Stop Running Love, I Found Our Child novel Chapter 9

Inside the sprawling VIP suite, the man's familiar tailored suit looked unimaginably expensive under the glittering crystal chandelier.

He looked ten times more imposing and aristocratic here than he ever had in her cramped two-bedroom apartment.

His strikingly handsome face carried a polite, measured smile as he conversed with the man seated beside him.

That man was middle-aged, wearing glasses, and clearly carried the quiet authority of someone extremely important.

And the stunningly elegant woman Ivy had seen at the apartment gates was sitting on his other side, smiling warmly as she poured tea, radiating an effortless grace.

Ivy froze in her tracks, her mind completely blank.

At that moment, the woman next to Cole noticed her.

Their eyes met. Diana paused in surprise, then immediately stood up, walking over to grab Ivy's arm to usher her out.

"Miss Robertson, could you step outside with me for a second?"

Ivy didn't budge. Her eyes were locked onto Cole with such burning intensity that, within seconds, the entire room went dead silent as everyone turned to stare at her. Including Cole.

The man looked genuinely shocked, clearly not expecting to see her here of all places.

Seeing the flash of impatience and irritation furrowing his brow, Ivy felt a sharp, agonizing stab right through her chest.

Diana lowered her voice to a frantic whisper. "Miss Robertson, tonight's dinner is incredibly important to Eli... to Cole. Whatever personal issues you two have, please don't make a scene in front of everyone. Not tonight. Okay?"

Diana had almost slipped and used his real name.

"Ivy?" Zoe, completely oblivious to the tension, hurried over. "What's wrong?"

The middle-aged official at the table turned to Cole. "Young Mr. Donovan, do you know this girl?"

Young Mr. Donovan?

Ivy's brow furrowed in utter confusion at the title.

"I don't know her." Cole replied.

Those four short, brutally cold words plunged Ivy straight into an icy abyss.

Everything after that was a blur. She couldn't even remember how the restaurant manager had dragged her and Zoe out of the suite.

...

In the manager's office.

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