Buying My Forever Wife novel Chapter 288

"I'm not picky about food. Order the takeout. I'm going to take a shower."

Alaric stood up and disappeared into the bathroom.

Ivy was rendered speechless.

Watching the man's broad back retreat, she genuinely felt he was acting incredibly strange.

Could he have gotten into a massive argument with Mason?

Assuming that must be the case, Ivy felt compelled to accommodate him.

But she still refused to order subpar takeout. Taking advantage of the time Alaric spent in the shower, she slipped out to buy the food herself.

She knew exactly where the best food was hidden in this town, the kind of places that didn't even offer delivery services.

When Alaric stepped out of the bathroom and found the room empty, his immediate thought was that Ivy had run off and abandoned him.

His heart instantly clenched in a vise, panic suffocating him to the point where he could barely breathe.

He lunged toward the sofa, snatched up his phone, and dialed Ivy's number, only to be met with a busy signal.

Alaric was furious.

He couldn't fathom what kind of game Ivy was playing.

He had traveled hundreds of miles just to see her, and in the time it took him to take a quick shower, she vanished without a trace.

Did she really hate the sight of him that much?

Unable to get through, Alaric gripped his phone tightly, his thin lips pressed into a harsh line. His refreshingly handsome face, still damp from the shower, darkened with an indescribable, pathetic gloom.

He truly believed Ivy had thrown him aside.

His throat tightened, and a flicker of deep hurt flashed through his eyes.

Until the sudden sound of knocking shattered the silence.

Without hesitating for even a fraction of a second, Alaric crossed the room in swift strides and yanked the door open.

The moment he saw Ivy standing there, he impulsively dragged her into a crushing embrace.

Ivy was completely stunned.

She was utterly bewildered that Mr. Foster would actually initiate a hug.

What on earth was wrong with him?

Had he gotten hurt in a fight with Mason and was now seeking comfort from her?

But that wasn't something a man like Mr. Foster would ever do.

"Are you planning to stop fulfilling your wifely duties?"

It had been at least ten days since they had last been intimate.

If he had known she would completely lose interest in him the moment she got that million dollars, he would never have given her the money.

This infuriating woman, why did she only have eyes for cash?

Did he really lack that much charm? Was she not attracted to him in the slightest?

Ivy squirmed awkwardly, trying to pry herself off him as she muttered, "Don't you already have Mr. Miller? I have my dignity too, you know."

If he hadn't cheated on her during their marriage, she would have absolutely fulfilled all her obligations.

But since this man was actively involved with another man, no matter how much she liked him, she had to fiercely protect her own pride.

Alaric thought he had misheard her. Unsure, he demanded:

"What did you say?"

Standing off to the side, Ivy replied with visible displeasure:

"I know you and Mr. Miller have that kind of relationship, and I have no right to judge you, but..."

Before she could even finish her sentence, Alaric completely lost control of his temper. He yanked Ivy back down onto his lap and kissed her lips with punishing force.