"What the hell?!" Sam shouted the moment the announcement dropped from Ivy's lips.
"Eugene?" he repeated, blinking rapidly. "EUGENE?"
"Yes, Gramps. Eugene," Ivy said, folding her arms in an effort not to crumble under his scrutiny.
Sam stepped closer, placed both hands on her shoulders.
"I have tried to work with you," he said, brows raised. "Hell, I arranged you and Eugene so you could be sure of what you truly want. You cannot want this."
Ivy looked away, her throat tightening.
"Gramps… it makes sense," she whispered.
"No, sweetie," Sam snapped, shaking her shoulders lightly. "Accounting mistakes make sense. This? THIS?" He pointed at her. "This makes absolutely no damn sense."
"I thought about it too," Ivy said. "Eugene is safe. I don't have to look over my shoulder every time. I don't have to walk around with a bodyguard. I don't have to watch Eugene kill someone. Eugene didn't hurt me—he saved my life!"
