Buying My Forever Wife novel Chapter 17

Patrick immediately felt like a complete idiot for even trying to justify himself.

Remembering the core issue, he asked with genuine concern,

"So how did you fix your problem? Did you ever get the money?"

Ivy forced her smile to stay in place. "Yes, I got it. I need to get back to work."

She stepped around him to leave.

Suddenly, a shrill, arrogant female voice cut through the corridor.

"Patrick! What the hell are you talking to her about?"

The girl marched over, aggressively looping her arm through Patrick's as she shot Ivy a venomous glare.

"Ivy, you guys are history. Have some self-respect and back off. He's my boyfriend now."

Ivy was floored.

She stared at Patrick in utter disbelief.

Hadn't he just sworn up and down they weren't official?

Yet here this girl was, openly claiming him.

Worse yet, the girl draped over his arm was Summer Vance—her former college roommate.

Back in school, Summer loved flaunting her family's wealth, strutting around like she owned the place and looking down on everyone else.

Staring at Patrick, a wave of sheer, sickening disgust washed over Ivy, settling like a rock in her stomach.

Patrick didn't bother defending himself this time. He didn't even have the spine to pull his arm out of Summer's grip, just standing there playing the victim of circumstance.

Realizing that Patrick had undoubtedly overlapped his relationships—and had likely been cheating on her the entire time—tears of humiliation pricked Ivy's eyes as she spun on her heel to leave.

As luck would have it, she nearly collided with a group of imposing men in tailored suits sweeping down the corridor.

Flanked by hospital executives, the intimidating figure leading the pack was none other than her husband.

Ivy felt a dizzying rush of vertigo.

Was the universe actively trying to punish her today?

Why was every single disaster crashing down on her all at once?

Seeing the hospital director and senior doctors trailing behind Alaric, she flattened herself against the wall, holding her breath to let them pass.

Patrick noticed the raw heartbreak in Ivy's eyes and felt a sudden pang of guilt.

He ripped his arm free from Summer and started toward her.

Ivy was still reeling, her mind struggling to process the sheer absurdity of the situation.

So Patrick had cheated on her just to get his hands on Summer's family fortune?

And the ultimate twisted joke of it all—her billionaire husband was her vindictive ex-roommate's uncle.

The mere thought of breathing the same air as Summer in this hospital made Ivy want to vomit.

Without a single word, she kept her head down and practically sprinted away from the toxic couple.

Unwilling to let her off the hook, Summer shrieked down the hallway,

"Know your place, Ivy! If I ever catch you flirting with Patrick again, I'll make sure you're blacklisted from medicine entirely!"

Patrick stood frozen, watching Ivy's retreating figure. A pang of regret hit him, but he brutally squashed it down.

Summer came from undeniable wealth, and her uncle was the untouchable CEO of the Foster Group.

Thanks to her connections, he had just scored a prime internship at the Foster Group, practically guaranteeing his ascent into the elite.

What could Ivy possibly offer him?

She might be gorgeous, but her family was a den of parasitic leeches, sucking her dry at every turn.