Buying My Forever Wife novel Chapter 333

As soon as Ivy reached the ground floor, Ethan walked over to her.

"Can you watch Stella? Eleanor just called and wants me back at the main estate. I won't be able to teach you the piano tonight."

"But wait for me. I'll teach you when I get back."

Ivy gently drew Stella to her side, ignoring his promise.

With Ethan finally gone, she visibly relaxed, though her expression remained dull and exhausted.

Stella picked up on the mood. Tilting her little head up, she asked with concern,

"Mommy, Daddy is home now. Why do you still look so sad?"

Meeting the child's innocent gaze, Ivy forced a smile. "I'm not sad. Don't overthink it, sweetie."

"Do you still like Daddy? Are you going to like Ethan and stop liking Daddy?"

She didn't want Ivy to be her sister; she wanted Ivy to be her mommy.

She was always happiest when both her parents were by her side.

Ivy didn't know how to answer the little girl.

What good did it do to like that old man when he clearly felt nothing for her?

He treated her like a servant he could summon and dismiss at will, never once considering her feelings.

Ivy realized that a man like Alaric was someone to be admired from afar, never to be touched.

Otherwise, the only one getting hurt would be her.

Seeing that Mrs. Gable had finished preparing dinner, Ivy led Stella to the table and sat down.

Mrs. Gable looked at her expectedly. "Mr. Foster is home now, isn't he? Mrs. Foster, you should go call him down for dinner."

Ivy didn't move an inch. "He can eat if he wants to," she replied coldly.

Mrs. Gable blinked, studying Ivy for a moment.

Was Mrs. Foster angry?

It made sense. Mr. Foster had invited his nephew to stay for a few days, only to disappear himself.

Mrs. Foster was clearly upset about it.

Deciding not to pry, Mrs. Gable finished setting the plates and went upstairs to fetch him herself.

The moment she reached the landing, she bumped into Alaric, who had changed into loungewear and was just stepping out of his room.

Mrs. Gable gave a respectful nod and offered a gentle warning.

She didn't.

She kept her head down and continued eating.

She ignored his presence entirely, acting as if he were completely invisible.

Beside her, Stella's eyes lit up.

"Daddy! Time to eat, come sit down!"

Alaric assumed that with Stella's prompting, Ivy would at least glance up at him.

Still nothing.

His existence didn't seem to faze her in the slightest.

Furious, Alaric yanked a chair back and sat down, his face dark as he glared at her. "Am I invisible to you?"

Ivy said nothing, stubbornly refusing to meet his eyes.

Her heart was still stinging with a deep, aching bitterness and overwhelming grievance.

They had been perfectly fine before.

He had given her gifts, slipped a ring on her finger, and even left the office in the middle of the day just to take her out for a nice meal.