Chapter 203
When Silas got to the scene of the accident, he almost threw up his lunch. There was blood everywhere. Police officers roamed the area. Cars had to us one side of the road, causing even more congestion.
“Hey, I’m looking for Mrs. Stone,” he said, approaching a young cop.
“She’s in the ambulance,” the cop replied.
Silas’s eyes widened. “Is she okay?”
But the cop had already walked away.
Panic stirred in his chest as he rushed to the ambulance. He breathed in relief when he saw Ivy seated in the back of the vehicle, a brown blanket wrapped around her.
When she saw him, her eyes welled up with tears.
He rushed to her, crushing her in his arms. “Are you okay?”
Ivy nodded.
Silas stepped back to study her. He expected to see bandages, but when he saw none, he hugged her again and kissed her forehead, until he noticed the blood on her hands.
He took her hands, his heart pounding. “Does… it hurt?”
“What?” She looked down. “No. It’s not mine.”
Her eyes gleamed with pain, filling his own with concern. “I’m sorry you had to see that. Was… that your driver?”
“Yes. Jonathan,” she said softly. “All of them are unconscious.”
Silas moved closer and sat beside her, his heart aching as he kissed her hands. “I’m so sorry.”
“It’s not your fault,” Ivy said, her voice cracking. Then she turned to him slowly. “It was Rosie.”
Panic formed inside him, but he fought to control it. “Are you sure about this?”
“Yes. I already told the police. She was the one driving. I saw that blonde hair.”
The panic surged again, and this time he couldn’t hold it back. His hands shook and Ivy squeezed them gently
“Hey, it’s okay,” she said softly, offering a reassuring smile. “I’m sure they’ll get her soon.”
He nodded, but he didn’t believe her. Rosie had carried out her threat, and the thought shattered something good inside him, making him
uncomfortable.
He stood up, his lungs suddenly tightening.
“Hey,” Ivy said, trying to reach out to him.
“I just need air, please,” he replied without looking at her. He stepped back and exhaled, trying to steady the thudding in his chest.
He couldn’t tell Ivy about Rosie’s plan. That would only make her more paranoid than she already was.
Yet, he couldn’t find Rosie. She had hurt his wife and he just wanted to rip her head off!
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“Silas, baby.”
Ivy touched his face, and he opened his eyes. Her green eyes were filled with concern and confusion, making him even angrier at Rosis.
“You’re sweating,” she said, wiping his forehead. “I think we should leave here. The air… it’s making us uncomfortable.”
He nodded.
Ivy removed the blanket, placed it in the ambulance, and walked to a female officer. They spoke for a moment before Ivy returned.
“I’m free to go,” she said with a faint smile.
“Great,” Silas replied.
Was it time for her to come home?
God knew he missed her so much, but he didn’t have the heart to say it aloud.
She was the one who left, and until she said she was ready, he would wait–just as he had promised himself. Even though it was getting harder every day.
“Is Bud here?” she asked as they walked away from the ambulance.
His heart leapt. Was that it? Was she really coming home? Still, he told himself to relax. To wait.
“Yes, he’s around,” he replied casually, trying not to show his eagerness.
Ivy smiled. “Then we-”
“Ivy!”
They both turned toward the voice. It was Cole, and he rushed to her, comforting her in the way only a brother could.
Silas’s heart tightened as he thought of Thomas. Despite his anger, he missed his older brother, and seeing Ivy with Cole made the longing even more prominent.
He saw the joy in her eyes as she spoke with Cole. Though his heart ached with jealousy and pain, he couldn’t deny what it was: Ivy was safe with Cole.
Admitting that he couldn’t be with Ivy the way he wanted to, broke him. But he was willing to put her needs first.
“I should go,” he said softly. “I’ll come see you tomorrow.”
“Silas. Sorry, I didn’t even greet you,” Cole said, stepping forward to shake him.
Silas took it. “It’s okay.”
“I should be the one to leave,” Cole said. “You guys should-”
“Oh, it’s fine,” Silas interrupted. “She needs to rest. I’ll come see her tomorrow.”
Ivy’s eyes widened. She opened her mouth as if to say something but closed it. “Alright.”
That single word crashed his world, but he fought to keep it together. He nodded and hurried to his car, determined to hide his shame insid Royce.
“Home, Bud,” he said before rolling up the partition.
Rolls-
Silas leaned back in his seat, looking away as Bud pulled away from the scene. He had half–expected some hesitation from Ivy–something to show she was coming back–but there was nothing
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His heart plummeted when he finally figured she might not be coming soon.
He sighed, accepting what it really was. He reached for his phone and called Tyler.
“Hey, Tyler.”
“Hello, sir. Everything is ready,” Tyler said proudly.
Silas sighed again. “Cancel it all. Dinner is off. Sorry for the stress.” Then he hung up.
He was going to propose again. Dinner was supposed to bring them back together.
“Maybe not,” he muttered, shutting his eyes to the pain.
He stayed that way until Bud announced they were home.
“Thanks, Bud,” he said, stepping out of the car.
When he got inside, the loneliness hit him harder than before. But in that moment, he realized it was worth it–Ivy was worth everything he was feeling
His heart ached as he made his way to Ivy’s room. He had been sleeping there since she left.
Just as he reached the stairs, he heard someone crying. He tilted his head toward the sound and decided to follow it.
“Hello?” he called out, walking down the hallway.
“Hey, Si.” Aria’s voice came from a corner.
He moved closer and saw her seated on the floor, her back resting against his study door, bawling her eyes out.
“Aria? What’s wrong?” he asked, bending beside her.
Her legs were crossed in front of her, her face streaked with ruined makeup.
She didn’t speak immediately. She just wiped her face, smearing it even more
“You know you’ll have to say something soon,” he said softly, trying to ease her into it.
“She released the sex tape,” Aria said. “Rosie fucking released the tape. It’s everywhere! I can’t do anything! Daddy’s still not here!” Then she broke into
tears again.
Rosie again.
Rosie was terrifying every member of the family, yet Thomas had slept with her.
Fresh anger surged inside him, but he held it in for Aria’s sake. “Wipe your tears. We’ll find a solution.”
“It’s too late, Si. Everybody is talking about it,” Aria sobbed. “My life is over.”
Silas’s heart tightened at the pain in her voice. “It’s not over. I’ll do my best to fix this, I promise.”
“Aria?” They heard Theresa’s voice.
When she found them, she rushed to Aria’s side.
Silas straightened up. “How did you leave your house?”
“Disguise,” Theresa replied. Then she moved closer and whispered to him, “That reporter is suing me, Silas.”
Chapter 203
He blinked. “What the-”
“What?” Aria asked.
“Nothing,” Theresa replied quickly. “We’ll talk later,” she said, then turned to Aria, helping her up. “Let’s get you cleaned up.”
Silas watched as both women left for Aria’s room. His emotions spiraled.
There was pain, rage, longing; all fighting for a piece of his soul. He groaned as he rubbed his forehead.
He had to do something, starting with Rosie.
And to get to Rosie, he had to start with Thomas.
He clenched his fist and took out his phone, but it rang before he could dial. His heart dropped when he saw it was Detective Spence calling.
“Hello, Detective.”
“Hello, Silas Stone,” David said. “I’ve got some news.”
Silas’s stomach knotted. “Okay.”
“It’s about your parents‘ death.”
Silas frowned. “I already know about this, David. They died in a car accident.”
David’s voice dropped. “Your parents didn’t die in a car accident, Silas. They died at home.”
