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Vice's face twisted into a cruel smile. "Reasons? Or excuses? Conveniently crafted lies to ease his conscience?" he said, his voice dripping with disdain. "He left you hanging, Ivy, dangling by a thread, willing to toss you aside for anyone who would have him. But when she said no, when he realized he was facing his own insignificance, suddenly you were his only option. The ever reliable, forgiving Ivy."

Ivy's eyes seemed to glaze over, her face crumpling into a sob as the words cut deep. Ivy knew he was right.

Vice's eyes seemed to gleam with a malevolent light as he leaned in closer, his lips brushing against her cheek in a soft, possessive kiss. The touch sent shivers down Ivy's spine, a mix of pain and desire that left her breathless and trembling with emotion.

Ivy's eyes welled up with tears as she gazed into the fireplace, the flames dancing across her face like a macabre reflection of her own inner turmoil. She felt a chill run down her spine as Vice's warm breath caressed her ear, his words like a whispered poison that seeped into her very being.

"You really think staying with James was the right choice, huh, Ivy? You call it love, but I call it weakness," he whispered, his lips brushing against her cheek in a gesture both tender and repulsive.

Ivy's gaze snapped back to Vice's face, her eyes flashing with a mix of anger and desperation. "It wasn't like that! I thought he loved me," she spat, her voice trembling with emotion.

Vice's eyes narrowed, his expression a mask of condescension. "Thought? You mean you willingly ignored the signs? The way he belittled you, the control he exerted. You chose to stay with an abusive man, thinking he would change."

Ivy's face contorted in a mix of pain and shame, her eyes welling up with tears once more. "I did it because I wanted our family to stay together!"

Vice's gaze lingered on hers, his expression a mixture of disdain and pity. "Family? Or just another excuse to mask you're fear and desperation? What kind of example were you setting for Alice? Teaching her that love means accepting abuse?"

The words cut deep, and Ivy's face crumpled, her body shaking with sobs. Vice's eyes never left hers, his expression unyielding, as if daring her to deny the truth.

Ivy's voice was barely audible, her words hanging in the air like a challenge. "I didn't want her to grow up without a father!"

Vice's lips brushed against hers, his kiss soft and possessive. "And what did that choice teach her? That a man's love is conditional, that suffering is a norm?" Ivy's eyes snapped back to his, her gaze burning with a fierce intensity. "I thought things could get better! I wanted to believe him."

Vice's gaze lingered on hers, his eyes cold and unforgiving. "Believing in someone who doesn’t value you is the definition of weakness, Ivy. You thought love was enough, butit never is when the love you receive is laced with pain and control."

Ivy tried to look away from Vice, her body shaking, as her tears flowed steadily down her face. Vice’s grip on her chin tightened, his fingers digging deep into her skin.

"You stayed because it was easier than facing the truth. But now, Alice will learn that standing up and walking away from toxicity is a sign of strength, not weakness," he whispered, his voice dripping with malice.

As Vice's words hung in the air, Ivy felt a sense of despair wash over her, a realization that she had been living in a fantasy world, one that was built on lies and deceit. The flames in the fireplace seemed to flicker in sync with her heartbeat, a reminder that some wounds ran too deep to heal.

Vice's grip on her chin relaxed, and he leaned in, his lips brushing against hers. This time, there was no softness, no gentleness. Only a harsh, unforgiving kiss that left Ivy gasping for air.

Vice pulled back and stared at her, his expression unreadable. "You're a fool," he said, his voice harsh. "But perhaps that's what makes you so... appealing." He leaned back, his hand stroking her cheek with a gentleness that was almost tender.

The flames in the fireplace cast flickering shadows across Vice's face, highlighting the harsh lines of anger and pain that had become all too familiar to her. His words were a slap in the face, a brutal reminder that she was a pawn in a game she didn't fully understand. Yet, in the depths of her soul, she knewthat she had to break free from the cycle of dependency and manipulation that had defined her life for so long.

Ivy took a deep, shaky breath, pushing herself up to look into his eyes. "You're right," she said, her voice steady despite the turmoil raging inside her. "James didn't love me for who I am. But that's not going to stop me from loving Alice. She's my priority, and if I have to endure this hell to keep her safe, then I will."

Vice's gaze softened, his hand stroking her cheek with surprising gentleness. "Your dedication to you're daughter is commendable," he murmured. "But remember, love can be a powerful weapon, and it's one I wield as easily as I do fear."

The words hung in the air, a chilling reminder of her predicament. Yet, Ivy felt a spark of defiance. "Love isn't a weapon," she said firmly. "It's the one thing you can never take from me."

Vice watched her closely, his own desire for her unyielding dominance warring with a strange fascination at her unyielding spirit. He had never encountered someone so willing to endure for the sake of love, and it intrigued him, even as it enraged him. He had taken so much from her, yet she still had the audacity to look at him with defiance in her eyes.

Vice's eyes narrowed, the flames reflected in the cold steel of his gaze. A low growl coming from his throat, his thumb tracing a path down her cheek to her full, trembling lips.

"Is that so?" he asked, his voice a soft, dangerous whisper. "Then let's see just how much you're willing to sacrifice for that love."

With a sudden, violent jerk, he flipped her onto her stomach, her face pressing into the plush pillows. She gasped as he yanked her arms behind her back, securing them with a silk tie that seemed to appear from nowhere.

"You think you can outsmart me?" he snarled, his breath hot on her neck. "You think you're love will save you?"

Ivy felt a chill run down her spine, but she didn't flinch. "It's not about outsmarting you," she replied, her voice surprisingly firm. "It's about surviving."

Vice chuckled darkly, the sound sending waves of dread through her body. "Surviving?" He leaned in closer, his teeth grazing her ear. "You're doing more than surviving, little mouse. You're thriving in this game."

The weight of his body pressing her into the carpet was a stark reminder of his power over her. Yet she found strength in her conviction. "I'm not playing you're game," she said, her voice shaking slightly. "I'm playing my own."