Chapter 7

Julian's face twisted in anguish as he pleaded with his brothers. "We shouldn't send Ivy there; she's not married yet. It's not right."

Lucas's expression turned stern, his voice firm. "That's why we are sending Ivy there. Do you think we don't care about our only sister? I had promised our dying mother that I would take care of her more like a father than a brother. We care about her more than you, Julian."

Ethan's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched in determination. "Just one mistake from Victor, and it won't take me even a moment to kill him. We agree to let Ivy go there so that we can bring her back forever. Victor is a short-tempered man; surely our little devil will let his temper get high easily."

Lucas nodded in agreement. "If he touches our sister even a little bit, we will not let him go easily. It is clearly stated in the agreement that if our sister gets even slightly hurt, then the agreement ends there."

Julian's eyes widened in horror. "So you want Victor to hurt Ivy?"

Lucas's expression remained resolute. "Yes, I do. We need to know if he's capable of controlling his temper."

Julian's voice shook with anger. "What if he killed her?"

Ethan's confidence was unwavering. "He won't do it. Blackwood doesn't kill women; it's a code he lives by. And I know Victor better; I'm right."

Julian's face contorted in frustration. "How can you be so sure? You're risking Ivy's life on your assumption."

Ethan's eyes locked onto Julian's, his gaze unyielding. "I've studied Victor's behavior, his patterns. He's a man who values control above all else. He won't kill Ivy because he needs her to maintain his grip on our family."

Lucas nodded in agreement. "Ethan's right, Julian. We have to trust him on this."

Julian's shoulders slumped in defeat, his heart heavy with worry. He could only hope that his brothers were right and Ivy would return to them unharmed.

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When the car came to a stop in front of the sleek, modern building, Ivy's heart skipped a beat. She had never imagined that Victor's home would be so grand. Liam's laughter echoed through the air as he opened the car door for her.

"Does your boss live in an apartment in this building?" Ivy asked, her eyes wide with wonder.

Liam's smile was amusing. "What do you think of Victor? He likes solitude and hates neighbors, so he's the owner of this building and has a penthouse on the top. This is his personal house, where you will live from now on."

Ivy's eyes widened in shock. "What! This entire building belongs to him?"

Liam nodded, his expression serious. "Yes, and the guards you see outside are here to ensure his privacy. Let's go now."

As they stepped inside the penthouse, Ivy was struck by its beauty. The modern decor and sleek lines seemed to whisper luxury. A woman in her 40s, dressed in a crisp maid's uniform, greeted them with a warm smile.

"This is Maria," Liam said, his voice brief. "Since Victor doesn't like many people, Maria does all the housework and cooking."

Ivy returned Maria's smile, feeling a sense of relief at the warm welcome. "Nice to meet you, Maria."

Maria's eyes crinkled at the corners. "Welcome home, Ms. Smith. I'll show you to your room and explain the house rules."

Ivy's ears pricked up at the mention of rules. "Rules?"

Liam nodded, his expression serious. "Yes, Victor has certain expectations. Maria will fill you in. I'm getting late, so I'll take my leave."

With that, he turned and disappeared, leaving Ivy alone with Maria.

"Follow me, Ms. Smith," Maria said, her voice gentle. "Your room is this way."

As they walked through the penthouse, Ivy couldn't help but feel a sense of trepidation. What kind of rules could Victor possibly have? And what would happen if she broke them?

Maria led Ivy to her room, a serene smile on her face. "This is your room, Ms. Smith. Just yesterday, Sir had it redecorated to your liking."

Ivy's eyes widened as she took in the room's transformation. The walls were now a soft white, her favorite color, and the furniture was sleek and modern. "How does he know white is my favorite color?" she asked, a hint of surprise in her voice.

Maria chuckled. "It's not a big deal for Sir to know your preferences. He has his ways."

Ivy's gaze drifted to the closet, where rows of designer clothes hung. "I have brought my clothes, I don't need to wear the clothes of his choice."

Maria smiled understandingly. "As you wish, Ms. Smith. The upper floor belongs to Sir, and he has instructed you not to go there. He is very particular about his things and doesn't like them messed up."

Ivy's eyes narrowed, a spark of defiance igniting within her. "What, he has the whole floor and I only get this guest room? Mean Victor."

Maria's smile remained serene. "You should take a shower, Ms. Smith. Your favorite body wash and shampoo are kept in your bathroom."

Ivy nodded, her mind racing with a devilish idea. "Yes, thank you, Maria."

With that, she disappeared into the bathroom, her heart pounding with excitement. But instead of showering, Ivy began to gather her belongings, her eyes fixed on the door. She had no intention of following Victor's rules, and she was determined to make her presence known.

Sneaking out of her room, Ivy made her way to the upper floor, her heart racing with anticipation. She had no idea what she would find, but she was ready to face whatever lay ahead.

As she reached the top of the stairs, Ivy saw Victor's room, the door slightly ajar. She pushed it open, her eyes scanning the room with a mischievous grin.

The room was sleek and modern, with a massive bed dominating the center. Ivy's eyes landed on the bedside table, where a photo of Victor and his family sat. She picked it up, her eyes locked on Victor's face.

"You may have the upper hand now, Victor," she whispered, "but I'm not going down without a fight."

With that, Ivy began to unpack her bags, her clothes and belongings spilling out onto the floor. She was taking over Victor's room, and she wouldn't leave until she had claimed it as her own.

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