Chapter 81: She’s Gone Now
Stefan stood in the vast drawing room of the Winters Estate, his mind racing as he waited for Ivy to come back.
His fists were clenched at his sides, a thick manila envelope grasped tightly in his hand. The moment he’d dreaded—and needed—had finally arrived.
While waiting for Ivy, he’d taken the liberty to go through love notes that Ruby had given him when he had started taking braille class.
Though he’d gotten glimpse of the whole thing happening, it had only just become clearer seeing a different handwritten from what he remembered Ivy’s own to look like.
He’d gone as far as checking their wedding certificate and his breath had left him when he realized Ruby had indeed been the one with him that day.
Though he’d wanted nothing but to go find her however he could, he decided to wait for Ivy. He needed to hear whatever stupid reason she had.
To think he’d continued to love her despite all her flaws, telling himself she loved him and that was all that mattered. How could she? Those are the thoughts that had been running through his mind as he waited for the past six hours for her to come.
It was irritating to think she still went ahead with her stupid spa session even after he sounded so urgent still, he waited. These difference had been there all along. He’d just been too stupid to think she’d changed for the better. Who changed overnight? He thought, feeling stupid.
Footsteps approached lightly from behind, echoing down the hallway. Ivy strolled in, dressed immaculately as always. Her face bore a carefully painted smile that faltered the second she met Stefan’s unreadable expression.
Stefan shook his head when he first heard Ivy’s heels footsteps. Relaxed, almost slow steps like he hadn’t called her to come home for over six hours now. Maybe she thought it was something romantic. A surprise. A gift. That was all she ever received from him while she disappeared just when he needed her the most.
How ironic.
"Stefan?" her voice rang out, high and unsure. "I’m here! What did you want to talk abou?"