The Kiss that Sparked it All

Chapter 2000

After unsuccessful attempts to reach her daughter, Tessa racked her brain and remembered a classmate Ivy used to mention from time to time.

Ivy was always a bit of a loner, and in all the years Tessa had known her, she couldn’t recall her ever bringing home any friends.

There was, however, this one classmate Ivy had mentioned a few times, someone Tessa suspected might have actually been close to her daughter.

Hurrying to Ivy’s room, which was left in a bit of a mess since Ivy had dashed off in a hurry, Tessa rummaged through her belongings and found an old yearbook hidden beneath a locker.

Ivy had only gotten her first cell phone after college graduation, so Tessa was certain all her old contacts would be scribbled in that yearbook.

It took a while, but Tessa finally found the classmate’s number and dialed, “Hello?”

a mix of confusion and

put her on the phone?” Tessa’s

about how poorly Ivy’s mother treated her, often siding with her half–sister to bully her. The classmate’s tone chilled immediately,

she’s not with you, then

classmate, now realizing Ivy had left the Dunhill family homestead, felt a wave of empathy for Ivy, thus getting a sicker feeling for Tessa, “You can’t even take care of your own daughter and now you’re asking me? If I were Ivy, I wouldn’t acknowledge you as my mother

the classmate hung up the phone and promptly blocked Tessa’s number.

her a quick text: [Your mom called me.

and recalling the call from Tessa,

was plotting, Ivy knew it couldn’t be anything good.

Ivy’s classmate,

thought, she remembered a piece of news she had seen online. She pulled out her smartphone, searching