Buying My Forever Wife novel Chapter 568

Thankfully, she had only faked the drowning.

Otherwise, there was a genuine risk those heroic bystanders might have actually rescued the child.

Eager to pin all the blame squarely on Ivy, Sylvia threw herself onto the ground and wailed at the top of her lungs.

She cried and screamed, viciously cursing Ivy for being a neglectful stepmother who intentionally abandoned her daughter to die.

While the onlookers were slightly skeptical, they knew this wasn't the time for gossip or pointing fingers; finding the child was all that mattered.

The minutes ticked by in agonizing slow motion.

One by one, the volunteers resurfaced, shaking their heads in defeat. Not a single trace of Stella.

The police and fire department soon arrived, conducting a massive, grid-like search of the river, but they still found absolutely nothing.

Slumped on the pavement in total despair, a horrifying realization began to take root in Ivy's mind.

Stella probably wasn't coming back.

If Stella was dead, how could she possibly face her husband?

Knowing that time was running out, Ivy frantically borrowed a bystander's phone and dialed Alaric's number with trembling fingers.

He picked up immediately, his voice warm and affectionate.

"What's wrong? Did you miss me already?"

A massive lump formed in Ivy's throat. It took every ounce of strength she possessed just to force the words out.

"Alaric... I-I'm so sorry. I lost Stella... She... She fell into the river, and they can't find her."

Sitting in a high-end conference room with Mason and Gideon, the blood drained entirely from Alaric's face. He shot up from his chair in a blind panic.

"What happened? Where are you?"

"Central Park... by the river at Northview Plaza."

Ivy couldn't hold back the dam any longer, breaking down into hysterical sobs on the ground.

Alaric didn't waste a single second. Gripping his phone, he sprinted out of the room like a madman.

Seeing his sheer terror, Mason and Gideon instantly stood up and chased after him.