The tension in the hospital room was suffocating. I watched Alistair's internal struggle play across his face as Ivy's sobs filled the sterile air.
"Fine," Alistair finally said, his voice hollow. "I'll stay."
Relief washed over Ivy's face, quickly replaced by triumph as she shot me a victorious glance. She thought she'd won.
"But," Alistair continued firmly, "there will be conditions."
Ivy's smile faltered. "Conditions?"
"First, you will return Hazel's grandmother's bracelet. It doesn't belong to you."
Tanya interjected, "That bracelet was a gift—"
"It was never yours to give," I cut her off coldly. "That bracelet has been in my mother's family for generations."
Ivy's face hardened as she clutched her wrist possessively. The jade bracelet glinted under the harsh hospital lights. My grandmother's precious heirloom, now adorning the wrist of the woman who had stolen everything from me.
"I won't give it back," Ivy declared petulantly. "It's mine now."
