Chapter 36 Hank
When Ivy stepped out into the hallway, she looked around, but Christian wasn’t there. Samuel was waiting for her outside.
"Mrs. Evans," Samuel greeted her respectfully.
Ivy turned to him, her brows knitting. "Where’s Christian?"
"Mr. Evans had an important call. It’s business-related—there are issues with stocks, so he left first. He asked me to drop you off at home."
Ivy nodded and walked out of the hospital with Samuel, but instead of getting in the car, she turned to him. “You can leave now. I’ll come home on my own.”
Samuel hesitated but nodded. "Sure, Mrs. Evans. But I’ll need to inform Mr. Evans."
“That’s alright,” Ivy said, waving him off. She left the hospital and hired a cab shortly after.
She gave the driver the address, and soon enough, the car stopped in front of the beach she had visited with Christian earlier that day. She stepped out and headed toward the beach again.
The lights were even brighter now that it was night, and more people had gathered, enjoying the festivities. She walked along the sand until she found the small wish shop again.
Approaching the woman at the counter, Ivy asked, “Could I have the bottle that my husband gave you earlier? The one with his wish inside.”
The woman smiled, and nodded. She looked around for a moment, then pulled the bottle from the counter and handed it to Ivy.
Ivy opened the bottle and pulled the paper out, unfolding it to read Christian’s wish.
‘I hope Ivy makes our relationship public soon, so I can be her husband in the open and have her by my side for the rest of my life.’ - the paper read.
Ivy’s lips curved into a small smile at his words. She slid the paper back into the bottle and handed it back to the lady before turning and leaving quietly.
As she settled into the car, the familiar hum of the engine starting, she pulled her phone from her bag. Without a second thought, she opened Instagram on her public account. With a few quick taps, she uploaded a picture of herself with Christian, tagging his profile, and writing- ‘We got married.’
***
Christian leaned back in the car, eyes closed, his head turned to the side. His legs tapped impatiently, his hands resting on his thighs. The empty space next to him was gnawing at his insides, making him feel agitated with each passing minute.
He had grown accustomed to picking Ivy up daily, the comfort of her sitting in his lap, resting against his chest, or playing on her phone while he held her close. But today, since he had to leave her at the hospital abruptly, the emptiness of his arms haunted him painfully. The emptiness made him restless, unable to focus.
His phone dinged with a notification, pulling him from his thoughts. He picked it up, glancing restlessly at the screen. His eyes locked onto the notification: ‘Ivy Watson tagged you in a picture.’
He straightened, immediately clicking on it.
He opened it, and his eyes scanned the photo. It was them, together, the caption reading- ‘We got married.’
A wide smile broke across his face, one that was brighter than any he'd worn before. The grim darkness that had clouded his thoughts vanished. His heart thundered in his chest.
The car stopped in front of his house, but he didn’t wait for it to come to a complete stop before he jumped out, his stride almost turning into a run.
Inside, he glanced around the hall, but there was no sign of Ivy. His impatience grew with every step as he climbed the stairs, heading straight for their bedroom. He entered the bedroom, and there, sitting by the window, Ivy was sorting through some papers. The moment their eyes met, a smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
Rushing toward her, he scooped her up from the chair, sitting down and pulling her into his lap. His arms wrapped around her.
"Ivy," he murmured, the happiness in his voice unmistakable.
She smiled, her expression a mixture of confusion and amusement. "What’s going on?"
Before she could say anything else, he buried his face in her neck, his lips brushing against her skin in soft, lingering kisses. His breath was hot against her pulse as he trailed kisses up to her jaw, his hands sliding to her waist, tugging her closer until her body was flush against his.
His lips found her cheek, pressing slow, teasing kisses before his mouth finally captured hers. The kiss started soft, his lips coaxing hers apart, but when her fingers curled around his neck, his control snapped.
Christian’s hand slipped into her hair, angling her head as his tongue slid into her mouth, tasting her. His other hand gripped her waist. His kiss deepened, his lips moving over hers with a desperate hunger that left her breathless.
Ivy whimpered softly, her hands sliding up his chest, her fingers digging into the firm muscle beneath his shirt. Christian groaned low in his throat, his grip tightening as he pressed her back against the wall. His mouth moved greedily over hers—biting, sucking, teasing.
Her breath hitched as his hand slid up her side, his palm splaying over her ribcage. His thumb brushed the underside of her breast, making her gasp against his lips. He kissed her harder, his tongue curling with hers, drawing her deeper into the kiss.
Her knees weakened, and Christian’s hand shot down to her thigh, lifting it around his waist. Ivy’s fingers tangled in his hair as his lips trailed down to her jaw, then back to her mouth in a breathless, fevered kiss.
When he finally pulled back, Ivy was gasping, her lips swollen and her cheeks flushed. His forehead rested against hers, his breath warm against her mouth as his hand brushed through her hair.
He couldn't describe how happy she had made him. She had announced their relationship publicly—didn't that mean she had accepted him in front of the whole world as her husband?
His gaze softened as he continued to smile at her. His lips pressed tender kisses to her cheeks and then back to her lips.
Christian pulled back slightly, his hand tenderly cupping her face. "Did you eat yet?" he asked, his voice warm, filled with care.
Ivy nodded. "I ate after coming home."
He kissed her lips again. "Good girl," he muttered. A moment later, something crossed his mind, making him pause before speaking. "Ivy, my dad’s back from Germany. He’s at his place, and he wants to see you."
Ivy’s eyes widened in surprise as she met his gaze.
Christian noticed her hesitation and quickly added, “But if you’re not ready to meet him, we can wait.”
Ivy immediately shook her head. "No. It’s fine. I’ll go with you and meet your dad."
A smile spread across Christian’s face, his happiness evident.
Without warning, he lifted her from his lap. His hand slipped beneath her dress, fingers trailing over her skin before his palm pressed firmly against her chest.
Ivy gasped, her breath catching as he leaned in, his lips tracing a slow path down her neck, his free hand gripping her thigh, pulling her closer. Heat coiled low in her belly as his fingers traced lazy circles over her skin, teasing, coaxing, making her pulse race.
Her hands fisted in his shirt, tugging him closer, her body arching into him, seeking more. A deep growl rumbled in his chest as he lifted her effortlessly, pressing her back against the chair. His lips found hers again, hungrier this time, his hands roaming, claiming every inch of her.
Clothes disappeared between heated kisses, tangled limbs, and breathless gasps. The night blurred into a haze of whispered names, desperate touches, and pure, unrestrained passion.
By the time they finally collapsed against each other, tangled in sheets and exhaustion, the room was filled with nothing but the sound of their slowing breaths and the steady rhythm of his heartbeat against her skin.
***
Ivy walked into the large mansion, Christian’s hand holding hers tightly. She wore a simple, green sundress that reached her thighs, the sleeveless top with thin straps showcasing her elegant figure.
As they entered, she saw a sophisticated-looking man sitting in the hall. His sleeked-back hair and clean-cut appearance gave off an aura of authority.
When Christian and Ivy walked in, Hank, Christian’s father, lifted his gaze from the newspaper in his hands and stood, setting them down on the table. His eyes locked on Christian and Ivy.
"Lina, this brat is here. Go bring something to drink for them," Christian’s dad, Hank, said, smiling as he spread his arms wide for a hug.
But Christian, clearly uninterested, walked past him and grabbed the paper off the table.
"Even at home, you’re reading finance news? You’re never going to do anything interesting, are you, Dad?"
Hank’s gaze turned sharp, his arms dropping. "You’re going to teach me how to be interesting now? How old are you? Are you bigger than me already?"
Ivy stiffened slightly, her eyes darting between the two men. It didn’t seem like they were fighting, but their serious tone and intense language made her uncertain about their relationship.
"Do you want me to teach you?" Christian asked, a smirk playing on his lips.
Hank gritted his teeth and turned away, then glanced at Ivy with a smile. "You shouldn’t have married this brat. I don’t think he’s worthy of such a beautiful daughter like you. How about you divorce him, and I introduce you to some better options?"
Christian immediately dropped the paper on the table and walked over to Ivy’s side, frowning at his father. "Don’t teach my wife bad things. She’s innocent. If she really runs away, it’s on you."
"I won’t," Ivy interjected quickly, her voice filled with worry. She looked at Hank, her forehead creased with tension. "I won’t, Mr. Evans. Don’t worry."
Hank burst into laughter, shaking his head at Ivy’s serious expression. Christian’s grin returned as he glanced at Ivy, a look of admiration in his eyes.
Without thinking, he reached out, brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear. The small touch sent a warm shiver down Ivy’s spine, making her glance at him. His fingers lingered for a moment longer before he pulled away, but his eyes never left hers.
The maid, Lina, brought over some drinks and set them on the table before stepping aside. Hank turned his attention to Ivy. He walked up to her, brushing past Christian and patting her on the head, a gentle smile on his face.
"Dad has something important to talk to you about. Will you come with me? I’ll give you nice things." Hank said, his smile warm.
The man’s sophisticated air and kindness put Ivy at ease. She smiled, feeling more relaxed in his presence. "Of course," she answered.
Christian looked between them before speaking. "You have fifteen minutes, then come out quickly."
He reached for a glass of juice from the table and handed it to Ivy. "Drink this."
As she took the glass, he added, "I’ll cook something for you. When you're done, we’ll have dinner together."
Lina, who had been quietly standing by, let out a small laugh. "Mr. Evans, let the new daughter-in-law cook for the family from now on. You shouldn’t be entering the kitchen at all now that you have a wife. You’ll see how she becomes your personal maid soon, doing everything for you. The earlier she starts, the quicker she’ll learn!"
Christian shot a sharp, annoyed glare at Lina, his arm sliding around Ivy’s shoulders, his grip protective. His icy gaze locked onto Lina.
"What I do for my wife or what we do in our house is none of your damn business, is it?” He didn’t look pleased; in fact, he was visibly angry.
Lina’s smile stiffened, but before she could respond, Christian’s tone dropped lower. "You’re just a maid in this house. If I ever hear you disrespect my wife like that again, I’ll break your legs before throwing you out."
Lina’s smile faded immediately, and she looked terrified, her face paling.
Hank remained silent, his posture stiff.
"Sorry, Mr. Evans. I—I didn’t mean anything by it," she quickly muttered, her confidence crumbling under his glare.
Christian’s gaze softened as he turned back to Ivy, the sharp anger melting into an affectionate stare.
"Don’t listen to anyone. You’re my wife. I’ll do everything for you," he muttered, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead.
Ivy’s heart pounded. The way he looked at her—like she was the most precious thing in his world—left her breathless. It was as if his entire universe existed within her.
It was the same look that had made her fall for him five years ago.
It was the same gaze that had devastated her in his absence.
And now, it was the same gaze that was forcing her to fall in love with him all over again.
Her fingers instinctively clenched as she smiled at him and slowly nodded. "I know," she murmured, her voice soft.
"Come, Ivy," Hank called out, turning around as he walked across the grand hall.
Ivy glanced at Christian, worry flickering in her eyes. Christian gave her a reassuring nod before leaning down to whisper in her ear, "Don’t worry. He’s not that scary at all." His warm breath brushed against her skin, and he pressed a soft kiss to her ear before pulling back.
Her heart trembled. Looking into his eyes, she nodded before following after Hank.