Buying My Forever Wife novel Chapter 80

Listening to her coworkers ruthlessly mock her, Ivy felt a heavy, suffocating weight settle in her chest.

If she didn't shut this down right now, the rumors would only spiral out of control.

She absolutely refused to let them drag her name through the mud.

Slamming her clipboard down, Ivy kicked the pharmacy door wide open and marched out, glaring at the group of gossiping nurses.

"Does talking trash behind people's backs make you feel better about yourselves?"

Startled to realize she had heard every word, the nurses scattered, though they were still smirking unapologetically.

Ivy raised her voice, ensuring they all heard her clearly.

"I am married. And my husband is an incredible, young, and insanely handsome man. If I hear one more word of you disrespecting him, I will make sure none of you ever step foot in this hospital again."

It wasn't an empty threat.

If Alaric could single-handedly ruin Summer Vance's medical career, getting a few gossiping nurses fired would be effortless.

The nurses exchanged nervous glances. They knew Ivy had serious connections to the hospital's executive board;

otherwise, she never would have been granted such an absurdly long paid leave.

Desperate to protect their jobs, they immediately clamped their mouths shut.

But Summer suddenly strutted out from the hallway, scoffing loudly.

"Wow, big words for a glorified pill-pusher. What, does your husband own the whole hospital or something?"

Ivy was genuinely surprised to see Summer back on shift.

Did Alaric really let her keep her job just because Ivy had accepted her apology at the banquet?

Knowing damn well Summer was the mastermind behind the rumors, Ivy closed the distance between them, her face devoid of any emotion but radiating pure, aggressive fury.

"I don't know if my husband owns the hospital, but I clearly remember why you were groveling and apologizing to me last time.

If you want to keep your precious job, you better watch your mouth. Keep spreading rumors, and we'll see which one of us gets permanently fired first."

Summer's face drained of color. She glared at Ivy, grinding her teeth in pure rage.

She didn't dare test her luck right now.

"Obviously I'm going to tell him. Once my uncle finds out, Ivy's little sugar daddy is going to be thrown out on the street."

Having made her grand promise, Summer bolted out the second her shift ended, making a beeline for Foster Manor.

It happened to be the night of the Foster family's monthly dinner banquet.

Alaric had returned for the occasion.

He was sitting alone in the tea room, quietly reading a book.

Dressed in a bespoke suit, he sat with his legs crossed in a vintage mahogany chair, his long, elegant fingers methodically turning the pages.

Seen through the windows, the sprawling estate gardens—with their ornamental koi ponds and gently swaying willow trees—framed him perfectly, making him look impossibly regal and utterly untouched by the mundane world.

One look at him was enough to render anyone breathless, physically unable to look away.

A stunningly dressed woman, a stranger to the household, swayed gracefully toward him.

Offering a sultry, honeyed smile, she murmured, "Mr. Foster... mind if I join you?"