Bella's POV
"I deserve to die! I only wanted to take Lucky to play on the stone garden, but he tumbled into a crack. Too scared of being punished, I couldn't bring myself to confess." Gaby's words came out in a rush before she shrank back, stealing a glance at Ivy.
Her voice shook with desperation as she begged, "Miss Fairfax, please don't cast me aside..."
The teacup tumbled from Ivy's fingers, exploding into fragments against the ground.
All blood fled from Ivy's features, leaving her face chalk-white. Her eyes stretched wide in complete shock while her frame quivered.
"No, I never..." Tears cascaded down Ivy's cheeks as panic seized her, her fingers clawing at Genevieve's sleeve. "Mother, you have to trust me! I had no idea. Gaby's lying about me!"
Then Ivy collapsed into violent, choking sobs that shook her entire body with terror and anguish.
But her wailing was cut short when my furious voice sliced through the air. "Silence!"
