Chapter 24 Her Husband
The car rolled to a stop in front of Licious.
Christian got out first, following Ivy closely, his hand slipping into hers before opening the door for her. Together, they stepped into the restaurant.
The place was bustling with people. Chaos filled the air as waiters moved hurriedly between tables, laughter and chatter echoing in the background.
As they walked to the main counter, Ivy immediately spotted Stella.
Stella glanced up, her eyes scanning the crowd before landing on Ivy. She froze for a split second—then did a dramatic double take.
"Ivy?!" she shrieked in excitement, practically jumping over the counter to hug her breathless.
Christian frowned, his fingers twitching with the urge to grab Stella and pull her off Ivy. But seeing the happiness on Ivy’s face, he forced himself to hold back.
Ivy patted Stella’s back, smiling.
Pulling away, Stella’s eyes shifted to Christian. "Hi, Christian," she greeted with a grin.
They had only met briefly at a few parties, but Stella wasn’t as familiar with him as the other friends.
"What are you two doing here today?" she asked, frowning slightly.
Her eyes flickered between them, and then dropped to their intertwined fingers.
She gasped, stepping back as if she had just uncovered a great scandal. "Wait—you two are together?!"
Ivy’s lips curled into laughter. It hadn’t been that long since she left Licious, but being here again, seeing Stella’s dramatic reactions, made her realize just how much she had missed this place. It was a comforting feeling.
Stella always met people with a lot of enthusiasm, making them feel special. And Ivy realized, in that moment, that she always wanted to be met like this—like she mattered.
Stella leaned in close, narrowing her eyes at Christian, whispering conspiratorially, "Really? Him? And you?"
Christian had enough. He grabbed Stella by the back of her neck and pulled her away. "Get away from her."
Stella snorted. "Blink twice if he’s blackmailing you," she told Ivy.
Ivy started laughing.
Stella turned to Christian, still eyeing him suspiciously. "How did she even fall for you? You’re an ice block, and she’s sweet as hell."
Christian shoved her lightly toward the counter. "Go get us coffee. We’re your customers. Do your job."
He waved her off and pulled Ivy into a seat beside him.
As they waited for their coffee, Ivy’s gaze landed on a familiar face.
A man in his thirties, well-dressed and wearing glasses, held a cup of coffee as he walked toward the exit.
Ivy quickly averted her gaze—but it was too late.
The man had sensed it.
And when he turned his head, his eyes locked onto their table.
Without a second thought, Jack rushed toward their table, completely ignoring the coffee in his hands. He came to a stop in front of Christian.
"Mr. Evans?"
Christian turned to him, his gaze sharp with silent questioning.
"I'm Jack," the man introduced himself with a smile, extending a hand for a shake. "We’ll be working on the project together in the next few days. I recognized you since I’ll be collaborating with you soon. It’s great to see you."
Christian nodded, shaking the man's hand before pulling away.
Jack, still smiling, muttered, "I’ll leave you alone now. I’m looking forward to—"
His voice abruptly cut off as his gaze landed on the woman sitting opposite Christian. The moment he recognized her, he froze.
"Ivy?"
Ivy finally, slowly turned her head, meeting his stunned gaze with a neutral expression. Then, she offered a restrained smile. "Yes. How are you, Jack?"
Jack blinked rapidly, as if struggling to confirm he wasn’t dreaming. Without a second thought, he placed his glass down on the table and leaned forward, reaching to hug her.
But Ivy immediately pulled back, dodging the embrace. Instead, she offered him a handshake.
Three years ago, when Ivy worked at a company, Jack had pursued her relentlessly. He had been single then, and for an entire year, he had repeatedly proposed to her and asked her out, despite her constant rejections. His persistence had led to rumors that she was entangled with him, that they were secretly dating.
She had ignored the gossip, refusing to waste her energy on meaningless speculation.
But then, Jack had invited her to dinner at a restaurant, and suddenly, the rumors intensified—people claiming he was going to propose to her.
Not wanting to humiliate him publicly, she had gone, intending to reject him properly and put an end to the nonsense once and for all.
But when she arrived, she found out he was already gone. He had received a job opportunity and left overnight, leaving the city.
The office had labeled it as heartbreak, betrayal. Ivy had let them believe what they wanted, never offering any clarification.
And now, after all this time, she was face to face with him once again.
Jack looked embarrassed as Ivy rejected his hug. He cleared his throat and forced a sheepish smile. "How have you been? It’s been years since I last saw you."
"I’m fine," Ivy replied with a polite nod.
On the other hand, Christian sat rigidly, his gaze dark and piercing as it flicked between Ivy and Jack. He had already sensed that there was something between Jack and Ivy, and it wasn’t just something simple.
His fist tightened near his mouth, elbow braced on the chair’s armrest as he watched them in with a deathly silent stare. He took in every detail—the slight tremble of Jack’s fingers as though itching to touch Ivy, the way Ivy offered him a polite but distant smile.
It didn’t take much for him to piece together what was going on.
Jack glanced at Christian briefly before turning back to Ivy. "Let’s meet again," he suggested with a smile. "I really wanted to talk to you but never got the chance. I just got back recently after living in Germany. Let’s set up a day to catch up."
Ivy’s smile was dry, dismissive. "Of course," she said, but there was no sincerity in her tone. Then she turned away.
She had no intention of meeting him again. To her, Jack was nothing more than a stranger from the past.
Jack smiled and then walked out of the restaurant.
Christian’s gaze followed him, his eyes burning. The moment Jack disappeared through the doors, his attention snapped back to Ivy.
"How do you know him?" His voice was low, controlled—but the underlying tension in it was unmistakable.
Ivy shifted uncomfortably before muttering, "Nothing. Just an old colleague."
Christian’s lips twisted in distaste. Without warning, he got up, rounded the table, and grabbed Ivy by the wrist, pulling her out of her seat. Then, without hesitation, he sat down and pulled Ivy onto his lap. His fingers gripped her jaw, forcing her to look at him, his intense gaze burning into hers.
"Christian! We are in a restaurant! Let me get up!" she insisted, tension flickering in her eyes as she pushed against him.
They were seated in a secluded corner, away from the main crowd in the restaurant, but anyone could walk in at any second and see them.
"You’re lying." His voice was laced with quiet fury. "Don’t you know I know every fucking thing about you?"
Ivy frowned and tried to turn her gaze away, but he tightened his grip, forcing her to face him again.
"If you already know everything, then why are you asking?" she challenged.
"Ivy." His growl sent a shiver down her spine. His hand cupped her jaw, angling her face toward his as his voice dropped into a lethal whisper.
"Don’t you fucking dare even think of having feelings for your ex." His grip tightened, his thumb pressing into her skin as he seethed, "I know all about your little affair. The rumors of this fucking dog throwing concerts and making pathetic proposals to charm you into being his girlfriend."
After Ivy had told him that she had an ex, he had dug deep into her past relationships and found out about the guy she had worked with three years ago—the one people had rumored to be with her, the one who had pulled all the bullshit to get Ivy.
The way it had burned him back then was only buried beneath the surface because it had happened three years ago, and the bastard no longer lived in the same country.
Ivy held his gaze, her expression calm despite the storm brewing in his eyes.
Christian’s jaw clenched. "I am your present. Your future. Your everything. If I ever see you even glance at him again, I will bury him six feet in the ground."
Ivy’s face darkened with anger. She yanked herself out of his grip and stood up, grabbing her handbag.
"You’re out of line," she snapped. "You can’t control me, Christian. What happened in my past, who I was with, or what I felt for someone is none of your business. You have no right to control what I lived through or what I feel for anyone."
Christian stood as well, his expression unreadable, but the rage simmering beneath it was unmistakable. He caught her wrist before she could leave.
"You had feelings for him?" His voice was dangerously low. "You really fell in love with him?"
Ivy pried her arm free with a glare and turned, storming out of the restaurant without another word.
Just as she stepped onto the sidewalk, heading toward the road, Jack suddenly emerged from the shadows, blocking her path.
"Ivy."
She halted, startled. "You haven’t left yet?"
Jack took a hesitant step forward. "Ivy, you didn’t answer me earlier." His voice was softer now. "I just wanted to know how you’ve been these past few years."
"I told you, I’m fine. You should leave," she said, trying to sidestep him.
But Jack didn’t move. Instead, he reached for her hand, stopping her. "I just want to talk. Should we go to a café? Just ten minutes."
Ivy immediately pulled her hand back. "You can say whatever you need to say right now. I’m busy."
Jack hesitated, looking momentarily embarrassed before his eyes darkened with something close to regret. "Ivy, I’m really sorry about leaving the way I did three years ago. It was my fault. I got a job offer I couldn’t refuse, but the moment I left, I regretted it." His expression dulled, guilt clouding his face. "I shouldn’t have left without you."
Ivy’s patience snapped. "Stop." She turned fully to face him, her eyes filled with frustration. "Stop acting like a victim. You left because you made a choice—between your so-called love for me and your career."
"It wasn’t like that," he protested. "I really did lo—"
"Moreover," Ivy interrupted coldly, "I never loved you. So your actions had no impact on me. You can stop feeling guilty over it."
Jack exhaled heavily, rubbing the back of his neck. "I understand. It was my fault. I don’t blame you for being angry. I heard from some friends that you went to the place I had booked for the proposal. But when you heard that I had already left for abroad, you went back home. That must have been really upsetting. I’m very sorry for that. I love you. I was just too young to make the right choice."
Before Ivy could respond, a familiar warmth enveloped her. A strong arm slipped around her waist from behind, pulling her close. Christian’s scent surrounded her.
"Is he bothering you?" Christian’s deep voice murmured in her ear. He leaned in, pressing a slow kiss to her cheek.
Jack’s expression twisted in disbelief as his gaze darted between them. "...Mr. Evans? He’s your boyfriend?"
"Husband," Christian corrected coldly. "Now, get lost."
Jack froze for a second, and then scoffed, looking at Ivy in shock. "Impossible. Ivy, he’s lying, right?"
"You should leave now," Ivy said firmly. "There was never anything between us, and there never will be."
Jack’s face twisted in frustration. "Ivy, You will never love someone like him! I know you. I know his reputation—cold, ruthless, silent. Is he forcing you? Does he have something on you?" He stepped forward, grabbing her hand. "Come with me, I’ll take care of you—"
Before he could finish, Christian’s fist slammed into Jack’s face. Blood splattered as Jack fell back with a sickening thud.