Buying My Forever Wife novel Chapter 105

Alaric had seen Ivy's ID. He knew her hometown was a long way from the city.

It took hours just by express train. Between the travel time back and forth, what possible business could she have handled back home?

If she was going to lie, she could at least make it logical.

Ivy kept her face carefully blank, refusing to even look in Alaric's direction.

"I handled my business, so I came back. As long as I think it had a point, that's enough."

The unspoken message was loud and clear: I don't owe you an explanation.

She vividly remembered the deeply humiliating things Mr. Foster had said to her last night when she asked for an advance.

Ivy swore to herself that from now on, she would only take the wages she rightfully earned from him. She wouldn't ask for a single penny more.

Alaric could feel the shift in her.

This girl actually had quite the temper.

Whatever.

He was only bringing her home for Stella's sake.

If it weren't for his daughter, he would never put up with this kind of treatment.

Walking out of the inpatient building, Alaric got into the car driven by Leo Archer.

Ivy remained rooted to her spot on the sidewalk.

Alaric turned his head to look at her. "What are you spacing out for? Do I need to carry you into the car?"

Ivy stared at him. She had never met a husband so arrogant and condescending.

She was painfully aware of the massive social gap between them. There was zero chance of a slow-burn romance blossoming in her life with a man like this.

To keep her own feelings in check and protect her heart from getting crushed, she knew she had to keep her distance from Mr. Foster as much as humanly possible.

Taking a deep breath, Ivy stepped forward and said,

"You guys go ahead. I'll grab a cab."

With that, she turned on her heel and walked straight toward the hospital gates, keeping her head down as she ordered a ride on her phone.

Alaric was speechless.

Watching the girl's retreating figure, a frustrated, disbelieving scoff escaped his lips.

Seeing that his wife truly preferred standing on the curb for a cab over sharing a ride with him, the bitter sense of defeat in Alaric's chest only deepened.

He couldn't stop himself from asking Leo, "If you were her, would you have done that?"

A cold sweat broke out on Leo's back. His brain went into overdrive as he vigorously shook his head.

"If I were her, I'd be dying to go home with you! She's probably just in a bad mood and wants some space to clear her head."

Fearing his emotionally stunted boss wouldn't read between the lines, Leo quickly elaborated.

"I noticed she looked awful. Pale, totally exhausted, and her eyes were completely spaced out. She clearly hasn't been sleeping. Something is definitely weighing on her."

Hearing that, Alaric immediately checked the rearview mirror again.

But the car had already merged into heavy traffic. She was nowhere to be seen.

Alaric pulled his gaze back and leaned into the leather seat. He couldn't deny that Ivy looked terrible.

She had asked him for money last night, claiming a family emergency.

But if she had a real emergency, why didn't she just explain it clearly?