Chapter 31
When Silas left the room, Ivy quickly bolted the door behind him. She had scolded herself for leaving the door open, only to repeat the mistake.
She sat on the bed, touching her face in disbelief. God, the look on Silas’s face had scared and thrilled her.
For a moment, she thought he wouldn’t listen, thought he might walk over and pull the blue towel off her body. And for a dangerous, fleeting moment, she had welcomed the thought–anticipated the move.
“Crazy,” she murmured as she picked the phone and accessed it. How is he able to get things done so quickly? She walked to the closet, her cheeks still flushed.
He’d said he wanted to talk. Maybe he was going to apologize? Who knows. Deep down, she wanted to hear what he had to say. She could only hope it wasn’t another major decision that could make her angrier.
Inside the closet, Monica had arranged all the clothes she’d purchased at Reginald’s by color. She settled for a short black gown with pink frills around the neckline, and paired it with black heels. She wasn’t going to be humiliated again for her looks.
She was Ivy Stone, and she would dress the part.
She found the customized pink diamond Silas had given her. Her name boldly spelled on it, and for a moment, it made her feel different–good.
She fastened the diamond around her neck, and noted how the pink paired well with her dress. She added a Dior bag and made her way downstairs.
She was eager to see Silas–eager to impress him. But her eagerness died when she found the living room empty.
“Are you set, Ivy?” Monica asked.
Ivy turned to her, forcing a smile to hide her disappointment. “Yes, I am.”
“You look very beautiful,” Monica said warmly.
“Thank you.” Ivy smiled, but the compliment didn’t grant her the satisfaction she craved. “Is… Silas in his room?” she asked, hoping to catch him–to show off.
“No, ma’am,” Monica shook her head. “He’s out.”
Ivy bit her lip. “Did… he say where he was going?”
“No,” Monica said, shaking her head again. “Is there a problem?”
“No, not at all,” Ivy replied, her smile dimming.
Who was she kidding? She had rejected him, sent him away even after he’d made his intentions clear. Yet here she was, craving his
attention.
“I’m ready to leave now,” she told Monica, suppressing her frustration.
“Alright.” Monica smiled and led the way outside.
As they stepped out, Bud appeared before them. “Good day, ma’am,” he greeted.
“Hello, Bud.” Ivy smiled at him.
“The car is ready,” Bud announced, gesturing toward a white luxury car. “I’ll be driving today. Victor has gone with the boss.”
Bud opened the car door, and Ivy froze for a moment, stunned by its beauty.
“Your new car from your husband,” Bud said.
“Oh.” Ivy muttered, heat rising in her cheeks.
She climbed into the car and was stunned by the sleek red leather interior. It was comfortable–she liked it instantly.
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11:52 AM
Chapter 31
But as she sat, with Monica by her side, she couldn’t help but doubt Silas’s generosity.
Silas had done something.
Her chest tightened at the thought. He must have done something terrible again—why else would he have left and tried to bribe her with yet another gift?
Anger burned in her chest as she clenched her fists.
She wished she could see him right now and yell at him. She was holding up her side of the deal, yet he hadn’t kept his.
Her mind drifted to yesterday’s dinner before Mason and backstabbing Cheryl arrived. She pulled out her new phone from her bag, set it up, and searched for the pictures.
They appeared instantly. As she scrolled through them, she couldn’t help but marvel at how beautiful she looked and how perfect they looked together. Every angle was flawless, and the kiss–it looked so real.
She shut her phone before she stumbled upon a bad article about herself. Mason had carried his threat–that crazy man had done it. She could bet he was counting on her silence to keep his lie believable.
“They were beautiful photographs,” Monica’s voice interrupted her thoughts.
“What?” Ivy blinked.
“I meant your pictures from yesterday. They were lovely,” Monica said, smiling warmly.
A blush crept over Ivy’s face. “Thank you, Monica.”
Monica nodded, but as she glanced away, Ivy noticed a faint blush on her cheeks as well.
“How long have you been working for Silas?” Ivy asked, hoping to keep the conversation going.
“Oh, for seven years now,” Monica replied, her eyes lighting up.
“That’s impressive.” Ivy smiled.
“I used to work for Mr. and Mrs. Stone before they passed away. Silas called me back a few years later,” Monica continued, delight springing in her voice.
Ivy’s breath caught at Monica’s statement. She hadn’t realized Silas was an orphan. Her heart softened at the discovery, her cheeks turned pink, though Monica didn’t seem to notice and kept talking.
“I came back when I got lonely, and started living in the estate. My kids are all grown up now, both live far away,” Monica said with a wistful smile. “And I lost my husband many years ago.”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” Ivy murmured.
Monica reached over and patted Ivy’s hand gently. “It’s fine. I miss my husband, but I love my job. Silas helped me a lot–he’s a good man.”
Ivy felt her cheeks warm again, but her mind lingered on Silas’s past.
“Both boys have been through so much,” Monica added softly. “But it’s been a delight to watch them grow.”
“What… What happened to their parents?” Ivy asked. She needed to know.
“They died in a horrific car accident,” Monica replied, her voice dropping into a whisper, “The authorities suspected foul play, but-”
Ivy’s phone buzzed, interrupting Monica. It was a message from her father, and it completely changed her mood.
“Excuse me,” she murmured, reading the message.
Tell your dickhead husband to stay out of my business!‘
What happened again? Ivy wondered. What had Silas done to her father? Before she could dwell on it, Bud’s voice interrupted her.
“We’re here.”
2/3
Chapter 31
“Oh, let’s go see the beautiful gowns waiting for you,” Monica giggled, helping Ivy out of the car.
With her mind roaming with questions, Ivy followed Monica into the Laurent Bridal Store. She felt more confident than the last time she’d been in a boutique, but insecurity still nipped at her. Bud held the door open, and Ivy braced herself as she stepped inside.
“Welcome to Laurent, Ms. Stone,” a young receptionist greeted her with a polite smile from behind a white desk.
Ivy was surprised the lady knew who she was, but she hid her surprise. “Thank you.”
“Mr. Francis Laurent is expecting you upstairs,” the receptionist continued, standing to lead them. “If you’ll follow me, please.”
“I’ll wait downstairs, ma’am,” Bud said.
Ivy nodded and together with Monica, they followed the receptionist into another room. The young woman gestured to a pair of chairs.
“Please have a seat. Mr. Laurent will be with you shortly,” she said before leaving.
As Ivy sat down, a familiar voice startled her.
“Ivy?”
She turned to see Vivian, beside her was Martha, Mason’s mother.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Martha asked, her face twisted into a frown.
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