Chapter 77

Franklin walked into the room. Ivy looked up at him, her eyes pleading. He didn’t meet her gaze. “Dad,” she whispered, closing her eyes in pain. He remained silent. The weight of his silence crushed her more than words could. For the first time, Ivy felt truly alone. She had never realized how deeply her father hated Aaron. To him, Aaron’s past now mattered more than Ivy’s happiness. “Tati, feed her,” Franklin said coldly. “Or I’ll take her to the hospital myself.” “I’m not aborting my baby,” Ivy said firmly. Franklin’s voice exploded. “You ungrateful girl! How could you do this to us?” Ivy turned to face him, pain and frustration boiling over. “What have I done, Dad? Why can’t you just accept him?” “Ivy!” Franklin barked. “Is it because you once called him your brother?” Ivy asked, voice trembling. “Is that what disgusts you now? But he’s not my uncle. That was your bond, not mine.” Franklin’s eyes burned with anger. “You’re shameless.” “I’m only telling the truth,” she muttered, lowe