Chapter 77: A Debt to be Paid

Ivy’s POV

Something was wrong.  

I could feel it.  

My father hadn’t called me back since our last conversation, and that wasn’t like him. He always followed up, always checked in. Especially when something felt… off.  

I tried not to dwell on it as I stood in front of my vanity, blending foundation into my skin. I needed to focus. We had an important meeting today about the lawsuit, and I couldn't afford distractions.  

Still, that nagging feeling sat in the pit of my stomach.  

“Ivy,” Leo’s deep voice rumbled behind me before I felt the familiar warmth of his arms wrapping around my waist. He pulled me against his chest, his head dropping to rest on my shoulder. “Do you really have to go?”  

I let out a small laugh, tilting my head slightly to glance at him. His hold was firm, almost needy, and his body heat seeped through my silk blouse.  

“You’re being a baby,” I teased, reaching up to run my fingers through his hair.  

Leo let out a dramatic sigh, pressing a slow kiss to my neck. “And what if I am? You’re leaving me all alone in this big, empty house.”  

I rolled my eyes. “Leo, you literally have an entire pack of guards outside. And a certain guest still in the mansion.”  

At the mention of Isabella, Leo tensed for the briefest second. “She’s leaving soon.”  

I turned in his arms, resting my palms against his chest. “Why is she still here?” I asked, keeping my voice casual, though I hated how much the question nagged at me.  

Leo’s expression softened as he cupped my cheek. “She always stays here when she’s in town. She doesn’t have anyone else—she’s like family.”  

Family. Right.  

I nodded, forcing a smile, but the image of Isabella lounging in this same house, swirling a glass of wine like she owned the place, flashed through my mind. I shook it off.  

“It’s fine,” I said, though my stomach twisted at the words.  

Leo studied me carefully. “Are you sure?”  

I nodded again.  

But I wasn’t. Not entirely.  

Leo exhaled before his lips curled into a smirk as his eyes swept over me. “You look beautiful.” 

His hands slid down to my waist again, his grip tightening slightly. “Oof, I could eat you up right now.”  

“St—stop,” I giggled as he buried his face in my neck, his lips teasing over my pulse point. My breath hitched.  

Leo let out a deep, satisfied growl, his teeth grazing my skin. My heart stuttered.  

I wanted him.  

I wanted him to mark me, to make me his forever.  

But just as quickly as the moment escalated, Leo pulled back, his expression shifting. His jaw clenched, and the intensity in his eyes made my breath catch.  

“What time are you getting back?” His voice was lower now, measured.  

The sudden shift caught me off guard. “Um, probably around four?”  

He grunted in response, his fingers flexing at his sides.  

“What’s wrong?” I asked, searching his face.  

“Nothing,” he muttered. “I’m coming with you today.”  

I blinked. “Leo, no.  After the stunt you pulled yesterday? Absolutely not.”  

His lips twitched, but there was no amusement in his eyes. “Then Isabella will go with you.”  

I frowned, glancing toward the door. “And why exactly does she need to?”  

Leo hesitated before answering. “Because I said so.”  

I exhaled sharply. “Leo—”  

“She’s just following my orders, Ivy.” His tone was firm, but not unkind. “That’s all.”  

Something in his expression sent a chill through me.  

I sighed, giving in. “Fine.”  

Leo’s shoulders relaxed slightly, but his eyes still held that unreadable intensity. “Good.”  

He walked me downstairs, where Isabella was already waiting, looking less than thrilled about her new assignment.  

As I leaned toward Leo, I whispered, “Are you sure she’s okay with this?”  

Leo’s smirk returned, his breath warm against my ear. “For a second there, I thought you wanted me to carry you back upstairs.”  

I swatted at his arm. “Stop.”  

“Of course she is,” he added, his voice darkening just slightly. “Does she have a choice?”  

I glanced at Isabella, who was staring straight ahead, her expression unreadable. Leo’s eyes glazed over slightly, and I recognized the telltale signs of a mindlink. My chest tightened.  

I wished I could do that.  

I wished I could communicate with him like that—share that bond, feel that connection. But I couldn’t. No matter how much I tried to distance myself from our kind, this was a reminder that I would always be different.  

A defective wolf.  

Leo pressed a lingering kiss to my lips, pulling me from my thoughts. “Be careful.”  

I nodded before stepping into the car. Isabella slid into the passenger seat, her posture stiff.  

“You don’t have to come if you don’t want to,” I murmured as we pulled away.  

“I’m just following Leo’s orders,” she responded, her voice void of emotion.  

The words sent a small shiver down my spine.  

Soon, we arrived at the office. As I stepped out, I noticed Isabella doing the same.  

“You’re following me inside?” I asked, suddenly feeling uneasy.  

“He said to be two feet away from you at all times,” she replied, her tone eerily robotic.  

I forced a smile, waving it off, but a lingering sense of unease settled in my chest. 

\---

The conference room was already filled when I stepped inside, my heels clicking sharply against the marble floors. 

The board members sat in their designated spots, and the legal team was spread out across the long glass table, their laptops open, documents stacked neatly before them.   

I inhaled deeply, composing myself. “Let’s begin.”  

Mr. David nodded. “Since our last meeting, we’ve moved forward on multiple fronts to counter Daniel Chu’s claims.”  

Coleman, the senior legal advisor, tapped his pen against the table. “Our PR team has finalized a statement reinforcing our commitment to environmental compliance. It highlights the measures we’ve taken, including independent audits and our long-standing partnerships with regulatory agencies.”  

I nodded. “Have we released it yet?”  

“Not yet,” Mr. David responded. “We’ve coordinated with a few major outlets to ensure controlled coverage. When the statement goes live, we’ll also publish supporting documentation online, including third-party verification reports.”  

“Good,” I said. “And what about the legal angle?”  

“We’ve filed a motion to dismiss the injunction on the grounds that Daniel Chu’s claims lack sufficient evidence,” Coleman replied. “Since we’ve taken corrective action on the delayed emissions reports, his argument of non-compliance is significantly weakened.”  

Leonard Crane leaned forward. “Additionally, we reached out to the regulatory boards in East Asia. We’ve secured a meeting with officials next week to reaffirm our standing. If they back us publicly, it’ll cripple Chu’s case.”  

My lips curled slightly. “And what about internal risk?”  

Mr. David exchanged a glance with Coleman before responding. “There were a few sensitive emails that, when taken out of context, could have been damaging. However, our compliance team has already reviewed and redacted unnecessary language before external parties could access them.”  

I smirked. “Proactive damage control. I like it.”  

Crane exhaled. “Look, we’re in a much stronger position than we were days ago. If Chu still wants a fight, he’s going to have a much harder time winning it.”  

I scanned the table, reading the confidence—or lack thereof—in the faces of my team. They had moved quickly, but there was still a lingering tension.  

“And if it comes down to negotiation?” I asked.  

“We’ve put together a counterproposal,” Mr. David said. “If he’s willing to back down, we’ll offer a severance package, along with an NDA that prevents him from making further accusations.”  

My eyes darkened. “If he accepts, fine. If not…” I let the sentence hang, the message clear.  

The meeting concluded soon after, with the team dispersing to implement the final touches on their strategy.  

As I exited the boardroom, the tension of the discussion still coiled around my shoulders. I was deep in thought, mapping out the next steps, when Eva appeared, phone in hand.  

“Ms. Blackwood,” she said hesitantly. “Front desk called. Someone’s here to see you.”  

I exhaled, already dreading the interruption. “Who?”  

Eva’s expression turned cautious. “She said her name is Lila.”  

My stomach clenched and I swallowed past the lump in my throat. “Send her up.”  

****

I barely had a moment to breathe before a soft, deliberate knock echoed through my office.  

Then the door creaked open.  

And a nightmare with my face walked in.  

Lila.  

"Hey, sis," she sneered, a smirk tugging at her lips as she pulled off her hoodie and slipped off her nose mask.

My hands tightened into fists on my lap. “What do you want, Lila?”  

Lila stepped forward, her movements slow, deliberate. But before she could get any closer, Isabella was suddenly between us, blocking her path with a cold, unyielding glare.  

Lila tilted her head, licking her lips. “Ooo, feisty,” she cooed. “You got yourself a little guard dog?”  

“Watch it,” Isabella growled, shoving her back roughly.  

Lila laughed, a cruel, mocking sound.  

I remained unmoved. “Why are you here, Lila?”  

Lila’s eyes gleamed with something dark, something dangerous. “Oh, nothing serious.” She leaned in, her voice dropping to a whisper. “You owe me a debt, remember? I’ve come to collect.”