Novel-novel oleh Onyx

Ivy regretted saying yes the moment the car pulled up. It was a joint interview, one of those “power couple” PR moments arranged by the board. She had barely looked at Liam since their fight the night before, and now she had to smile next to him?God, she hated this plan.She stepped into the lobby of the media building in a sharp grey blazer dress that literally screamed untouchable. On the other hand, beside her, Liam looked way too relaxed in his navy suit, like he had never said a single offensive thing in his life. "The elevator is this way," the assistant photographer that came to receive them said cheerfully, pointing them through the glass doors. Liam pressed the button and while they waited for the elevator to arrive, they stood in silence. Painful, loud silence. He finally spoke. "So. About last night......" "No," Ivy said sharply, cutting him off. Liam blinked. "No?" "Listen Liam, I'm not in the mood for one of your half-baked apologies or casual gaslighting. Le

Author's pov The car ride back home was really quiet. And it was not the soft and peaceful kind of quiet. It was the kind where there was tension sitting in the air between them like a ticking time bomb. Ivy was staring out the window, her arms crossed and her jaw locked so tight, it looked like it could cut through diamonds. Liam glanced at her once, twice and then gave up after the third time when all he could feel from her was air colder than the AC. They walked into the penthouse, with her heels clicking and door slamming shut behind them. And then..... "You know, I’m surprised you managed not to crawl back into Bianca’s lap," Ivy said, dropping her clutch on the counter like she was done pretending. Liam blinked. "Excuse me?" "During dinner," she continued, turning to face him. “You let that woman, that step mother of yours, insult me. You let her undermine everything I’ve built. And you sat there like a mute puppet." Liam groaned, pulling off his jacket. "Not thi

Author's pov "I should’ve walked away." Liam kept on thinking to himself as he was walking back to his room.And even now as he laid on his bed he kept on telling himself he should’ve gone back to his room, drowned himself in Netflix or whiskey or literally anything that didn’t involve thinking about her.But no. Him, Liam Calloway was lying flat on his overpriced mattress, arms flung all over his face like a heartbroken teenage girl in a K-drama.“I’m not the same guy from high school,” he remembered saying.God.Even he cringed at that.But ivy didn't even hesitate, she just looked him dead in the face and shut him down like he was a measly press conference scandal.And damn it, why did she have to wear his hoodie like that? and why did she have to look good doing it?Messy bun, no makeup. Sharp tongue.It was unfair and It was unholy. And absolutely unacceptable.This wasn’t part of the plan.He was supposed to be the charming one, the untouchable one. She was the girl from high s

Author's pov It was nighttime again and sleep seemed to elude Liam as had been the norm since he moved in to the house. The apartment was quiet.....too quiet. Liam wandered into the kitchen, running a hand through his hair. He had not been able to sleep. Something about Ivy’s voice and her cool detachment with the way she shut Bianca down like she was just swatting a fly. It messed with his head more than he wanted to admit. And as he stalked into the kitchen to get a glass of water, there she was again, leaning against the counter in an old hoodie, his hoodie actually, one he didn’t even remember leaving lying around and stirring her tea like the most graceful menace alive. She didn’t look up. She didn’t even try to pretend to care that he was there. And for some reason, that got under his skin more than it should have. "You’re stealing my clothes now?" he asked, grabbing a bottle of water. She didn't even look up as she replied. "You live here. I live here. It’s called commu

Author's pov Ivy was curled up on the living room couch, laptop balanced on her knees and sipping lemon-infused water while editing some designs. Looking calm, collected and in her element when the doorbell rang. She looked up and decided to ignore it since it was obvious it wasn't Liam as he had the keys and their parents also had unobstructed access to the house, also mason didn't say anything about coming today. So it was definitely no one important. A second ring came again. Longer this time. She glanced at her watch feeling annoyed and mumbled. "It’s not even noon. If this is another media photographer pretending to be delivery—" She stood, smoothing her silk robe as she walked to the door. And when she opened it, her jaw didn’t drop, but it wanted to. "Hi," Bianca Winters chirped. Of course. With that perfect blonde hair, impossibly pink lipstick and a bodycon dress that seemed tighter than her morals. And that smug little smile Ivy remembered all too well. "What," Ivy

Author's pov Ivy wasn’t expecting anyone in the kitchen. It was late, past midnight, with the kind of quiet where every sound felt too loud. She padded in barefoot, with her silk robe tied lazily around her waist, her hair also loosely clipped back like she forced herself to leave the bed. She just wanted to eat something small and head back to her room without crossing paths with anyone. Especially him. But fate clearly had other plans. Liam Calloway was already there. He stood by the fridge, shirtless under an open hoodie, a glass of water in one hand and a container of leftover pasta in the other. His hair was messy, like he had just gotten out of the shower, and his eyes flicked to her the second she walked in. "Well," he said, smirking, "look who’s haunting my kitchen." She didn’t even blink. "Your kitchen?" He shrugged. "I pay half the rent." "We’re not paying rent." "Still counts." She walked past him like he was just part of the décor, grabbing the vegan stir-fry Ma