Chapter 53: The Ex-best friend.


    Ivy felt her blood boil as she watched Ss stand and follow his assistant. She could bet they were going to the study to finish whatever business they had together, the same way he had taken Aaliyah there.


    She clenched her fist under the table, her heart burning with anger. This was their wedding day, and Ss was busy with his extras-in the same room she had given him a hand job.


    Despite her anger, heat coursed through her thinking about his body. She felt foolish reacting, knowing that Ss was doing the same with others.


    She wasn''t going to let him get away with this. She wasn''t going to relive Mason''s infidelity again. Not with Ss. They were married now-officially-and she


    considered this her business.


    "So, Ivy, what do you do?" Theresa asked, pulling her from her thoughts.


    "I... am a photographer," Ivy answered.


    "Oh, nice!" Aria eximed, "I can''t wait to work with you, girl!"


    Ivy chuckled. Though, her heart ached at how much she had missed photography,


    how much she hadn''t given it much thought since she signed Ss''s contract.


    "Where''s your office?" Aria asked. "I want to start immediately."


    "She doesn''t have a ce yet," Thomas interjected before Ivy could answer. "Ss is still trying to secure a ce. I''m still working on it."


    "When Thomas promises you and, he delivers," Aria said, refilling her ss.


    "The money man himself," Andrew added with augh.


    Ivy chuckled.


    "Aside from your photography, any other hobbies?" Theresa asked, her gorgeous. blonde hair bouncing as she leaned in.


    "Or are you like some people whose upation is also their hobby?" Wills joked.


    "I have a hobby!" Theresa eximed, yfully tapping her husband.


    Everyoneughed,


    "But for real I do," Theresa said. "I love to hike."


    "Babe, you just started hiking two weeks ago," Willsughed.


    "Doesn''t matter how long you do it, as long as you love it," Aria added.


    "Exactly!" Theresa agreed, gestur Sessfully unlocked!


    "Well," Ivy said. "Photography is also my hobby."


    "Oh no," Wills said.


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    Chapter 53 The Ex best friend


    "Another one," Andrew added with a teasingugh.


    Theresa threw her head inughter, and Ivy joined in. She extended her hand for a shake. "Wee to the club, Ivy."


    "Maybe Ivy can also start hiking and take it as a hobby," Wills teased, refilling his wife''s ss.


    "You never can tell, you might love it too," Theresa said, collecting the ss from her husband.


    "Careers that serve as hobbies can be refreshing," Rosie, who had been quiet before,


    said.


    Everybody ignored her as Uncle Mike spoke. "Hobbies are supposed to take away the stress of your jobs from you."


    "Absolutely," Andrew agreed.


    "Well, not in my case," Aria said.


    "You don''t even have a real job," Andrew countered.


    "Like you don''t have a real woman," Aria shot back.


    "Oh, oh. Herees the sh of the Stone twins," Theresa teased, sipping her drink.


    As Aria and Andrew exchanged banters, Ivy nced at Rosie who had be silent, staring into space. Her heart broke for Rosie as she watched Rosie stand up and leave.


    Nobody acknowledged her, they were all engrossed in Aria''s and Andrew''s back and forth.


    Ivy stood up, hoping to meet Rosie and possibly console her.


    "Where''s you going?" Theresa asked. "You''re going to miss this."


    "I''m going to look for Ss," she lied and hoped they didn''t catch it.


    "Newlyweds," Uncle Mike joked and everybodyughed.


    Ivy gave a sheepishugh as she left the table. When she remembered Ss still wasn'' t back, anger returned to her chest.


    She was going to barge into that study and catch Ss red-handed, but first she had to find Rosie.


    She quickly scanned the garden, and when she.didn''t see her there, she left. By the living room area, where Ss had transformed into a bar, she found Rosie seated and drinking.


    "Hey, Rosie," Ivy said when she reached her.


    "Hey," Rosie said, turning to face her. "Congrattions." Her lips curved into a smile.


    "Mind if I sit?" Ivy asked, and without waiting for a reply, pulled a stool and sat. “I saw you leave the table. Is everything okay?"


    214


    "Yes, yes," Rosie nodded.


    "But you didn''t


    "What the fuck do you want Ivy?"


    Ivy was stunned by the sudden change of Rosie''s tone and expression. "Nothing,


    I saw you sad and I just wanted to check on you,"


    "Oh, you came to gloat." Rosie''s voice was hostile.


    Ivy blinked, "Gloat?"


    "Oh yes. You came to gloat about how the family loves you, how they adore you." Rosie''s mouth twisted into a sneer. "Don''t worry, I give you three years-three fucking years-and they''ll show you their true colors"


    Ivy''s chest tightened at the pain in Rosie''s voice. "Oh, Rosie," she said, touching her back. "I''m so sorry you''re going through all these"


    "Get the fuck off me!" Rosie snapped, nudging her away. "You''ve no idea what you''re in for. It''s toote, Ivy. I tried to warn you."


    Ivy''s heart plummeted at Rosie''s words. "What are you talking about?"


    "Oh, you''ll see." Rosie let out a hystericalugh. "You''ll fucking see!" She yelled, downed her drink and marched away.


    Ivy held her face, shocked by what just happened. Despite her worry for Rosie, she was terrified,


    What was all that about? She had no idea.


    She dabbed her face with her sleeves and headed to Ss''s study. There was only one person who could give her answers, and she didn''t care if he was screwing someone in the same room she''d pleasured him in!


    She stormed into the study. She opened the door without knocking, ready to find Ss in apromising situation, receiving a hand job or blowjob-or worse- having sex!


    "Ss!" she shouted. But to her surprise, and relief, the study was empty.


    Except for a man looking out the window.


    Ivy cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she realized she might have barged


    into a private meeting or something.


    "Uhmm, so sorry about that," she said, her blush deepening.


    The man turned, surprise inscribed on his face. "Mrs Stone?"


    The professionalism in his tone made her stomach churn with regrets. "I... I''m so


    sorry. I''m leaving already"


    "Oh no no." He held a hand to stop her. "You don''t have to leave. I actually thought it was your husband. Congrattions on the wedding."


    Ce 12 The End


    "Thank you," Ivy replied, her voice soft.


    He walked over to her, and she felt a familiar aura around him.


    "Do I know you? You... seem familiar," she said cautiously.


    "Maybe," he replied with a smirk. "You do look so yummy in this dress"


    "Thank you,” she repeated, but the tone in his voice filled her with caution.


    He moved closer and her heart flipped when she saw those blue eyes. "It''s your she murmured, now extremely wary.


    "Oh, I can see Ss has briefed you about me," he smirked, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “Let me formally introduce myself. I''m Dn Wright, Ss''s best


    friend."


    "Ex-bestfriend," she corrected, with as much disgust as she could muster in her voice." No best friend would do what you did," she spat.


    "Oh, I see you know a lot," he said, the twinkle in his blue eyes brightened as he quickly closed the gap between them.


    Ivy reached for the door, but he was too fast. He shut it behind her, pinning her against the door. She tried to break free, but he was too strong.


    "Let me go!" she demanded.


    His mouth curved into a grin. "Since you know me so much already. I bet you also know that I like to share Ss''s women with him as well."


    Before Ivy could react, Dn leaned over and took her lips with fiery intensity.