Page 15 of Thorns of Malice

Jaxon pulls it out, swipes the screen to unlock it, and hands it to me.

I pull up his Google search and then insist, "You can't tell anyone. Please. This has to stay between us."

He nods. "Okay. You have my word," he promises. "Whoever these people are, are they threatening you?"

"No, they've had nothing to do with me since the day we were kicked off their estate."

Jaxon exhales a deep breath, continuing to stroke my head. "What they did was horrible based on what you discussed in our meeting, but I only know pieces, Ivy. I know it's hard for you to talk about it, but I need to know who they are so I can understand why you believe you killed your father."

"Promise me this stays between us," I repeat once again, worried about anyone knowing who they really are. Though, I don't know why I have that fear.

He vows, "I promise."

I slowly type into his phone "Seducing Ivy." I click on the link. The new website with the fragrance I've looked at way too many times over the last week pops up.

Jaxon's eyes widen the moment he sees it. "You're talking about the Carringtons?"

I sniffle harder, trying not to cry, but I can't help it. New tears fall. "Yes."

"We just placed a huge order for the Seducing Ivy flower," he says.

I start to cry harder.

"You're Ivy. They named it after you," he states, putting two and two together.

"Yes."

The color drains from his face. "They stole the hybrid from your dad?"

I nod.

"Who did it? Dax or Avery?"

I shrug. "I don't know, but it doesn't matter."

"The patent's in Dax's name. It would've been him."

"Not necessarily. You don't know them. You don't know what Avery's capable of...what either of them are capable of," I admit.

Moments pass, and the tension grows.

"Please say something," I plead.

Jaxon strokes the side of my head. "Ivy, how do you know this was your dad's hybrid?"

"The night he died, I found all his notes."

"Where?"

"His leather notebook, where he kept all his creations. It was on the table. For some reason, I opened it. Avery and Dax hadbeen on TV talking about her perfume. A printout of the patent was folded up inside his book."

Jaxon questions, "Did he create it when he worked for the Carringtons?"

"No."

"How do you know?"

"He didn't," I snap.

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