Chapter 152: Ivy’s Poison
Stefan’s phone buzzed insistently on the nightstand, the vibration slicing through the peaceful early morning silence. He stirred, groaning softly as he reached out blindly, his fingers closing around the device.
The screen’s brightness forced his eyes to squint, but when he saw Ethan’s name flashing across it, a strange knot twisted in his stomach. Calls this early were never good news.
He sat up, rubbing his eyes before swiping to answer. "Ethan?" his voice was gravelly with sleep.
"Stefan," Ethan’s tone was tight, urgent. "You need to see this. Check the news. Right now."
The seriousness in Ethan’s voice jolted him fully awake. His heart pounded harder as he swung his legs over the bed and reached for the tablet resting on the nightstand. With a few quick taps, he opened the trending news, his breath catching in his throat the moment he saw the headline:
Ivy Quinn Breaks Silence: Claims Twin Sister Stole Her Husband.
His fingers trembled slightly as he clicked the video attached to the article. The screen filled with Ivy’s face—tear-streaked, visibly distressed, her eyes red as she sat before what appeared to be her living room. The image alone made Stefan’s chest clench with a mixture of dread and fury.
"...I know I said I wouldn’t speak," Ivy’s voice came, soft but heavy with emotion. "I know I promised to keep quiet for the sake of the family and for the sake of peace. But I can’t do this anymore."
She sniffled, wiping her eyes delicately with a tissue. "People think... they think this is about Eliana. That my husband—Stefan—asked for divorce because of those lies spread about me about having a hand in Eliana’s accident. But the truth is far worse. The truth is... it was my own twin sister, Ruby."
Stefan’s stomach dropped as he wondered what lie Ivy was about to spill.
"I loved her," Ivy continued, her voice breaking. "I invited her into my home because she’s my sister. I trusted her. I mean, how could I not trust my own twin? But she... she on the other hand, she seduced my husband. She took advantage of our kindness. And now—" she broke down, her shoulders shaking, "now she’s pregnant with his child, and I’ve been cast aside like I’m nothing. Like I never mattered."
Her tears flowed freely now. "I stayed silent because I thought it was better for the family. But I can’t keep pretending. People need to know who Stefan Winters really is."