Chapter 90 Ivy
IVY
Anthony places the bowl of yogurt and berries in front of me as he sets his own on the other side of the table and has a seat. He’s finally relaxed enough to share a meal with me.
I can’t shake the conversation I had with Luca last night. “How do you forgive someone for something that is unforgivable?”
“Well, if you love the person and want them in your life, you find a way that allows the both of you to get past it.”
“I don’t know if I love him. I don’t even like him most of the time.”
“You can love someone who hurts you. But you have to set your boundaries.” Anthony takes a sip of water before he continues, “But first, you need to heal. You can’t be worried about pardoning another until you forgive yourself.”
“I don’t think I’ll ever be able to do either. Too much has happened.”
“It might feel like that today. But time can achieve miraculous healing.”
I can’t even call him the butler anymore. He feels more like family than my own father does. “Has my dad been around at all?”
“No,” Anthony replies firmly. “He’s not allowed back on the premises, per Mr. Montclair.”
“Excuse me?” I wait on Anthony to give me more details, but he doesn’t so I ask, “Luca took the house back from my dad? That means I’m in his house. Great.”
Anthony states, “No, Ms. Walker. He had the estate transferred to you. Speaking of, I need you to sign off on a couple of expenses. Mr. Montclair also had your father sign over guardianship of Zachary to you and your uncle. A judge has already signed off on it. I’d suggested the joint arrangement until you’re completely well and ready to take on the task alone if ever.
And I’m always here to assist with the day-to-day needs also. ”
“I know you are.” I smile, taking in the information. It’s my house. My brother is under my custody. We’re free of my father. And Luca did it all. “But I really will fire you now if you don’t call me Ivy.”
“I’ll work on it. But my salary isn’t paid from your estate.” Anthony goes into explaining some of the details. Pretty much everything is handled, I just have to focus on getting better and graduating high school. Neither of which sounds doable.
“Can I sell this house if I want, or did he put in a stipulation to maintain control and to spy on me?”
Anthony replies, “I was instructed that you are permitted to do anything you want with the estate. Mr. Montclair has absolutely no control over it and didn’t want to prevent you from leaving if that was what you decided you needed to do in order to heal.”
“Wow,” I utter in a daze for a few minutes. That’s not a Luca thing to do. My guess would’ve been that he’d leverage it until I give in to whatever his next demands are.
Maybe he’s really not a bad person? Good people can make bad choices. No. I shut that thought out. I need to stay away from him and thinking about him.
When I stand from the table, Anthony advises me, “You need to use your crutches. Doctor said another week. And your therapy appointment is set to start shortly. The laptop is ready in the study.”
It’s virtual so I don’t have to leave the house. But after every appointment, I feel drained. Dealing with my fractured leg has been easier. “Thanks. But it’s really fine. It doesn’t hurt that bad anymore.”
Anthony gets up from the table, grabs my crutches, then holds them out to me. “Which is why it’s important to keep following the doctor’s orders to ensure it heals properly.”
I take the crutches, looking down at the brace. “Anthony,” I wait until he looks at me. “The last few months have been really hard. But I’m glad you’re here.”
To my surprise, Anthony hugs me. “Me too.”
“Ah, a bonding moment,” Zachary says as he walks in. “He is a pretty cool dude.”
Anthony jokes, “He’s only a fan because of our arrangement.”
“What does that mean exactly?”
“Zachary receives an allowance for his academic efforts and attendance. Half of the funds go directly to him while the other is put in his trust fund.”
“Bribery. I’m on board,” I chuckle.
“Reward for good behavior,” Anthony retorts.
Zachary says, “Yeah sure. Just keep the funds flowing, sis. But can someone tell me why that dude is digging up the yard?”
When I look to Anthony, he’s confused also. So, we all three head to the front. Zachary opens the door and points to the left. “See.”
I don’t know what to say. Because I’m looking at a shirtless Luca who is covered in dirt from head to toe with hundreds of irises lining the driveway and still tons more in pots. “They’re my favorite flower. Mom always planted them for me.”
“I’m going to let you handle this one. Please let me know if you need any assistance though.” Anthony pats my elbow before he steps away.
I don’t want to argue or fight with him. I just don’t know how to react to him doing something meaningful like this.
Walking out, I glance over the flowers while I avoid looking at him. “Taking up gardening? Needed a new hobby or something?”
Luca responds, “Yes, groveling, begging, and earning your forgiveness is my new hobby.”
“You should find a different one then.” I can’t help asking, “How’d you know these are my favorite?”
“Brooke told me.”
I can’t resist any longer and finally meet his gaze. “I appreciate the gesture, the house, the butler, but nothing has changed Luca.”
“I still have to do this for you.” He goes back to planting the irises.
“Hey neighbor,” Brooke calls out as she makes her way across the lawn.
“‘Neighbor’?”
“Luca didn’t tell you? My mom and I moved into the Montclair estate,” Brooke clarifies.
Um. That’s news to me. Especially considering the state of her and Micah’s relationship right now. “Are you okay with that?”
“I didn’t really have an option. My mom said she’d only leave my dad if I moved with her.
And it’s the only place she felt like he couldn’t get to us.
But once I save up enough, I’ll get my own place.
” She glances over to where Luca is gardening.
“I’m really sorry about everything. I just didn’t know how else to get us out of the situation.
It wasn’t just as simple as leaving, my mom tried that in the past. Apparently, that’s why he attacked her this time too.
He found her packing when he was supposed to be on shift.
She didn’t even admit it to me. I overheard Mr. Montclair begging her to not go back.
And when she told him what happened, he offered for us to stay at his house and protect her.
That’s when I begged her to take him up on the deal.
It puts me in an awkward place with Micah since he hates me.
But at least my mom is safe from my father.
He knows the Montclairs aren’t a family to mess with, not sure why I did. ”
“Have you heard from Micah?”
“No, no one has. He’s still hasn’t come back since the final challenge.” She pauses. “Do you think he’s okay? Like he’s alive, right?”
“Yeah. He probably just needs some time. It hurts to be betrayed by someone we love.” The words spill out before I can catch them. And I know Luca does when his back tenses up, but he doesn’t miss a beat and keeps planting.
Brooke asks, “Are we good?”
“I’m not sure. It’s hard to figure out what’s real and what was a lie. Like I was the fool who was the only person not in on the joke.”
“I’ll go over every moment with you and tell you exactly what my intentions were. But the most important thing I need you to know is from the moment I met you I wanted to be friends with you. That part wasn’t forced. I felt really guilty that I had to lie to you. Because it was you.”
“No one deserves it.”
“I know. Mercy was supposed to be my savior, but it was another death trap instead.”
“Did you have anything to do with the first challenge, the invitation acceptance?”
“The car accident? No, I didn’t get an invitation and was planning to be on Remy’s team.
However, before the second round was completed, I received a message asking if I wanted to be the Deceiver.
I had thirteen minutes to make the decision, and I thought it would give me better odds.
Then I wouldn’t have to actually play. But Luca changed that on the roller coaster. ”
Everyone around me was playing Mercy before I even met them. “I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around all of it.”
Brooke says, “I don’t blame you for that. It’s all insanity. But please know I’m here if you need a friend or just someone to talk to.”
“Of course he told you.”
“Yes. He wants as many people looking out for you as possible.” She half-smiles at me. “In his own twisted way, I believe he actually does care about you.”
I state, “Twisted and toxic. Don’t sign me up.”
“Yeah. I get it. Nonetheless, we all make mistakes that we believe are for self-preservation, but they end up being our downfall.” She walks away, and I take one more glance at Luca before I head inside the house.