Buying My Forever Wife novel Chapter 278

Alaric couldn't listen to another word. He stopped in his tracks, turned back to Ethan, and shot him a piercing glare.

"I do not like her."

He gritted his teeth, enunciating every single word.

"There is no one in this world worthy of my affection except for my daughter. The only reason I helped Ivy was because my daughter likes her and needs her."

"If you ever ask me a stupid question like this again, consider yourself banned from the Foster family."

Alaric didn't entirely understand what drove him to say such harsh, contradictory things.

But when he spun around to leave, the last thing he expected was to see Ivy standing right in the doorway.

He froze, a sudden, violent ache tearing through his chest.

Ivy stood rooted to the spot, her eyes shining with unshed tears, her eyelashes wet.

She stared blankly at him, feeling as though her heart was being ripped completely in half.

But Alaric offered no explanation. His gaze swept over her coldly before he strode past without a single backward glance.

Watching him walk away, Ivy finally let the tears fall.

She stood there, completely hollowed out, as if her soul had been stripped away.

She already knew he didn't love her. She knew their physical intimacy was just biological need, and any kindness he showed was solely for Stella's sake.

So why did hearing him say it out loud hurt so much?

Why did it feel like her entire world was collapsing?

Unable to suppress the suffocating wave of despair crushing her lungs, she grabbed the lunch tray and practically bolted toward the nearby stairwell.

Leaning against the cold concrete wall, she let the tears stream silently down her face.

She didn't make a sound.

She just kept telling herself: *It's okay. You'll be sad for a few minutes, and then you'll be fine.*

After all, staying with him meant she was getting paid handsomely. She wasn't losing anything.

What was a man's affection worth anyway?

Why was she torturing herself just because a man ten years older than her didn't love her?

Once the food was arranged, she spoke, her voice thick and raspy.

"Eat. I'll come back to clear the plates later."

Ethan noticed her stiffness but decided not to push it, letting her walk out.

He had been terrified that Ivy actually harbored feelings for his uncle.

He needed to make absolutely sure any hope she had was completely crushed.

Returning to her station, Ivy locked away her misery and threw herself entirely into her work.

That evening, after picking Stella up from preschool, she returned to The Starlight Estate. The moment she stepped into the living room, she froze.

Two men were sitting on the sofa.

Both were dressed in immaculate suits, strikingly handsome, and exuding an air of effortless power.

One, of course, was the husband who didn't love her.

The other... was Mason Miller, the man from Northport who harbored a terrifying hostility toward her.