She didn’t even get two steps before she collided with someone.

"I warned you, you bitch!" Sharona hissed, loud enough that Lydia’s brows shot up.

Before Ivy could react, Sharona lunged.

She grabbed a fistful of Ivy’s hair—fingers twisted cruelly—and yanked. Hard.

"Ah—!" Ivy’s neck snapped back from the force.

"Let go of me!" Ivy clawed at Sharona’s arm, but Sharona was running on pure uncut rage.

Ivy stumbled backward, hitting Lydia’s desk. She lost her footing and dropped hard onto her side, pain shooting through her elbow.

"What the fuck is going on?!"

Winn’s voice cracked across the office.

His office door slammed into the wall behind him as he stormed out. His eyes—dark, sharp, terrified—fell on Ivy on the floor.

His entire body changed.

He went pale. Then furious. Then panicked.

He dropped to his knees beside her instantly. "Ivy—oh my God—are you okay? Did she hurt you? Let me see—"

Ivy shoved his hands away.

"Don’t touch me!" she snapped.

"Ivy—"

"You ask me what you have done?" she yelled. She pointed furiously at Sharona. "She. She is what you have done."

Sharona scoffed, straightening her blouse.

"I came here to discuss the mall construction with Mr. Kane," Ivy said, "not to flirt with your husband."

Ivy stepped forward—chin up, posture lethal.

"I’m going to let this slide," she said, "but the next time anything like this happens, Everest will sever every tie with House of Kane."

A hush fell.

Even Lydia swallowed.

Winn’s head snapped toward Ivy, eyes widening. He knew exactly what that meant.

Ivy turned deliberately, meeting Winn’s gaze—holding it until he understood.

Not a threat.

A promise.

"You have no standing to do that. Who do you think you are?!" Sharona shouted. "You are just some pole dancing skank sinking her claws in every wealthy man she finds around her."

Ivy inhaled sharply, she straightened. Shoulders lifted. Head rose.

"I am Ivy Morales," she said coolly. "Granddaughter to Samuel Everest. The second heir to the Everest Empire."

"Don’t get it twisted," Ivy continued, stepping forward. "I can sink you."

Her eyes narrowed. "You know what—scratch that. I will sink you."

Sharona’s lips parted as she processed the words, but her expression shifted immediately toward Winn.

But the look in Winn’s eyes... it confirmed that she wasn’t bluffing.

He looked... impressed.

When did this happen?

Sharona’s mouth twisted into an ugly sneer. "Doesn’t matter," she spat. "I don’t give a shit! I am a Kane! And that means something in this city."

Winn should have intervened.

He knew it.

Every instinct screamed at him to pull Sharona back, apologize to Ivy, shield Ivy.

But he couldn’t move.

Because Ivy...

God, Ivy was breathtaking.

She was fire and marble and thunder all at once.

Ivy Morales was no longer a girl.

"Well then, Mrs. Kane." Ivy said. "Push your luck some more."

Sharona swallowed, visibly. A bead of sweat trickled down her temple. Her eyes darted between Ivy and Winn.

Ivy bent down, picking up the file that had fallen during the scuffle.

Without hesitation, Ivy Morales turned and walked out—heels sharp, posture perfect, looking every inch the heiress.

Her presence lingered even after she disappeared around the corner.

Winn moved closer to Sharona, stopping just a breath away. "You," he murmured, "are the weapon fashioned against me, aren’t you?"

Sharona’s nostrils flared. Her entire body vibrated with a furious tension. "I got served by your lawyers," she hissed, eyes gleaming with indignation.

"And this little stunt with your slut—" she pointed roughly toward the direction Ivy had left in "—is the reason why you will not win in court. You cannot discard me! It will not happen."

"Is that all you came here to say?" Winn asked simply.

"If that’s all," Winn continued with a dismissive nod, "you can leave."

Then he turned and began walking back toward his office.

Sharona snapped.

"I’m not going to allow this, Winn!" she shrieked. "I won’t!"

Winn stopped. Slowly.

He changed trajectory, pivoting sharply and walking toward Lydia’s desk.

Lydia straightened, eyes widening. She had stayed quiet the entire time—mostly because she valued her job.

Winn leaned forward slightly. "Do you like your job, Lydia?"

"Yes, Mr. Kane," she said instantly.

"You will lose it," Winn said clearly, "the day this woman steps into this building again."

"Now," Winn added, "get security."

"Yes, sir." Lydia snatched the phone and dialed faster than she ever had in her career.

Sharona sputtered. "You can’t—Winn, don’t you dare—!"

But Winn had already turned away, not sparing her a single glance.

He walked back into his office, shutting the door.

*****

Mike met Ivy at a small restaurant beside Everest HQ after work.

"I found something interesting."

"I knew you would." Ivy smiled.

"So," Mike began. "I tracked Mrs Kane’s—"

"Please... please don’t call her that." Ivy interrupted sharply. Mike lifted his hands carefully, surrender style.

"Okay. Okay. Sharona." he corrected, leaning back.

Ivy sighed, massaging her temples. "Sorry. It just... it sounds like crashing glass in my ears." She looked out the window.

Mike took a deep breath, observing her carefully. "Ivy... I get why you’re staying away from him. You want justice for... everything. For you. For your baby. But why not just tell him? This is clearly hurting you."

"He hurt me." Ivy said. "I cannot forgive that. He married another woman while I was fighting for my life and that of our child." Her throat tightened as memories crashed violently.

Mike leaned forward, elbows on the table. "You already know why he did that. I can assure you, he had no choice."

"He did," Ivy countered, eyes now burning, swirling with rage and heartbreak. "He just chose the easy way." She swallowed hard. "And now, I have to look out for myself."

Mike studied her a long moment. "Maybe you should speak with your mum about this."

"I can’t. She’s off finding herself in Canada. After everything she’s endured... I want her to breathe for once. Alright, you were saying..."