Page 86 of Poison Vows

I needed to think of my next move, but another reason was because I was hoping Emmett would come find me.

“Did you come in here to gossip like we’re familiar?” I snap.

“Oh, I just wanted to tell you that we’ll be leaving in a few hours. Let me know if you need something,” Beverly says softly.

“Gee, how kind of you, Beverly.”

She sighs. “Ivy, I know this is hard, but I do believe that young man is truly interested in you.”

I want to refute it, but I can’t help but think back to the way Vaughn has treated me these two weeks.

I confronted him for using me as his ticket to be the next head of his family. He didn’t deny it all, but what he said next made me pause.

“I’d leave it all behind for you, if you want.”

Now, if this was another time where I was still my old, naïve, delusional self, I would take Vaughn’s words to heart and believe him.

But I also noted the other unspoken actions I noticed that weren’t there before. At least not in full display.

Like how confident Vaughn was.

He was smiling more, as if he got rid of the dark cloud that has been hanging around him for a long time.

He even attempted to crack jokes to make me laugh.

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know the source of that ease… especially when Emmett has been unavailable the entire time.

Did Vaughn do something sinister to Emmett?

As much as that makes me extremely uncomfortable, I still can’t see anyone getting the better of Emmett. Least of all Vaughn.

While Vaughn seems to be honest and straightforward, he doesn’t have this disconcerting edginess, and the kind of darkness that is beyond hints and suggestions that Emmett possesses.

But then… where on earth is that green-eyed indifferent man? Urgh!

“You know what to do tonight, right?” Beverly questions. “Teddy’s father will be attending tonight, as will the elder in the Easton Family. You’ll have to announce it in front of them.”

“And what would happen if I go against your husband?” I mock.

An audible flinch sounds in the room.

“Ivy…”

“I’m just asking.”

Beverly’s breathing is labored and forced. “He has people monitoring your grandmother, ready to take orders.”

“What?” I screech, and then groan as waves upon waves of agony crush into me.

“Now you know,” Beverly whispers. “I just found out myself, but you should know your decision tonight is already set in stone. There’s no going back.”

She gets up like the elegant debutante she is and gives me one last look. “You have two hours.”

“Melissa should come too!”

“What?”

“Bring your daughter.”

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