With a heavy heart, Ss made his way home. He remembered he''d told Jvy to wait up, but unable to face her, he went straight to his room and fell asleep—or at least tried to.


    The next morning, he woke up feeling better, yet regret lingered beneath. He still felt guilty for yelling at Thomas yesterday,


    He left his bed, got into his gym clothes, and went straight for his exercises. After a solid workout, he went back to his room. Before stepping into the shower, he dialed Monica,


    "Good morning, Monica. Please have Ivy ready for breakfast with me."


    He ended the call and took a long shower. He picked a crisp white shirt and gray shorts, and went to the dining room. He was sipping his coffee when Ivy entered.


    He smiled at her. "Good morning."


    Ivy entered cautiously, as though expecting an audience. He couldn''t me her- yesterday''s breakfast was meant to be intimate before Thomas and the others interrupted. His thoughts moved to his brother, but he quickly shoved them away.


    Good morning," Ivy replied softly, taking her seat.


    "How was your night? Sorry I wasn''t able to see you before going to bed," he said. "Yes, it''s fine," she said tly. "Night was fine."


    She didn''t ask about his, and he was grateful. If she had, he''d probably have to tell how restless it was, bothered by the argument with his brother.


    The dinning door opened with a creak and Bethany entered with a tray filled with food. "Good morning, Mr. and Mrs. Stone," she smiled warmly.


    "Morning, Bethany," Ss replied.


    "Good morning, Bethany. How are you?" Ivy asked.


    "Great," Bethany answered. She set the tray down and began serving them. "We have some freshly baked croissants with artisanal butter and coffee. Enjoy."


    "Thank you, Bethany," Ivy smiled as she left the room.


    Once they were alone again, Ss picked up his coffee, studying Ivy carefully over the rim of his cup. She seemed more rxed this morning. Perhaps this was the perfect opportunity to talk.


    "So," he began carefully, tell me about yourself-aside from the things I already know."


    Which, admittedly, was almost nothing.


    Ivy looked up from her te, visibly surprised. "Like what?"


    "I don''t know," he chuckled. Of course, he knew. "Like why you ended your


    marriage with Mason. Your family. You know, the usual


    stuff."


    She ate her croissant slowly and sipped her coffee before answering. "He cheated on me."


    He was expecting something new. "Yes, you told me that."


    "No, I mean before the best friend thing. He was already cheating-with his secretary," she rified. "And I''m sure there were other


    women,"


    "Ah," was all he could manage.


    Mason Hunter was a fool to lose her. Well, one man''s trash is another man''s treasure-his treasure.


    "I ended the marriage after that," she said, enjoying her croissant.


    "Then you went to live with your aunt?"


    11:53 AM


    She nodded.


    0


    Ss remembered her aunt mentioning something about Ivy losing a job. "So, you got a job and then got fired?"


    Ivy leaned forward, her green eyes sharp. "Why all the curiosity?"


    "Nothing," he shrugged, trying to sound casual. "I just want to get to know you better. Is that a crime?"


    He hoped he hadn''t made his intention too obvious. He''d spent all night thinking about Thomas''s words. What if Ivy really was scheming with Mason? What if she was ying him for a fool?


    "It''s not. It''s... just weird. What exactly do you want to know?" She challenged him.


    "Is there something I should know about?" he countered.


    They stared at each other, silently, until Ivy looked away, returning to her food. "Well, I also gave Mason 20 million dors-my inheritance. He wanted to pay me back only a million. The night I met you, I called my brother for help but he bailed." Ss''s eyes widened. He wasn''t expecting that information at all.


    "Mason offered to give you just one million?" he asked, his tone filled with disbelief.


    She nodded nonchntly, reaching for her coffee. "He had also threatened to reduce it before. Recently, he offered to pay the whole amount-if I ended the marriage."


    "What? Our marriage?" Ss''s voice was fierce, with anger burning in his chest. "He''s got some guts."


    "Oh, you have no idea," Ivy chuckled. "Audacity is his middle name."


    "Did you... ever consider it?" He knew it was stupid to ask, but he asked anyway. Sheughed. "And go back to him? Not a chance."


    "I mean, 20 million is a lot. You could restart your life with it." he pushed, testing her reaction.


    She shook her head slowly, a small smile appeared on her lips. “Let''s just say I like it here."


    That response was enough for him. Ss nodded and continued eating. After a moment of silence he spoke again. "Our photoshoot has been rescheduled for today."


    "Oh, alright." Ivy''s expression shifted, a faint blush creeping up her checks.


    He knew what she remembered, damn he remembered too. Thest photoshoot had been a disaster-one he wasn''t proud of, but had led to some stearny moments that he couldn''t deny.


    He reached for his cup of coffee to ease the knot of tension that had appeared in his chest and his lower legs.


    The silence stretched, with both of them munching their breakfast, until Ss cleared his throat. "Did you like the car?"


    "Yes." she smiled. "It''s beautiful."


    "I created it," he said, pride swelling in his chest.


    Her eyes widened. "Really? I didn''t know that."


    He arched his brow. "What do you think I do?"


    Her blush deepened. "I... don''t know. I haven''t given it much thought."


    "Well, I own an automobilepany. Maybe, sometimes, I''ll take you there to look around."


    She reached for her coffee, batting hershes. "That would be lovely, thank you." Then as an afterthought, she added. "The wedding is almost here. Are you ready for it?" Despite the smile on her face, he heard the dread in her tone.


    "Of course," he replied, warmth spreading in his chest. In just two days, Ivy would officially be his. “Have you told your family?" he asked, then he remembered his call to her father. "Actually, I called your dad."


    Ivy dropped her mug with a thud, her face contorted. "Why? I didn''t ask you to do


    that."


    "I was trying to be nice," he exined, frowning slightly. "I wanted to invite him


    before you do. And it didn''t quite work."


    Her eyes narrowed. "What did he say?"


    "Stuff," he replied with a shrug. He wasn''t about to repeat the terrible things her father had said about her.


    "Well, he''s noting," she said firmly, though he caught the sadness under her tone.


    "What happened between both of you?" he asked carefully. "I''m sensing-"


    “Nothing,” she interrupted abruptly, a forced smile tightening her expression. "We''re good."


    He studied her for a moment, the sadness in her eyes breaking his heart. But he decided not to push-for now.


    He reached for his phone and sent a quick text to Rachel: Wire 200 million dors


    to my wife''s ount. I''ll send you the details shortly.


    He couldn''t exin why it felt satisfying doing that-but he didn''t question it. He stole a nce at Ivy, wondering what it would take to heal the wounds in her


    heart.