Chapter 2

　　The room fell into a stunned silence as Ivy barged in. Adrian immediately let go of Olivia and stepped away from the bed to put some distance between them.

　　"Ivy."

　　He took a cautious step towards her, almost as though he wasn't sure if he had the right to.

　　"I can explain."

　　Ivy let her gaze sweep around the room quickly. She took in the wheelchair parked beside the bed, the bouquet of fresh flowers on the bedside table, and then at Adrian, who was staring at her like he also couldn't believe this was happening.

　　A humorless chuckle left her as she shook her head.

　　"Am I interrupting something?" She asked.

　　Adrian shook his head quickly.

　　"No, Ivy." He said. "It's not what you think."

　　He took another step towards her but Olivia spoke.

　　"Adrian." She said quietly, her voice was weak. And he instinctively looked back at her as she offered him a small smile. "You should take Ivy and head back."

　　A scoff left Ivy.

　　" The ceremony can still continue." Olivia continued. "I'm sorry you had to leave because of me. We can explain everything later."

　　She glanced apologetically at Ivy, and all Ivy could do was watch her quietly. If she hadn't walked in a moment ago and seen Adrian holding Olivia in his arms, she might have believed she truly didn't want him here.

　　Just then, hurried footsteps echoed from the hallway and the little boy from the ceremony rushed into the room.

　　"Mummy! Dad!"

　　He ran toward Adrian before noticing Ivy standing nearby. His face hardened and he glared at her. Before anyone could react, he sprinted towards Ivy and shoved her with all the strength he could muster.

　　She barely moved, his shove had little to no impact at all. And he seemed to notice because he got more upset.

　　"You're the reason dad always has to leave us!" he bit out.

　　Ivy's throat clenched painfully. She suddenly felt like the other woman, like she'd been the one distancing a man from his family.

　　"Noah!" Olivia tried to stop him, but her voice was weak. She reached towards him. "Don't say another word.."

　　"But it's true!" he protested. "Dad always comes to see us, but he doesn't stay long because of her."

　　Adrian's eyes widened.

　　"Noah, stop it."

　　"You said we'd visit the zoo tomorrow!"

　　"Behave yourself, Noah." Adrian hushed him. "Apologize to her. Do it now."

　　But Noah looked like he had more to say, and he would have if Olivia hadn't weakly pulled him towards herself. The sudden movement tugged at the bandages wrapped around her wrist, and fresh blood immediately seeped through the white gauze. She winced in pain.

　　Adrian noticed instantly and his face lost more color. Without thinking, he turned away from Ivy and rushed back to the bedside. He gently caught Olivia's wrist to inspect it.

　　"You're bleeding."

　　"I'm fine." She said, shaking her head.

　　"No, you're not."

　　He pressed a nearby call button before carefully supporting her shoulders.

　　"You shouldn't be moving." He said.

　　Ivy watched the entire exchange in silence. It wasn't just about the fact that Adrian had gone to Olivia, it was about how naturally he had done it, how instinctively. It was obviously something he was used to doing, something he'd been doing for a very long time.

　　"Let's go back." She said to him as she forced the lump down her throat. "I want our bond broken."

　　Adrian stared at her, bewildered. He shook his head.

　　"No."

　　Her brows furrowed.

　　‘No?"

　　"I don't want it broken, Ivy. Just hear me out." He pleaded.

　　"I don't care about what you want." She bit out.

　　"Just hear me out. Please Ivy."

　　What more did he have to say? It was all clear; he had a family, and he'd been lying to her all along.

　　He left Olivia's side and hurried over to her, lowering his voice so only she could hear him.

　　"Listen, it was a mistake, I swear. A few years ago, I attended a pack celebration and I drank more than I should have."

　　His jaw tightened.

　　"I was so drunk that I couldn't think clearly. I thought it was you, I swear." He said. " When I woke up the next morning, Olivia was there."

　　Ivy kept her face as blank as she could. Whatever explanation he gave was truly no use now he'd lied to her for so long.

　　"I never knew she was pregnant. She didn't tell me about Noah. I only found out last year."

　　Still, he should have told her.

　　"The moment I learned about Noah, I wanted to tell you. But before I could, Olivia was hit by a car; she pushed me out of the way and got hit in my place." He said. His voice became quieter. "She lost the use of her legs saving me. I couldn't just abandon her, I had to be there, but I swear I've been doing everything out of guilt and responsibility. Noah is my son, I have to be there for him."

　　He looked directly into her eyes.

　　"I love you, Ivy. I've never stopped loving you." He said. "You're the only woman I've ever wanted to spend the rest of my life with."

　　Ivy averted her eyes from his. Her heart was aching so much. She couldn't trust him anymore, not after this.

　　"I know I should have told you sooner. I know I handled everything terribly, and I'm sorry." He said. "I totally messed up, and I understand that you're mad, but please Ivy, don't break the bond just yet."

　　Ivy's eyes stung with tears but she refused to let them fall. She wouldn't believe him. Would he have told her if Noah hadn't barged into the ballroom today?

　　Her phone vibrated and she glanced down at the screen. A message from her mother was displayed on the screen. It read:

　　‘Come back to the Pack-house immediately. Adrian's mother is here; she's proposing you raise the child as your own.'

　　And Ivy couldn't believe her eyes.