Buying My Forever Wife novel Chapter 96

Alaric took another bite, asking casually,

"Have you run into any trouble lately? Or has Summer been giving you a hard time at the hospital?"

His daughter had insisted she was upset.

Figuring she was, legally speaking, his wife, he felt obligated to at least feign some level of concern.

He didn't want her accusing him of being a cold, distant husband.

Ivy was caught entirely off guard.

She had never expected a man like Alaric Foster to ask about her well-being.

Even though she was drowning in a sea of crises.

She knew better than to unload her baggage onto him. Shaking her head, she deflected,

"I'm perfectly fine. I don't need anything, and Summer has actually been keeping her distance."

"Alright. If you ever need anything, just tell me."

With that, Alaric focused on his meal, quickly clearing the entire plate.

He still felt a lingering craving for more.

But not wanting to make her cook again, he stood up, grabbing the empty bowl to take it to the kitchen.

Ivy rushed forward to intercept him. "Mr. Foster, I'll take that."

Alaric didn't fight her for it. Handing it over, he added,

"When you're done cleaning up, come back here. We need to talk."

"Okay."

Ivy agreed, but as she walked away, her mind raced. He had returned early from his trip and wanted a late-night chat.

What could he possibly want to discuss?

Was he going to kick her out?

A knot of anxiety tightened in her stomach.

She quickly washed the dishes, wiped down the counters, and returned to the living room, standing rigidly beside him.

Alaric gestured to the sofa. "Sit down. This is your home too. Stop acting like you're one of the hired help."

Keeping her gaze glued to the floor, Ivy gave a muted nod. "Okay."

Alaric scrutinized her. "Are you afraid of me?"

She barely ever looked him in the eye when they spoke.

Refusing to look at her stunned expression, Alaric kept his gaze straight ahead and stated coolly,

"If you fulfill your duties in the bedroom, I'll give you as much money as you want."

Ivy processed the transactional offer with brutal clarity.

Her face flushed a violent shade of red.

Not from shyness, but from absolute fury.

She realized Alaric viewed her as nothing more than an escort he could purchase.

If he hadn't brought money into it, she was his wife—intimacy was to be expected eventually.

But the moment he offered cash for it, it changed everything.

He was essentially offering to pay her for sex.

It was the ultimate humiliation.

A painful lump formed in her throat, and her eyes burned with unshed tears.

Choked up with indignation, she rejected him with icy finality.

"Absolutely not."