Caleb’s POV
I heard Ivy’s voice cut through the violent shouting that echoed through the Thorne mansion and immediately moved to her side. She had awakened from all the screaming and chaos reverberating through our fortress.
"What the hell is happening here?" she demanded, her emerald eyes scanning the bloody scene with mounting alarm.
"My queen, I’ll explain everything in a moment. Finn, could you escort Ivy to the armory?" I turned to him, trusting him completely to keep her safe from this bloodbath.
"Absolutely not. I need to know what’s going down right now," Ivy said with deadly calm, crossing her arms in that way that meant she wouldn’t back down.
"Oh, so this is the little street rat you’ve been playing house with?" Veronica’s voice dripped with venom as she spat the words. "I heard you were slumming it with some gutter trash. But sweetheart, don’t delude yourself into thinking he actually gives a damn about you, because he’s still mine!"
"You’ve completely lost your mind, Veronica. Whatever we had died when you betrayed the family years ago," I growled through clenched teeth.
"I don’t think so, Caleb. You were all over me in every possible way when I saw you in that Fresh Ramsey safehouse recently!" Veronica’s taunting voice made my blood run cold with rage.
"You worthless piece of garbage, I’m going to destroy that plastic face of yours so completely that no surgeon in the world will be able to put you back together!" Zoe completely lost control, lunging forward and grabbing Veronica by her perfectly styled hair. The room erupted into absolute chaos.
"STOP THIS MADNESS!" Ivy’s commanding voice cut through the violence like a blade. "Zoe, get your hands off that snake."
Zoe immediately released her grip and stepped back, looking toward her friend. Ivy rose gracefully from her position, smoothed down her dress and fixed her hair, then walked directly toward Veronica with measured, predatory steps. She stopped right beside me, gave me a reassuring smile, then fixed Veronica with a look of pure contempt.
"I actually feel sorry for you. What a pathetic little mafia princess you are! Surrounded by blood money but completely starved of genuine loyalty," Ivy spoke in a voice so calm and controlled it was almost terrifying. "I remember exactly what you did to Zoe’s family business, and the only reason I didn’t help her destroy you completely was because she found you here instead of in our territory. You’ve caused tremendous pain to truly honorable people. You’re immoral, crude, shameless, and absolutely despicable."
"Who the hell do you think you are to speak to me that way, you little nobody?" Veronica snarled back.
"Don’t you dare insult me by calling me a nobody," Ivy fired back without even flinching. "I may not have grown up in a crime family like you did, but I have integrity and self-respect. Concepts you clearly know nothing about. But you’re absolutely right about one thing - I haven’t properly introduced myself. Let me fix that oversight. I’m Ivy, the future Mrs. Thorne, and the closest friend - no, the sister - of this fierce warrior right here." Ivy wrapped her arm around my waist, took Zoe’s hand, and smiled warmly at her friend.
I stared at Ivy in complete awe. The only thing I could focus on was how she had just called herself the future Mrs. Thorne. Christ, how deeply I love this incredible woman!
"Ha! Look at you acting all superior, you piece of street trash!" Veronica’s face twisted with disgust. "Why don’t you ask him about his wild night in that Fresh Ramsey safehouse? Ask him how loudly he was moaning while I was servicing him!"
"Oh, you poor delusional creature. Let me enlighten you about something - he was thinking about me the entire time he was with you, and he only touched you because we were temporarily separated by family business. What did you think? That I didn’t know about it? Who’s living in a fantasy world now? So please, stop humiliating yourself any further, you’ve already embarrassed yourself beyond repair." Ivy’s response was devastating.
"You little..." Veronica raised her hand to strike but froze completely when she heard a familiar voice calling her name.
"That’s enough, Eleonora! I’ve been standing here for a while watching this absolute horror show, and I have never felt more ashamed in my entire life!" Veronica’s father, Don Loxley, had entered the room and was walking straight toward her with deadly purpose. "Disappointment doesn’t even begin to capture what I’m feeling right now. This young woman is absolutely correct - you have no honor and no respect for family law whatsoever!"
"Papa, you don’t understand the situation, please let me explain," Veronica’s voice suddenly became small and whimpering.
"I honestly don’t know where I failed so completely with you!" He turned toward Ivy and me with a heavy sigh. "Caleb, I’m deeply sorry she’s creating yet another problem for your family. Ivy, is it? Please accept my sincere apologies for this behavior. I was close allies with Caleb’s parents, and I know they would have been honored to meet you. As for this situation," he said, gesturing toward his daughter and placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder, "please trust that I will handle it according to our laws."
"How did you even know I was here?" Veronica asked her father directly.


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