It had been a confusing couple of days for Henry. His correspondence with SeattleGirl67 was becoming more real, so to say. They were becoming more open about all those little things they used to be forbidden. At the same time, his relationship with Ivy was beginning to take an unexpected course. Not only did he catch himself getting ready, caring about what he would wear on their little rendezvous, but he realized that he enjoyed them quite. She had the sense of humor that always kept him smiling and her knowledge of books did expand beyond the book price, as had been his original belief. It was a strange moment for him to have such revelation, especially now that SeattleGirl67 finally agreed to meet him.

Ivy wondered if what they were doing was a date. She wasn't sure how to feel either way. He didn't specify it was, neither did she. They had a lovely lunch at the cute bistro not far from her building. And he did talk about SeattleGirl67, they both did, so she supposed her plan was going well.

On their walk towards her building, her phone started ringing. It was Anastasia, and Ivy knew exactly why she was calling. She was trying to ignore it but it, but her sister was relentless.

"Maybe you should answer?"

"No. It's not important." she switched it to silent mode and put it back in her purse, "You were saying?"

"About the meet. I can't- it feels unreal, I guess."

"You have to give it to her, though. Her timing is impeccable."

"How so?"

"She's waited until you're primed. Until you were absolutely sure there was no other woman in your life you could possibly love."

After a brief pause, he agreed.

"I suppose it's time for great changes all around." her phone was buzzing again, she wanted to throw it away, "You know, sometimes I wonder."

"About what?" he stopped and turned to her. They've arrived in front of her building.

"If I hadn't been 'Belfrey Books' and you hadn't been 'The Enchanted Forest' and you and I had just met..."

"At Roni's maybe?" the corner of his lips tugged upwards.

"Sure."

He nodded. It's played on his mind for a while now. Uninvited thoughts would come and he would think of the possibilities. Maybe there was some alternative universe where they had met before they had here, "I know."

"Yeah?"

He nodded again. There was hardly anything to say to this woman who was turning out to be something quite different than what he initially believed. However he had someone incredibly special, his soul mate he was sure, the dream that in just a few hours would become reality.

She placed her hand on his chest, "I don't know how you can quickly forgive her for standing you up, but not me for-"

"Ivy!" they heard a loud voice sound through the streets of Seattle, "Why the hell aren't you answering your phone?!"

Ivy shut her eyes for a moment. She hadn't noticed they were becoming misty, "Not now, Anastasia."

"Yes now." she tugged her aside, "Mother is beside herself."

"Why?"

"Ivy!"

"There are more than enough perfectly good replacements for me." she tried to keep her voice steady, "Just ask her."

"That's not the point. You can't leave the family business now, you know I'll be taking time off work in a month or so."

"So, this is about you?"

"No."

"You quit your job?" Henry realized, still confused about the whole situation he was witnessing.

"Yes, but that's-" she turned to her sister, "We'll continue this some other time and place, ok?"

"Not ok. Mother will never forgive you, if you walk away."

Ivy felt dread fill her whole being. Her sister was right. But it was time to take the risk. She'd been planning this for months, every detail of her plan was set in motion, "You don't know what it's like working for her, I need to-"

"I work for her."

"You work with her, Ana! Don't you see how she treats me?" Ivy's voice was small, begging her sister to finally see what Victoria Belfrey's blatant favoritism was doing to her.

For a moment, Ivy believed Anastasia finally got it. Instead she chuckled, "You're being dramatic."

Ivy sighed. She felt Henry's hand on her shoulder.

"I think you should leave." he told the blonde as nicely as he could.

"Butt out of it." she gave him a passing glance before continuing, "This guy, Ivy? You're doing this for him?"

"I'm taking charge of my own life for once. For myself." no turning back now.

"Don't be ridiculous."

"Ana." Ivy warned. Rare were the moments of Anastasia's malice that could match the one of their mother. And whoever found themselves at their end, could not walk away unscathed.

"You think it's easy making it on your own? You're gonna drive yourself into bankruptcy after two months tops. So, just come with me and we'll attribute this to the momentary lapse of sanity."

"Ana."

"You're idly throwing your life away, damn it. And for what?"

"Ana, stop it."

"So you can impress your internet guy?" she flung her hand in Henry's direction.

Ivy opened her mouth but nothing could come out. Ana did not just say that! She could neither move nor speak. Gone was the comforting hand, it fell limply by his side. Her sister kept talking.

"… if he wants you to do this, to turn your back on everything you've ever known, then he's not worth-" only then did Anastasia registered the changed expressions in both Henry and Ivy. Her hands flew to her mouth, like it could stop the already revealed, "Oh God, Ivy. I didn't mean to. I'm so-" she tried to hold her sister's hand, but Ivy jerked away.

"Leave."

Anastasia uttered the apology and rushed off.

Ivy looked at Henry. He was already looking at her, disappointment clear in his eyes. "SeattleGirl67?" the tone of his voice was dangerously calm.

She nodded.

"You are SeattleGirl67?"

"Henry, when we started I didn't-"

"When did you find out?"

"Our date at Roni's."

"God, of course!" he looked up, everything becoming clear all of a sudden. All the pieces fit, "And you just came in to taunt me-"

"I didn't."

"-made me feel like shit for days after. And then this elaborate whatever, while your sister and who knows who else knew about your little-"

"Nobody else knew."

"Yeah, I bet."

"I would have told you myself today."

"But you didn't. And the fact that you lied for so long-"

"You wouldn't have given us a chance otherwise."

"I guess we'll never know." he watched her for a moment, maybe waiting for a response of some kind, but he wasn't sure she could now say anything to change his mind. He turned and walked away.