Buying My Forever Wife novel Chapter 163

Ivy changed her clothes and went downstairs to prepare some food.

Mrs. Gable wasn't back yet. She had likely gone grocery shopping after dropping Stella off.

Just as she finished setting breakfast on the table, she saw Alaric coming downstairs, looking impeccably dressed in a gray suit.

He didn't greet her when he saw her and seemed ready to leave without even eating.

Ivy couldn't help but call out to him.

"Um... do you want to grab something to eat first?"

They had both woken up quite late, and Mrs. Gable probably hadn't known they were home, so she hadn't prepared anything for them.

Ivy had just whipped up a couple of simple dishes.

Alaric paused in his tracks.

Remembering his poor attitude toward her in the bedroom, he felt a twinge of guilt.

He hesitated for a few seconds before walking over to sit down.

Ivy quickly set a plate and silverware for him, took a seat opposite him, and explained carefully.

"Mrs. Gable isn't home, so I just made something quick with what we had in the fridge. I hope it's okay."

Seeing that his expression was still somewhat grim,

Ivy's heart was in her throat.

She braced herself for him to demand a divorce and tell her to pack her bags.

But Alaric wasn't thinking that far ahead. He saw that the simple meal was enough for the two of them.

He didn't say a word, and despite his dark expression, he picked up his fork and began to eat.

But his silence left Ivy on pins and needles.

Sitting across from him with her head bowed, she kept waiting for him to drop the bomb as soon as he finished eating.

A man as pristine and distinguished as Alaric wouldn't allow any blemish on his life.

Even if she was completely framed and innocent.

Someone like her probably wasn't worthy of standing by his side anymore.

It wasn't just that Ivy feared being despised; it was that leaving this man would drive her straight into a dead end.

If Gemma weren't sick, she could easily support herself.

But Gemma was undergoing chemotherapy, which cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.

That simple phrase—"wait for you at home"—brought an inexplicable warmth to Alaric's heart.

He didn't linger any longer and quickly headed out.

Once in his car, Alaric made a call to Mrs. Gable.

When Mrs. Gable returned, her shopping bags contained not just groceries, but also emergency contraception and condoms.

Ivy was back in her room.

Scrolling through the relentless online abuse aimed at her, she felt a heavy weight in her chest.

It was especially painful seeing the flood of private messages from people she knew.

Some offered comfort, while others spewed venom.

Her college and high school group chats were buzzing with gossip about her.

Right then, her sister called.

Ivy answered, and Gemma's worried voice came through.

"Ivy, what is going on with the news online?"