MasukIvy nodded obediently. "Alright, I'll go take a cold shower." She pushed back the blanket and stepped out of bed, her bare feet touching the floor as she started toward the bathroom. But the next second, her ankle twisted. With a soft cry, she lost her balance and fell straight into Nathan's arms. He caught her by the waist, holding her close. "Careful!" Now, their bodies were pressed together, separated only by a thin layer of fabric. Nathan could feel Ivy's soft figure against his solid frame. That faint heat he had just managed to suppress came roaring back, spreading like wildfire through his veins. Ivy looked up at him, her eyes hazy. "I'm burning up… Please, help me…" Before he could react, she wrapped her arms around his neck, rose on her toes, and kissed him. Nathan froze. Her lips were soft and warm, tasting faintly sweet. The moment they touched his, sparks shot through his body. He quickly pushed her away. "You need to calm down!" Her fingers ti
Nathan stayed under the cold shower for a long time. The whole night felt strange, and there was this burning heat inside him that wouldn't go away. He closed his eyes, forcing himself to calm down with every bit of willpower he had. Finally, he shut off the water, got dressed, and stepped out. The moment he came out, he saw Ivy sitting up in bed, already awake. He froze. "You're awake?" Ivy looked at him sleepily, her voice soft and hazy. "I heard you get up and take a shower. Didn't you already shower earlier? Why did you go again?" Nathan didn't know how to answer that. He gave a small, awkward smile. "Do I need to report to you every time I shower?" "That's not what I meant," Ivy said quickly. "Sorry," Nathan replied. "Guess I woke you up." He glanced toward the couch. "I'll sleep there tonight. You should get some rest." He was actually going to sleep on the couch. At first, Ivy had only seen him as a business partner in a family arrangement. Tonight,
Ivy looked at Nathan. He didn't seem suspicious at all. He picked up his cup and finished the tea."Thanks, Wanda."Wanda smiled brightly. "You're welcome. You two should get some rest. I'll be heading out now."Once Wanda left, the room fell quiet. Ivy put down the pencil she'd been holding. "Why don't we go to bed?" she suggested.Nathan had just finished sorting through a few documents. "Alright," he agreed. "Let's sleep."They both walked over to the bed. Nathan asked, "What about the sleeping arrangements?""You take that side," Ivy replied while pointing to the right side of the bed. "I'll sleep here."Nathan nodded. "Okay."They lifted the blanket and climbed in. "Should I turn off the lights?" Nathan asked. "Yes," Ivy answered. He reached over and switched off the lamp. Darkness filled the room. Nathan couldn't fall asleep. He was sleeping in his bed in his own room, and he should've felt completely at ease. But tonight was different; there was a wo
Nathan went back to the bedroom and picked up his phone, continuing to review the files waiting for his approval. Before long, the sound of the bathroom door clicking open drew his attention. Ivy stepped out. Nathan looked up at her. She was wearing his white dress shirt, the oversized fabric outlining her curves just enough to tease the imagination. The shirt hung loosely over her hips, stopping just above her thighs, revealing her long, slender legs. She looked effortlessly stunning. Nathan had already been caught off guard by her earlier, but this was another hit to his composure. Ivy's reputation as a knockout was well deserved. Ivy turned her head toward him. "What are you staring at?" Nathan smirked slightly. "Just appreciating your beauty. Is that a crime?" Ivy tossed the towel in her hand straight at his face. "Yes, it is! I'm going to get some water." With that, she walked out. Nathan pulled the towel off his face. Her sweet scent lingered on it, like
Nathan reached for the doorknob and stepped inside. The bathroom was filled with a warm mist and the scent of body wash. The sound of running water echoed through the steam.When Nathan looked up, he saw a faint feminine silhouette through the frosted glass. It was blurred, but the shape of her curves could still be seen. Nathan quickly steadied himself. He wasn't the kind of man to take advantage of a woman; that kind of discipline was ingrained in him. "I brought your nightgown," he said evenly. The frosted glass door opened just a crack. A slender, pale arm reached out. "Give it to me." Nathan walked over and handed her the nightgown. "I'll head out now." He turned to leave. But then, Ivy's voice came again. "What kind of nightgown is this? Did you do this on purpose?" Nathan stopped and turned around. "What?" He caught sight of her. She was still in the shower, her head peeking out. Her hair was wet, her bare face fresh from the water. Her skin was so sm
The battle for control of the Quinn family had already begun. Ivy's half-sister, backed by her father, was eager to make her move. Over the years, Ivy had earned Roger's deep favor. Her marriage alliance with the Lowe family had secured her position. But if her half-sister managed to claim company shares, Ivy would need Roger's full support to keep her place. Roger's condition for letting her inherit the Quinn legacy was simple: she had to get pregnant with Nathan's child as soon as possible. In families like Ivy's, everything was about power and exchange. Only by having Nathan's baby could the union between the Lowe and Quinn families truly be cemented. It was impossible to hide the fact that she and Nathan still hadn't consummated their marriage from Roger and Keith. Tabitha said gently to Ivy, "I know you and Nathan don't love each other. Asking you to get pregnant now really isn't fair to you." Ivy stopped her before she could say more. "I'll do it, Mom." Tabith







