Chapter 35 A Wish
"Ivy! Ivy, stop!" Jack hurried after her as she stepped out of her office, his voice laced with urgency.
Ivy ignored him, her heels clicking against the ground as she walked ahead. But Jack was quick, stepping in front of her and blocking her path. His body was tense, his chest rising and falling with rapid breaths as he tried to catch her attention.
She sighed, annoyance flickering in her eyes as she finally glanced up at him. "Yes?" she asked, her voice flat, the fatigue from her long day settling into her tone.
Jack’s eyes were wild with frustration, his hand coming up to rub the back of his neck as if trying to restrain his temper. "Do you know what Christian is doing?" His words came out sharp, frustration clear in his voice, his usually calm demeanor cracking.
Ivy’s brow furrowed, the confusion written all over her face. "What are you talking about?"
Jack exhaled sharply, his jaw clenching as his eyes darted to the ground for a moment before looking back at her. "Ivy, can you please stop Christian from forcing me out of this city?" His words were desperate, the helplessness in his voice evident as he stepped closer, invading her space.
Her confusion deepened.
Jack’s expression darkened, his face pinched with frustration. "He’s blocked all my resources. My company is drowning because he’s cut off all my clients. If this continues for a few more days, I’ll go bankrupt!" His voice trembled, a hint of panic breaking through the veneer of his control.
Ivy shook her head, taking a step back at once. "That’s business, Jack. It’s between you and Christian. I have no say in what he does."
Jack’s gaze was intense as he looked at her, his voice lowering, becoming more pleading. "Ivy, come with me. Let’s leave this city. We can start over somewhere else."
Ivy gave him a confused look. "Jack, I already told you—we have nothing to do with each other."
She tried to walk past him, but his voice turned desperate.
"You don’t even like him! Why are you afraid to leave? Is he threatening you? I’m offering you a chance to escape. Leave with me!"
Ivy’s eyes flickered with frustration. "Jack," she snapped, her voice growing sharper, unable to hold back the irritation any longer. "I’m not leaving with you. I’m married. To Christian. I’m his wife!"
A shadow loomed behind her.
She turned and found Christian standing there, his arm sliding possessively around her waist as he smirked smugly at Jack.
Ivy turned back to Jack, her posture subtly shifting as her body relaxed under Christian’s arm. "As long as you leave me alone and never appear in front of me again, Christian will stay out of your life.”
Christian’s grin widened as he glanced at Jack, his hand tightening around Ivy’s waist. "I listen to my wife," he said with a casual, innocent nod of his head.
Jack’s fists clenched, his jaw working, but his shoulders slumped in defeat. The fire in his eyes dimmed slightly as he muttered a quiet, "Alright," before turning and walking away.
As Ivy watched him disappear, Christian’s touch on her waist became more intimate. He cupped her face, tilting it toward him, his eyes, dark and focused, locked onto hers. "Look at me, not him. I’m more handsome."
Ivy rolled her eyes, smiling.
He slipped his hand into hers, guiding her to his car. As the vehicle drove off, Christian pulled her into his lap, his face slipping into her neck while she scrolled through her phone. His arms circled her waist, his lips on her skin, his nose trailing slowly up and down her shoulder and behind her ear, making her squirm.
They remained in comfortable silence until a while later, Ivy looked up, glancing around. The surroundings had changed. They weren’t heading to Christian’s house.
"Where are we going?" she asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.
"Somewhere nice." Christian muttered.
Ivy frowned but didn’t press him further.
Christian’s lips kissed her neck, his teeth grazing her skin before he licked it. His kisses continued to trail softly along her neck, leaving gentle licks and light nips. Her back rested against his chest. His hands slipped inside her top, caressing her waist with soft strokes.
His fingers reached her belly button, circling it before pressing down, sending a sharp sensation between her legs. She tensed slightly, her breathing becoming heavier.
“Don’t tickle.” she murmured absentmindedly.
"Okay," Christian muttered obediently, his lips returning to her neck as his hands continued to caress her waist and back. His lips moved slowly on her skin, kissing, licking, and gently sucking with soft, tender strokes.
A short while later, the car came to a stop. Ivy glanced up, realizing they were on a beach, the faint sound of waves crashing against the shore filtering through the car. But Christian made no move to release her. His lips continued their slow path along her neck, his warm breath brushing against her skin, sending tiny shivers down her spine. His hands rested firmly on her waist, his grip tight.
“Let’s go.” She turned her head, meeting his gaze.
His dark eyes flickered. Instead of loosening his hold, his arms tightened around her, pressing her even closer against him. A muscle in his jaw ticked before he rasped, “How can I get out with this?” He pulled her back slightly, and she felt the unmistakable hardness beneath her, pressed against her hips.
Heat rose up her neck as her fingers instinctively gripped his arms. Her pulse quickened, but she bit her lip, hiding the small, amused smile threatening to form.
Christian frowned, his jaw clenching as he muttered, “Give me a second. Don’t move.”
Ivy nodded, feeling the tension in his body as he tried to steady himself.
After a long moment, when his breathing had evened out, he finally exhaled and released her, letting her slide onto the seat beside him.
Christian helped Ivy out, then grabbed her hand again, leading her toward a beach that stretched wide before them. As they approached, Ivy realized a small festival was underway. Little gifts, food stalls, and colorful lights surrounded the area, with the ocean adding a magical backdrop. It wasn’t large, but the vibrant colors and lights made it feel enchanting.
Ivy halted, reaching down to pull off her sandals. She wiggled her toes in the sand, a soft smile curving her lips. Then, she started walking barefoot on the soft sand. Christian took the sandals from her hand, holding them in one hand while keeping her hand secure with his other. They walked together for a while, occasionally glancing around at the sights. Suddenly, Christian stopped and turned back, pulling Ivy along with him.
They came to a halt in front of a small shop. A large bucket stood nearby, filled with glass bottles, each containing a rolled-up piece of paper. The sign above read: ‘Write your deepest wish on paper and put it in a bottle. We will offer your wish to the sea so it comes true soon.’
"Would you like me to get you one?" the woman at the counter asked with a bright smile.
Ivy shook her head. “No, thank you.”
But Christian reached out, taking the pen, paper, and bottle from the woman’s hand. He began scribbling something on the paper.
Ivy’s lips curved into an amused smile. "You believe in these things?"
Christian glanced at her, his voice soft. "I will believe in anything as long as I’m with you."
Ivy’s heart fluttered at his words. Her lips couldn’t stop smiling, and she turned away momentarily, trying to hide the warmth spreading through her chest. After a beat, she glanced back at the woman at the counter, extending her hand to take the bottle, pen, and paper.
Hiding it from Christian, she carefully wrote on the paper: ‘ I hope everything Christian ever wishes for will always come true.’
A faint smile touched her lips. She traced the words with her fingers before folding the paper and handing it back to the woman. Christian followed suit, giving his bottle to her as well. He turned to Ivy with a pleased smile.
The moment broke when Christian’s phone rang. He pulled it out, glancing at the screen. With the sandals still in his hand, he couldn’t put the phone to his ear, so he set it to speaker.
“Yeah?” he answered.
"Sir," Samuel’s voice came through. "Jack was attacked just a while ago, brutally. He’s in the hospital, and when the doctors asked him about it for the police statement, he blamed you for the attack."
Christian’s expression hardened, his forehead creasing in a frown. His hand instinctively reached for Ivy’s, and they began walking back toward the car.
“The news is already on the internet, since he made a public post about it. Because of that, the stocks have been affected, going down drastically,” Samuel continued.
"Alright," Christian said. He opened the door for Ivy and hung up the call. Standing beside the car, he placed his hands gently on her thighs. "Ivy, go home. I need to take care of this."
“I’m going with you. Let’s go together.” Ivy said at once.
Christian hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Alright," he said, and climbed into the car.
The driver took them to the City Hospital. Ivy walked alongside Christian as they made their way to the ward where Jack was. When they reached the door, Christian reached for the handle, but Ivy grasped his wrist, pulling it back.
“Let me talk to him alone.”
Christian frowned, his protective instincts flaring. "I’ll handle it, don’t worry."
Ivy shook her head. “You’re linked to his attack. You shouldn’t interfere in this. Let me go in and talk to him. I’ll sort this out."
Christian didn’t look pleased, but he nodded reluctantly, muttering, “I’ll wait out here.”
Ivy gave him a small smile, grasping his wrist tighter, and then arching up her on toes to kiss him. Her hand reached up to caress the frown on his forehead, softening it with her thumb.
“I will be out in a minute. Don't worry.” she said gently. And he nodded, the tension on his face easing.
Ivy stepped away, and then opened the door, stepping in. Inside, Jack was lying in bed, bandages on his forehead and a cast on his arm. As soon as he saw Ivy, his face lit up.
"Ivy?" Jack exclaimed. "You came to see me? I’m alright, don’t worry. Just a little injury. These will heal soon."
Ivy came to a stop in front of Jack’s bed, nodding. “Good. But that’s not why I’m here.”
Jack’s smile dropped, and a knowing shadow crossed his face. “Christian?”
Ivy nodded. "He has nothing to do with this attack on you. Why did you blame him?"
Jack’s lips twisted in a thin, displeased line. "Why do you think he has nothing to do with it? Is he really that good in your eyes that he would never do anything bad to anyone?"
Ivy shook her head. “He’s upfront and clear about whatever he does. Christian doesn’t hide things or attack from behind. He’s always very clear and in sight if he does something. He doesn’t attack from behind and pretend to be innocent.”
Jack’s face grew darker, his mood shifting. "Ivy, you’re still praising Christian? Can’t you just come back to me?" He muttered, his eyes full of longing. "I know I messed up in the past, leaving you like that. But you liked me too, right? I even sang a song for you in front of everyone at the office... You said you liked it."
Ivy’s memory drifted back to when she worked with Jack. He had done many things to convince her to date him, but she had never given him any indication that she was interested. During an office hangout at a karaoke bar, he had sung a song for her.
She remembered how her heart had raced—not because she liked Jack, but because the song had reminded her of Christian. It was a song that Christian used to listen to a lot, and hearing it brought back memories of him.
And as painful as those memories were, they still surged within her. The sadness and the racing heart weren’t for Jack; they were for Christian, who had disappeared from her life.
That’s why she had told Jack that the song was nice and then left soon after. Perhaps the look in her eyes for Christian had made Jack misunderstand that those feelings were for him.
"Ivy..." Jack continued, his voice desperate. "Can’t you see? You never gave me a chance. I was there for you. Just give me another chance."
“Jack,” Ivy started, shaking off the lingering feeling and stepping closer to his bed. “You don’t want to be on Christian’s bad side. You need to come out and clear this rumor and false accusation before Christian takes action.”
Jack frowned, a stubborn look on his face. "I can handle this. I’ve got control over—"
"No, you don’t!" Ivy interrupted firmly. "I’m only saying this because we were once colleagues, and you’re a good person. But if you don’t clear this up, Christian will destroy you. He’s not someone you should mess with. So before he takes action, you need to fix this mess you’ve made, and leave this city.”
The look on Ivy’s face, her voice devoid of any interest in Jack, made his expression fall as he realized the seriousness in her words. He stared at her as she turned and left the room, without glancing back even once.