Buying My Forever Wife novel Chapter 11

That evening, Ivy was scheduled for the night shift.

She couldn't pick up Stella.

Nor could she keep the little girl company while she did her homework.

When Stella was brought home by the nanny and didn't see Ivy, a wave of sadness washed over her.

Alaric returned home from work only to find his daughter in tears.

He quickly tossed his coat aside, scooped the little girl into his arms, and gently wiped the tears from her cheeks.

"Why are you crying, Stella? Are you feeling sick?"

Stella looked up at her father, her eyes brimming with unshed tears.

"Daddy, are you mad at Mommy because my tummy hurt? Did you banish her? Why isn't she home yet?"

The little girl had grown up without a mother.

There was always an empty void in her heart.

Ever since Ivy had saved her and stayed by her side, Stella had grown incredibly attached to her.

Having Ivy around made her feel genuinely happy and loved.

Now that Ivy was nowhere to be seen, the little girl was terrified her father had driven her away, leaving her heartbroken.

Alaric glanced at his watch.

It was already late.

Why wasn't Ivy back yet?

He looked over at the nanny. "Give her a call and see what's going on."

The nanny hurried off to make the call.

A moment later, she returned with her phone.

"Mr. Foster, Mrs. Foster said she's working the night shift at Metropolitan General. She won't be back until tomorrow morning."

Alaric looked at his daughter and coaxed her gently,

"She's just at work, sweetheart. She'll be back tomorrow morning."

Hearing this only made Stella more upset.

"Mommy works too hard. Daddy, I don't want her to be so tired."

Alaric held his daughter close, comforting her.

He reminded himself that the entire reason he married Ivy was so she could keep his daughter company.

If her job kept her away from Stella,

Ivy obediently took a seat.

She couldn't help but think about how impeccably put-together he always was.

He constantly wore sharp three-piece suits, his hair flawlessly styled.

She wondered what his secret was; for a man in his early thirties, his face was completely devoid of blemishes.

He showed zero signs of a receding hairline or a dad bod.

A man like him was absolute eye candy no matter where he went.

Ivy found her gaze lingering on him a little longer than necessary.

Alaric wasn't looking at her, his expression entirely serious.

"Quit your job. From now on, you will drop off and pick up my daughter from school, tutor her, and keep her company."

"If you think the twenty thousand dollars a month I promised isn't enough, I'll add another ten thousand. I highly doubt you make thirty grand working at that hospital."

Even the regular nine-to-five corporate employees at his company only brought in ten or twenty grand a month.

Thirty thousand dollars was more than enough for this girl!

Ivy listened, and it would be a lie to say she wasn't tempted.

Getting paid thirty thousand dollars a month just to stay home and watch a child? Where else could she find a deal like that?