Chapter 84 Eighty four

Chapter 84 Eighty four
IVY POV

The taxi finally pulled up in front of Max’s building.

I paid quickly, barely waiting for the change before stepping out. My body felt heavy, exhausted in every way possible… but my mind? Still wide awake. Still stuck on him.

I shook it off as I walked inside.

Home. Just get inside.

The elevator ride felt longer than usual. Too quiet. Too still. By the time the doors opened into the penthouse, I just wanted my bed.

No talking. No thinking. Just sleep.

I slipped off my heels by the door and walked in quietly, not bothering to turn on the main lights.

And then—

A sound.

Soft.

A breathy moan.

I froze.

My heart jumped straight into my throat.

What the hell…?

Another sound followed—low, unmistakable.

I turned slowly toward the living area.

And there they were.

Max and Zoe.

Very close.

Making out.

I blinked.

Once. Twice. Thinking I might be hallucinating but no there they were almost about to fuck in front of me.

“Oh my God—” I whispered sharply, immediately turning my back like that would somehow erase what I just saw. “WHAT THE HELL?!”

They both jerked apart instantly.

“Ivy?!” Max’s voice cracked in pure panic.

“Shit!” Zoe yelped.

I slapped a hand over my eyes even though I was already facing away. “I just got traumatized —what is WRONG with you two?!”

“It’s not what it looks like!” Max said quickly.

I turned slightly, giving him a dead look. “Oh really? Because it looks exactly like what it is. You guys are about to have sex!”

Zoe let out an awkward laugh. “Okay… maybe it is what it looks like.”

“ZOE!” Max snapped.

“What?!” she shot back. “She already saw everything!”

“I did NOT see everything,” I cut in quickly, raising a hand. “And I would like to keep it that way, thank you very much.”

There was a beat of silence.

Then—

“…How long were you standing there?” Max asked cautiously.

“Long enough,” I said flatly.

Zoe groaned, dropping her face into her hands. “I’m never recovering from this.”

“Good,” I muttered. “Neither am I.”

Max rubbed the back of his neck, clearly flustered. “We were just—”

“I don’t care,” I cut him off immediately. “I really don’t. Please don’t explain. I value my sanity.”

Zoe peeked at me through her fingers. “So… you’re not mad?”

I sighed, suddenly too tired to even process it properly.

“I just walked in on my two best friends making out like horny teenagers,” I said, deadpan. “I’m… processing.”

That made Max wince.

Zoe, on the other hand, started laughing.

I shook my head, already walking past them. “I’m going to my room. You two… do whatever. Just—maybe go fuck in the max room instead.. Geez!”

“Yes, noted,” Max muttered.

“Very noted,” Zoe added.

I didn’t look back.

Didn’t want to.

I pushed my bedroom door open, stepped inside, and finally let out a long breath.

Was him.

I had barely dropped my bag when I heard rushed movement behind me—whispers, shuffling, fabric.

Yeah… they were definitely scrambling.

I leaned against my bedroom door, arms crossed, waiting.

A few seconds later, there was a soft knock.

“Ivy…?” Zoe’s voice came, hesitant.

“Come in,” I said.

The door opened slowly.

They both stepped in… fully dressed now, but looking like two guilty teenagers who just got caught doing something they shouldn’t.

I raised a brow.

“Wow,” I muttered. “That was fast. Olympic-level recovery.”

Zoe winced. Max avoided my eyes completely.

Silence stretched.

Then I exhaled and pushed off the door.

“Okay,” I said, looking between them. “How long has this been going on?”

They both froze.

Then—

“Not long,” Max said quickly.

“At all,” Zoe added at the same time.

I blinked at them.

“You guys suck at lying.”

Zoe sighed dramatically, dropping onto the edge of my bed. “Okay, fine… a little while.”

“How long is ‘a little while’?” I pressed.

Max rubbed the back of his neck. “A few weeks.”

“A few—?!” I stared at him. “WEEKS?”

Zoe lifted her hands defensively. “It just… happened!”

I let out a short laugh, disbelief all over my face. “No, no. What do you mean it just happened? I thought you two couldn’t stand each other.”

“We couldn’t,” Max muttered.

Zoe nodded. “We really couldn’t.”

I gestured between them. “Then explain… this.”

They exchanged a look.

And suddenly, they both looked a little less defensive… and a little more awkward.

“It started with an argument,” Zoe admitted.

“Of course it did,” I said dryly.

“And then… it just kind of…” she trailed off, shrugging.

“Escalated,” Max finished, still not meeting my eyes.

I stared at them for a second longer.

Then shook my head, letting out a tired laugh.

“This is insane.”

Zoe smiled a little. “You’re not mad?”

I paused.

Thought about it.

Then sighed.

“No,” I said honestly. “Just… surprised. Very, very surprised. If you knew you wanted to make out with Zoe why the hell did you need my location?”

Max finally looked at me. “To know what time you would get home.. And I was worried.” he said smirking “ but really, you okay though?”

That question hit differently.

I hesitated for a second… then nodded.

“Yeah,” I said. “I’m fine.”

Zoe narrowed her eyes slightly, like she didn’t fully believe me.

But she didn’t push.

“Okay,” she said softly.

I waved a hand toward the door. “Now go. Both of you. I’ve had a long night and I don’t have the energy to process your secret romance.”

Zoe laughed as she stood. “Noted.”

Max gave me one last look. “We’ll talk tomorrow.”

“Yeah,” I muttered, already climbing onto my bed. “Tomorrow.”

They left, closing the door behind them.

And just like that… silence again.

I stared at the ceiling.

What a night.

I fell onto my bed fully dressed, staring at the ceiling.

Ronan.

Max and Zoe… I couldn't believe those two would… nah I don't want to think about what I saw.

My life was officially… chaos.

And yet…

As my eyes slowly closed, exhaustion finally took over.. All I could still feel…