A/N: Thanks again to everyone who reviewed last chapter :D

TW: There will be explicit mentions of child abuse in this chapter


As Ivy stood outside Morbucks Manor, she forced herself to straighten her back, take a deep breath, and her anxieties into the background.

"I don't care what it takes, or what you have to do," her father had told her. "I want that phone out in stores by the end of the month!" Yet despite his words, she had a strong feeling that by "anything," he meant "anything but this."

And yet, that didn't stop her from calling Mr. Morbucks himself and telling him that she had a great business opportunity that could benefit them both. Because if there was one thing she knew about her father, it was that he was willing to put business above all.

As she pressed the doorbell, it rang through the immediate area, so loud that she instinctively backed up a few feet.

"Jesus," she whispered to herself. The hold on her briefcase tightened.

After a few minutes of waiting, a slightly disheveled woman answered the door. Her blonde hair was in a mess of a bun, and her face bright red.

"I'm so sorry about the wait Ms. Ingleberry," she apologized, out of breath. "Please, come on in."

"Thank you," Ivy said. She stepped into the mansion, and had to pause for a moment as she took everything in.

Ivy was no stranger to large and extravagant homes, but even by her standards, the Morbucks' home was lavish. It looked more like a hotel than a house, with stark white walls with gold accents, a gigantic chandelier in the center of what could loosely be called the "living room," and a large staircase with what appeared to be solid gold horses on either side.

"Come with me, Mr. Morbucks is expecting you," she gestured for Ivy to follow her up the stairs.

"Of course," Ivy said. "I apologize if I'm a little early, if Mr. Morbucks isn't ready yet-"

"No no, it's not that," the woman said. She turned to look at her as if she was telling her a secret. She lowered her voice into a whisper. "It's his daughter."

"His daughter?" Ivy asked. "Princess?"

The woman nodded. "I know we're not supposed to talk badly about our charges, but as her nanny I've got to say that girl is a nightmare. Been one ever since she was tiny."

"What did she do?"

"Well-"

"OF ALL THE STUPID, IDIODIC THINGS YOU COULD'VE DONE-"

Both Ivy and the woman flinched at the booming voice upstairs. It was coming from a closed door a few doors down the hallway.

"Dad, I said I was sorry. I didn't mean to-"

"I don't care! I'm tired of it!" He shouted. "I warned you, one more stupid stunt and I was going to send you to live with your mother. Let her get off her ass and do something about you for once."

"But I don't want to live with Mom!" the young girl cried. "All my friends are in Townsville, and I'm the president of the fashion club-"

"You should've thought of that before you stole my Mercedes and totaled it!"

"I don't get what the big deal is," she said. "It's just a stupid car! Buy another one!"

A loud smack was heard from behind the door along with a shocked cry. Ivy stared back at the door horrified.

"That car was from the 1940's, there are only a handful left in the world. But of course you weren't even thinking about that, were you? You take after your mother, you don't think. Now get out, I have someone coming over for a very important business meeting and she will be here any minute."

The soft cries continued. Instinctively, Ivy walked towards the door but was stopped when the door opened on its own accord to reveal Mr. Morbucks and his young daughter, who had her left arm in a cast.

"Ms. Ingleberry," he said, surprised. "I wasn't expecting you so soon. I thought Amy would've had you wait downstairs," he sent a pointed look towards the blonde woman who visibly paled.

"I'm sorry Mr. Morbucks, I didn't know-"

"It was my idea," Ivy spoke up. "I do apologize, I didn't know I would be interrupting anything," Ivy's eyes turned toward the girl with red curly hair who couldn't have been more than twelve. The girl's eyes turned downward, her face almost as red as her hair.

"Yes, well," Mr. Morbucks said. He straightened his tie. "Since you're here, we should get down to business. Please, come in," he gestured for her to follow him into his office.

"I'll talk to you later," he said to his daughter. His gaze then moved toward Amy. "Both of you."

As both of them stared back at him wide eyed, he shut the door. "Family issues," he gave her a wry smile that she didn't return.

"Yes, I heard," Ivy said. "I saw her arm. Will she be okay? It seems like it was a bad accident-"

"It was nothing," he waved her off. "She never even got off the property. She just crashed into the roller coaster out back."

"Well, I'm sure you're relieved she's safe."

"Hmm, yes and no. If it had been worse she might've actually learned something from it. But if I know my daughter she'll try something even worse by next week." he shook his head.

"But enough about family, let's talk business. Please, take a seat." He gestured toward the chair across from his desk. Ivy nodded, and took a seat, setting her briefcase down.

"I have to admit," Mr. Morbucks started. He sat down at his desk and looked straight at her, his arms crossed. "I'm surprised your father didn't come to see me himself. Does he really hate me so much that he had to send his barely out of college daughter to argue his case in his stead?"

"The plan was written by his 'barely out of college daughter,'" Ivy corrected him firmly. "He knows nothing about it, at least at this time."

Mr. Morbucks raised his eyebrows. "If that's the case, then I truly am impressed," he said. "I reviewed the three week plan and I think it's brilliant. If a bit… ambitious."

"Yes," Ivy agreed. "It's a tight deadline, which is why I think getting the team at Morbucks Enterprises would be a huge help in meeting it. Your tech department alone is almost as big as our entire company, and with your help, I believe we won't have a problem releasing it by the end of the month."

"I agree," Mr. Morbucks said. "The one thing I take issue with, is that in your proposal, only 30% of profits will go to me and my company."

"Well, it is an Ingleberry phone, and we did come up with the software and the plan," Ivy said. "With all that considered, I think 30% is a very generous offer."

"Yes, but what you're asking my engineers to do on such short notice will put back the rest of their projects for weeks, which will lead to a huge cut in our profits," Mr. Morbucks countered.

"Now, despite your father's grudge against me, I do have a certain level of respect for him, as I do for anyone who made a name for themselves like he did. But, I'm not willing to lose money just to help him get his new product out a few months early."

"I understand," Ivy said. "But one thing I don't think you're considering is the long term effects of a public partnership. Despite the size of your company, your tech doesn't have the same brand appeal as the Ingleberry Phone does. We have a very loyal customer base, and I believe that a partnership between our companies would not only help us get our product out faster, but it would help yours gain status."

"With all due respect," he said. "My company has plenty of status. Ingleberry Industries is a newcomer in comparison to Morbucks Enterprises. My grandfather himself started it when he immigrated to America from Ireland nearly a century ago."

"As impressive as that is, I'm specifically referring to your tech department. I'm not denying Morbucks Enterprises is expansive, but when it comes to tech… you're a bit behind the times. And if you're worried about your future earnings, tech is the one thing you should be focusing on expanding."

"If my grandfather's company can survive the Great Depression, we can survive anything. We're perfectly capable of keeping up with the times all on our own."

Ivy nodded. "Alright then. Well, in that case I'm afraid our meeting here is done. 30% is the highest we're willing to go." She held out her hand to shake to a bewildered Mr. Morbucks.

"Just like that?" He raised an eyebrow. "You're giving up just like that?"

"You're asking for something we're not willing to give, and you seem like a busy man. I don't want to waste anymore of your time."

"Jesus," he mused. "Kids these days. You wouldn't know compromise if it hit you over the head. Well, if you're that insistent, I suppose I can do it for 40%, but I'll need to run it by my shareholders first. How does that sound?"

Ivy shook her head. "I'm sorry, but I mean it. 30% is my final offer."

"That's ridiculous!"

"I'm sorry you feel that way." Ivy leaned over to pick up her briefcase, and started walking towards the door. "Have a nice day, sir."

Just as Ivy reached for the doorknob, she heard an exasperated sigh behind her.

"Fine," he said. "30%. Only because I can't wait to see your father's face when he finds out his next million is going to be thanks to me."

Ivy grinned and turned around. "Thank you Mr. Morbucks. I'm sure my father will be pleased to hear you're on board."

"Richard," he said, giving her a reluctant smile. "Call me Richard."


As Ivy left Morbucks Manor, she heard a sniffing sound coming from the garden area in the courtyard, and she knew immediately who it was.

Her thoughts then wandered back towards her brother, and one night in particular.

"A B- ?!" Her father cried. "You've been hanging out with that hoodlum again, haven't you? He's been distracting you from your studies!"

"I'm sorry Dad, I just forgot-"

"That's the problem! You've been slacking on everything lately!" She then watched in silence as her father dragged her brother by the hair, throwing him into his room and locking the door behind him.

"You better get comfortable in there, because the only time I'm letting you out is for school, if you're lucky!" he yelled.

Her father had been true to his word. For the rest of the week, she didn't once see her brother for more than a few seconds at a time. When she asked her mother about him, she just shook her head.

"Don't worry about your brother," she assured her. "Your father's just a little upset right now, he'll get over it in a few days. I've been sneaking him some leftovers here and there when Charlie's not looking. Poor Sanford's a little sad, but he understands where your father is coming from."

Still, Ivy couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt whenever she passed by his room and heard him crying. Enough so that one evening, she left a plate of peanut butter cookies with a glass of milk at her brother's door. He never said anything about it later on, nor did she bring it up, but the next morning both the plate and glass were empty.

Her feet without her permission started walking towards the garden. Sitting on the bench by a lily patch was a red haired girl, her face in her hand.

"Princess?" she called softly. "Are you okay?"

Immediately, the girl jumped at the sound. She stared back at her surprised, and quickly wiped her tears.

"What do you want? Don't you know it's rude to jump up on someone in their own home?" She asked. "I ought to call security on you!"

"I didn't mean to scare you," Ivy said, holding out her hands in surrender. "I just wanted to check on you."

"Why do you care? Who even are you?"

"I'm someone who knows your father," Ivy said. "Or at least, someone very much like him."

At the mention of her father, Princess went silent. Her eyes, still defiant, were cast downwards.

Slowly, Ivy walked towards her as if she was approaching a feral cat. "May I sit down?"

Princess said nothing, just shrugged. Taking it as permission, Ivy took a seat by the girl, resting her briefcase on the other side.

"I just wanted to let you know," she started. "You won't be a kid forever. You're going to grow up, go to college, and if you're smart, make your own life on your own terms. Bide your time until then, and whatever you do, do not let your father break your spirit. It will be tough, but you seem like a tough girl, and I know you'll be able to make it on your own. And then he can never hurt you again."

Princess looked at her as if she had a second head. "Who do you think you are? If you think you can come here and start talking badly about my family-"

"I'm talking from experience," Ivy said. "My father is a lot like yours, and even now he still tries to control my brother and I. If you're not careful, that can easily happen to you. Or you'll do something so extreme to escape the pressure you'll end up getting hurt," she gestured towards Princess's arm. "Trust me, you don't want to end up like us."

Princess looked Ivy up and down, and rose her eyebrows in surprise. "Well, I'm not green, so that's a start."

Ivy ignored the dig. She was used to it by now. "Just think about what I said, okay? And if you ever need anything," Ivy opened her briefcase, and pulled out a business card. "Just call that number. It's my personal cell. If you ever need advice, to vent, whatever. I promise I won't judge. As long as you promise one thing."

"What?"

Ivy gave her a wry smile. "That you'll at least wait a few years before you start stealing your dad's cars again."


When Snake woke up the next morning, the first thing he took note of was that whatever was in his stomach was about to make its way up again.

"Oh god," he whispered to himself. He put his hand over his mouth and rushed to the bathroom. Miserable, he heaved up what tasted like bitter bile into the toilet. He breathed heavily, exhausted and drenched with sweat.

The second thing he took note of was that he had fallen asleep in Ace's room.

When he was sure he was no longer on the verge of puking his guts out, he quietly walked back towards the room he came from, and saw that Ace was still fast asleep on the bed. Still in his jacket and shoes, he hadn't even taken the time to get under the covers.

Snake pulled back the blinds to see the sun was brightly shining. It must've been at least noon, if not later.

In response to the light pouring through, Ace stirred. His eyebrows furrowed in frustration.

"Ugh, turn that off, will ya? Some of us are tryin' to sleep here."

"Ace?" Snake walked over towards the gang leader, gently shaking him awake. "Do you remember what happened last night?"

"Hmm, what?"

"Last night. We went out drinking with Arturo and Billy and we stopped by Super Savings-" Snake paused as the realization hit him.

"Ace! We vandalized Super Savings! The graffiti! The cops are gonna know it was us and come looking for us!"

Ace looked over at Snake with an annoyed look. "It's fine. We'll just lay low for a bit. Now pull those blinds back down and shut up. I'm going back to sleep-"

"Hey Ace," Arturo rushed over by the doorway, only to pause when he saw Snake, and raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Did you sleep in here, man? I was wondering where you went when I didn't see you come in."

"Ugh, what does a guy have to do to get some shut eye around here?!"

"What's going on? What were you about to tell Ace?" Snake asked, avoiding Arturo's question.

"You guys are on the news!" He said. He gestured for the pair to follow him into the living room.

Ace rolled his eyes, but nonetheless got up and followed Arturo to the living room with Snake trailing behind. When they got there and their old mugshots on the screen again, they immediately knew exactly what it was about.

"This just in! In the midst of the recent crime spree taking Townsville by storm, it appears as if the infamous Gangreen Gang is at large once again. Early this morning while he was going into work, Laurence Boner, owner of local grocery store Super Savings, was horrified to discover his place of business was the target of a vicious attack from the gang. Isn't that right, Mr. Boner?"

"It's Laurence Bonner," Ace and Snake's former boss corrected her. "And yes, that is correct. Ever since I was a child, I wanted to own my own business. Be a part of the American dream, as my father called it. I saved up for years and put everything I had into that store. I decided to design it in honor of the Powerpuff Girls, who I always felt were a shining example of the heroic American spirit."

"That is such an inspirational story," Mrs. Carlson said. "Do you have any idea why your store in particular was targeted?"

"I know exactly why," he said. His grip on the microphone he was holding tightened. "Shortly after we opened, we hired two young men who claimed they were looking to turn their lives around: Ace Dean Copular and Sanford Dickens Ingleberry. I always felt it was important to give people second chances, but today I am starting to question that sentiment."

"Ever since they were hired, particularly Ace, they had been nothing but trouble. For a long time I let it slide because I felt bad for them, but when Ace threatened a customer and her children I knew I had to put the safety of my customers first, and I let both of them go. I don't doubt for a second that this is the reason why Super Savings was vandalized."

"Because of the Gangreen Gang and my choice to show compassion, I've lost everything I had." Larry's voice caught on the word "everything," and he looked close to tears.

Mrs. Carlson nodded sympathetically. "I am so sorry to hear that, Mr. Boner. But most of all, I hope you get the justice you deserve," she then turned back toward the camera.

"As of this moment, police are looking for Ace Copular and Sanford Ingleberry. If you see either of the young men, you are urged to call the police and report them."

"Shit," Snake sat down on the couch, putting his head in his hands. "Now what are we going to do?"

"I don't know man, but I really wish you guys would've waited to act out your revenge fantasy until after we got my papi out of the cooler," Arturo said. "Now that the cops are on our tails, it's just gonna make everything that much harder."

"Not necessarily," Ace spoke up. He looked at the rest of the gang, a smirk on his face. "In fact, it might even make things easier."


As Ivy sat in her car looking back at Morbucks Manor, her mind once again went back to Princess, Mr. Morbucks, and her own father. Despite the fact that she accomplished what she had come here to do, she couldn't help but feel… wrong.

As she was deep in her thoughts, she heard a knock on her window. She jumped in surprise. When she turned toward the sound she saw it was the man who worked at the gate. She took a moment to catch her breath and rolled down the window.

"Ms. Ingleberry?" he asked. "I'm sorry to startle you, but are you ready to go? You've been sitting there for quite a while."

"Sorry, yes. Just give me a moment to-" she took another glance at the mansion up the hill and paused. "Actually, there's something else I needed to tell Mr. Morbucks before I go, if that's all right."

"Did you forget something? I'm sure I can have someone retrieve it for you so you don't have to walk all the way back-"

"No, it's not that. It will only take a couple minutes, I promise."

The man nodded. "Certainly. I'll let him know you'll be coming back."

"Thank you," she gave him a grateful smile.

Leaving her stuff in her car, she stepped out and made her way back up the hill. When she rang the doorbell for the second time, she didn't flinch.

After a few moments, the blonde woman answered the door again. "Ms. Ingleberry?" she asked. "What do you need?"

"Is Mr. Morbucks around?" she said.

"Well, I-" she hesitated before the man himself appeared by the door.

"You can go now Amy, I've got this." He made a dismissive gesture with his hand as if to shoo her away, and with a look of fear she did.

"Now then," he said. "Ms. Ingleberry, what did you need? If you're going to try to lowball me even further-"

"Not at all," Ivy said. "In fact, I wanted to let you know that the offer with Ingleberry Industries is no longer on the table at all."

"What?!" he asked, surprised. "What changed?"

"To be frank Mr. Morbucks, I don't feel comfortable working with a man such as yourself," she said. "In my book, a man who treats his employees and his children such as you do is no man at all. And I don't want myself or my company associated with you."

"Excuse me," he said, his eyes narrowing. "But who the hell do you think you are? You think you can tell me how to manage my household? You're, what? Twenty-four? Twenty-five? I have suits older than you."

"I'm old enough to know that hitting your twelve year old daughter and threatening to kick her out of her own home is wrong."

"How I discipline my daughter is none of your business," he said. "And I don't think I want parenting advice from someone not only with no children of her own, but whose own parents raised such a delinquent as your brother. At least Princess isn't out robbing Mini-Marts and mugging old ladies!"

"With you as her father? She'll be doing much worse in no time, believe me."

"Get out!" he yelled. "Get out of my house, or I'm calling the cops!"

"Believe me, you couldn't pay me to come back here," she said, already marching toward the door. "No amount of money you could bring our company would be worth working with you."

She slammed the door behind her and walked back to her car, her back straight and her eyes with fire. She only looked back once, to see a wide-eyed Princess staring at her from the garden.


When Ivy went into work the next morning, she was immediately rushed by both her parents.

"For god's sake Ivy, did you walk here this morning? What took you so long?"

"I'm five minutes early," she said, looking at her watch to confirm the time. Her eyes then turned toward her mother.

"Mom? What are you doing here?"

"Sweetie, did no one tell you?"

"Tell me what?" she turned toward her father in question. "Dad, what's going on?"

"Mrs. Carlson, the news reporter on Channel 4 is coming to interview us today."

"Interview?" she asked "About what?"

"It's your brother," her mother said, her expression turning depressed. "I hoped he was starting to mature and settle down, but apparently he and his gang vandalized a local grocery store the other day," she shook her head in dismay. "Oh honey, you look a mess. Come here, let me put your hair back and fix your makeup. That lady will be here any minute."

As her mother pulled her off to the side and started poking and prodding at her, her father's expression was twisted in rage. "That damn boy, dragging the Ingleberry name through the mud again," he crossed his arms and glared at her.

"You see Ivy, this is what happens when you try to play nice with gangsters. I know you've always had a soft spot for Sanford, you and your mother both. But you need to realize that some people are incapable of change."

"It's not her fault Charlie, she has a big heart. Always has. Keep your eyes open, dear," her mother said as she grabbed her face and started applying mascara.

"Yes, it is her fault," he said. "If this interview doesn't go well, we risk losing millions in profit. Sharon for god's sake, she looks fine. Why don't you start worrying more about that hair on your upper lip and less about our daughter's makeup?"

As her mother self-consciously took out her mirror and put her hand over her mouth, Ivy looked back at her father. "Wait, Snake vandalized a store?"

"You sound like you're surprised," her father said. "Would you like to see the damage your so-called 'brother' caused?"

Before she could answer, her father took a seat at the empty board room table and pulled out his laptop. Within a few minutes, he had the Channel 4 news website pulled up.

"Look at this," he said, clicking on the pictures and zooming in to let her see better. Ivy looked in surprise at the broken windows and destroyed merchandise.

"And in case there was any doubt to who it was," her father clicked on the last picture, one with green graffiti by the front entrance. She raised her eyebrows at the Gangreen Gang logo and even more so at Ace and Snake's names specifically.

"There has to be some mistake," Ivy said. "Snake has been out of the gang for years. He was in the process of getting another job when I last spoke to him."

"Oh sweetie," her mother said in that gentle, slightly condescending tone of hers. "I know you love your brother, but are you sure he was telling the truth?"

"Whether he was or not, it's clear that this is the path that he has chosen for himself," her father said. "Now, whenever the reporter gets here, just let me do the talking. The sooner this is all done with, the sooner we can get back to things that actually matter."

Before Ivy could respond, a blonde woman in a form fitting blue dress opened the door, a camera crew trailing behind her. "Mr. Ingleberry?"

"Mrs. Carlson," her father's expression immediately changed. He shut the laptop and walked over to her, smiling and shaking her hand. "Thank you for agreeing to meet with us. It's nice to meet you in person, despite the unfortunate circumstances."

"Yes, it seems like your son has made quite the stir," she turned toward Ivy and her mother. "Is this the rest of your family?"

"Oh yes, how rude of me! This is my lovely wife Sharon and our daughter Ivy," he gestured towards the two women. "Ivy graduated Magna Cum Laude just a few years ago and is already the head Software Engineer here at Ingleberry Industries. I couldn't be more proud."

"It's nice to meet you both," she gave them a simple nod before turning back toward Ivy's father. "Shall we get started?"


After a few minutes to get the cameras set up, Ivy found herself sitting in between her parents, looking straight back at Mrs. Carlson.

"For those of you tuning in this morning, we have a special guest," Mrs. Carlson. "Charles Ingleberry, CEO and creator of Ingleberry Industries, along with his wife and daughter. Now Mr. Ingleberry, can you tell me why you're here with us today?"

"Yes, I can," Ivy's father cleared his throat. "My son, Sanford Ingleberry, has recently targeted a small business owner in a vicious attack. And as a business owner myself, I can only imagine what he is going through at the moment," he said.

"It is truly awful," Mrs. Carlson agreed. "So what you're saying is, you condemn his actions against his former boss?"

"Absolutely," he declared. "I love my son more than anything in this world, and I always will. His entire childhood, I worked nights and weekends to give him anything and everything he could possibly need; him and Ivy both. I gave him every chance in the world to be successful and become a productive member of society. But unfortunately, he has always had a rebellious streak. Before we knew it, he just up and left one day, never to return. My wife and I prayed for years that he would find his way back to us and wake up to see all the people he was hurting. But unfortunately, it doesn't look like that day will ever come."

"Don't get us wrong, he was very sweet as a little boy," Ivy's mother piped up. She felt her father turn his gaze onto her. "It was around the time he hit his preteen years where he started to cause trouble. We tried to do everything we could to keep him on a good path, but… he fell in with a bad crowd. There was nothing we could do," her mother's eyes turned shiny with unshed tears.

"The Gangreen Gang," Mrs. Carlson clarified.

Her mother shook her head. "That awful boy Ace turned my sweet son into a monster overnight. Sanford went from being a straight A student to skipping class and stealing from his own family-" the tears started to spill, and instinctively Ivy reached for her.

"I'm sorry, I can't do this," her mother got up from her seat and rushed toward the door.

"Mom-" Ivy got up to go after her, only to be stopped by her father. He gave her a hard look and immediately she sat back down.

"I apologize for my wife," her father said. "What happened to our son still affects her deeply. She grieves for him everyday."

"Completely understandable," Mrs. Carlson said. "It must be so awful to see your son become a criminal before your very eyes with no power to stop it."

"I can't help but to think there must be more to the story with this vandalization," Ivy spoke up. "I know my brother has a bit of a sketchy past, but I've been in contact with him recently and he seemed to be doing fairly well. He hasn't been in trouble with the law since he was a teenager."

Mrs. Carlson turned to face her. "What do you mean?"

"I have to wonder, if he truly did do this," she started. "That maybe there was something, or someone, who set him off. After all, people don't turn to crime out of the blue for no reason."

When she dared to look back at her father, he was giving her a look that made her very happy that he didn't have heat vision, otherwise she'd have been burnt to a crisp.


To say that Ivy's father tore into her after the interview would've been an understatement.

"You stupid, ungrateful, spoiled little-" he shook his head, taking a deep breath. "I told you to follow my lead and keep your mouth shut. With both you and your mother acting like fools on live television, people are even less likely to trust our business now. How can a man run a multi-million dollar company when he can't even keep his own family in check?"

"I didn't say anything bad about you or the company," Ivy defended. "And I didn't say anything that wasn't true. If maybe you weren't so hard on him, Snake wouldn't have fallen under Ace's influence again-"

"Sanford is a grown man who is perfectly capable of making his own decisions. And if his decisions include snuggling up with that disgusting piece of shit, and destroying people's property, that is his choice."

"Was he a grown man when you disowned him?"

Her father shoved her into the wall of her apartment, his face inches from hers.

"Don't you dare-" he said with barely restrained rage. His hand twitched as if he was about to strike her.

"Dad, let go! You're hurting me!"

After a few more moments, he let her go and stepped back, causing her to let out an exhale of relief.

"I'm getting real tired of your bullshit Ivy," he said. "This is your last warning. If you disobey me again, I'm cutting you off for good."

He stormed out of her apartment, and as soon as he was gone, Ivy felt the tears start to spill.

Her father almost hit her. Her brother was back to his old ways. Her mother couldn't even talk about her brother without having a breakdown. And all of her old friends had moved on with their lives.

As she sobbed into her hands on the couch, her eyes went toward her cellphone sitting on the coffee table. She had barely gotten a chance to sit her stuff down before her father attacked her.

Before she knew what she was doing, her phone was in her hands and she was dialing the Channel 4 news station. She wiped her tears with the back of her hand and cleared her voice.

"Hello?" a bored voice greeted on the other line.

"Yes, this is Ivy Ingleberry. Mrs. Carlson just interviewed my parents and I earlier today."

"Oh yes! You're from Ingleberry Industries, right? What can I help you with?" the receptionist asked.

"Well you see, my father had given some information about my brother that was a bit… misleading. And I feel like I should clear a few things up. It's the least I can do for our many loyal customers."

"Is that so?" the receptionist asked. "Well, I'll have to ask my boss to make sure, but I'm sure we can schedule you in sometime soon. When will you be available?"

"Any time works for me, as long as it's as soon as possible," Ivy said. "I want to make sure everyone knows the truth about my brother, and my father."


PPGGuy06: Yes, HIM will be appearing later on in the story. In regards to your second question, you'll just have to wait and see :)

Visitor: Rebellious Snake was super fun to write! And yeah, poor Ivy. As much as she has she's a deeply lonely person, and I think that's a big reason why she reached out to Snake in the first place.

GGGfan: Yeah, alcohol + friends who are bad influences often times lead to poor decisions lol. But yes, in a lot of ways Ace and Snake's relationship is one of the most important, if not the most important, one in this story. I'm glad you're enjoying it so far!

Ida: Thank you! Yeah, there's definitely a shortage of GGG content out there unfortunately :/ And you're right, Ace definitely has a lot of issues with letting go of the past.

Thanks to everyone reading! Make sure to leave a review to let me know what you think :D