CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 22
Carter
I saw her the moment I arrived.
But I wanted to catch up with the bride and groom first, because I knew the moment I approached her, she’d take over my whole night.
“Congrats, man,” I say to Nathan, pulling him into a hug. “You and Sterling finally tied the knot with your beautiful wives.”
“Not bad for a couple of small-town ogres,” Sterling jokes, grinning.
Nathan claps me on the shoulder. “You here with someone? I know you didn’t come alone.”
Before I can answer, his wife walks over and gives Sterling and me warm hugs, whisking Nathan away. I glance back toward the tables and see everyone rising to head to the dance floor—except Ivy. She’s still seated, alone.
Sterling’s talking again, something about a property he’s eyeing, but I can’t focus.
Because Ivy just tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and smiled softly to herself—and somehow, that small, simple thing hits me harder than any business deal I’ve ever closed.
“I’ve gotta catch up with someone,” I say, clapping Sterling’s back. “I’ll link up with you later.”
He daps me, and I walk toward her.
My pulse kicks. My mind blanks. I search for the right thing to say, but all I manage is—
“Ivy.”
She looks up, softer than she was earlier. Like the fight has drained out of her for now.
I offer my hand. “May I have this dance?”
She hesitates.
I watch her glance toward Vanessa, who gives a subtle nod of approval. Ivy looks back at me, eyes searching mine. After a few more seconds, she slips her hand into mine, and I help her to her feet.
I lead her to the dance floor, turn to face her, and for the first time tonight, I really look at her.
The live performer begins to sing. “Loving you is easy ’cause you’re beautiful…”
We begin to sway. I pull her close, until we’re flush against each other. The crowd fades. The noise quiets.
“I’ve missed you,” I whisper into her ear.
She doesn’t say anything at first. And I’m okay with that. Her being in my arms again is enough.
But then, just as my guard starts to drop, I hear her whisper back, “I’ve missed you too.”
My body tenses. Hope cracks through me like sunlight through storm clouds.
“Can we start over?” I ask, my voice full of something I haven’t felt in months: possibility.
She doesn’t answer at first. Then she shakes her head. “No. I’m sorry.”
My chest tightens. “Why not, huh?”
“Because, Carter, I only have one little heart. And that heart’s taken enough damage. We broke each other. And now? We’re trying to rebuild something from a week we spent trapped in a storm. It doesn’t make any sense.”
I stare at her. “Do you love me?”
Her voice falters. “It doesn’t matter.”
“Yes, it does. Ivy, do you love me?” I ask again, cupping her chin and tilting her face up so she can’t hide.
Our eyes lock.
“Yes.” She breathes the word like it hurts to say.
“Then let me show you how much I love you.”
“Carter, you’re chasing a fantasy. I’m not the woman from the island. I’m not some dream version of Ivy Monroe. This—” she gestures to her belly “—this is who I am. Pregnant. Tired. Messy. I know how life works. Girls like me don’t end up with men like you. My fairytale doesn’t start here.”
I shake my head. “Ivy, my heart is already on the line. It belongs to you. You are the woman for me. When I met you, everything changed. I’ve never loved another woman the way I love you. I’ll do anything—anything—you ask. I know our fallout started over my company, but I can live without Volcor Holdings. What I can’t live without… is you.”
Tears spill from her eyes, and I can see it—she wants to believe me. But she’s scared.
“This is someone’s wedding, Carter,” she whispers. “Let’s talk later. I don’t want to cause a scene.”
That’s when we both realize…
The music has stopped. We’re the only ones left on the dance floor.
A beat later, Sterling yells from across the room, “Too late for that, you two!”
Laughter erupts around us. I take a breath and turn to Sterling.
“Hey, did you still want those properties in Edenton?”
“Fuck yeah, you know I want ’em,” he says.
“You can have them. We’ll talk Monday.” Then I look over at Nathan. “How do you feel about an acquisition?”
He raises an eyebrow. “Depends.”
“You keep my people employed, and we can talk.”
Ivy’s staring at me, stunned. “Carter… what are you doing?”
I turn to her, voice steady. “What I should’ve done from the beginning. I’m choosing you.”
The room is silent for a second—and then a collective “awww” rolls through the crowd.
Anika walks over, bouquet in hand. She rests it on Ivy’s shoulder.
“Maybe I’ll just hand this to you,” she says, smiling warmly.
“Thanks,” Ivy replies, blinking fast. “But I won’t be needing it.”
She tries to hand it back, but when she turns around, I’m already on one knee.
Holding up a ring.
“Ivy Monroe,” I begin, voice thick with emotion, “I’m sorry I ever gave you a reason to doubt my love. But I love you. And I can’t imagine spending the rest of my life with anyone else. Will you do me the honor of being my wife?”
Vanessa runs to Ivy’s side, gripping her arm. Everyone in the room is frozen, waiting.
Anika and Nathan are still holding hands, smiling.
And finally—after a moment that stretches forever—Ivy whispers, “Yes.”
The room erupts in cheers.
I rise to my feet, wrap her in my arms, and kiss her like I’ve been dying to do all night.
“I love you, Mrs. Volcor-to-be. May the storm never break us.”
She smiles through tears.
“May the storm never break us,” she replies.
Vanessa leaves with her date, beaming, and Ivy leaves with me—her hand tucked in mine, her “yes” still echoing in my chest like a vow.
Back at my penthouse, I lead her inside where candlelight dances against the walls and soft music hums in the background. A bed of red roses waits upstairs. I didn’t know if she’d say yes, but I knew she loved me. A love like ours… it could never be one-sided.
As soon as we walk through the door, I scoop her into my arms.
She laughs, a sound that hits me harder than anything ever has.
I carry her up the stairs, our future tucked between every heartbeat, and lay her gently down on the bed of roses. Her smile falters just slightly, giving way to something deeper. Something real.
I undress her slowly, layer by layer, letting my fingers learn her all over again. She squirms beneath my touch, breath catching, hips rising.
And when I drop to my knees between her thighs, I worship my future wife the only way I know how.
With everything I have.
With everything I am.
THE END