Chapter 90: Charity Gala

Ignoring the water stretching forth, the gesture was ating, but by stond, her grand unwillingness to go Masse de satisfaron.

“I got med,” she replied, looking fam.

He was dressed nice, but something was off about him. He seemed my.

“The hell you got invited?” he enrered, his eyes sharp.

She ignored Mason, moving closer to Olivia, who was now sping from the gases; might be the perfect time to hatch things out.

“It has been a while since we last..."

“Don’t you take a hint?” Mason scoffed, interrupting her. He doesn’t want to talk to you; shoo away, he sad noong his.

"The i hands..."

Ivy waited, hoping Olivia would say something, but her body movements did it for inj.

She nodded and left, holding onto the remainder of her dignity. The pain that these two had sabotaged her business ned through her, but she refused to let it ruin her night.

As Ivy walked back to the counter, she glanced over at them; Olivia had now turned to Mason, laughing. Mass glinted with undiluted lust.

She collected her drink and returned to the hall. Silas was talking to some people when she entered, but he quickly le them to meet her.

A smile curled on his face, and when his eyes lingered on her chest, a blush warmed her face. He had been looking at her like that all night, unconcealing the admiration in his eyes.

“What took you so long?” he asked, taking her glass and sipping from it.

Her blush deepened as she watched him swallow. “I met Olona and Mason.”

His brow raised. “The Olivia working with Mason?”

She nodded.

“What is she doing here? Is she into real estate too?”

“I don’t know,” Ivy shrugged. “I wanted to talk to her, but she didn’t seem to want to.”

She bit her lip as the pain hit again. She couldn’t even blame Olivia for siding with Mason—she had made it too easy for her.

Silas slid a hand around her waist, and her breath hitched. He pulled her closer and whispered in her ear, “Don’t worry about them. Let’s just enjoy the night.”

Ivy swallowed, nodding quickly as heat pooled inside her. She took her drink back from Silas, sipping to steady her nerves.

With his hand still on her waist, Silas guided her as they walked through the groups of quests until they stopped in front of an older couple holding hands.

"Hello, Bensons,” Silas greeted with a smile.

“Silas Stone. Good to see you again,” Mr. Benson said, stretching his hand for a handshake.

Mrs. Benson turned to Ivy, her eyes gleaming with admiration. “And you must be Mrs. Stone.”

“Yes, my wife,” Silas said, pride welling in his voice. He tightened his grip on Ivy’s waist, nudging her closer.

“Hello,” Ivy greeted, with a shy smile.

Mr. Benson took her hand and kissed it lightly.

Ivy blushed. “Same here.”

As the Bensons spoke with Silas, Ivy’s eyes wandered and landed on Olivia, entering the hall alone. “Excuse me, please,” Ivy said, slipping out of Silas’s grip. “Hey Olivia,” she greeted, approaching her.

Olivia rolled her eyes, scanning the room as if looking for an escape. “What do you want, Ivy?”

Ivy ignored her question and admired her dress.

Olivia scowled, her mouth twisted into a frown. “You don’t get to talk about my dress atu.”

By righed it was the moment of.

"I know, Livy. And I apologize."

Olivia’s brow lifted, as if she hadn’t expected the apology, but she regained composure.

Ivy had expected Olivia to leave, but when she didn’t, pressed on. “I messed up everything,” she strutted with a sigh. “I should have been honest from the beginning, but I was ashamed.”

Olivia’s brow arched. “Ashamed? Of what?”

Ivy’s cheeks heated with unexpected embarrassment. “Our business meant a lot to me. I should have told you it couldn’t work out because instead of investing in myself—in our friendship—I invested in Mason.”

“I gave Mason my inheritance,” she said, her chest tightened at the reminder. “It was dumb, but at that time, I thought it was important. I did have the intention to start afresh with you when I got back the money, but I never did.”

She hesitated before placing a hand on Olivia’s arm, expecting her to pull away. She didn’t. “I’m sorry, Livy.”

Confusion etched on Olivia’s face. “Mason never gave you back your inheritance?”

Before Ivy could respond, Mason appeared with Cheryl beside him.

“What’s going on here?” Cheryl asked.

So Cheryl was here, yet Mason had been flirting with Olivia?

Mason’s eyes narrowed. “Are you trying to steal Olivia like you stole Eric?” he snapped, shoving Ivy slightly away. “She’s your rival now, not your friend. She’s here to take you down. Right, Livy?”

Olivia blinked, her cheeks turning red with embarrassment. “Wait, is that Cheryl? As in your..."

“Ex best friend, yes,” Ivy finished for her.

Mason glared at her as if pissed by the introduction. He marched towards Ivy, frowning hard. “You’re lucky we’re here in public, or else..."

“Or else what?” Silas interrupted.

For a split second, Ivy saw the fear in Mason’s eyes as he backed off. She chuckled as Silas placed his hand possessively around her waist.

“What’s going on here?” Silas demanded.

“Nothing, Mr. Stone,” Cheryl smirked. “Your wife was just making trouble.”

“Well, you look like a disaster coming here with that stomach. Shouldn’t you be resting at home?” Silas shot back.

Ivy covered her mouth, suppressing her laughter.

Mason stepped forward, pointing a finger at Silas. “I don’t appreciate you insulting my fiance.”

Silas dropped his hand from Ivy’s waist and stepped forward, matching Mason’s glare. “Keep pointing that finger at me, and you’ll lose it.”

Cheryl gasped. Mason immediately dropped his hand and stepped back.

“I’m sorry, I can’t do this,” Olivia muttered, gathering her gown and walking away.

“Livy? Olivia?” Mason called, running after her.

Cheryl’s eyes widened with disbelief as her cheeks flushed. “Mason,” she called, following him.

Ivy laughed as she watched them disappear.

Silas chuckled, “Good riddance.”

“I agree,” Ivy said, still laughing.

Silas pulled her close, and Ivy swallowed as their eyes met.

“Thank you for standing up for me,” Ivy murmured.

“My pleasure,” Silas said in a husky voice.

She swallowed again, unable to pull away from his gaze.

“We should…” she trailed off, her pulse quickening.

“Yes.” He nodded.

A photographer with a camera in his hand approached them. “May I take a picture?”

Silas replied, putting Ivy closer. Both of ther.

As the photographer left, Thomas and Rosie entered.

Ed at the corner. All four of them met halfway.

“Hey guys,” Thomas greeted. He was looking polished in his black suit.

Rosie, dressed in a yellow gown, smiled at them—well, more like smiled at Silas, as she avoided.

Thomas hugged, while Rosie gave Ivy a tight smile.

"Let's go," Thomas said, leading them to a table.

Ivy leaned closer to Rosie, trying to hold a conversation. “Hey Rosie, how are…”

"Stay away from me,” Rosie interrupted, delivering the news with a.