Buying My Forever Wife novel Chapter 41

Ivy didn't know how to discipline the child anymore.

Her peripheral vision involuntarily drifted toward the man sitting nearby, anxious to see his reaction.

Alaric kept his head down, his handsome features cast in the shadows of his messy hair, making his expression entirely unreadable.

Though he appeared to be staring at his phone, his mind was racing.

If his daughter continued spending this much time with Ivy, she would inevitably pick up all her habits. He couldn't decide if that was a blessing or a curse.

Should he try to understand this woman better? If Ivy was truly as vain and money-hungry as she seemed, he needed to make her back off immediately. But if she turned out to be decent, maintaining this marriage wouldn't be completely unbearable.

"Watch Stella for a bit. I need to step out," Alaric said.

He stood up and left the hospital room without another word.

Ivy quickly agreed, pulling Stella onto her lap to read a book together.

A moment later, her phone buzzed on the nightstand. Ivy glanced at the screen. It was a voice call from Ethan.

Ethan had been relentlessly trying to contact her over the past few days, constantly asking why she hadn't returned to work at Metropolitan General. She had already given him a handful of excuses, yet he wouldn't stop calling. Thank God Mr. Foster was out of the room, or she would never hear the end of it.

Ivy answered the call, keeping her tone perfectly polite. "Ethan, I really don't think we're close enough to be talking every day. I'm glad you're recovering and out of the hospital, but I've been incredibly busy lately. If you keep messaging me and trying to send me money, I'm going to have to block your number."

Ethan couldn't understand why Ivy was so resistant to even being friends. Was he really worse than Patrick? Or did she find out Patrick was single again and wanted him back? The mere thought made his blood boil.

Ivy nodded in agreement, taking Stella's little hand with a bright smile. "Stella, I can go home and play with you tomorrow!"

"Wow, yay! Now I don't have to make Daddy drive me here to see Mommy every single day." The little girl shot her father a look of pure disdain.

"Daddy doesn't care about Mommy at all. When I grow up and get married, I'm never going to pick a husband like him."

Ivy gasped softly, pulling the child closer to her chest as she cast a nervous, hesitant glance at Mr. Foster.

Looking utterly exasperated, Alaric awkwardly pinched his daughter's soft cheek. "What do you know, you little brat?"

"I just know you don't know how to treat a wife! Plus, you're an old man. No woman is ever going to like you," she huffed.