Ivy felt fresh anger rise in her chest as Ss leaned closer to Aaliyah,ughing.


    She wanted to lunge at them, scream at them, but she remembered Rita''s words about reporters around andposed herself.


    When Ss saw her, he walked over, with Aaliyah following. "Hey, babe," he said, pressing a small kiss on her lips.


    Though the kiss was light, it sent a spark through Ivy, and for a split second her anger melted.


    "Mrs. Stone," Aaliyah greeted with a dazzling smile. "Nice to see you again." Despite the anger in her chest, Ivy forced a smile on her face. "Same here," She wasn''t going to make a scene and embarrass herself.


    Ss ced his hand on her waist, and her anger fadedpletely. "How do I look?"


    Ivy looked at him. He was dressed in a sharp blue suit with polished Italian shoes. "Great," she said softly.


    JAll thanks to Aaliyah," Ss smiled, gesturing to her. "She styled me."


    "You''re wee again," Aaliyah replied, revealing her white teeth.


    Ivy felt her anger returned at the look exchanged between them. They had done something in there! She could tell. She pulled away from Ss''s embrace, catching the frown on his face.


    Ss cleared his throat and stepped back. "My interview begins soon. I have to go."


    Aaliyah nodded. "Alright then,"


    "Bye," Ss waved before walking away,


    As soon as he was gone, Aaliyah turned to face Ivy, noticing the anger in her eyes. "Let''s not fight today, please," she murmured and headed for the room she and Ss had just left.


    Ivy followed her quietly. Once she was in the room, her eyes roamed around, searching for anything, any indication that might confirm her suspicions.


    "Are you okay?" Aaliyah asked, her voice soft with concern.


    Ivy stopped herself. What was she doing? How had she be this again? She shook her head, disgusted by her actions.


    Ss was not Mason, she told herself. Even though they were married, she had no right to care about his sexual activities with other


    women.


    "Do you have to sit?" Aaliyah asked, interrupting her thoughts as she motioned to a chair.


    Aaliyah''s kind gesture filled Ivy with shame. Her cheeks warmed with embarrassment. "I''m sorry," she muttered.


    "It''s okay. I understand that public speeches can be intense," Aaliyah said, offering a smile that reached her eyes.


    Ivy looked away, the shame eating her up. She had be that woman again. All those months with Mason, checking his phone, his car, looking for evidence of his infidelity had turned her into something else. And she couldn''t believe she was doing the same to Ss.


    "Thanks," she finally said, her voice soft.


    "You''re wee," Aaliyah replied. "Shall I begin?"


    "Yes, yes," Ivy replied.


    The faster she was done with this, the better.


    Aaliyah nodded. "Alright." She moved to a rack of clothes and began to check


    through them. "I think I have just the dress for you,"


    Aaliyah pulled out a stunning ck dress. "What do you think?"


    0


    0


    Ivy nodded, slightly unsettled. "Love it."


    "Great," Aaliyah said, clearly pleased. "Let''s get it on you."


    Ivy stood and slipped out of the clothes she was wearing. As she wore the ck gown, Aaliyah turned her back, pretending to be busy with something on the table. "Done," Ivy announced.


    The thought of Ss dressing in Aaliyah''s presence consumed her with dread and jealousy, but she quickly shoved it out of her mind.


    It was not her business. She was not that woman anymore.


    "It''s perfect," Aaliyah smiled genuinely.


    Ivy ran her hands over the fabric and adjusted the gown. "Thank you."


    "You''re wee," Aaliyah said, her cheeks suddenly flushed. "I''ll... do a quick makeup, and then you''ll be good to go."


    "Alright," Ivy replied, sitting back in the chair.


    She watched as Aaliyah expertly did her makeup and hair. Soon, she was ready.


    "Thank you, Aaliyah," Ivy smiled.


    Aaliyah grinned. "Ss is one lucky guy."


    "Yes." Ivy bristled at Aaliyah''s tone but kept her smile in ce as she left the room.


    When she reached the reception area, Debbie walked up to her.


    "Mrs Stone, I''ve been looking all over for you. You... look great," she said, with clear forced enthusiasm.


    Annoyance rushed inside Ivy as she remembered Debbie''s earlier conversation, but she contained it. Losing her temper here was no option.


    "Thank you," Ivy replied coldly, and turned to leave. "Take me to the interview room."


    "Yes, ma''am." Confusion etched on Debbie''s face as she led the way.


    They went upstairs, going through several doors before stopping in front of one.


    Debbie opened it, revealing arge room filled with bright lights and cameras. She gave Ivy the file. "You might want to read it again."


    Without a word, Ivy yanked the file from her. She scanned through the pages, just as she could hear the tter of keyboards from somewhere around her.


    A young man approached, a headset sitting on his neck. "Mrs. Stone. We''ll be ready for you in thirty minutes. Please take a seat somewhere."


    Without waiting for a reply, he left.


    Debbie scurried around and came back with a chair. Ivy sat, her eyes still on the file.


    Later, the young man returned. "It''s time," he said, gesturing for her to follow him.


    Debbie took the file from her. "Goodluck ma''am."


    Ivy ignored her.


    The young man led her to a white table surrounded by three chairs. He gestured


    to a chair and snapped his fingers, calling someone''s


    attention.


    Ady came to Ivy and clipped a small microphone to her chest. Ivy could feel her anxiety returning with the whole activity. When thedy finished, Ivy nodded, her eyes trailed behind the lights.


    Then she saw him.


    11:54 AM


    Ss was there. And his broad smile, his presence, instantly put her at ease.


    When he blew a kiss, her confidence returned.


    A man and a woman-whom Ivy


    guessed were the news anchors took the empty seats beside her. People gathered them, adjusting their hair, their makeup, their equipment.


    A monitor disyed the countdown to a live broadcast.


    "Five, four, three, two, one!"


    "Good evening everyone. Wee to Entertainment Today. I am Luke Wander,"


    the man said smoothly.


    "And I''m Rita Stanford," The woman added. "We are joined today by Ivy Stone." She turned to Ivy with a bright smile. "Wee."


    Ivy''s heart almost stopped, her smile wavered. This was Rita, the woman who had consoled her!


    "So tell us, Ms. Stone," Rita said, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "Why now? Why go public with your marriage now?"


    Ivy blinked. That wasn''t part of her questions. "Uhmm... nothing," she managed.


    Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Ss gesturing angrily.


    Is it true you married Ss Stone while still married to Mason Hunter?" Rita pressed with another question that wasn''t in the file.


    Ivy flushed, feeling unprepared. Her heart pounded under the harsh studio lights.


    Rita didn''t relent. "Did you leave Mason just to be with Ss? Did you assault


    Martha Hunter because she used you of cheating on her son?"


    The anxiety hit Ivy and she froze. Her chest tightened from the look on Rita''s face


    and Ss''s muffled arguments.


    "False! False!" she blurted out, her


    voice trembling. "I ended the marriage because Mason cheated on met He impregnated my best friend and the marriage is over! Next question!"


    Luke gasped, and Rita''s sly expression disappeared, her face turning pale.