15: A Proud Mom

Ivy's POV

It was the day. The day I had been dreading, the day I had been desperately hoping wouldn’t come.

Every second dragged me closer to the inevitable, a slow, agonizing countdown to something I couldn’t escape.

No amount of deep breaths or forced distractions could dull the suffocating dread pressing down on my chest. It was there—heavy, relentless, and curling around my ribs like a vice.

My phone buzzed on the nightstand, the screen glowing in the dim light.

Wear something sexy.

Of course, it was from Demi.

I let out a slow, shaky sigh, pressing the heels of my palms into my eyes while hoping for a miracle that I knew wouldn’t come.

Standing in front of my closet, staring blankly at the rows of clothes, I reached for a black, short dress that clung to my figure in all the ways I hated. I had worn it once to a family friend’s party, and even then, I had felt uncomfortable. But this was what Demi wanted.

I pulled it over my head and slowly zipped it up by the side.

I had already lied to my mom and told her I was heading to the library to study. She didn’t question it, just reminded me not to stay out too late. If only she knew.

As I adjusted the straps of the dress, different thoughts flew through my head, each one worse than the last.

Would this really be the night he took everything from me? His friends would be there, watching like I was nothing more than entertainment for them. Seeing me in such a vulnerable state and getting off on it.

Was there any way out of this, or had I already sealed my fate the moment I let him get this much control over my life?

What if he was just testing me, pushing to see if I’d actually show up?

Was that even possible?

If Demi exposed my secrets, my life would be over. Everything would all come crashing down. But sleeping with him would break something inside me that I wasn’t sure I could ever put back together.

Both options would ruin me.

No matter how many ways I tried to spin it, there was no winning.

I sat on the edge of my bed, my hands gripping the fabric of my dress, my mind racing through every possible escape, every excuse, every desperate plea that might get me out of this. But nothing came.

There was no way out.

A hollow ache settled in my chest, my body weighed down by exhaustion—not just physical, but the kind that seeped into my bones, into my soul.

Without thinking, I reached for my phone, my fingers hovering over Demi’s name.

Then, slowly, I pressed down on the power button, and the screen went dark.

I stared at it for a long moment before setting it aside, lying back on my bed, and closing my eyes.

If there was no way out, then maybe if I slept, I could forget. Even if it was only for a little while.

Anything to temporarily escape this living nightmare.

****

A soft knock on my door pulled me out of my restless sleep. I sat up quickly, my heart hammering against my ribs.

Had he come here?

Then the door creaked open, and one of the housemaids stepped inside.

“Miss Ivy,” she said gently. “Your mother has sent for you. She’s waiting downstairs.”

I let out a quiet sigh of relief. Thank God. It was just the maid.

“Okay,” I muttered, rubbing my face as she turned and left.

I sat there for a moment, blinking against the haze of sleep, before swinging my legs over the side of the bed. My dress was slightly wrinkled from where I had curled up earlier, and I smoothed it down absentmindedly as I stood.

My footsteps were slow, almost automatic, as I made my way downstairs, my mind still heavy with exhaustion.

My sleepy eyes scanned the living room for my mother, and then I saw him, and every trace of sleep cleared up immediately.

My breath hitched, my entire body locking up mid-step. It felt like the floor had disappeared beneath me like the universe had pulled some cruel joke just to see how much more I could take.

Demi was sitting in my living room with my mother.

You have to be fucking kidding me.

“Ah, there she is,” my mother said warmly, smiling at me like she had just received the best news of her life.

My gaze snapped to Demi.

He was comfortable. Too comfortable. Legs crossed, one arm draped lazily over the back of the couch, completely at ease. A fresh bouquet sat in his hand, and that infuriating smirk played on his lips.

My blood ran cold.

“I was going to surprise her with these,” he said smoothly, lifting the flowers slightly. Then, with a casual glance at my mother, he added, “But I had to give them to you instead. You’re too beautiful not to have them.”

I nearly gagged.

My mother let out a light laugh, waving him off, but I could see the way her cheeks warmed, the way she practically glowed under the compliment.

I wanted to pull my hair out and scream.

Instead, I forced my expression to remain neutral, barely unclenching my jaw as my mom turned to me with a raised eyebrow.

“And you never thought to mention you had a boyfriend?” she teased.

Every muscle in my body tensed.

Demi’s smirk widened, eyes flicking to mine as he dared me to deny it.

I forced a tight smile, my fingers digging into my palms. “Mom, Demi, and I are just getting to know each other.”

Her expression lit up, practically sparkling with delight. She was completely smitten by him.

What a fucking snake this boy was.

“Oh, Ivy, you didn’t tell me he was such a gentleman.”

Before I could find a way to end this disaster, she turned back to Demi, still grinning.

“You should stay for dinner.”

My stomach plummeted.

“I’d love to,” Demi said smoothly before I could even object, his gaze flicking to me, filled with amusement.

“Thank you, ma’am.”

My mother beamed. “Wonderful! I’ll go check on the chefs. Ivy, keep him company.”

And just like that, she disappeared into the kitchen, leaving me alone with him.

Silence stretched between us. Thick. Suffocating.

I turned to him slowly, every muscle in my body coiled with tension.

“What the hell are you doing here?” I hissed.

Demi didn’t answer right away. He simply leaned back against the couch, stretching his arms along the backrest like he owned the damn house.

The stupid smirk never left his face.

“Relax, babe,” he said, voice smooth as silk. “I’m just here to show you what happens when you disobey me.”

My throat tightened, and my heartbeat thudded in my ears.

Then he leaned forward slightly, elbows resting on his knees, and let his gaze drag over me in that slow, calculating way that made my skin crawl.

“Actually,” he murmured, his voice dipping lower, “I’m sure your mom would be so proud to see the other side of her great-daughter.”