Rayna reached for the car keys just as the door opened.
Stefan and Ethan stepped in, their expressions grim—like men returning from battle.
Stefan's eyes immediately locked onto Ruby's red-rimmed ones, her tear-streaked face still frozen in quiet devastation.
Immediately, he stopped in his tracks.
"You… you already know," he said softly, regret written across his face.
Ruby nodded, her arms still wrapped around herself, her voice low. "Rayna told me. She showed me the article."
Stefan stepped forward, slowly, carefully, as if approaching a wounded bird. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you over the phone. I just… I wanted to be here. I didn't want you to be alone when you found out."
Ruby gave him a faint smile, one that didn't quite reach her eyes. "It's okay. I understand. You were just trying to protect me."
He nodded, his jaw tightening. "I was. I still am."
"I just never thought Ivy could ever hurt our mom," she said as fresh tears slid down her cheek.
