Evans let out a slow breath. "Fine," he said finally. "But you owe me something in return." He leaned forward, fingers steepled. "Get your brother to agree to partner with Everest on the designer mall project. I have the investors waiting and ready. Mary signed over her shares to Ivy, which means Ivy owns fifty percent of Everest. If we’re going to reunite Winn and Ivy, Winn needs to be in a position where working with me — and with Ivy as his equal — looks natural, even necessary."

Sylvia smiled. "Its how they fell in love in the first place. In House of Kane."

"Actually, its because I promised her I would bring Winn to her. I waited too long. I don’t plan on breaking my first promise to my niece. And when this is done, when Ivy is safe and you and the child are out of harm’s reach, I’ll move on Tom. I promise you that. But I need your help in the meantime."

"Are you sure you’re not just angling to get your hands on House of Kane?" Sylvia arched a skeptical brow.

"The first thing Ivy asked me to do was help Winn save House of Kane," he said. He folded his hands on the desk. "Unlike you, Ms. Kane, I’ll never backstab family."

Sylvia scowled. "How is she doing?" she asked.

"She’s healing," he said slowly. "Slowly but surely. Physically she’s getting stronger. Emotionally... that’s another matter. I don’t think she will be forgiving Winn anytime soon. It will take time and patience." He smiled briefly.

"Trish helps. She’s been a steady presence."

Sylvia’s face shifted at the name. "Trish? Trish knows?" The surprise was genuine.

Evans nodded, watching the way Sylvia processed the information as if cataloguing a new asset. "Yes," he said. "I told her a few days after. I made her promise not to tell anyone she was in contact with Ivy though. Ivy wanted to see her — it was non-negotiable."

Sylvia let the reaction fall away into a softer silence. She admitted, privately, that she’d always suspected Trish knew something.

"Evans," she said, folding her hands together, the plea unadorned now. "I don’t need to reiterate how important it is to get Winn’s child to safety. My father and Sharona are working together; they’re a pair that lacks moral brakes. Please — this must stay between us."

Evans studied her, the lines around his mouth softening as he saw what she tried to hide beneath bravado: a woman who’d been complicit by accident, who now wanted to be savior for reparation.

He hesitated, then leaned forward, the decision forming in the set of his shoulders. "It stays between us," he said finally. "I’ll limit the circle. And when the time comes, you’ll follow the plan exactly. No improvisation. Promise me that."

"Do what you have to. I’ll do the rest."

"Well, we still have a long time to go. I’ll think about it and figure it out." Evans leaned back in his chair. "So, Winn is actually the richest man in the city?"

"Not yet," she said softly. "He can’t get eighty percent of it until he has a child. So please... I’m begging you, Evans. Let me help my brother."

Evans sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "We’ll see, Miss Kane. Have a nice day."

When she left, he sat there for a moment. Then, exhaling, he ran both hands through his hair. "What kind of family did Ivy intend to marry into?" he muttered under his breath. The Kanes? They were a different species of madness.

The moment Sylvia stepped out of Evans’s office, she pulled out her phone, dialing Joey before the automatic doors had even shut behind her.

"Joey, I need to see you immediately," she said, weaving through the lobby.

"And don’t bring anyone."

She needed to build a dream team. With simple tasks.

Keep Winn’s baby safe.

Get Winn and Ivy back together.

Take down Tom and Sharona.

Each goal pulsed in her head. The first two for love. The last because they would never be happy without it.

*******

"So you really aren’t going to tell him?" Mary asked her daughter as they strolled slowly around the garden.

Ivy tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "What’s the point, Mom? He’s maried."

"I don’t want my child exposed to that Kane toxicity," Ivy added. "There is no use of him knowing."

Her mother watched her. "Sweetheart," she said softly, "I will support whatever decision you make. You know that. But what are your plans moving forward?"

Ivy sighed, letting her gaze wander. "I’ll have the baby," she said. "Go back to school when I can. And well, since you signed your half of Everest to me, I guess I’ll have to step into your role. Which means I need the education, the credibility."

Her mother smiled faintly, watching her daughter’s determination unfold. "That’s the spirit," Mary said. "And you know you won’t be alone in this. You’ve got a lot of people who’ll help you with the baby... though I warn you, they’ll spoil that child rotten."

Ivy laughed. "Yeah, Gramps is going to be number one on that list. Then you."

Mary chuckled, shaking her head.

"And Mom..." Ivy hesitated, looking down at her hands, "thank you. For not judging me. For letting me make my own mistakes."

Mary reached and covered her daughter’s hand with hers.

Then Mary sighed and looked her daughter straight in the eye. "But I still think you need to inform the father."

Ivy stiffened, her breath catching.

"I’m not asking you to get back with him," Mary continued. "Just let him know. No parent wants to wake up one day and find out they have a child out there whose life they were never a part of."

Ivy turned her face away, her eyes glassy with tears she refused to let fall. "You don’t understand, Mom. Winn... I can’t—"

"Do you still love him?" Mary asked softly.

"Every damn day. I miss him, I miss him so much that I can’t breathe. But sometimes, love isn’t enough."