Ivy’s heart broke as she watched Rosie collapse in Silas’s arms. She wanted to reach out, but she figured Silas’s consolation was good for now. So she waited and watched, her heart pounding.
When Rosie finally pulled away, her cheeks were swollen, and Ivy’s heart ached further.
“Hey, Ivy,” Rosie said sadly, wiping tears from her eyes.
“Hey.” Ivy waved at her, adding a small smile.
“Where’s Thomas?” Silas asked as he moved closer to Rosie, helping her settle into a seat.
“He’s not home yet,” Rosie sniffed.
“Oh, Rosie. I’m so sorry,” Silas murmured, and Ivy could detect the sadness in his voice.
Ivy didn’t know what was going on, so she waited quietly. Rosie picked a tissue from the cute center table and blew her nose. Silas sat beside her, his hand over her shoulders.
Have your seat, please,” Rosie offered, smiling despite her puffy cheeks.
Ivy nodded and gingerly sat down, feeling like an intruder in their moment of grief.
The front door opened, and Thomas entered.
“Hey, baby!” He exclaimed. His excitement died when he saw Rosie in Silas’s hands. He ran over to them, his eyes widened with shock. “What happened?”
Rosie left Silas and went to her husband. For a moment, they hugged in silence with Thomas running his fingers through her hair and down her back.
Ivy looked away, feeling the emotions between them both, their sadness made her stomach churn.
“I lost the baby,” Rosie choked out and started crying again.
Thomas didn’t say a word, his hand only tightened around Rosie’s waist.
Ivy gasped softly, sadness storming her heart. She couldn’t even begin to imagine the pain they both were in.
She cast Silas a look, who stood up.
“Uhmm… we’ll leave you guys to it,” Silas said softly, holding out a hand to Ivy.
Ivy took his hand and stood. “Sorry for your loss,” she muttered.
Thomas and Rosie didn’t respond. They stood there, locked in each other’s embrace.
As Silas and Ivy walked out, Ivy stole a quick glance at the couple and realized they still hadn’t moved a bit.
“Take us home, Victor,” Silas said when they reached the car. He opened the door for Ivy.
Ivy entered quietly with Silas sliding in. As Victor began the ride, she turned her gaze towards the window.
She sympathized with Thomas and Rosie, wishing there was something she could do about their pain.
“Sorry for your loss,” she told Silas, and watched him shift in his chair.
“Yes,” he replied, his voice tinged with sorrow. “Thanks.”
Ivy observed him, before looking away again.
“I was going to be an uncle,” Silas said, his pain evident. “I didn’t even know they were trying.”
She reached for his hand and gave him a small squeeze. He looked down at their joined hands and nodded gratefully at her.
“The wedding isn’t happening tomorrow,” he suddenly blurted out.
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Chapter 48
Ivy blinked, caught by surprise. “Okay…”
“I mean, it’s only sensible to postpone it, right?”
Was he asking her? She had no idea. Matter of fact, she hadn’t even processed the fact that she was supposed to get married tomorrow. The thought filled her with dread.
“Hey, hey,” Silas said. He must have sensed her anxiety. He lifted their joined hands to his mouth and kissed her fingers lightly. “It’s okay. We’ll get through this.”
A shiver ran down her spine, and she nodded. “Yes,” she muttered.
“Sorry to dump that on you like that,” Silas said, attempting a smile.
“It’s okay,” she smiled.
Silas fell silent after that, releasing her hand. He looked at the window, obviously lost in thoughts.
Ivy allowed her thoughts drift as well, as the journey continued in silence. She remembered Rita’s unrevised questions, and couldn’t believe how well she’d managed to handle it. Better than expected, at least.
“We’re here,” Silas announced, breaking her thoughts.
He helped her out of the car. “Should we have dinner inside, together?” he asked, his eyes lingering on her chest just a little too long.
Ivy felt the heat creep up her cheeks as she shook her head. “No, it’s fine. I’ll have dinner alone.”
She didn’t mean to sound so pathetic, so defeated. But if Silas noticed, he didn’t budge.
“Alright then. I’ll see you tomorrow,” he replied, already walking towards his room. “Bye,” he glanced back and waved.
“Bye,” she murmured, watching as he disappeared down the hall.
Her chest tightened as she watched him go. He was grieving, and he wanted to do it alone. She trudged upstairs to her room and gently locked the door behind her.
She was exhausted and hungry, but was feeling too sad to eat. She dropped her bag on the table, took off her shoes and retrieved her phone. She was about to lose herself on the internet when she noticed several missed calls.
It was then she realized her phone had been on silent because of the interview. Thinking about the interview again made her stomach churn with fresh exhaustion.
She unlocked her phone and checked the call log. There were missed calls from Mason, followed by a single text:
“Why?”
She noticed another message from Aunt May, asking about the wedding venue.
Ivy’s heart sank. What was she supposed to tell her aunt? That the marriage was already postponed?
She sighed, lowering her phone, when a call from an unknown number came through. She hesitated, placing the phone cautiously on her ear. “Hello?”
“Miss Scott. Or shall I say, Mrs Stone?” The voice was masculine and authoritative.
Ivy’s chest constricted with fear. “Yes?”
“This is Joe Spence.” –
Her fear dissolved as it was replaced with confusion. Why was Mason’s lawyer calling her? “Joe. How are you?” she asked, concealing her confusion.
“Very well, thank you. And you?” Joe asked in his usual apathetic tone.
“I’m great. Why are you calling me?” She asked, going straight for it.
“I’m calling on behalf of my client, Mason Hunter. He’s suing you for defamation of character,” Joe said.
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She sprang to her feet. “Defamation?”
“Yes. This is in regards to the awful things you said about him in your interview earlier today,” Joe clarified. “He-”
“It’s only defamation if it’s not true!” she fired up, suddenly pissed. “Everything I said about Mason is true.”
“On what claim, ma’am?”
She huffed. “What claim? Cheryl is pregnant! What stupid claim do you want? Your lawsuit is invalid!”
“That’s not all,” Joe said in a tone that made Ivy’s blood curl. “He’s also suing you for invasion of his privacy, emotional stress, public-”
“I don’t care!” Ivy snapped, interrupting him. “Tell your client to find something better to do. Leave me alone!”
Before Joe could say another word, she ended the call and threw the phone on the bed.
She was still furious at Mason’s guts when the knock on her door startled her. She adjusted herself before reaching it.
“Yes?”
“It’s me.”
Ivy opened the door to find Silas standing there. She assessed him, trying to tell the mood he was in. “Is everything okay?”
“Yes,” he replied, nodding. “I just got off the phone with Thomas. He wants us to carry on with the wedding tomorrow.”
“Okay,” she replied softly.
“He feels if we postpone it, the media might find out why. And he’s not making any announcements about the… the….” He trailed off awkwardly.
“I understand,” she interjected quickly.
Silas nodded. “Alright then, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Good night,” Ivy murmured, closing the door behind him.
Once alone, her chest tightening with anxiety–Mason was suing her again, and she was finally getting married to Silas tomorrow.
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