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Ivy looked at him in disbelief. "Thank you," she murmured, her voice filled with genuine gratitude.

She couldn't help but appreciate the gesture.

It was something she never thought she would say to the man who had taken her from her life, but here she was, her heart swelling with an unexpected warmth.

Vice took a step towards her, and before she could react, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into an embrace that was surprisingly gentle.

His chest was firm against hers. For a moment, she allowed herself to lean into the comfort he offered, to believe that maybe, there was some good in him.

But as quickly as it had come, the warmth dissipated, replaced by a coldness that seeped into her soul and left it uneasy. She stiffened in his arms, remembering the deal she had made.

Vice leaned down, his breath tickling her ear. "Remember our agreement, Ivy," he whispered, his grip on her tightening slightly. "This is you're new reality."

The words sent a shiver down Ivy's spine. She nodded, pulling away from his embrace. "I won't forget," she said, her voice firm. She scooped up Pomni, who was eagerly sniffing at the new toys. "Let's go explore, Alice," she said, steeling herself for what was to come.

They spent hours in the playroom, the puppy's excitement mirroring Alice's as they played together.

Ivy couldn't help but feel a glimmer of happiness, watching her daughter laugh and giggle, a sound that had been absent from her life for so long.

Yet, the weight of their captivity remained, a constant reminder that this joy was built on a foundation of fear and manipulation.

As the grand clock in the hallway chimed nine times, Ivy knew it was time to enforce bedtime. "Come on, Alice," she said gently, scooping up Pomni. "It's time for you to go to sleep."

Alice's eyes widened with feigned protest; her voice filled with mock seriousness. "But I'm not even sleepy," she said, stifling a yawn.

Ivy couldn't help but chuckle, despite the heavy burden weighing on her. "Five more minutes," she conceded, setting the puppy down on the plush rug. "But only if you promise to go straight to bed afterward."

Alice nodded solemnly, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Cross my heart, hope to die," she said, her little hand miming the gesture.

Ivy couldn't help but laugh, the sound feeling foreign in the castle's oppressive silence. "Okay," she said, bending down to give her a kiss. "Five more minutes."

As the clock chimed its final note, Alice and Pomni tumbled into the plush bed, surrounded by the warm glow of the night light.

The puppy curled up cuddling against Alice's arms, her tiny tail thumping against her arm as Alice whispered sweet nothings to her new fuzzy baby.

Ivy's heart ached at the sight, a reminder of the innocence that Vice's world threatens to steal from them both.

"Mommy?" Alice asked, her voice a sleepy whisper. "Is this really our home now?"

Ivy's heart tightened in her chest. "Yes, sweetie," she said, tucking the blankets around her.

"What about daddy?" Alice asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Ivy felt her heart crack open, the question hitting her like a blow to the chest. She took a deep breath, trying to compose herself before she replied.

"Daddy and I can't be together anymore, baby," she said, her voice wavering.

She stroked Alice's hair, feeling the softness of it under her fingertips.

"We couldn’t stop fighting, and we didn't make each other happy. "

Alice's eyes searched hers, looking for an explanation that her daughter could understand.

Ivy knew that the truth was complex, but she had to find a way to simplify it for her daughter.

"Remember how sometimes two people love each other, but they just can't get along?

" she asked, her voice as gentle as a lullaby.

Alice nodded, her eyes welling up with tears.

"Well," Ivy continued, taking a deep breath, "that's what happened with me and daddy.

We loved each other so much, but we couldn't make it work anymore.

" She paused, letting the words sink in.

"It's like trying to fit two puzzle pieces that don't match, no matter how hard you try they just don’t fit together. "

Alice's lower lip quivered, and she clutched Pomni tighter. "But why can't we all live together?" she asked, her voice trembling.

Ivy took a moment to gather her thoughts, her eyes misting over.

"Because sometimes, Alice," she began, her voice cracking slightly, "love isn't enough.

Daddy and I had a very special love, but it got all tangled up in other things that weren't good for us.

And when love gets like that, it can turn into something sad and hurtful. "

Alice looked up at her mother, her eyes pooling with unshed tears. "Does it make you sad, Mommy?"

A lump formed in Ivy's throat, and she managed a nod.

"It does, baby," she choked out, her voice heavy with feeling.

"Grieving someone who's still here is extremely hard.

To do." She stopped, her gaze softening as she met her daughter's troubled eyes.

"Think of it like a favorite toy that's broken beyond repair.

You still love it, but you have to let it go. "

Alice sniffled, clutching Pomni closer. "But why can’t we fix it?" she asked hopefully.

Ivy's hand paused mid-stroke on her hair, her eyes reflecting the soft glow of the nightlight.

"Sometimes, baby," she said, her voice thick with unshed tears, "even when we want to fix something with all our heart, it just can't be put back together.

No matter how much love, time and effort we put into it.

" Ivy took a deep breath, her heart breaking.

"But it's okay to miss that person and love them from a far.

That's what we call 'moving on,' and it's one of the bravest and best things you can do.

For not only yourself but the other person too. "

Alice looked down at Pomni, her tiny face a picture of concentration. "So, we can still love daddy even if he's not here?" she asked.

Ivy nodded, her heart aching. "Absolutely.

Love doesn't just go away because someone isn't with you.

It's like a little piece of him that lives in you're heart forever.

" She paused, taking a moment to gather her thoughts.

"But sometimes, when people don't get along, they have to live apart to be happy.

And that's what's best for everyone, even though it doesn't feel like it and it hurts. "

Alice's gaze remained fixed on her mother's face, trying to understand the gravity of the situation. Her eyes searched Ivy's, looking for a glimmer of hope or a hint of a fairytale ending.

"I know it's hard right now," Ivy began, her voice steady but filled with emotion. "But as time goes on, it'll get easier." She swiped a tear from her own cheek, not wanting Alice to see her pain. "You're so young, you'll understand when you get older.”

Alice nodded, her eyes still brimming with tears. "But will daddy ever come to see me?" she whispered.

Ivy felt a stab of pain at the question. "I don't know, sweetie," she replied honestly. "But I promise that you will see him again. Just because we can't be together doesn't mean that you're dad isn't important. He'll always be a part of you're life, in one way or another."

Alice nodded, her eyes dropping to Pomni, who had curled up into a ball and was already fast asleep. She looked back up at her mother with a solemn expression. "Okay, Mommy," she said, her voice quieter than a whisper. "Now it's time for bed. Will you tell me a story?"

Ivy took a deep breath and forced a smile. "Of course," she said, sitting on the edge of the bed. "What kind of story would you like to hear?"

Alice thought for a moment before her eyes lit up. "Tell me the story about you and Mr. Vice.” she requested.

Ivy took a deep breath, her heart racing as she tried to piece together a suitable tale. "Once upon a time," she began, her voice soft and steady, "in this very castle, there was man named Vice.

He was kind of like a king, but not the usual kind.

He had a heart that had been hurt by cruel people.

Which made him a mean man. Everyone in the kingdom was frightened by him.

No one dared to challenge him. Then, one day, a brave and beautiful woman named Ivy came into his life.

She had hair as black as a ravens feather, and eyes as green as the leaves on a tree. "

Alice's eyes grew wide with wonder, and she leaned in closer. "That's you mommy!" she squealed excitedly.

Ivy nodded, smoothing out the bedspread.

"Yes, that's me," she said, her voice filled with a gentle warmth.

"Vice was very lonely, and he had built up walls around his heart to keep everyone out.

But Ivy had a way of seeing past those walls, and she saw the good in him.

" She paused, her eyes drifting to the window, where the moon cast a silver beam onto the floor.

"One sunny day, Ivy stumbled into the castle's garden, and there she found a sad and lost butterfly.

She had such a gentle touch that she helped the butterfly find its way again. "

"The butterfly told Vice about the kindness of this woman," she continued, her voice weaving a tale that felt both faraway and all too real. "Vice was intrigued and decided to meet her. He watched her from afar, amazed at her beauty and her gentle ways with all the creatures of the castle."