Chapter 4 Four

Ivy's Pov

I glared at Julian's turned face, my chest heaving, tears burning my eyes. I was fuming-and positively so.

I still couldn't believe this. I didn't want to believe this. The same man that had acted like my white knight in shining armor just the day before was engaged to marry my mother of all people!? What kind of cruel joke is the universe playing on me?! No amount of alcohol had been able to get the information out of my system, and frankly, I didn't think anything could.

Julian let me go after I had steadied myself, slowly turning to face me. There was remorse in his eyes but also resignation. It landed on me like a ton of bricks, and I bit back a whimper.

"I didn't know who you were. I had no idea you were her daughter," he murmured truthfully, the tenderness and guilt in his voice making me waver.

My lips trembled, but I refused to cry. For what reason, exactly? The fact that I didn't get to sleep with him or that he was now my mother's fiancé? Maybe it was both.

Suddenly exhausted, I sucked in a deep breath, stepping away from him. His hands flexed as if trying to reach me, but he stopped himself just in time, a shadow crossing his eyes. I didn't want to think about this anymore. Side-stepping him, I stumbled my way up the stairs, making it to my room. The cool wood of the door pressed into my back as I slid down it, my legs too shaky to stand. Slipping from my hands, the whiskey bottle clattered to the ground, forgotten.

Unbiddenly, memories of the night before rushed through me and I shuddered, wrapping my hands around myself. The way he'd kissed me, the way I'd clung to him, the desperation in our touches... He didn't take me that night, but this? This burned worse. The tears I had been keeping at bay all day finally filled my eyes, spilling out. I buried my face in my hands, sobbing quietly.

What's up with my life? Why am I so unlucky?

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I woke up with a head-splitting headache in the morning. My entire body felt like lead, my stomach filled with nausea. Groaning, I buried myself into the pillow, trying to shut out the throb. Incredibly thirsty and hungry, I wanted nothing more than to run into the kitchen and fill my stomach, but I couldn't move a limb. Aside from that, I didn't think I wanted to see anyone.

I stayed on the bed, staring into nothingness, but the headache only worsened, and the hunger pangs were too much to ignore. Forcing myself to stand, I trudged to the bathroom and washed, running cold water all over my head. Raising my head up, I stared at my reflection in the mirror and cringed.

My hair was a mess, my makeup had smeared all over my face thanks to my sobbing, and I looked like I had just walked out from a catfight. Miserable was an understatement of how I felt and looked.

I remembered my altercation with Julian the night before and grimaced, my cheeks flushing. That had been so unnecessary. But then, I wasn't thinking straight.

Letting out a sigh, I stripped out of my clothes and stepped into the shower, washing off the mess of the day before. Once I was thoroughly cleaned and I felt slightly better, I stepped out and dried myself, slipping into a fresh set of clothes. Putting my hair into a ponytail, I collected a pack of hangover pills from my wardrobe and stepped out of my room, making my way to the kitchen while secretly praying I wouldn't find anyone there.

The gods in heaven didn't answer that prayer because as I approached the dining area, I could hear my mother laughing and Julian's deep voice as he spoke to her. Moths exploded in my chest, my entire body prickling. It was too late to turn back. Clenching my jaw, I walked past them, heading straight to the kitchen.

They instantly stopped talking and I could feel their gazes following me.

Clarissa was the first to speak. "Oh... When did you return?" I pulled out a bottle of water from the fridge, popped out some pills, and threw them into my mouth, washing them down with the water.

"Julian was up waiting for you, you know?" she continued, and I cast a sidelong glance at them. Julian held my gaze, tensing. Clarissa chuckled, misreading the tension as silence instead of suffocation. "Already playing the role of a good stepfather." She murmured, gazing at him fondly.

"I doubt I'll be much of an influence..." Julian said as he slowly looked away from me, giving Clarissa a tiny smile. "She's all grown up and perfectly capable of handling herself. I was just concerned."

Yeah, and we almost fucked two days ago.

"That's true, but Ivy also needs a father figure. It's what she has been severely lacking in her life," my mother said.

I slammed the water bottle hard on the kitchen counter, my anger exploding. Turning to her, I narrowed my eyes. "I am perfectly fine. I don't need anyone playing the role of a father figure. Besides, isn't he supposed to have left the house already?"

"Actually, he'll be moving in soon. He's staying with us," Clarissa announced matter-of-factly. I froze, my eyes widening.

"W-what!?"

She let out a coy smile as she laid her head on his shoulder. I caught his tension. "Julian might be wealthy, but he's spent the last twenty years living like a pilgrim. Which means he doesn't have a home he calls his. He wants to settle down now, but at the moment, he'll be staying with us."

Ah... come on!

"I'll be out of your hair, I promise you. You wouldn't even know I'm here," Julian tried to assure me, but it was landing in all the wrong ways. A mirthless chuckle escaped my lips, and from the corner of my eyes, I could see Clarissa snickering.

"The two of you are unbelievable!" I screamed and stalked out of the room, my initial plan to get food forgotten. Julian's stare trailed me throughout, and a prickle of awareness went through me. I debated going out but realized I was already running low on cash and would just spend the entire day drinking.

Screaming into a pillow, I pulled at my hair, trying to think of what to do to get out of this place when a knock came on the door.

"Get out!" I yelled at whoever was behind it. When no one answered, I stood to my feet and walked toward the door, pulling it open. No one was behind it, but when I lowered my gaze, there was a tray filled with food waiting for me. I paused, staring at it in surprise.

When the delectable scent hit my nose and my stomach growled in response, I immediately picked it up. Looking around to see if anyone was around, I brought it into my room and started eating. The entire meal was gone in a matter of minutes. As I drank water to wash it down, I realized that my foul mood had cleared.

I shrugged, deciding to stay holed up in the room instead. Evening rolled by and I was getting increasingly bored. Pacing about my room, I stared out the window to see Julian going on a walk with my mother.

My face contorted in disgust watching my mom giggling at whatever he was saying, clinging to him like a slug. Anger began to simmer within me at the sight. What does he even see in her? She's all plastic. I know I am better than her.

Plus, Clarissa doesn't deserve to be happy. Not after what she has done to me. Not after ruining my life. I scoffed at my proud thoughts, feeling disdain toward myself. How could I still want him again after all of this? He's marrying her. My mother.

A sinister idea dropped into my mind and I almost smiled as I watched them. What if I ruined their engagement? These two would never be married. My mother still doesn't know I had almost slept with her fiancé, and it's clear even with the way he hides it that he still wants me. It was there in his eyes last night, in his actions. I am seducing Julian. Those two would never be together.

I kissed him once. I'll do it again.

This time, I won't stop.