Page 103 of Thorns of Malice

Lilly tilts her head. "Ivy, what kind of heart problems did your dad experience?"

"He had several heart attacks over the last fifteen years. The last one was his seventh."

She gapes at me, then says, "Oh, wow. That's tough."

"Yeah."

"Well, I'm sorry to hear that. Are you sure it's Dax's fault though? That's a pretty big accusation to put on him."

I finish my glass of champagne and rise. "I don't know what to believe anymore. Coming back here, it's..." I look around the room and then stare at the ceiling.

"We're back in toxic city," she finishes for me.

I look at her. "Exactly."

"Well, life is what we make it, and sometimes things aren't always as they seem. I think you and I, of all people, know that, right?" she states.

I don't answer for a minute, then agree, "Yeah, you're right."

She shrugs. "Okay, well, maybe give Dax some leeway. After the video was released, he changed, just so you know."

"So he says," I mutter.

"He did," she insists.

"How?"

Lilly licks her lips and studies me. She finally says, "Dax was a wreck when you left. He stopped associating with Bobby. They were no longer friends, and it was very clear. His hatred for Avery came out at full throttle. He became a hermit and kept to himself."

"Really?" I bite my lip, thinking about Dax all by himself.

"Yes."

A moment passes and I ask, "Do you think Avery or Bobby released the video at Clifton?"

"Avery, definitely," she answers.

"Why do you think it's her and not Bobby?"

She snorts. "Bobby wanted to hold the video footage over my father's head. When it got released, he no longer could."

I gape at her.

She refills her champagne. "Don't look so shocked. We're talking about Bobby Winston."

I take a sip of my drink, asking, "How do you know he wanted to do that?"

"Avery blamed Bobby. Dax went off on him for releasing it. He reminded him that they wanted to use it to extort my father."

My pulse increases. "Dax was in on Bobby's plan?"

She winces. "Sorry. But yes, he was at the time."

Anger fills me.

"Don't look so pissed. In the end, Dax lost. I think he paid for it," she declares.

"How did he pay for it?"

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