The Boss Behind the Mask Was My Father Chapter 05

“Mabel! Nadia!” Teddy stumbled backward, staring in horror at the burning wreckage.

He tried to rush forward, but Ivy grabbed his arm and held him back.

“Teddy, calm down,” she said softly. “It’s just a film set. The fire can’t hurt them. Besides, the rescue team is inside. Trust me.”

A terrible premonition gripped Teddy’s chest, but before he could argue, Ivy clutched her head and fainted against him.

“Ivy!” He caught her at once.

It took her a long moment to open her eyes again, her voice weak and trembling. “I’m fine… it’s just this scene brought back memories of five years ago. When you and my parents were trapped in a fire… I was so scared back then.”

Teddy’s heart melted instantly. “Don’t think about it anymore. I’ll take you to the hospital right away. I’ll do whatever it takes to make your nightmares stop.”

They arrived at the hospital moments later, and Teddy immediately arranged for a full medical checkup for Ivy.

Panic flashed across her face, and she stopped him quickly. “Teddy, I’m really alright. I just need some rest.”

Teddy studied her suspiciously. “It’s only a routine check. What are you afraid of?”

Ivy’s eyes welled up, feigning hurt. “Do you doubt me now? I know everyone sides with my sister and never trusts me. I’m just an outsider here, after all. Maybe I should leave, since I’ll never truly belong in this family.”

Teddy rushed to apologize. “I’m sorry, Ivy. That’s not what I meant. Rest well. I will make sure justice is done for you.”

He didn’t relax until Ivy was settled in the private care unit.

But as he stared at her lying in the bed, the frown returned, deeper than before.

Ivy was right—he shouldn’t have doubted her. This was all Mabel’s fault.

He called his assistant, his voice sharper and colder than ever. “Find Mabel right now. Tell her to get back here and apologize to Ivy.”

Thomas and Riley rushed over. The second they saw Ivy in the hospital bed, their eyes welled up. “Ivy… my poor Ivy…”

“Look what that ungrateful daughter did. I told you her jealousy would get us all in trouble someday. See? This is exactly it. How many times has she put Ivy in the hospital?”

Thomas sighed, listening to Riley’s sobs. “Teddy, tell Mabel—from now on, Nadia is the only daughter of the Gibson family. As far as I’m concerned, I never had another.”

A flicker of triumph flashed in Ivy’s eyes. When she looked up again, her face was etched with hurt.

“Dad, I know you’re worried about me. But Mabel didn’t mean it. I understand why she can’t accept me…”

“She’s your real daughter. Once she comes back, I’ll leave. Maybe that’ll make things easier for her.”

Tears spilled down Riley’s cheeks. She begged Ivy not to say such things. Thomas even promised to announce to everyone that Ivy was the Gibson family’s sole heir.

They didn’t leave until Ivy fell asleep, and even then, they hesitated, reluctant to go.

Teddy glanced at his lit phone, tucked the blanket tighter around Ivy, and quietly closed the door.

He answered the call. His assistant sounded hesitant. “Mr. Payson, online discussions about Ms. Gibson and Mrs. Payson are blowing up. Should we have them removed?”

Teddy frowned and opened the trending page. The old kidnapping case was back in the spotlight.

Annoyed, he clicked on it and saw the comments from someone claiming to be a former accomplice.

[I know this woman. Her name’s Ivy Gibson. Five years ago, she hired me and a few guys to kidnap a woman named Mabel Gibson.]

[We staked her out for a month. In the end, Ivy helped us kidnap her family first—that’s how we lured her out.]

[I’ll never forget those days we held her. I’ve never seen someone so tough. She was half-dead herself, but she still dragged herself to save that family.]

Someone asked what happened next.

He posted a screenshot of a bank transfer.