Claraâs impatience flickered across her face, yet she managed to mask it well.
She shuffled closer and wrapped Tessa in a hug.
âDonât be mad at me, okay, Tessa? I was just so worked up earlier, thatâs why I said thos things.
Donât take it so seriously. Youâve been nothing but good to me, and Iâm not blind to it. Iâm not an ingrate.
Itâs just that whole mess with Ivy has been dragging me down, you know? Iâve had to cancel more than a dozen gigs because of her drama. Can you blame me for being a bit on edge?
But now, some of those deals are finally coming back. Canât you just be happy for me, Tessa?â
Tessa exhaled a sigh.
âHow could I not be happy for you? But Ivyâs my daughter too. Seeing everyone turn on her â it twists my heart.â
Clara didnât care about that. She pressed on, âTessa, you remember what I asked you to do the other day, right? Please donât let me down. Okay?â
Tessaâs grip on Claraâs arm tightened in a flutter of panic, âClara, with your career back on, track, do we really need to drag Ivy into this again?â
Clara gently pushed Tessaâs hand away, her eyes curving with a hint of malice, âOf course we do.
Weâre just getting started. After the hell she put me through, Iâm not about to pass up a chance, for a payback!â
Meanwhile, Balfour was cuddled up with Ivy. They were sweetly engrossed in a movie when Ivyâs phone rang unexpectedly.
âIvy?â
Hearing Tessaâs voice left Ivy almost in a daze.
She could barely recall the last time her mother had called her by name this way.
Back at home, it was a constant battle of wills with Clara.
Balfour noticed the shift in Ivyâs mood. He promptly hit pause on the remote and looked at her, silently asking what was wrong. Ivy just shook her head slowly.
âWhat do you want?â Ivy took a deep breath. She braced herself, sensing a flicker of hope in her heart as she asked.
Tessa frowned instantly at her daughterâs chilly tone.
Stef 2433 âWhatâs with that attitude? Is that any way to speak to your mother? I brought you into this world. Canât a mother call her daughter for no reason?â
Ivy wanted to scoff at Tessaâs strained indignation. How dare her mother even utter such words?
Hadnât she realized that their bond was severed long ago?
âYou still remember youâre my mother? Tessa, donât you find it ironic saying that now?â Ivy retorted.
Balfour watched Ivy, his brow unconsciously furrowing. She was smiling, but why did her eyes hold such sorrow?
Ivy held his hand, drawing strength from his touch as if to fortify herself against her motherâs sting.
Tessa was supposed to be the closest person in the world to her.
It was a cruel twist of fate that Ivy now needed the support of another to fend off the hurt inflicted by her own mother.
âHave you lost your mind? I am your mother. How can you speak to me like that? Youâve been so defiant since you were born.â