"Okay... Thank you!" I announced and happily skipped to my room, leaving my mother dumbstruck. Yeah, that's how you do it.

I waited for my mother to confront me afterward just like she did in the morning, but when it didn't happen, I moved on to the next phase. After having a quick shower, I dried off the water from my body and spent a great deal of time priming my skin. Satisfied with the way I looked, I brought out a lingerie set and put it on. A quick assessment in the mirror, and I took a couple of sultry and seductive pictures with it.

After confirming that Julian had indeed retired to his room, I started texting him.

I: Hey. Want to see the things I bought?

Clicking send, I lay on the bed, waiting for his response.He'd better respond... because if he didn't, this whole act would crumble into embarrassment. It took a while, but the typing notification soon popped up.

J: I thought I told you not to contact me again!? Also, what was that stunt you pulled in the dining room this evening?!

If Julian could send emojis, I probably would be receiving a ton of them right now.

I: I'm sorry about that. I wanted to keep your card safe. My mother fought with me for it.

J: Really?

I: Yes. Anyway, do you want to see the things I bought? I took pictures.

J: No, I don't want to.

I sent him the pictures of me posing in the lingerie anyway and grinned when the marker indicated he had viewed them.

I: Like it? I thought of you when picking them.

J: Ivy, stop this.

I: I got some more things too.

There was a delay in his response, but soon enough, he began to type.

J: What else did you get?

I: A dildo.

I sent him a picture of that too.

I: I like to think it's the same size as you-though I can't be too sure. My memory of that night is hazy. It was rather erotic purchasing it with your money. I'll be thinking about you when I use it tonight. Have a good night.

Then I sent kissing emojis and dropped the phone, smiling to myself.

I'd already dropped the bait.

Let's see if he'll catch it.