Gasps rippled through the gathering. I felt the room sway around me. What was she saying? I looked at Ivy, who was innocently watching the adults, oblivious to the bombshell just dropped.
Eleanor continued, her voice now tinged with pride. “Her lineage links directly back to our ancestors, who founded the very town we live in. For years, I’ve kept this a secret because I wanted to ensure the right time to reveal it—tonight, surrounded by family.”
I struggled to process her words, the implications spinning in my mind. Eleanor’s disdain for me, Ivy’s exclusion from the table—it all made a bizarre sort of sense now. She wasn’t rejecting Ivy; she was setting the stage for this dramatic revelation.
The room buzzed with whispers and shocked expressions. My husband grabbed my hand, squeezing it for reassurance. “Kate,” he whispered, eyes wide, “did you know?”
I shook my head, too stunned to speak.
Eleanor smiled, her eyes meeting mine. “I might not have liked you, Kate, but Ivy… she is the future of our family’s legacy. And tonight, we celebrate her as much as we do me.”
Ivy, noticing the shift in the room, giggled and waved her card. “Grandma,” she called, “look at my card!”
Eleanor beamed, her demeanor suddenly warm. “I would love to see it, darling.”
As Ivy ran over to Eleanor, the air felt lighter. The truth, though unexpected and shocking, brought a strange sense of relief. Eleanor’s revelation had changed everything.