After a well needed rest, she made herself ready for the dinner. Without much thought in her attire, she got dressed and didn't forget to put on make up. Hiding her tired face. Satisfied with her look, she left her room.
An hour later, she was in front of her grandparents mansion. The view of the house brought out ugly memories. She always hated it. She was always constantly reminded of her so called inferiority every time she steps a foot in their house. It made her remember when she was pleading for their love and care. The present Ivy could only mock her old self, so naïve.
She got out of the car, and headed to the house door. The door opened, the butler standing to its side. He helped her with her coat before guiding her to the dinning room, already full of people sitting at the table. Her grandfather and father stood at the opposite end of the table. The only chair empty was that on her father left, she righteously took the seat.
Present at the table were two uncles, aunt and her five cousins. With no greetings nor acknowledgement to anyone except her parents, she sat down.
"Is it how you have been taught? No greeting your elders," he scolded her. Everyone nodded approving his word. Ivy was the youngest on the table. Karl was the last child to his parent and the last to get married and have children. All Ivy's cousin were older than her with a couple of years.
"My elders didn't want me at their table, I'm acting pair to their wishes. Not marking my presence," she said while the maid were serving her.
"Go on. Ignore my presence. Behave as if I'm not at the table," she added further.
Ignoring the glare she was receiving, she served herself some wine. The maid failed to do so. She couldn't go through the night with alcohol in her system. She may lost control if not.
"Exactly what I was talking about. With this attitude of hers, it's a matter of time before she bankrupt the company. This is while Michael should be the one taking after Karl," her grandfather said
The ones on his side nodded vigorously while the one wishing to see Ivy as heir remained silent.
"Karl, I think it's time for Michael to work in the main branch of the company. The closer he is from you, the better," he added.
Hearing his words, Ivy looked at the person of interest, sitting on the right of her grandfather, who looked everything but comfortable but he didn't speak up. She rolled her eyes at his pathetic behavior. And he was the one going against her, he stood no chance.
Upon thinking that, she was reminded of the painful reality. She couldn't covet the post anymore.
"I think the same. He already made his proof managing one of the subsidiary. It's time for him to train for his future post," her grand uncle, Michael's father said, sitting beside his son. Agreeing with his father, how couldn't he?
"I agree," her second uncle said.
"He is already this old. He should have entered long ago," he added.
Michael was five years older than Ivy. His words made perfect sense. To Ivy though, she couldn't unsee the fact her second uncle support them merely because he could easily control them unlike her or her father. If Michael took the direction, he was gaining grand benefits.
In all, while they all raised their support for Michael, Ivy remain quiet. All she did was to drink, no food entered her mouth. Her unusual silence at the topic unsettled everyone, even her parents. She inputted nothing, opposed to nothing as if none of it was a matter to her.
Michael himself never left his eyes on her, waiting for her to say something. To stand for herself like she usually did but did nothing. Her constant drinking was making him worried. She never drank much in public. He could feel something was wrong. Not only him, they all could felt that.
"Why him though?" Ivy said. To the relief of everyone. Her calm was more dangerous than her storm.
"Still carrying the stupid idea to take the lead?" He grandfather asked.
She shook her head, shocking everyone.
"It's not a stupid idea. It's in fact the decision to be taken," her words calming them down.
"Why I meant was, he isn't the only one to take the post. Putting me aside, Gregory is a better candidate to me. Even Jacob could do. Why not Rebecca? She is also qualified. You made it seems like only Michael is capable when all the third generation of this family is capable and proved it. Why your insistence on Michael? I'm curious," she finished.
Her words brought all the person she stated attention on patriarch of the family. It wasn't like they never thought of it, but never said a word. Unlike her, they were afraid to offend their grandfather. They also wanted to claim the position, seeing Ivy, the legitimate heir being rejected but their family already choose the one to take her place. But why him, they also wanted to know.
Causing the commotion she wanted, she left the rest to them and blank out of her surroundings. Her problem at hand was all she could think of. How was she going to go about it?
She wanted no one to know, not even her parents. How would she able to hide it from them. Who would want to marry someone like her? Arrange marriage purpose are merely for connection and children, with her incapability of having children, which family would accept her? None, she knew that for sure. The more she thought about it, the more depressed she felt.
"Your father spoiled you too much. I warned him but he won't listen. Look at you, drinking with no respect for the people around you. This lack of respect is because of the lack of a man authority in your life. How is your search for a husband going?" Her grandfather said, successful redrawing Ivy from her head.
She looked at him like she saw a ghost. Marriage? How did they return to that? Weren't they talking about inheritance a few seconds ago?
"How is going with the list I sent you two weeks ago, haven't find a suitable candidate yet? I have put in it all the legible bachelor not only in the country but out as well," her grandmother said.
"Is doing fine," Sofia replied with a faint smile on her face, she understood clearly what was going on and why on the list, most men presented was from abroad. They wanted to have Ivy away as possible from the company. She hated every part of it, but didn't protested because she was worried about Ivy who only saw Liam. She wanted her to see the other possibilities left to her. Liam wasn't the only man on earth.
"The problem is, no one was go enough for her, we are still searching," she said as politely as she could.
She was never accepted and love by Karl's parent. She have learnt to deal with it but she hated the fact they were the same with Ivy who was their granddaughter. They favor all their grandchildren except her and Sofia couldn't help but feel guilty because of it.
"Not enough? What about the Jane smith, he is just perfect for her, being it in age status and everything. He is such a sweet gentleman," she said.
Even though she didn't like Ivy they won't married her with just anyone. She was a member of the Stone family. She would marry to the best man out they and marrying Jane would be a good thing for their company, having their support would propelled it to another level.
"Jane, a gentleman?" Ivy laughed.
"If so, this world was bound to perish," she added. "If you like him that much though, you should take him for Rebecca. As the elder, it's normal for her to marry first," she gulped another glass of wine.
"How silly of me, all you want is to chase me out of this family, not her. How low of you," she added.
"That's enough," her grandfather slapped the table, gaining everyone attention but Ivy's. He saw red .
"Karl can't you discipline your daughter? Look at how disrespectful she is and she is drinking herself in front of you us but you don't say a words. Is this the child you are so proud off?" he scoffed shocking his head in disappointment.
It was in such moment he regrets giving his place to Karl. He was always a strong headed and always did what he wanted compared to his brothers who followed him like a dog. It was what made him choice him but his behavior seems to have been past to his daughter.
"She is even incapable of choosing a husband, you want her to manage an enterprise." He complained.
"Jane Smith is really a perfect choice for her. I think we would should set on him," her grandmother insisted.
She excitedly started to praise Jane and said how amazing he is and how good fit he was for Ivy. She calmly looked at them as they planned her life once again in front of her with no care of her desire nor opinion.
She ignore their words and served herself another glass of wine, forgetting it was a dinner not drinking session and completely disregarding the dishes in front of her, for a foodie like her, it made her mother worried.
"I don't remember given you permission to plan my daughter life. She said she wasn't ready and don't fine the right one so we would wait until she is," Karl finally spoke after a long time.
"I'm her grandfather of course I have the right to decide in her life," he said righteously.
"And I'm her father and I said no one is taking a decision for her, she marry if she wants to and if she doesn't she can just stay at home with me,"
"You are not serious… "
"The person to take my daughter away from me need to be at least as good as me if not more or else he can just go to hell," he said and covered Ivy hands on the table with his and gave her a reassuring smile. A promise he would always be by her side no matter what. His small gesture calmed Ivy heart who was in tourbillons.
"Dad…" her father's love for her would never stop surprising her.