Buying My Forever Wife novel Chapter 305

Ivy stabilized her emotions, pulling herself from her memories as she smiled at Alaric.

"Would you believe me if I said these are tears of joy? I'm just so grateful to have made it back alive to see you. Sitting here, leaning against you like this... I feel incredibly lucky."

Alaric looked at her.

Of course he believed her.

He pulled Ivy into his arms, keeping it a secret that seeing her come back alive made him happier than anyone else.

He realized he wanted Ivy to stay by his side forever.

Just like this—close enough to touch, right where he could see her every time he looked down.

When the car arrived at their destination, Ivy stepped out and immediately spotted Toby sitting dejectedly by the threshold a short distance away.

Toby saw her as well and instantly jumped up to greet her.

"Ivy, you're back! They said you jumped into the river. I thought you..."

Unable to hold back his emotions, the teenage boy threw himself at Ivy, hugging her tight as he sobbed like a child.

"Ivy, I'm so glad you're okay. I thought I was never going to see you again. I feel so guilty, I'm so sad."

Especially after finding out that all three of his sisters had been kidnapped by his parents, just because his horoscope dictated he needed three older sisters to succeed.

No wonder their parents had treated the girls so terribly all these years.

And he had just comfortably soaked up all the benefits his parents had violently extracted from his sisters.

He was awful.

Toby was consumed by overwhelming guilt.

Ivy was completely caught off guard by her brother's sudden embrace.

In her eyes, Toby had always been outrageously spoiled by their parents, having his meals handed to him and his clothes laid out, demanding to be served like a little emperor.

She assumed he was rotten to the core by now.

She hadn't expected him to try and help her when it really mattered.

Ivy awkwardly patted his back, offering comfort.

"I'm fine. Look, I made it back in one piece!"

"No, I don't care, I just want to hug you. You have no idea how terrified I was when I heard you jumped into the river."

Toby was still sobbing uncontrollably.

Knowing his sister had just stepped out of that exact car, Toby looked at Ivy with wide, curious eyes.

"Ivy, who is he? Your husband?"

Toby knew that Ivy had hastily married a stranger to get the settlement money their parents demanded.

If his sister had actually married the man standing in front of him, then she had hit the absolute jackpot.

Because this man was miles out of the league of any guy in their entire town.

Knowing that Alaric wanted to keep their relationship a secret, Ivy immediately shut the idea down.

"No, he's just a friend."

But to Alaric, those words felt like a slap in the face.

Just a friend?

He was the one who had insisted on the secret marriage, but hearing his young wife introduce him to her family like that...

Alaric felt an uncomfortable twist in his gut, and his previously calm expression darkened instantly.

He stood there, his dark, brooding gaze boring straight into Ivy.