Chapter 116: What happened with your mother?

Ivy’s pov

"You kept apologizing and calling for her," He murmured, brushing his thumb lightly over my lips. "It was painful, the look on your face when I found you. It’s alright if you do not feel comfortable sharing."

The tears I thought had dried up welled in my eyes again. The memory of my mother’s broken body on the carpet was too vivid, too raw. I swallowed hard, trying to clamp down on the words. The urge to spill it to tell him was too strong.

What would I even say? That I killed her?

Anything I sad could change how they viewed me. I didn’t want to ruin that. I couldn’t talk about it. I wouldn’t. I buried my face deeper into the solid warmth of his chest, staining his shirt with my tears.

"It’s a long story. A very long story."

Just then, a brilliant flash of lightning illuminated the library, followed instantly by a deafening crack of thunder. I gasped, my body tensing, my nails digging into his shoulders. I felt like a little girl again, terrified of the storm that raged both outside and in.

"I’ve got you," Gideon murmured, his arms tightening around me. His voice was a low, steady rumble against my ear, a shield against the noise. "It’s just thunder. You’re safe. Don’t worry."

I hadn’t even realized it was raining. I snifled, inhaling his scent greedily as his presence was so calming.

Desperately wanting to think about something else, I lifted my head, my gaze drifting to the grandfather clock in the corner of the library. Its hands pointed to just after three in the morning.

"Why are you working so late?"

He followed my gaze, a wry, humorless smile touching his lips. "Because I have to. I have... very bad sleeping habits. If I can’t sleep, I might as well work."

"You act as if you’re the only one carrying the entire empire." My finger traced a slow pattern on his shirt, and he hummed.

"I owe my father so much. I can’t let everything my father worked for just... crash."

"You owe him so much?" I questioned, looking up at him. "I mean, I understand we all feel we owe our parents, but the way you say it... it sounds like you’re repaying a debt."

His eyes shuttered, and I could just feel the wall growing back between us. "It’s nothing you need to worry about."

He deftly changed the subject, pulling his laptop closer from the desk. The screen glowed with architectural designs. "Speaking of work, we won the bid for the Pandora estate using your suggestion. Do you want to see what we want to create there?"

Guilt pierced through me. I had copied these very plans from his computer. My father was probably working over a stolen version of this. Here he was showing me so freely because he didn’t know.

I forced a smile despite feeling like shit. "W-Wow, that’s incredible. I’d love to see them."

He seemed pleased by my interest. He clicked through the files, showing me the sprawling blueprints. I pushed the guilt down and tried to focus. Honestly it was a very impressive project.

"The zoning here is tricky," I commented, pointing to a section of the map. "But it’s so awesome how you already accounted for that. So will you use any of the historical buildings there as like a landmark or focal point of the estate?"

"Yeah, that’s exactly what I was thinking-" He paused talking, a slow, surprised smile spreading across his face. "I didn’t know you... I had no idea you were so knowledgeable about this."

I blushed, shrugging. "I just... see things, I guess."

"I remember you said you wanted to go to college, but you had to drop out because of money?"

I froze, my mind scrambling. I’d said that?

When? It must have been part of the Ivy Harpley persona I had cobbled together. "Oh. Yes. Right. Money was... eh...tight."

"It’s heartbreaking that a lack of funds would hold back a mind this brilliant," Okay he wasn’t just flattering me right? Why did he genuinely sounded pained by the idea. "If it’s something you want, I could help you go back. I could pay for everything."

The guilt rose even higher, boiling in my gut like acid. How could I even tell him that I went to one of the best business schools and have a freaking degree?

"I’m fine," I rushed out, overwhelmed by his offer. "Really."

"I want you to be more than fine, Ivy,"

We stared at each other for a long moment, the storm raging outside. Were these really the devils of Wisteria?

Roman had bought a whole building that I lied was my home to remodel it because he didn’t think it was safe to live in and Deon wanted me to go back to college cause he thought I dropped out. I though these were ruthless men who cared about no one but themselves. Me after my father’s lives.

Dad’s order to plant cocaine in their home rang in my ears.

Why was it starting to feel like the other way around?

"Do you play checkers?" he asked suddenly, breaking the spell.

"Uh, yeah,"

"Good," he replied, genuine smile finally reaching his eyes. "Let’s play."

He set up a beautiful wooden checkers board on a small table before us. The game was rather intense. We were evenly matched, and I found myself giggling every time I pulled an unexpected move and he would grunt in surprise.

"Oh, you are a very mysterious woman, Ivy Harpley," He chuckled, shaking his head.

"Not my fault I have so many hidden talents," I teased, cocking my head at him.

His eyes flickered, roaming down my body before he murmured. "I’m going to enjoy discovering them all."

I shivered at the intensity of his words and his gaze, blushing furiously while the sea of guilt inside me consumed me harder.

What if he discovered way more than just hidden talents? What if my house of cards come crumbling down?

It turned out I didn’t have to wait too long to get my answer. It came barreling down the next day.