A marriage deal with billionaire stone (Ivy and Silas)

Chapter 37

"What? Killed Martha?" Ivy heard the panic in her voice.

"Yes!" Cheryl yelled again. "You used to be kind and... adorable, but now you're so bitter and evil!"

Ivy didn't like the words Cheryl was using to describe her, but she refused to react. She kept her cool despite her racing heart. "Is Martha okay?"

"No, she's not. You and that freaking woman injured her!" Cheryl snapped.

Injured her, not killed her. Ivy exhaled in relief, though her heart still pounded. Cheryl hadn't directly answered the question.

"Is Martha alive?" she asked again, rephrasing the question.

Cheryl gasped. "Oh my goodness! You wanted her dead? I can't believe you, Ivy!" That derisive tone was enough to fire Ivy up. "You said it! You said I killed her!"

"Oh, chill," Cheryl hissed. "It was just a figure of speech."

"What kind of psycho uses kill as a figure of speech?" Ivy shot back, her chest heaving with anger.

"That doesn't change the fact that you landed Martha in the hospital, and my fiancé is going to make you pay for that," Cheryl shot back.

Ivy felt the anger in her heart as she sat on the bed.

Breathe, breathe. Don't explode, she told herself.

She knew Cheryl was taunting her and she refused to take the bait. "Well, since Martha is doing well," she said calmly, "I wish her a quick recovery."

Cheryl seemed to sense she was being dismissed and flared up. "This is not the end, Ivy! I will-"

Ivy ended the call before Cheryl could finish. She was tired of the Hunters and everything they represented. If she could turn back time, she would have ignored Mason the first time he approached her.

Despite her chaotic emotions, she felt relieved. Thank God Martha was alive. Cheryl was so stupid for frightening her like that.

A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts.

"It's Monica."

Ivy opened the door for Monica, who carried a tray of food. Monica set the tray on

"How are you feeling?" Monica asked.

"I don't know," Ivy admitted. "Cheryl just called me."

Monica arched a brow in question. "Who's that?"

the table and turned to her.

Ivy replied, moving back to sit on

Monica's confusion deepened. "Who?"

wasn't that she didn't want to talk

hated reliving the betrayal.

was she doing there

one line of explanation would have been enough for Monica. Apparently not. "Cheryl is engaged to my ex-husband, and she came with his mother to pick

That should do it.

hell?" Monica exclaimed. "She stole your man, got pregnant by him, and has the guts to

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Chapter 37

never her man to begin with.

have kicked Martha even

by Monica's statement. She liked this woman already, "Oh, Monica, I think you

laughed as well. "Good, then. Why was she

"She just wanted to

bed beside her. "That's

her lip, pushing the pain away from her chest, "Well, I survived

knew you were different. The first day I met you, I knew. But others thought

a

They thought you were like Lady

Kim?" Ivy asked, laughing,

She made all of us call her Lady Kim, like she was like some royalty," Monica said, a faint frown tugging at the corners of her lips. "God, she hurt Silas ovecand over again. Even the blind could see she was just taking advantage of him. But he's a good man,

softened as she remembered how sad Silas had been when he

spoke about Kim,

told you're his new wife," Monica continued. "Obviously, we were cautious about it. You know, we thought you

women."

"I understand. Tell them I

me Lady Ivy."

Monica laughed. "You're funny."

ache settled in her chest, Suddenly, she felt bad for agreeing to the contract. They were both hurting hers was fresh, but Silas's wounds clearly hadn't healed. That night when he saw Dylan, it

you to your meal," Monica said,

you, Monica,"

said as she

alone, Ivy walked over to her table and

she reached for it and

her aunt.

"Aunt May," she answered.

sweet girl," May said, her voice soft with

good. How are

but worried about you," May admitted, "I've been reading the news. God, they're horrible.

last thing she wanted was to make

news about him and Cheryl," Ivy said