END OF FLASHBACK

Ivy felt a lump form in her throat, her eyes widening in shock. "That's ...." She paused,her voice trembling with both fear and sadness.

Ivy's eyes welled up with tears as she struggled to process the horrific truth that Irene had just spilled. She felt as if her breath had been knocked out of her.

She stumbled backward, as if trying to escape the reality of her father's actions.

"So that's what happened. Is that the truth?" Ivy whispered, her voice cracking with emotion. She looked at Irene, her eyes pleading for reassurance that this was all just a terrible nightmare. But Irene's somber expression only confirmed...