Ivy decided to confront Aurora one last time. She couldn't live her life looking over her shoulder, fearing the shadows of Verdant Manor.
She returned to the estate under the cover of night. The house loomed before her, its windows glowing faintly. Ivy's heart raced as she slipped through the side entrance, her footsteps silent on the polished floors.
Aurora was waiting for her in the library. She sat by the fireplace, a glass of wine in her hand, her expression unreadable.
"I knew you'd come back," Aurora said, her voice soft but laced with a dangerous edge.
"I came for answers," Ivy said, standing her ground. "I need to know the truth about Sophia."
Aurora's face darkened. She set the glass down and stood, her movements deliberate. "Sophia betrayed me," she said, her voice trembling. "I loved her, and she left. She didn't understand what we had."
"You killed her," Ivy said, the words feeling heavy in the air.
Aurora didn't deny it. Instead, she stepped closer, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I would never hurt you, Ivy. You're different. You're everything to me."
Ivy's breath hitched as Aurora reached out to touch her face. For a moment, she saw the vulnerability in Aurora's eyes, the brokenness beneath the obsession. But then she remembered the photographs, the locked room, the lies.
"I can't do this," Ivy said, stepping back.
Aurora's face twisted in anguish. "You're mine, Ivy. You can't leave me!"
The rage in Aurora's voice sent a chill down Ivy's spine. She turned to run, but Aurora grabbed her, pulling her close. They struggled, their bodies colliding as books tumbled from the shelves.
In the chaos, Ivy grabbed a heavy bookend and swung it, striking Aurora across the head. Aurora crumpled to the floor, her eyes wide with shock before closing.