Chapter 5

The car pulled up to the house, Liam stepped forward to open the door for Ivy. She didn't wait for him to finish, pushing the door open herself and stepping out onto the pavement. Her eyes were fixed on the front door, her movements swift and decisive.

Victor watched her go, his eyes narrowing in frustration. He had expected some spark of defiance, some hint of fear. But Ivy's indifference was a slap in the face.

As he sat there, his eyes locked on the front door, he sensed a presence above. He looked up to see Ethan standing on the balcony, his eyes fixed intently on Victor.

Victor's smile spread slowly across his face. He knew Ethan was trying to intimidate him, to make him back down. But Victor wasn't afraid. He was never afraid.

He stared back at Ethan, his eyes glinting with amusement. He could see the tension in Ethan's shoulders, the tightness in his jaw. Victor's smirk grew wider.

For a moment, the two men locked eyes, the air thick with tension. Then Victor broke the spell, his laughter low and husky. He turned away, dismissing Ethan, and slid into the driver's seat.

Liam closed the door behind him, his expression neutral. "Sir," he said, his voice low.

Victor's eyes flicked up to meet his. "Yes, Liam?"

"Nothing, sir," Liam replied, his eyes drifting back to the house.

Victor's smile grew wider. He knew Liam was loyal, knew he would do whatever it took to protect him. And soon, Victor would have Ivy and her brothers right where he wanted them.

The car disappeared into the night, leaving Ethan standing alone on the balcony, his eyes fixed on the darkness. He knew Victor was a dangerous man, a man who would stop at nothing to get what he wanted.

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The engagement day had finally arrived, and the Smith mansion was abuzz with activity. The sound of laughter and chatter filled the air, accompanied by the clinking of glasses and the soft strains of music. But amidst all the joy and celebration, one person stood out for their silence and sadness. Ivy, the bride-to-be, sat alone in her room, her eyes fixed on some distant point outside the window.

Her door creaked open, and Julian, her brother, slipped inside. "Can I come in?" he asked, his voice soft with concern.

Ivy turned towards him, a hint of a smile on her lips. "Since when do you need my permission to come to my room?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Julian chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Soon you'll be half a Blackwood, so I thought I'd better start showing some respect."

Ivy's smile faltered, and she looked away, her eyes welling up with tears. "It's a very bad joke," she said, her voice trembling.

Julian's expression turned serious, and he sat down beside her, taking her hand in his. "I'm sorry, Ivy. I was just trying to make you smile."

Ivy's gaze drifted back to his, and she smiled lightly, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "That's why you're my favorite brother," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Otherwise, Ethan and Lucas oppa have stopped talking to me. They don't care about me."

Julian's grip on her hand tightened. "It's not what you think, Ivy. They're both worried about you. If it were in their power to stop this marriage, they would have done it long ago. You don't realize it, but you're a precious treasure to all three of us. We're forced to give you to someone else."

Ivy's face crumpled, and she buried her face in Julian's shoulder, sobbing uncontrollably. Julian held her close, stroking her hair, his eyes closed in pain.

After a few moments, Ivy pulled back, her eyes red-rimmed, her face pale. Julian handed her a handkerchief, and she blew her nose, her eyes welling up again.

"Don't worry, my dear sister," Julian said, his voice low and urgent. "You're a Smith, and Smiths neither give up nor are weak. You have to show Victor Blackwood the living hell, so he refuses to marry you. Only you can do it. You're a Smith, and you won't let Dad and all of us down, right?"

Ivy nodded, her eyes flashing with determination. Julian kissed her forehead, and they both smiled, a fierce glint in their eyes.

"You can do it, Ivy," Julian whispered. "We'll be right behind you, cheering you on."

As the evening wore on, Victor and Ivy stood together, greeting their guests with fake smiles plastered on their faces. Ivy's eyes sparkled with a hint of desperation as she shook hands with the well-wishers, her gaze drifting to the ring on her finger. She felt a jolt of surprise, as if she had forgotten the weight of the diamond on her hand.

Her eyes met Victor's, and he smiled, his lips curling up in a cold, calculated smile. Ivy's own smile faltered, her lips trembling with rage. Victor leaned in close, his breath hot against her ear.

"Smile, little Smith," he whispered, his voice dripping with menace. "Otherwise, you know what can happen. Don't think that I'm in the Smith mansion, so I can't kill anyone here. I have twice as many men outside as your brothers have guards here."

Ivy's face paled, her heart racing with fear. She knew Victor was capable of anything, and the thought sent a shiver down her spine.

"Anyway, you're not that attractive to make me hard," Victor continued, his voice dripping with disdain. "But pretend like a good fiancée."

Ivy's eyes flashed with anger, her voice barely above a whisper. "You are the worst person in the world. You will burn in hellfire."

Victor's smile grew wider, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Oh, really? But you're going to see hell in this world only."

Ivy's smile returned—a cold, calculated smile. "Let's see who shows hell to whom."

Victor's smirk grew wider, his eyes crinkling at the corners. Ivy's gaze drifted away, her eyes scanning the room with a mixture of desperation and defiance.

"I hate this smirk," she muttered under her breath, her eyes flashing with anger.

Victor's laughter was low and husky, sending a shiver down Ivy's spine. She knew she had to play the game and pretend to be the happy fiancée, but her heart was screaming with rage and fear.

As they continued to greet their guests, Ivy's mind raced with thoughts of escape, of rebellion. She knew she couldn't take on Victor alone, but she was determined to find a way out of this nightmare. And she would start by pretending to be the perfect fiancée, all the while plotting her revenge.