All Chapters of After I Left the Billionaire: Chapter 11 - Chapter 18

(Nash)Piper looks furious when I walk into the room.Ivy is standing beside her old desk and when she sees me she bursts into tears and runs into my arms.“Ivy, what’s wrong?” I glare at Piper as I hold Ivy against me.Piper rolls her eyes.“It’s nothing,” Ivy says. “Just being here and Dad being remarried. Gets me thinking about how fragile happiness can be.”“You always get emotional when you come in here, you know that.” I kiss the top of her head.“I know, it’s silly really…” She lifts her teary eyes to mine. “Nothing lasts forever, Nash. What if I lose you?”I pull her back into me and glare across at Piper. “You’ll never lose me. I’ve told you over and over. I will never love another woman.”Piper takes a step back and her eyes flash at me and then she drops her gaze to the ground.“Anyone who tries to get you away from me will have a fight to the death on their hands,” I say and lead Ivy out.“I think it’s time I got you home, Sweetheart.” I say as we walk away from Piper.She

(Ivy)Kate looks different.The cropped hair and she’s thinner than the last time I saw her. Her eyes have a shadow in them that never used to be there.But the grin is exactly the same.I hug her again. “Two years, Kate. Two whole years.” Tear well in my eyes.It’s almost too much emotionally seeing her right now. Like everything is hitting me all at once.“I know,” she says. Her eyes are full of tears too. “I never thought I’d see you again.”I pull out of the hug and look at her. “Of course you’d see me again. But you didn’t tell me you were coming home.”“I… I didn’t really know exactly…” Kate falters.“That would’ve ruined the surprise,” Robert interjects with a smile.“I hate surprises,” I say.“I know,” Kate says with a small smile.Robert laughs. “Sorry, not sorry.”I slide into the booth beside Kate. “Why are you back? Last time we spoke, you were still expecting another year or two at that diplomatic post.”Kate reaches for her wine. “Things changed quickly. The smaller cou

(Ivy)Robert comes back to the table carrying another round of drinks.“Did you two solve the world’s problems while I was gone?” he asks.“Looks like you were with your new lady friend over at the bar,” I say.“Are you jealous?” He asks with a grin.“You wish.”I take the wine Robert puts in front of me and have a small sip. I’ve already decided this one is going to last me the rest of the night.Nash thinks I’m working.I’m happy to let him keep thinking that. I’ll sort that out when I get home.Kate raises her glass. “To friends.”I smile. “I’ll drink to that.”Tomorrow.If Kate can do what she says she can, tomorrow I’ll finally have my divorce.Robert looks between us and raises his glass. “Friends... and family.”We talk about everything except Nash and problems.We dredge up some memories from when we all first met. Kate mentions how Robert was smitten with the new quiet girl in med school.He laughs and says he’d misjudged me completely and I wasn’t quiet at all.I laugh with

(Ivy)I leave the house just after ten-thirty.I call Kate from the car to check on if she even remembers what needs to be done.No answer. Maybe she is sleeping in a little.It’s okay. We have time.But, I try again twenty minutes later.Still nothing.That’s strange. Kate never not answers the phone. If she can’t answer she flicks a text.I pull into a café and call Robert.“Hey, Ivy.”“Have you heard from Kate this morning?”“No. Why?”“I’ve been trying to call her.”“She might still be asleep.”“It’s after eleven. Since when does Kate sleep that late?”There’s a pause. “I think she needs a lot of recuperation.”Something in his voice makes me frown. “Is there something you aren’t telling me?”“I figure when she’s ready she’ll let us know.”“Okay. I hope so.”“Why are you trying to find her?”“She promised she’d do something for me today. Something important.”“Important? Like what?”“Just something I need taken care of.”“Well…” He hesitates. “I’d take that promise with a grain of