Chapter 51: The Poison Ivy 2

Was there something Katherine didn’t know?

As the thought crossed her mind, her fingers tightened around her phone inside her pocket.

The photos of Morgan and Isobel were still there. And suddenly, she wasn’t so sure they would be enough.

Katherine quickly recovered, slipping on the same polished smile she used when charming clients and photographers.

"You trust people too easily, Sis."

Her voice carried a note of concern, though her words were carefully chosen.

"Just be careful. Sometimes gratitude can make people lower their guard."

She reached out and lightly squeezed Kristine’s hand.

"Before you know it, someone else could take your place."

Katherine paused deliberately before adding,

"Your husband... your children...could be taken from you."

A trace of meaning lingered behind her smile.

"And by the time you realize it, it may already be too late."

She lifted her eyes and met Kristine’s gaze directly.

But her clear eyes were calm and unwavering, completely devoid of the insecurity Katherine had been counting on.

For the first time since entering the room, Katherine found herself at a loss for words.

Something had changed in Kristine. Something significant. But it didn’t matter.

No matter how much her sister had changed, Katherine still had one advantage.

The photos on her phone.

Slowly, a smile curved her lips.

If a few words weren’t enough to plant suspicion... Perhaps a little evidence would be. And Katherine knew exactly when to use it.

As Kristine lifted her hand, the wedding ring on her slender finger caught the morning sunlight.

Tiny diamonds embedded in the white gold band shimmered brilliantly, scattering flecks of light across Katherine’s face.

Katherine froze.

Her gaze lingered on the ring—the symbol of a marriage she had once envied and still couldn’t quite accept.

The gesture was subtle, yet impossible to ignore.

"Sis, of all people, you should know what kind of man Morgan is."

Kristine’s voice was soft, but there was an unshakable confidence beneath it.

"He loves me," Kristine continued, her lips curving into a faint smile.

"There are many things I may have forgotten, but that is not one of them."

She lowered her hand and looked directly at Katherine.

Her eyes were calm and clear.

"He adores me."

Every word landed with quiet certainty.

"And because I know him, I know he would never betray me."

For some reason, Katherine felt the smile on her face becoming harder and harder to maintain.

"Then tell me this, Sis."

Katherine unlocked her phone and pulled up the photos she had taken earlier.

"Why was Isobel riding in the same car as Morgan?"

She placed the phone in front of Kristine.

The room fell silent.

Kristine lowered her gaze and carefully examined each photo.

Katherine watched her closely, waiting for even the slightest crack in her composure.

A flicker of doubt. A trace of jealousy.

Anything.

Instead, Kristine simply studied the images. The longer she looked, the more confused she became. She honestly couldn’t see the problem.

Isobel had entered through the rear passenger door. Morgan hadn’t even gotten out of the car.

In fact, he had already been seated inside when Isobel approached.

Kristine’s eyes lingered on the photos.

There was no hand shielding Isobel’s head from the door frame.

No gentlemanly gesture. No special attention.

Nothing.

The images only reminded her of how differently Morgan treated her. Whenever she got into a car, he would open the door himself.

His hand would instinctively hover above her head to make sure she didn’t bump it.

Even after two years of marriage, he never failed to do it. The comparison was almost laughable.

Finally, Kristine looked up.

"Katie."

Her voice was gentle, carrying a hint of amusement.

"You worry too much."

Katherine’s smile stiffened.

Kristine handed the phone back to her.

"If Morgan wanted to hide something, he wouldn’t do it in front of the entire household."

She paused before adding softly,

"And besides..."

A tender smile appeared on her lips.

"I trust him."

There was no hesitation in her voice. No uncertainty.

Her trust in Morgan was absolute.

So absolute that, for the first time, Katherine began to wonder whether the person she was trying to convince was not Kristine—

But herself.

Katherine rose from her seat.

For a moment, she looked down at the woman sitting on the edge of the bed.

A woman who wore her face. A woman who should have been her mirror image. Yet somehow, they felt worlds apart.

The smile on Katherine’s lips returned, flawless and practiced.

"Well, I should get going. I need some sleep after my trip."

She picked up her phone and slipped it into her purse.

Then she paused at the doorway and glanced over her shoulder.

"But Tin..."

Her voice softened as she called her by the nickname that she herself has given.

"Don’t forget that I warned you."

Kristine met her gaze calmly. Katherine’s fingers tightened around the strap of her purse.

"I just hope Morgan remains loyal when temptation is standing right in front of him."

The room fell silent. For several heartbeats, neither sister spoke.

Then a faint smile curved Kristine’s lips.

"I don’t worry about things I can’t control."

Her hand unconsciously touched the wedding ring on her finger.

"But Morgan?"

The confidence in her eyes was unwavering.

"I trust him completely."

Katherine’s smile froze for a fraction of a second. Then she turned and walked out of the room.

The door clicked shut behind her.

The moment she stepped into the hallway, the pleasant expression on her face disappeared.

Her eyes darkened.

"Let’s see how long that confidence lasts," she murmured.

...

Back in the master bedroom on the third floor, Kristine remained seated on the edge of the bed, her gaze fixed on the closed door Katherine had just stormed through.

A faint crease appeared between her brows.

She could not understand what had gotten into her sister. Katherine had seemed strangely fixated on Isobel.

Every conversation somehow circled back to her.

Every warning pointed in her direction.

As though Isobel was the source of every problem.

Kristine simply couldn’t see it.

From everything she had observed, Isobel was a kind and hardworking young woman.

She had cared for the twins during the months Kristine had been trapped in darkness, unable to wake.

She had fed them, soothed them, and stayed by their side when their own mother could not.

More importantly, she had never once acted as though she expected anything in return.

A woman like that hardly seemed worthy of Katherine’s suspicion.

Kristine let out a quiet sigh.

Perhaps Katie was simply overthinking things.

Or perhaps...

The thought lingered briefly before she shook her head.

No matter what others said, there was one thing she was certain of.

Morgan would never betray her.

And neither would the woman who had helped care for their children.

At least, that was what Kristine believed.

For now.