Page 191 of Thorns of Malice

I grin. "It's okay, just come out with me. You don't have to pretend to know what's going on."

"No?" she questions.

I chuckle and shake my head. "Nope."

"Why can't you tell me whatever it is that you're announcing?"

I kiss her head. "You'll see. Come on."

We step through the doorway into the room full of reporters. Holding her hand, I lead Ivy to the stage with the podium and microphone.

Reporters scream in a deafening tone.

I release Ivy's hand and hold mine in the air, advising, "Quiet, please."

Since the scandals came to light, the reporters have become more aggressive at press conferences. They ignore my plea for silence.

Ivy steps closer to me.

I yell, "Quiet! Please!"

Slowly, the noise dies down.

I wait a moment to gather my thoughts.

A reporter calls out, "What's the newest Carrington scandal?"

A buzz fills the room, and I hold my hands in the air again, ordering, "Please. Let me speak."

It takes another moment for the room to return to silence.

I begin, "It's a shame my sister's and brother's actions tainted the Seducing Ivy hybrid. There's no doubt the Carrington name has been tarnished. I can't express the anger and disappointment I feel toward my siblings, but my heart aches for all their victims." I pause for a moment and glance at Ivy.

In the last few months, she's told her story, just like the others. She's been brave, and I've never felt so proud.

Flashes from cameras go off.

I blink and turn back to the reporters. "However, all of us have to move forward. There's more to the Carrington story and the future of my grandfather's legacy as well as Ivy's father's legacy."

Confusion is evident in the faces of the reporters. I glance at Ivy, and she has the same expression.

I declare, "The next thing you report regarding the Carrington name should be this. I'm not the rightful owner of the Seducing Ivy patent."

Gasps fill the air, and the reporters begin shouting.

"Did you say you're not the rightful owner of Seducing Ivy?"

"So you stole it?"

"Who does it belong to?"

I hold my hand in the air again, trying to calm the room.

Ivy smiles at me, and my heart soars. I still can't believe how lucky I am. She finally forgave me, and my life has never been better.

When the room quiets, I click on the remote. A screen behind me displays John Ford's face, and Ivy gasps.

I grab her hand and squeeze it. She blinks hard, and I sling my arm around her waist and tug her into me. I admit, "Seducing Ivy was a hybrid created by John Ford, Ivy's father. He was a hardworking man, and he put himself through college in West Virginia."

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