Ch-04

Ivy

Seeing the horror on my face, Noah’s expression softens. He loosens his grip on my wrist slightly and brushes his thumb over the blood welling from the cut.

“Ivy, listen to me.” His voice drops to that gentle tone he used to use when we first mated, cupping my face with his free hand. “I love you. You know that. Once Amy is gone, everything will go back to normal, I promise. Stop making trouble, okay?”

In the past, that voice would have calmed me. But as I stare at him now, I feel nothing but cold spread inside my blood.

Even now, after everything he’s done–letting our baby die and giving the work I slaved for to another woman–he still doesn’t see his own fault.

He only thinks I’m throwing a tantrum, talking to me like a kid to placate me.

For seven whole years, I worked myself to the bone for his company. I managed pack affairs, handled diplomatic relations, building strategic partnerships while pregnant and exhausted. I took care of the household, cooked his fucking meals while he got to play alpha without doing any of the actual work.

And he thinks this is just me being jealous? Without me, Noah Blackwood will be nothing.

A part of me wants to punch him in the face and scream, but honestly, i feel nothing but exhaustion so I turn my face away from his hand.

“I’m filing for labor arbitration immediately. “I say flatly. “After you compensate me for seven years of unpaid wages, I’ll leave. That’s it.”

“Ivy–”

I yank my arm free while his alpha dominance is weakened by confusion and walk back into the conference room.

The business partner is now back in the room, and his expression is alarmed and confused. Amy sits in her chair, and her stupid fake smile is finally gone.

“Mr. Windel,” I say clearly. “You saw it yourself. I’m being removed from this project.” I meet his eyes. “Which means I can no longer share the proprietary formula we discussed in our last three meetings.”

His eyes widen. “But that’s the entire basis of our agreement!”

“I know,” I give him a tight smile. “Unfortunately, I can’t be of help. Good luck.”

Not waiting for his response, I turn around and walk out.

Behind me, the business partner slams his hand on the table and yells out. “Then we will not further with this deal! The contract is void without Luna Black’s involvement and the formula!”

Noah and Amy start shouting, trying to convince the man they can work it out. I don’t even look back, walking through the hotel lobby and out into the bright afternoon sun.

My phone is in my hand before I reach the car.

“Sterling,” I say the moment he answers my call. “There’s a change of plans. I’ll try on the wedding dress when I get back if that’s still possible.”

There’s a surprised pause, but his voice comes back almost immediately. “Of course, Luna. I’ll have the design team prepare immediately.”

I hang up and slide into the backseat of the car.

If I’m going to treat this marriage as what it really is…which is a business arrangement and cooperation between Liam and me…Then I need to hold up my end professionally.

He’s giving me protection, resources, and freedom from Noah.

The least I can do is show up for a dress fitting.

Back at the manor, the designers had transformed the sitting room into a boutique by the time I arrived. Rack sof wedding dresses line the walls, each one more stunning than the last.

I’m genuinely shocked and impressed that Liam arranged this many haute couture pieces in less than forty-eight hours. All different styles from different designers.

Wow.

“Luna, shall we begin?” An elegant woman named Margot, who is the head stylist, gestures to the first rack.

I nod and let them guide me through the process. Which really is, try on, look in the mirror, turn, take it off. And repeat.

After the eighth dress, I’m exhausted and a little bit nauseous. My body still hasn’t fully recovered from the miscarriage, and standing for this long is making my lower back ache.

But I don’t complain and keep going through the motions.

The truth is, I don’t care that much about which dress I wear. This is not a love match, and also, my figure is still good, so every single dress looks good on me.

I’m in a fitted lace gown with long sleeves when my phone rings. I glance at the screen, and my heart jumps when I see who it was.

My adoptive parents. There’s no way I’ll miss their call. I owe them everything, including my life. They were the ones who found me close to death and insisted on raising me.

“This one,” I say quickly, taking off the dress I’m wearing. “I’ll take it.”

“Excellent choice, Luna!” Margot looks delighted. “The lace detail is—”

“It’s perfect, thank you. I need to take this call.” I’m already moving toward the hallway for privacy. 

My eyes catch Sterling, who is hovering nearby with his phone. He looks slightly disappointed as the design team begins packing up the other dresses. 

He’d told me earlier that he was taking photos of the dresses as I tried them on to send them to Alpha Liam.

Perhaps he didn’t like my choice.

Since I don’t have time to dwell on that, I smile and mouth, “Thank you” to him for all his work, and then slip into the empty library where I finally answer the call.

“Mom? Dad?”

“Ivy sweetheart!” My mother’s warm voice fills my ear. “We’re just calling to check in. How are you feeling? How’s the baby?”

My throat closes up instantly, and tears sting my eyes. My parents don’t know what has been happening because they’ve been traveling through Europe for the past month to celebrate their retirement.

 I guess I should have told them about the miscarriage and my impending divorce from Noah, but I don’t want to be the reason they’ll cut their trip short.

Knowing my parents, they’ll cancel their trip and rush back immediately, that’s if they don’t worry themselves sick. They deserve to have this relaxing time.

So I lie, forcing brightness into my voice. “I'm fine, Mom! Everything is fine! How’s Paris? Is Dad there with you?”

My father gets on the line almost immediately, and they tell me about the Louvre and the cafe where they had breakfast this morning. 

It's fun listening to them, and I make appropriate sounds, lying through my teeth when they ask me personal questions.

When we finally hang up, I lean against the bookshelf and close my stinging eyes. Tears slide through my lashes, wetting my cheeks.

I hate keeping secrets from my parents, but I’ll have to tell them only when they get back.

 By then, I’ll be fully separated from Noah, and I’ll be safe in my arrangement with Liam.

As for the fact that I’m getting married again in a few weeks. 

Well, since it’s just a business contract, I didn’t plan to announce it publicly anyway, so most people won’t know. 

Especially my parents, unless it becomes necessary.

I make my way back upstairs to my room, or rather, Liam’s room, and close the door behind me.

My eyes finally fall on the wedding ring Noah forced back onto my finger. 

The dried blood around the band has turned dark brown now.

I yank it off, not caring that it reopens the cut. Fresh blood wells up, but I don’t feel the pain. 

I walk to the vanity and toss the ring carelessly into the drawer.

Later, I’ll resell it again. The money will be used as compensation for the deal they stole from me today.

But for now, I just want it out of my sight.

I wash the blood off my finger and wrap it in a bandage from the bathroom.

Maybe things will turn out perfect.