CHAPTER 20. IVY I stood in front of the car, my hand gripping the marble diamond bag I was carrying. I wasn't close enough to hear what the two men were saying, but I could tell they were talking about me. The young man who had just exited his limousine held my gaze for a moment before turning back to Casper. I can’t say I regretted not stepping closer to catch the details of their conversation, but I felt a twinge of anxiety at the realisation that I seemed to have no say in whatever was happening. For a brief moment, I lingered by the driver’s side, hoping to overhear something that might hint at the direction of their discussion, but nothing came through. Soon enough, Casper patted the other man on the back and returned to me. A wide grin was plastered across his face when he came back. “That’s my brother. His name is Vlad,” he said. I nodded, reminding myself that this wasn’t my business… at least not yet. My heart raced, and I felt goosebumps rising on my skin. Fortunatel
CHAPTER 21. CASPER. I didn't expect Ivy to stand up for herself, but I was glad she did. I hate to admit it, but I saw this coming. I knew Xavier and his wife were unhappy with what I was doing; they never seemed pleased with anything I did. I chuckled darkly, giving her a small squeeze to show my approval. “She has a point, Xavier,” I added. Xavier glared at me, then shot Ivy a look that could only be described as pity. “Oh, she barks? Mark my words, he’ll toss you to the curb at the first opportunity,” he sneered. Ivy lifted her chin defiantly. “You really underestimate our love,” she declared, a thrill of excitement coursing through me. I hadn’t expected her to defend herself like this, but I was proud of her. I could see Xavier’s face contorted with rage; he hated that his words weren’t getting to her. This time, he opened his mouth to argue back, but I cut him off. “Xavier, give it a rest. Show some respect to the mother of your future heir.” “Really, Casper? You’re going t
CHAPTER 23 . IVY A part of me didn’t like the fact that Casper let Xavier go so easily. I expected him to kick his ass to a pulp—Xavier really pushed it. I don’t blame Casper, though; his aggression seemed more personal, a long-standing grudge between them that had finally found an outlet. Besides, Xavier knows exactly where the sore spots are and he hit them perfectly so he deserved those punches that came his way. As I ate, I continued to dwell on the situation. The hall was silent, with no one daring to speak; the only sounds were the clinks of spoons and knives. I wanted to tell Casper just how crazy his brother was, but I restrained myself, saving it for when we were outside. A few minutes later, once we finished eating, Leon suddenly cleared his throat. He looked at me, his grim expression softening into a smile. “Hey, aunty?” he called out gently. My heart nearly dropped into my stomach. What does he want to say now? I hoped he wouldn’t bring up our past relationship, but
CHAPTER 23 CASPER. Her question almost made me check for any sort of stench in my armpits. She glanced at the bed and then back at me, her eyes still wide. I recognized that expression—I had seen it before. It hit me: she’s a virgin! I couldn't believe I hadn’t noticed it sooner. Of course, that explains her behaviour. It all makes sense now. She’s a delivery person, hiding her beauty to blend in, and she’s so reserved. I gathered my courage and asked, “Are you a virgin?” She gasped in shock. “No!” she exclaimed, almost too quickly. “Not exactly. It’s just that…” She paused and let out a long sigh. I cut her off with a reassuring smile. “It’s nothing to be ashamed of, Ivy. You know, sex can be quite beautiful, and if you decide to wait until our wedding night…” “Yes… I mean, no, we’re not…” She looked up at me, her brows knitting together. I couldn’t quite decipher the expression in her eyes, but it stirred something unexplainable within me. My stomach twisted with anxiety, my h
CHAPTER 24. IVY I shouldn’t have said anything. The misunderstanding and the disappointment in his eyes shattered the mood, snapping me out of my haze of lust and back to reality. “I’m sorry, this is a mistake,” I said, pushing him away. “We shouldn’t be doing this.” Casper rolled off me, but his eyes never left mine, confusion still etched on his face. Did he really think I was a virgin? The thought struck me as funny, considering I had given my body to Leon every night after Hailey told me my boyfriend would never break up with me if I just gave him enough pleasure. I almost let out a sigh at my naivety. I sat up, feeling suddenly embarrassed and a little ashamed. Why did it even matter if I was a virgin or not? That was never part of our deal. Well, sex wasn’t part of our deal either, but the way he had kissed my nipples through my clothes made me feel something I had never experienced before. I had never been kissed like that. “I’ve had sex, but I hate to remember it.” I ha
CHAPTER 25 IVY I cock my head to the other side.sometimes wondering what it feels like to be rich. I've never experienced wealth or luxury; my family was middle class, but we were content with what we had. Last night was lovely, sleeping side by side with Casper. My heart raced when I lay next to him. We didn't talk until we both fell fast asleep, but part of me wished he would cuddle me to sleep. The way he kissed me... I’ve never been kissed like that before. In the middle of the night, when he covered me with blankets, it felt so romantic, right? I’ve never been treated like that! It was usually the other way around. Most of the time, when that jerk, Leon fell asleep, I made sure he was covered up since he was allergic to the cold. This morning, I had breakfast in bed. Glancing at the wall clock, I noticed it was almost time for Casper to take us to the hospital. I thought we were done with the tests, but it seems like they never end, do they? “Hey?” Casper said as he closed
CHAPTER 26 CASPER. “Of course not!” I quickly defended myself with a sharp wave of my hand. How could she label me as impotent? That was cruel, especially for a man like me. Back in high school, I remember a girl from my hostel getting pregnant, but she ended up having an abortion before she even told me. I also go for regular check-ups, so I know I’m capable of fathering children with any woman I choose. Well, I don’t care if she still doesn’t believe me; maybe she can find one of her friends to bet on how good of a man I am. “You’re potent. Then why are you using a donor?” she asked, throwing the most bitter question my way—one that always made me turn away in insecurity. Maybe I should just admit that I’m paranoid sometimes. Or should I confess that I have my own issues? If I reveal my flaws and traumas, who knows if she might change her mind about wanting to have a baby with me? I’ve been with her for weeks, trying to understand her, but opening up like this would give my br
CHAPTER 27 IVY. I could feel my breath restricting at the thought of Carey Leon’s child inside me. I know it shouldn’t be a big deal, but it is—for me. Leon was my ex-boyfriend who turned into a stalker and, now, my brother-in-law. How can I…? My fists clenched slowly in frustration. I want to know what donor he plans to use, but for the past few weeks, we’ve promised each other honesty. Why couldn’t he just tell me that he’s impotent? Is it really that big of a deal? Or maybe he’s just very insecure about it. Weeks ago, he’d been talking about how he wanted to carry and cuddle his little boy when he came into the world. All this time, it won’t even be his own blood? I let out a sigh. Raising my gaze to him, I knew arguing about this was pointless. I’m just scared I might never get to know the real him. I didn’t want to waste more time explaining how ridiculous it was that another man would be the donor for his own child when he’s not even impotent. That felt diabolical. If there
IVYI followed the directions to the office they had arranged for me. It wasn’t large, but it was cosy—well-furnished and equipped with everything I might need during my stay to oversee operations. Despite their efforts, I wasn’t impressed. I doubted anything associated with Leon could ever win my approval.My lack of enthusiasm stemmed from the fact that this office was provided by Leon and Hailey. I scrutinised the room for a moment before scoffing, “They can put in their best effort, but it will never be enough for me.”Meanwhile, I sensed Leon and Hailey waiting outside, anxious for my reaction. Hailey nudged Leon, who seemed lost in thought, preoccupied with his ex-girlfriend. “What’s going on, Leon?” she asked in a low voice, her frustration evident.“Hey, keep your voice down,” Leon cautioned. “We need to maintain the act until she leaves.”Hailey scoffed. “What do you mean? I can’t work with that woman! You know I can’t stand her!”Leon took her hand, fixing his gaze on her.
IVY.The following day, as soon as it was 7 AM, I was already dressed and almost ready for my visit to F&K Financials. My eyes widened with anticipation as I looked at my reflection in the mirror; my pulse quickened. Nothing else mattered right now. I couldn’t stop smiling—my whole face radiated excitement.When Casper woke up, I could swear he rolled his eyes, clearly frustrated by how early I was up. Well, I wouldn’t blame him. He was born with a silver spoon and could never imagine what it meant to grow up in New York, struggling on the streets of Seattle without parents. Just when I thought things were looking up, I met a boyfriend who turned out to be a serial cheater and abusive jerk. I doubted he ever knew the feeling of fulfilling a long-held dream.“Didn’t you check your email yesterday? I sent you your schedule for the week,” he grumbled as he climbed out of bed.“Of course I did.” I didn’t bother to look his way.“Your first stop is F&K. You’re their major shareholder, over
IVYI smiled, savoring the way I was getting on his last nerves. “Just get me wine,” I said, watching Leon scramble away. He was desperate to catch Hailey before she did something reckless. Well I didn't care if he caught up with her,I just need him to get me my wine. When I heard the door swing open , I knew I was in for some entertainment. I took a sip of my drink, feeling confident. I could only imagine the chaos I was stirring between them.Soon, the door opened, and one of the staff members brought in a bottle of wine and glasses. “Good morning, ma’am,” she greeted politely. I accepted the drink, my eyes gleaming with satisfaction as I leaned back in my chair, feeling like the queen of the office. Well I was…I couldn’t help but wonder what kind of conversation Leon and Hailey were having. Manipulating their emotions was almost too easy, and it thrilled me to think of the discord I had sown but if only they knew this is just the beginning of whatever I was planning. When they
CHAPTER.CASPER It’s barely been twenty-four hours, and the whole coast has been cleared. Leon made sure to take down all those photos and sweep away the negative narrative hovering over my name. As I scroll through the internet, my lips curl into a proud smile at how cleverly he handled it.At least now I won’t be running around like a headless chicken, answering the constituents of Parliament about why I broke such vague family rules. And as for Xavier? I’ll be sure to give him a taste of his own medicine. Did he really think he could get away with that?But for now, I choose not to focus my energy on him. My parents’ death anniversary is just a few hours away, and the whole province will be mourning their past king and queen. This will be the first time I attend the anniversary for the world to see. In previous years, the royal family mourned privately, but that changed three years ago when my grandmother decided to open it to the public. Since then, I haven’t been able to attend.
CASPER. “Of course not!” I quickly defended myself with a sharp wave of my hand.How could she label me as impotent? That was cruel, especially for a man like me. Back in high school, I remember a girl from my hostel getting pregnant, but she ended up having an abortion before she even told me. I also go for regular check-ups, so I know I’m capable of fathering children with any woman I choose.Well, I don’t care if she still doesn’t believe me; maybe she can find one of her friends to bet on how good of a man I am.“You’re potent. Then why are you using a donor?” she asked, throwing the most bitter question my way—one that always made me turn away in insecurity.Maybe I should just admit that I’m paranoid sometimes. Or should I confess that I have my own issues? If I reveal my flaws and traumas, who knows if she might change her mind about wanting to have a baby with me? I’ve been with her for weeks, trying to understand her, but opening up like this would give my brothers leverage
I smiled, savoring the way I was getting on his last nerves. “Just get me wine,” I said, watching Leon scramble away. He was desperate to catch Hailey before she did something reckless like calling her parents.Leon had made a deal with her parents' company, and they only agreed because of their relationship. I could already picture him rushing to the rooftop, where Hailey usually went to smoke and clear her head.When I heard the door swing open, I knew I was in for some entertainment. I took a sip of my drink, feeling confident. I could only imagine the chaos I was stirring between them.Soon, the door opened, and one of the staff members brought in a bottle of wine and glasses. “Good morning, ma’am,” she greeted politely. I accepted the drink, my eyes gleaming with satisfaction as I leaned back in my chair, feeling like the queen of the office.I couldn’t help but wonder what kind of conversation Leon and Hailey were having. Manipulating their emotions was almost too easy, and it t
“I don't know; it's all over the news outlets in Monaco. You're the trending topic right now, and it's that bad,” Leon continued.Casper's eyes widened in horror as he rushed outside with Leon. From his reaction, I could tell it was serious, but my mind couldn't help but wonder who had leaked those photos to the press. Casper had boldly claimed that there was no access to phones in that part of the palace. It had always been a sanctuary, keeping the royal family away from media scrutiny. But clearly, that was no longer the case—someone was trying to sabotage him.If only he had let me speak first, he would have heard the bad news from me. I wasn’t trying to be the bearer of bad news, but I had intended to tell him before that jerk snatched the opportunity away.I let out a disappointed sigh. I knew I had been cold toward him these past few days, but I didn’t want him to endure the media's scrutiny in such a negative light. I picked up the file he had meant to show me before Leon inte
# Ivy's POVI smiled, savoring the way I was getting on his last nerves. “Just get me wine,” I said, watching Leon scramble away. He was desperate to catch Hailey before she did something reckless like calling her parents.Leon had made a deal with her parents' company, and they only agreed because of their relationship. I could already picture him rushing to the rooftop, where Hailey usually went to smoke and clear her head.When I heard the door swing open, I knew I was in for some entertainment. I took a sip of my drink, feeling confident. I could only imagine the chaos I was stirring between them.Soon, the door opened, and one of the staff members brought in a bottle of wine and glasses. “Good morning, ma’am,” she greeted politely. I accepted the drink, my eyes gleaming with satisfaction as I leaned back in my chair, feeling like the queen of the office.I couldn’t help but wonder what kind of conversation Leon and Hailey were having. Manipulating their emotions was almost too ea
I smiled, savoring the way I was getting on his last nerves. “Just get me wine,” I said, watching Leon scramble away. He was desperate to catch Hailey before she did something reckless. Well I didn't care if he caught up with her,I just need him to get me my wine. When I heard the door swing open , I knew I was in for some entertainment. I took a sip of my drink, feeling confident. I could only imagine the chaos I was stirring between them.Soon, the door opened, and one of the staff members brought in a bottle of wine and glasses. “Good morning, ma’am,” she greeted politely. I accepted the drink, my eyes gleaming with satisfaction as I leaned back in my chair, feeling like the queen of the office. Well I was…I couldn’t help but wonder what kind of conversation Leon and Hailey were having. Manipulating their emotions was almost too easy, and it thrilled me to think of the discord I had sown but if only they knew this is just the beginning of whatever I was planning. When they retu