Chapter 51

Ivy’s POV
I smoothed my hair nervously as I stared at my reflection in the mirror.
Twenty minutes had passed since Kane’s threatening, and I’d changed into a fresh outfit for my visit to Blackwood Corporation. My heart hammered against my chest like a trapped bird. I needed to get back into Ryan’s good graces—and fast.
When I reached the top floor, his assistant blocked my path with an apologetic but firm expression.
“Miss Hart, Mr. Blackwood is busy at the moment.”
I bit my lip, trying not to show my frustration. Ever since that incident, accessing Ryan’s office had become nearly impossible for me.
The days when I could waltz in whenever I pleased were long gone.
“That’s fine,” I said, forcing a sweet smile. “I’ll wait a bit. I won’t disturb Ryan. Just let him know I’m here, would you?”
I settled onto the leather sofa in the waiting area, sitting demurely with my hands folded in my lap.The assistant gave me a surprised glance—my unusual patience clearly throwing him off. Good. Let him think I’ve changed.
After a moment’s hesitation, he went to inform Ryan of my presence.
“Sir, Miss Hart is here to see you. She seems to have something important to discuss.”
I heard Ryan’s muffled response through the door, but couldn’t make out his words. The assistant returned to his desk without inviting me in. My stomach knotted with anxiety as the minutes ticked by.
An hour passed. Then two. The office had emptied out, leaving just me, Ryan, and his assistant in the entire floor. My legs had gone numb from sitting still for so long, but I maintained my composure. I needed this to work.
Finally, as the night grew late, Ryan’s voice came through the intercom.
“Send her in.”
The assistant gestured toward the door. “Mr. Blackwood will see you now.”
My heart leapt. I stood up quickly—too quickly—and had to steady myself against the arm of the sofa. I smoothed my skirt, took a deep breath, and walked into Ryan’s office with my most dazzling smile.
“Ryan, you’re still working so hard,” I cooed, using the sweet tone that used to make him soften toward me.
He barely glanced up from his computer screen, his fingers continuing to tap away at the keyboard. “What do you want, Ivy? Make it quick.”
I swallowed hard, fighting to maintain my smile. “I… I’m not happy with my current job situation. I was hoping I could come back to work for Blackwood?”
Ryan’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t bother looking up. “Don’t be ridiculous. Your reputation is shot. Most design studios won’t touch you now. And Blackwood’s jewelry division is currently under Eliza’s management. There’s no place for you.”
My smile froze on my face. I hadn’t expected him to reject me so bluntly. The Ryan who used to care about me, who would at least pretend to consider my feelings—where had he gone?
Time for Plan B. I let my eyes well up with tears, my lower lip trembling ever so slightly.
“Ryan, it’s precisely because my design reputation is ruined that I can’t continue like this,” I said, my voice breaking. “The way people look at me now… if Sophie knew what had happened to me, she would be heartbroken.”
I watched his face closely as I mentioned Sophie’s name. Once, it would have been enough to make him do anything I asked. Now, his expression remained stony, unmoved.
I edged closer to his desk, my eyes scanning for anything useful, any document I could glimpse. “If you don’t want me back in the design studio, I could… I could be your assistant instead!”
Ryan finally looked up, his gaze traveling over my face with undisguised irritation.
“My assistant? Do you have any relevant skills? You’d just be a distraction up here.” He checked his watch pointedly. “It’s late. Go home, Ivy. If you need something, send me a text.”
I stood there, completely stunned. Before I could even attempt to argue, his assistant appeared at the door.
“Miss Hart, I’ll arrange a car to take you home. Mr. Blackwood is very busy, so it’s best not to disturb him further.”
I opened my mouth to protest, but the look in Ryan’s eyes told me pushing further would only make things worse. With no other choice, I left the office, my mind racing to formulate another plan.
One tactic down, I thought as the elevator doors closed. Time for something more dramatic.
During the ride home, I suddenly doubled over in the backseat, clutching my stomach and moaning in pain.
“Miss Hart?” The driver glanced at me through the rearview mirror, alarmed. “Are you alright?”
“No,” I gasped, making sure my voice sounded weak and pained. “Please… take me to Westside Private Hospital.”
The driver immediately changed course.
At the hospital, I asked for Dr. Miller—a physician I’d bribed in the past for various medical notes and excuses.
With a substantial payment, he agreed to falsify examination results, making my condition seem serious.
I lay in the hospital bed, trying to look pale and fragile as the driver stepped out to call Ryan. My ears strained to catch his side of the conversation.
“Mr. Blackwood, Miss Hart has been admitted to the hospital. The doctor says her condition is quite serious… What would you like me to do, sir?”
In the past, Ryan would have dropped everything and rushed to my side at the first sign of illness. Even a minor cold would have warranted his personal attention.
But now, I could hear the driver’s voice falter as he listened to Ryan’s response.
“Yes, sir… I understand. I’ll handle it.”
My heart sank before the driver even returned. His uncomfortable expression told me everything.
“What did Ryan say?” I asked anyway, desperately hoping I was wrong.
“Mr. Blackwood said he hesitated, clearly trying to soften the blow, “he said you should focus on getting better. He’s not a doctor, so
“He’s not coming?” I nearly sat bolt upright before remembering my act. I forced myself to sink back against the pillows, wincing for effect. “Did you tell him how serious this is?”
The driver looked annoyed. “You heard me tell him yourself, Miss Hart.”
I bit my lip hard enough to draw blood. Once, I’d had Ryan wrapped around my finger.
A few tears, a little pouting, and he’d give me anything I wanted—all because I reminded him of Sophie. What changed? Why wasn’t it working anymore?
A terrible thought struck me. Was there someone new in his life? Someone who had his attention now?
Serena’s face flashed through my mind, and my stomach actually did twist with genuine pain this time. My façade crumbled as real color drained from my face.
Left with no other options, I spent the night in the hospital, returning home the following day with nothing to show for my efforts.
I couldn’t even bring myself to go to work. My mind was consumed with Kane’s demands: how could I possibly steal Blackwood’s business secrets?
Ryan was meticulous about security. Important documents were locked in his safe, and I couldn’t even get close to his office, let alone know his passwords.
The task seemed impossible, and Kane’s deadline was looming. My hands shook as I paced my apartment, panic rising in my chest.
Then my phone rang. Kane’s name flashed on the screen, sending a chill down my spine. I answered with trembling fingers.
“You’ve been playing games all night and have nothing to show for it?” His voice slithered through the speaker like a snake.
“Ivy, you truly are worthless. I’m beginning to think you’re not even worth my time.”
“Kane, please,” I begged, my voice cracking with genuine fear. “I’m working on it! If I can’t get the documents, I’ll find another way to cause problems for Blackwood. I promise!”
There was a long pause on the line—the kind that made my skin crawl with dread.
“You’d better not disappoint me,” he finally said, his tone slightly less venomous. “Ryan is hosting a Blackwood gala tonight. Be there. Show me your commitment.”
My throat tightened. The meaning was clear: Kane wanted me to create some kind of scene, cause some kind of damage. If I failed, the consequences would be worse than anything I could imagine.
“Yes, I understand,” I said flatly, feeling hollow inside.
After hanging up, I sat motionless on my bed for nearly an hour, trying to calm my racing heart. Finally, I dragged myself to my closet to select a dress for the evening.
As I applied my makeup with unsteady hands, my mind worked furiously. How could I fulfill Kane’s demands without completely destroying whatever slim chance I had left with Ryan?
Then, suddenly, a face appeared in my thoughts—a perfectly crafted plan forming around her.
Serena.