Buying My Forever Wife novel Chapter 73

Realizing he couldn't chase his nephew away,

and seeing Ivy already walking over with their daughter,

Alaric suddenly resigned himself to fate. If Ethan found out, so be it.

It wasn't exactly a shameful secret anyway.

But to his surprise, Ivy approached with a polite, completely detached tone.

"Hello there, sir. Is this little girl yours?"

Ethan spun around.

Seeing Ivy holding a child's hand, he practically vaulted off the ground, eyes wide with thrill.

"Ivy? No way! What a crazy coincidence running into you here."

Ivy offered a strained smile and a quick nod, keeping her distance so as not to trigger Alaric's legendary temper.

Seeing the strange guy next to her dad, Stella instantly understood her mission.

Looking up at Alaric with her big, innocent eyes, she began the performance of a lifetime.

"Daddy, I got lost, but this pretty lady brought me all the way back! You have to give her a big thank you."

With that, the little actress dutifully trotted over to her father.

Alaric was utterly speechless.

He stared at his daughter, digesting her ridiculous lie, and then shifted his gaze to Ivy.

He couldn't wait to see how she'd play this out.

Ivy averted her eyes, looking perfectly the part of a shy Good Samaritan.

"Well, since she's safe with you now, I'll just be on my way."

She turned to leave.

Ethan reflexively grabbed her arm. "Where are you heading? Let me walk you."

Before Ivy could yank herself free, Stella lunged forward and slapped Ethan's hand away. The little girl glared at him fiercely.

"Don't touch her! Back off!"

Then, turning back to Ivy, her voice morphed into pure, sugary sweetness.

"Thank you so much for bringing me to my daddy. Please don't go! Stay and have some food with us."

The little girl practically dragged Ivy down onto the picnic blanket.

Ivy tried to refuse, but it was hopeless.

but she hadn't replied to a single text.

He had honestly been half-tempted to drive out to her hometown to find her.

Ivy refused to meet his eyes, shaking her head.

"Everything's fine."

"Then why take such a long leave?"

It had been almost two months.

Ethan was convinced something was wrong.

"I just needed to visit my hometown for a bit. It's no big deal," Ivy lied smoothly.

Pressing further, Ethan asked, "So, are you back at work yet?"

"Not yet."

"Why? Wait, did they fire you because you were gone so long?"

Thinking that had to be it, Ethan instantly wheeled around to face his dark-scowling uncle.

"Alaric, you practically run the hospital board. Ivy has a complicated family situation. Since she did you a solid and brought Stella back, you have to let her get her job back."