Buying My Forever Wife novel Chapter 97

That blunt rejection genuinely stunned Alaric.

He turned to look at her, taking in her crimson face, her fierce scowl, and her fists clenched so tightly around the fabric of her sweatpants that her knuckles were white.

Was she actually angry?

Had he said something wrong?

Or was she truly that repulsed by him?

Even with millions of dollars on the table, she still refused to let an older man like him touch her.

A heavy stone seemed to lodge itself in Alaric's chest, suffocating him, as a volatile anger flared to life behind his eyes.

His aristocratic, commanding features twisted into an expression of glacial fury.

Without uttering another syllable, and without sparing her a second glance, he stood up and stalked out of the room.

Ivy remained frozen on the couch, her head bowed as a wave of overwhelming grief crashed over her.

Unable to hold it back any longer, a single, crystalline tear escaped, splashing onto her leg and darkening the fabric of her pajamas.

She had no idea why this hurt so much.

She wasn't in love with Mr. Foster, so his degrading opinion of her shouldn't matter.

Yet, she couldn't suppress the crushing humiliation that made her want to curl into a ball and weep.

It took a long time for her to regain her composure.

Once her breathing leveled out, she finally returned to the bedroom and climbed under the covers beside Stella.

Early the next morning.

With Mrs. Gable away, Ivy woke up before dawn to prepare breakfast for Stella.

Just as she was setting the plates on the dining table, she saw Alaric descending the staircase, immaculately dressed in a sharp suit.

Remembering the disastrous tension from the night before.

Ivy decided to ignore him entirely.

Alaric didn't look at her either. Bypassing the dining room completely, he walked straight out the front door without eating.

Watching his retreating figure, a bizarre, sharp ache twisted through Ivy's chest, equal parts hollow and stinging.

She couldn't fathom what he had to be so angry about.

She was the one who had every right to be furious!

Whatever, she wasn't going to waste her energy on that arrogant older man.

Ivy marched upstairs to help Stella get dressed for the day.

After breakfast, she drove the little girl to St. Jude’s Preschool.

Stella had no idea her father had even been home the previous night.

Assuming he was still away on business, she didn't mention him at all.

Ivy headed to Metropolitan General for her shift.

How could her sweet, innocent sister be stricken with something so devastating?

There was no history of the disease in their family; everyone was perfectly healthy. Why did it have to be Gemma?

After ending the call, tears streamed freely down Ivy's face.

Just then, a teacher led Stella out of the gates.

Spotting Ivy, the little girl's face lit up like a sunbeam, and she sprinted toward her.

"Mommy!"

Ivy furiously swiped the tears from her cheeks, dropping to her knees and opening her arms.

Stella crashed into her embrace, planting an exuberant kiss on her cheek.

"Mommy, I love you so much! Let's go home!"

Grabbing the girl's backpack, Ivy ushered her into the car.

The entire drive back to The Starlight Estate was a blur of numbing terror.

Her mind was completely consumed by Gemma's diagnosis.

$300,000 emergency fund.

Where in God's name was she going to find $300,000?

And even if she somehow secured the money, would it be enough to save her sister's life?