Ivy stared in horror at the knife gleaming in Maren's hand. Her heart pounded against her ribs.
"What do you think you're doing?" she whispered, taking a step back.
Maren moved toward her, the blade catching the light. "You dare lay your hands on me?"
"Maren, put that down…"
"All these years I've been by your side, playing the perfect little cousin," Maren spat, her voice dripping with venom. "We're age mates, Ivy. But you treat me like your footmat just because your parents are rich."
Ivy's hands trembled. "That's not true…"
"Now they're dead, and your property belongs to my parents. Not a dime in your name."
"What do you mean?" Ivy's voice cracked. "You must be joking, right? Maren, what has come over you? You were just crying with me at the funeral. What's with this attitude?"
Maren's laugh was cold and bitter. "That was a goodbye tear. A funeral for you, your dad, and your mom."
She began walking around Ivy like a predator circling its prey, her eyes scanning from head to toe.
"You wear designers, luxury from head to toe. You're flawlessly beautiful and were born into wealth. But what do I get? Nothing but being your sidekick and being compared to you every single day."
Ivy stared at her cousin, unable to believe what she was hearing. She scoffed. "All this resentment, Maren? And I thought I had a sister. My dad did so much for your family. His sister, your mom, your dad, he gave them everything. He put you in school with me, bought you everything he did for me. Buildings, cars, we have everything the same, just like twins. He never discriminated."
Her voice broke. "I never treated you badly, Maren. I love you as my sister."
"Sister?" Maren laughed hysterically. "You? I was always your sidekick in school. Everyone compared me to you. Everyone bullied me. They said I was a charity case, your stepping stone."
"Maren!" Ivy screamed. "I always stood up for you! I fought bullies for you! I did everything to make you happy. Why are you making me the villain?"
Tears streamed down her face. "I can't do this today. Please. I just need to be alone. I just lost my world, Maren."
She sobbed harder. "Please don't do this tonight. I'm really tired. Please."
Ivy tried to walk past Maren toward the door, but suddenly she felt a sharp pain in her scalp. Maren had grabbed her long black hair and was pulling her back.
"Let go!" Ivy screamed as she saw the knife coming toward her hair. "Let go now!"
She spun around and kicked hard, sending the knife flying from Maren's hands. It clattered across the stone pathway.
"You crazy bitch!" Maren lunged at her.
Both girls crashed to the ground, rolling and fighting. Ivy's dress tore as she struggled to get on top. Despite her grief, her adrenaline kicked in, and she managed to pin Maren down.
"Stop this!" Ivy panted, holding Maren's wrists. "Just stop!"
"Get off me!" Maren bucked and twisted beneath her.
Suddenly, the front door burst open. Ivy's uncle and aunt rushed out with several maids behind them.
"What's going on here?" Uncle Richard shouted.
"Girls! Stop this immediately!" Aunt Linda screamed.
The maids quickly separated them, pulling Ivy off Maren. Both girls were breathing hard, their clothes disheveled and hair messy.
Maren immediately ran to her mother, tears streaming down her face. "Mom, she attacked me! She slapped me and then tried to kill me!"
"What?" Ivy gasped, struggling against the maid holding her. "That's not what happened!"
Aunt Linda's face twisted with rage as she looked at Ivy. Without warning, her hand flew across Ivy's face with a resounding crack. The slap was so hard that Ivy's head snapped to the side.
"How dare you!" Aunt Linda shoved Ivy backward. "How dare you hurt the real heir of the Dawson family, you adopted bastard!"
