A marriage deal with billionaire stone (Ivy and Silas)

With a heavy heart, Silas made his way home. He remembered he'd told Jvy to wait up, but unable to face her, he went straight to his room and fell asleep—or at least tried to.

The next morning, he woke up feeling better, yet regret lingered beneath. He still felt guilty for yelling at Thomas yesterday,

He left his bed, got into his gym clothes, and went straight for his exercises. After a solid workout, he went back to his room. Before stepping into the shower, he dialed Monica,

"Good morning, Monica. Please have Ivy ready for breakfast with me."

He ended the call and took a long shower. He picked a crisp white shirt and gray shorts, and went to the dining room. He was sipping his coffee when Ivy entered.

He smiled at her. "Good morning."

Ivy entered cautiously, as though expecting an audience. He couldn't blame her- yesterday's breakfast was meant to be intimate before Thomas and the others interrupted. His thoughts moved to his brother, but he quickly shoved them away.

Good morning," Ivy replied softly, taking her seat.

"How was your night? Sorry I wasn't able to see you before going to bed," he said. "Yes, it's fine," she said flatly. "Night was fine."

She didn't ask about his, and he was grateful. If she had, he'd probably have to tell how restless it was, bothered by the argument with his brother.

The dinning door opened with a creak and Bethany entered with a tray filled with food. "Good morning, Mr. and Mrs. Stone," she smiled warmly.

"Morning, Bethany," Silas replied.

"Good morning, Bethany. How are you?" Ivy asked.

"Great," Bethany answered. She set the tray down and began serving them. "We have some freshly baked croissants with artisanal butter and coffee. Enjoy."

"Thank you, Bethany," Ivy smiled as she left the room.

Once they were alone again, Silas picked up his coffee, studying Ivy carefully over the rim of his cup. She seemed more relaxed this morning. Perhaps this was the perfect opportunity to talk.

"So," he began carefully, tell me about yourself-aside from the things I already know."

Which, admittedly, was almost nothing.

Ivy looked up from her plate, visibly surprised. "Like what?"

"I don't know," he chuckled. Of course, he knew. "Like why you ended your

marriage with Mason. Your family. You know, the usual

stuff."

her croissant slowly and sipped her

was expecting something new. "Yes, you

best friend thing. He was already cheating-with his secretary," she

women,"

all he

Well, one man's trash is another man's treasure-his

marriage after that,"

to live with

1/3

11:53 AM

Chapter 39

She nodded.

0

aunt mentioning something about Ivy losing a job. "So,

eyes sharp. "Why all the

just want to get to know you better. Is that

too obvious. He'd spent all night thinking about Thomas's words. What if Ivy really was scheming with Mason? What if she was playing

It's... just weird. What exactly do you want to

I should

looked away, returning to her food. "Well, I also gave Mason 20 million dollars-my inheritance. He wanted to pay me

give you just one million?" he asked, his tone filled with

had also threatened to reduce it before. Recently,

voice was fierce, with anger burning in his chest. "He's got

have no idea," Ivy

stupid to ask, but he asked anyway. She laughed. "And go

a lot. You could restart

a small smile appeared on her lips. “Let's just say I like

eating. After a moment of silence he spoke again. "Our

expression shifted, a faint

damn he remembered too. The last photoshoot had been a disaster-one he wasn't proud of, but had led to some stearny

for his cup of coffee to ease the knot of tension that had

with both of them munching their breakfast, until Silas cleared his

smiled. "It's

said, pride swelling in

eyes widened. "Really? I didn't