Buying My Forever Wife novel Chapter 215

A video call in the middle of the night.

Both Ivy and Alaric instantly assumed it had to be an emergency.

Or worse, something had happened to Stella.

Alaric didn't hesitate. He picked up the phone and answered the call.

But on the screen, Elena looked perfectly calm, showing zero signs of panic.

"Alaric, I'm so sorry to bother you this late. It's just that little Stella keeps asking for you. She said she misses you and wanted to see your face."

Only after offering her sweet explanation did she pan the camera down to the little girl.

Stella stared at the screen, her soft little voice calling out, "Daddy."

Alaric's heart instantly melted. His voice softened entirely. "Hey, sweetie. Daddy's coming home tomorrow. Are you feeling better?"

"Mhm, much better. Mommy is staying with me."

Stella's voice was gentle. While she lacked her usual bright energy, she seemed perfectly normal.

Hearing her words, Alaric's gaze instinctively flicked to Ivy sitting across from him.

"Your mommy?" he asked.

Stella nodded enthusiastically, pointing directly at Elena.

"Yeah! Mommy Elena."

Alaric's face darkened instantly. "Stella, that's not your mother. You can't just call people that, understand?"

"I don't care! I want her to be my mommy."

Because of the hypnotic suggestions, Stella had completely lost her emotional attachment to Ivy. Elena had been subtly brainwashing her, twisting her dependency so the child now desperately clung to her as a maternal figure.

Alaric immediately realized the severity of the situation. "Stay at the hospital, Stella. Daddy is coming to get you tomorrow to take you home."

He was about to end the call when Elena hurriedly interjected.

"Alaric, why are you still awake so late? Were you just working?"

Alaric ignored the question. Noticing how pale and withdrawn Ivy looked, he ended the call without another word and turned his attention to her.

"Stella isn't acting right. When we get back, you need to watch over her carefully. We absolutely cannot let her get hurt again."

Ivy remained downcast, simply nodding. "Okay."

Ivy looked up at him. "Can I hold you while we sleep?"

Even though she was still furious about his friends' cruel prank earlier that day...

She knew she still loved him.

Hearing Stella call Elena 'Mommy' was the final nail in the coffin. She knew her days by this man's side were numbered.

Before she was forced to leave, she just wanted to cherish whatever warmth she could get from him.

At least then, she wouldn't have any regrets.

Alaric was slightly taken aback by her blunt request.

But he lay back and extended his arm for her to use as a pillow.

Seeing his willingness, Ivy immediately pressed herself against his solid chest, wrapping her arms tightly around him.

It seemed this was the only place in the world she truly felt safe and anchored.

In his arms, all the misery and fear of the day melted away.

Feeling her soft body pressed so tightly against his, Alaric's blood began to run hot. "Don't hold me too tight, or you'll start a fire you aren't prepared to put out."