Buying My Forever Wife novel Chapter 107

Ivy hadn't slept a wink in twenty-four hours.

After tucking Stella into bed that night, she crashed the second her head hit the pillow.

And then, the nightmares came.

In her dream, she was clutching Stella tightly to her chest, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Gemma, don't be scared. I won't let anything happen to you. I'll make sure you live a long, safe life."

"Gemma, don't leave me."

"Please don't go."

Stella was jolted awake by the sound of Ivy's muffled cries.

She carefully shimmied out of Ivy's embrace, slipped out of bed, and padded barefoot down the hall to Alaric's room.

Alaric was tossing and turning.

There was a heavy, suffocating pressure pressing down on his chest that he couldn't shake.

When he heard his bedroom door creak open and felt someone climbing onto his mattress, he froze.

For a split second, he actually thought it was Ivy.

Was she sneaking in to seduce him?

Just as the thought crossed his mind, a tiny, panic-stricken voice broke the silence.

"Daddy! Daddy, Mommy is crying. I don't know why she's crying, but she sounds so sad!"

Realizing it was his daughter, Alaric instantly bolted upright and flicked on the bedside lamp.

"What did you say?"

He pulled the little girl close, thoroughly confused. "What's wrong with Mommy?"

Stella shook her head frantically.

"I don't know! She was holding me and crying, and she sounded so heartbroken. When I sneaked out, she didn't even wake up. I think she's having a terrible nightmare."

She had been so scared and didn't know what to do, so she ran straight to her dad.

Alaric swung his legs out of bed, took Stella's hand, and hurried to the children's room.

When they walked in, Ivy was still curled up in bed.

She had stopped sobbing, but Alaric could clearly see the wetness clinging to her lashes and the tear tracks streaking her pale cheeks.

He sat on the edge of the mattress, gently pulled the blanket back, and called out softly.

"Ivy."

At the sound of his voice, Ivy jolted awake in a panic.

Stella insisted, tugging at Alaric's sleeve pleadingly.

"Daddy, carry Mommy to your room. She's your wife. You two are supposed to sleep together anyway!"

Alaric felt a flare of awkwardness.

But he gave in to his daughter's demand and looked down at Ivy.

"Do I carry you, or are you walking there yourself?"

Ivy realized he was dead serious.

And Stella was switching sides at the drop of a hat.

Not wanting to keep everyone up any longer, she quickly scrambled out of bed and left the room.

Once she was gone, Alaric lifted Stella and tucked her securely under the covers.

"Be a good girl and go to sleep. Everything is fine now."

"Okay."

Stella nodded obediently. As Alaric turned to leave, her tiny hand grabbed his sleeve. She looked up at him, her voice heartbreakingly sweet.

"Daddy, please be gentle with Mommy. She looked so sad when she was crying. I don't want Mommy to be heartbroken. If she's sad, it breaks my heart too."