Buying My Forever Wife novel Chapter 43

Alaric was nowhere to be seen the following morning.

Instead, he had sent his driver and Mrs. Gable to the hospital to handle Ivy's discharge papers and bring her home.

Once she arrived back at The Starlight Estate, Ivy took a long, hot shower, changed into a fresh set of clothes, and took a slow, careful walk around the house to stretch her legs.

That afternoon.

When Stella returned from St. Jude's Preschool, Ivy sat with her on the sofa, helping her read and practice her handwriting.

After a while, Ivy began to feel a familiar, uncomfortable cramping in her abdomen. Her period was starting.

Gently patting the little girl's head, she murmured, "Stella, you finish these two pages. I need to run upstairs and grab something."

Stella nodded eagerly, leaning over the coffee table to focus intensely on her workbook.

Ivy searched her entire room but couldn't find a single tampon or pad.

When she asked Mrs. Gable, the housekeeper didn't have any on hand either.

She had no choice but to go out and buy some herself.

Knowing Stella would beg for ice cream if she took her to the store, Ivy decided to go alone. She asked Mrs. Gable to keep an eye on the child and headed out.

After purchasing the supplies at a self-checkout convenience store, the cramping intensified to an unbearable level. Her fractured spine hadn't completely healed, and all the moving around she had done today had sent sharp, shooting pain radiating through her lower back. Unable to take another step, she collapsed onto the edge of the sidewalk.

Heavy drops of sweat rolled down her forehead as she fought through the blinding agony.

By pure coincidence, Alaric was on his way home from work.

His sleek town car rolled right past her.

The assistant spotted her from the front seat and glanced back. "Boss, I think that's Mrs. Foster. Why is she crouched on the ground?"

Hearing this, Alaric looked out the window.

Seeing Ivy clutching her stomach, drenched in sweat and clearly in distress, a deep frown creased his forehead. He swung the door open and stepped out, towering over her with an unmistakable edge of displeasure.

"You were just discharged from the hospital. What are you doing wandering around instead of resting?"

When he laid Ivy down on the mattress, he noticed a faint streak of blood on his sleeve.

Disgusted by the mess, he immediately strode to his own suite to shower and change.

Dr. Sinclair arrived shortly after and administered an injection. As the intense cramping finally subsided, Ivy fluttered her eyes open.

She had no idea how she had gotten back to her room.

Seeing a stunningly beautiful woman sitting by her bedside, she quickly scrambled to sit up, offering a polite, awkward nod.

Elena stared right through her. "Why are you still living in this house?"

Ivy froze, blinking at the woman in surprise.

It took a moment, but she recognized her as the doctor who had treated Stella last time. She never expected her to be the one treating her for cramps.

Intimidated by the sharp question, Ivy lowered her head and scrambled for a safe excuse.