Buying My Forever Wife novel Chapter 100

"Did you know, Mommy jumped straight off the bridge into the freezing water just to save me!"

When she finally regained consciousness, the very first thing she saw was Ivy desperately administering CPR, breathing life back into her lungs.

Ivy had even stripped off her own coat, wrapping Stella up so she wouldn't freeze.

Ever since that terrifying day, Stella felt a profound warmth whenever she was near Ivy. It felt like being enveloped in a mother's pure, protective love, and she never wanted to let that feeling go.

The little girl wrapped her arms around her father's neck, her voice incredibly soft.

"Daddy, I love you so much, but I really need a mommy. Can you promise to never yell at her again?"

Alaric was silenced.

Had he truly been that awful to her?

He was eternally grateful that Ivy had saved his daughter's life.

When he initially tracked her down to offer a massive financial reward, if she had just accepted the check instead of demanding marriage, he would have owed her his life.

He would have moved mountains to solve any problem she ever faced.

But Ivy hadn't just wanted a payout; she had demanded the title of Mrs. Foster.

And after securing that prestigious title, she fiercely guarded her virtue, refusing him at every turn.

How was he supposed to show her any warmth when she acted like that?

Alaric quickly rationalized away any lingering guilt for his ruthless rejection.

He brutally forced the image of her weeping eyes from his mind.

Carrying Stella into the library, he distracted himself by teaching her how to read.

After barely catching her train, Ivy traveled through the night, finally arriving at the gritty hospital in her dreary hometown.

The moment she laid eyes on her little sister in the bleak ward, she fought to keep her voice steady, choking out a single word.

"Gemma."

Gemma, huddled miserably on the edge of the cot, snapped her head up at the sound of Ivy's voice.

Tears instantly exploded from her eyes, and she let out a broken sob.

"Ivy!"

"Gemma!"

Staring at her older sister now, Gemma's chest heaved with uncontrollable sobs.

Reading the irrefutable medical results, Ivy's soul shattered.

But she couldn't break down; she was the only lifeline her sister had left.

No matter what it took, she was going to save her.

Locking away her terror, Ivy pulled Gemma back into her arms.

"Gemma, I'm going to talk to your teachers and get you a six-month medical leave. I'm taking you to the city for treatment. The hospitals there are world-class. You're going to survive this."

Gemma didn't make a sound, but the tears cascaded silently down her cheeks.

She looked up at Ivy, her voice a fragile, raspy whisper.

"But where are you going to get the money?"

Ivy cupped her sister's face in both hands, frantically swiping away the tears as a lump of pure agony formed in her own throat.

"I'll figure it out. I just got a permanent position at Metropolitan General, and I'm making thousands of dollars a month!"

"And my husband gives me a huge allowance! Don't you worry about a thing, I have plenty of cash."