“What?” Ivy’s voice broke.
“Don’t pretend you’re enjoying this marriage,” Silas said, settling into the couch. “You’ve been sabotaging it from the start.”
His voice softened–more than he intended. “I get that it’s not what you wanted, but please… my brother’s reputation is on the line.”
Ivy sighed loudly. From the corner of his eye, he saw her lips pursed in frustration. He didn’t mean to blurt out that the deal was off. Hell, he didn’t even want the marriage to be over.
He was just angry.
Her behavior was driving him nuts, and he didn’t know how to react. He used to be so in control of his emotions, so composed. But those green eyes always made him lose control.
“Well, if that’s what you want,” she finally said. “You’ll owe me ten million dollars.”
0
He wanted to chuckle at her absurd statement–until he realized she wasn’t joking. The fact that she wanted the marriage off instantly got him furious. “Is that what you really want? You want it over?”
“I didn’t say that. You did,” she shot back, pointing a finger at him. “I’m just honoring your decision.”
Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.
As much as he hated to admit, this wasn’t what he wanted.
“Well, I’m… I was just angry,” he said.
She said nothing, but she didn’t leave. He faced her, taking in her disheveled appearance. Her hair was a mess, the frills on her gown were torn, and the “I” in her name on the customized necklace he’d given her was missing.
“What happened to your necklace?” he asked.
She blinked, her defensive demeanor faded slightly. “What? Nothing.”
His gaze dropped to her neck and she instinctively ran her hand over it–searching. When she realized he was right, a faint blush coloured her cheeks.
“I didn’t know,” she murmured softly.
“You didn’t know because you were busy fighting,” he said, his anger returning slightly in his chest.
He had thought their marriage would be the perfect distraction. He thought the media wouldn’t shut up about it. Well, they weren’t shutting up about it—but in the worst way imaginable.
Wade had always said, no publicity was bad publicity–well, Wade was wrong. Their marriage announcement was a disaster, and it was driving him insane.
“I don’t appreciate your conclusions,” she said, marching toward him. “You never give me a chance to explain.”
“A chance for what explanation?” he snapped. “It’s all over the news. Everyone knew you hit your ex–mother–in–law.”
Her green eyes widened with shock. “What? The news? But… how? It just happened!”
“Welcome to the other side of fame,” he said bitterly. “This is what you signed up for.”
He watched her shoulders slump as the impact of his words hit her. “What else are they saying?”
“I don’t know,” he muttered, rubbing the bridge of his nose. “A bunch of garbage. I don’t know.”
“Well, I’m sorry,” she said firmly. “I’m sorry it’s come to this, but I couldn’t just stand by and do nothing.”
She was trying to justify herself–he could see the stubborness in her eyes.
“So your solution was to send her to the hospital?” he challenged. “A woman you know you have history with? We haven’t even finished dealing with your ex–husband’s mess, now we have to deal with this,”
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11:53 AM
Chapter 35
“I didn’t send her to the hospital!” she shot back. “And if you’d just let me explain, you’d-”
“I don’t need your explanation,” he interrupted, waving her off. “I already know everything I need to.”
Silas watched as Ivy’s lips pressed into a frown. There was a dangerous glint in her eyes, and for a fleeting moment, it terrified him.
“Alright then,” she said instead, heading toward the stairs. “I don’t want this ridiculous marriage either, especially if it keeps painting me terribly to the public. When do I get my money?”
Her words, her tone, her defiance–all sent his heart racing. He sprang to his feet. “What money?” he asked, his heart pounding unexpectedly.
She stopped mid–step, confusion etched on her face. “For breaching the terms of the contract, Remember?”
His chest tightened. “I didn’t say I wanted to end the marriage.”
Her eyes gleamed with challenge. “Oh, but you did.”
He clenched his jaw. She wasn’t going to let this go, and he knew it. “Fine. I wasn’t supposed to say that.”
Damn woman!
Pamu
She smirked. “Alright then. The marriage continues.” She turned and resumed climbing the stairs.
“Are we not going to talk about it?” he called after her. “About how to fix this mess?”
She paused, glancing back at him. “Now?”
“Yes.” He nodded. “Please,” he added.
She sighed, descending the stairs. She slumped onto the couch.
“I’m listening,” she said.
He chuckled, aware of the games she was playing.
He defended her–when Wade had called him telling himself about the news, his first instinct was to defend her. He didn’t even know if she was right or wrong.
She had a hold on him and she didn’t even know that.
“Well?” she prompted, raising her eyebrows.
“Do you want to talk about why you hit your ex–mother–in–law?” He asked. He knew she wasn’t a violent person, he knew she had her reason. He had only been frustrated that his family–the whole world–viewed her so differently.
“First off, I didn’t hit Martha,” she replied, crossing her arms. “And secondly, even if I did, she deserved it. But I didn’t.”
Confusion coursed through him. “Then who did?”
She ignored his question, her gaze drifting away.
“Who did?” he repeated. When she still didn’t answer, he racked his brain.
Then it hit him–Monica. “Was it Monica?”
Ivy glanced at him, her face betraying her guilt before she quickly looked away.
“What?” He let out a disbelieving laugh. “Monica hit your ex–mother–in–law?”
The absurdity of it made him laugh. He’d known Monica his entire life and never had she been violent.
“I don’t want you scolding her or anything,” Ivy said firmly. Her defending Monica was oddly endearing. “She was only looking out for
me.”
He chuckled, nodding slowly. “Alright, ma’am.”
Ivy chuckled too. “So, how do we solve this problem?”
2/3
Chapter 35
Her question brought him back to reality. The media was mauling her, though it was a distraction–but not the kind of distraction he had anticipated.
“I really don’t know yet,” he admitted. “But I’ll work with my team and get back to you.”
“Alright then,” she said, standing. “When you schedule a meeting with them, let me know. Anytime you need me, just call.”
The way she said that made his heart twitch. She must have noticed the change in his expression because a faint blush spread across her cheeks.
She tucked some hair behind her hair, awkwardly cleared her throat and walked to the stairs.
He wanted to stop her, to say something, but his phone rang, and he let her go. Glancing at the screen, he saw it was Thomas.
“Hello, bro,” Silas answered. “I can explain the whole Ivy situation,” he said hastily before Thomas could talk. “It was a—”
“I’m not calling about that,” Thomas interrupted, his voice strained with pain.
Silas’s stomach dropped. “What’s wrong?”
“Sonia Raj is suing me,” Thomas said.
Silas froze. Sonia was one of Thomas’s top clients. “What? Why?”
“Somebody–Mason Hunter, of course–leaked her financial records!”
Silas stiffened.
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