The Unwanted Daughter: When Love Comes Too Late Chapter 265: Something Is Wrong

Ivy turned her head and saw Simon staring at her, as if trying to read her thoughts.

She met his gaze calmly, silent and unshaken.

After a long pause, Simon finally said, "Yvonne has been missing for five years, and now there's news. Aren't you curious?"

Ivy seemed ready for the question and shook her head. "If she had shown up two years ago, maybe I would've cared, but not now.

"I'm grateful for the generous salary and the power to manage staff. I'm no longer the orphan who needed her to survive."

Simon looked pleased but pressed further. "But you treated her like a sister before. If she hadn't rescued you from the snow back then, you would've frozen to death. She took care of you all those years at the orphanage.

"Even after it closed, she brought you with her and raised you. Can you truly be so heartless?"

Mentioning the past briefly flickered emotion across Ivy's cold face, but it soon grew firm again.

"I owe her, but now I have to look out for myself. I believe she would want me to be well. If I get the chance, I'll repay her."

Her words were sincere but distant and cold.

However, Simon seemed even more satisfied.

"Good! That's exactly why I hold you in such high regard!" He patted her shoulder. "Don't worry. As long as you're loyal to me, I'll never treat you unfairly."

Ivy lowered her head, her tone sincere. "Thank you, Mr. Dunn."

But beneath her bowed head, her eyes held coldness and resentment.

Meanwhile, after leaving, Tracy felt a heavy weight in her chest.

In her memory, Yvonne had always been passionate and straightforward.

Her company's betrayal and the client who sent her to the Angelic Etiquette Academy had fueled her desire for revenge.

But in the end, the only thing she truly cared about was Ivy, the girl she had personally raised.

Yet, Ivy's reaction made Tracy feel she was completely undeserving of Yvonne's affection.

Tracy was angry. But once her anger faded, she sensed something was wrong.

After thinking it over, she decided to have someone look into Ivy's situation.

After all, Ivy had mattered deeply to Yvonne. Tracy couldn't judge based on a single encounter.

While waiting for the results, Tracy focused on the project.

With Andrew's approval, it moved forward quickly, free from outside interference.

But with Erin now on the team, problems began piling up.

Tracy's appointment as deputy CEO at Jackman Enterprise had caused a stir, and almost everyone in Cloudville's elite circles knew about it.

Whether from envy or genuine interest, the project drew many eyes.

Tracy was aware of that. But instead of being discreet, she chose to be bold and noticeable, almost inviting attention.

Everyone thought she was just new and eager to impress as the deputy CEO, which made her act so flashy.

No one believed that Tracy, who appeared clueless, could successfully manage such an important project without Andrew's help. They were all waiting for her to fail.

When they learned that Erin had joined the project team, even more people started watching. Andrew also kept an eye on them, worried Tracy might be strict with Erin.

Under such circumstances, Erin arrived at work on time every day, always in a cheerful mood.

She wasn't foolish enough to give up her wealthy heiress lifestyle just to work in an office. Her real goal was to target Tracy.

She took pleasure in anything that caused Tracy trouble.

There was another reason Erin felt so upbeat.

Since Tom disappeared, she had been tense for a month, worried that damaging rumors about her might surface.

But a month had passed, and though Tom was still missing, no rumors had appeared.

It seemed his threat about something being revealed after a month was just a bluff.

With the threat gone, Erin naturally felt relieved and happy.

Her good mood fueled her energy as she focused on the task Andrew had assigned—creating problems for Tracy's team.

Erin had always wanted a chance to confront Tracy, ideally forcing her to beg so Erin could control the situation.

So, she grabbed the chance Andrew gave her.