Chapter 58 – Choosing Ivy (Damian’s POV)

Chapter 58 – Choosing Ivy (Damian’s POV)
“Fuck,” I whispered, running a hand over my face, despite my conscious effort to act as composed as I could before Bianca. Everything was imploding. I was being monitored by some motherfucker that could be Matteo or the goddamned police, I was burrowing my way into Ivy’s heart without being sure I was making any progress at all, and now this woman buried in my past was back from the blue.
What in the actual world was going on? It felt like a damn set up by someone but I just couldn’t place my finger on where the problem lay.
Bianca had the gall to chuckle. “Oops. I hope I didn’t cause too much trouble.” Her tone was utterly insincere.
Rage, hot and desperate, surged through me. I rounded on her, barely leashing my wolf. “Bianca, you have crossed a line.”
She didn’t flinch. Instead, she arched a brow and adjusted Angelo’s stuffed fox in his little arms. “I’ve barely begun, darling. If this boy is yours, we’re part of your life now. Or did you plan to send us off with a check and hopes for the best?”
I clenched my fists. “If he’s mine, I’ll handle things appropriately. You’ll be provided for. But don’t mistake my responsibilities for affection. You and I are finished. We were finished a long time ago.”
Her eyes hardened at that. She opened her mouth—no doubt to deliver some caustic barb—but Angelo chose that moment to tug on her coat. “Mama,” he whispered, not taking his eyes off the door Ivy disappeared through. “I’m cold.”
Bianca’s expression softened immediately. She gathered him up into her arms, shooting me an annoyed look. “See what you’ve done? Leaving a child standing in the wind like this.”
I grit my teeth so hard I nearly cracked a molar. She was unbelievable. But I forced myself to step back, gesturing for two guards to escort her. “Take them inside and have Irene prepare a guest suite in the east wing.”
If Bianca was surprised by my compliance, she didn’t show it. With a triumphant little smile, she swept past me, Angelo on her hip and my staff scrambling to accommodate her. One guard fetched her luggage from a waiting town car I hadn’t even noticed, while another held the door open.
I caught a brief snippet of her syrupy tone as she passed through the foyer: “Why thank you, how kind. Oh, don’t mind us—we’re family.” Her words were clearly aimed at Ivy, wherever Ivy was. God, she was pouring poison on an open wound.
I should have chased after Ivy right then, explained this was not what it looked like. But I also needed answers from Bianca. I needed to grill her, get that DNA test started, assert some damned control over this spiralling situation. Ivy’s devastated face flashed in my mind, paralyzing me with indecision.
Bianca paused just inside the door, turning to glance at me over her shoulder. “Coming, Damian?” she called sweetly. “You wouldn’t leave your son and me alone in this big house, would you?”
Her taunt jolted me into motion but not toward her. My legs were already moving of their own accord, carrying me up the front steps two at a time. “I’ll be with you shortly,” I snapped, brushing past and into the foyer. “Stay with her,” I added to the guards in a low voice. The last thing I needed was Bianca snooping unsupervised.
Bianca huffed behind me, but I didn’t turn. My heart was thundering as I headed deeper into the house in the direction Ivy went. I should deal with Bianca but my mate came first. She had to.
“Damian, wait—!” Bianca’s voice chased me, acidic with displeasure at being dismissed.
I ignored her. Let her stew. My wolf was roaring inside, demanding I find Ivy, now.
I tracked her scent down the hall. It led me to one of the offices, a small study off the west wing. The door was shut. I rapped my knuckles on it lightly. “Ivy? Ivy, please… let’s talk.”
No response. I pressed my forehead to the door, anguish creeping through me. “I swear I didn’t know, Ivy. I just found out. Open the door, please, love.”
Still nothing. The bond between us was eerily quiet. I could usually sense something of her emotions through it, however faint. Right now, there was a wall I couldn’t penetrate.
Panic welled. I couldn’t lose her over this. I couldn’t. God, this was such wrong timing!
I rested a palm flat on the door. On the other side, I imagined her standing there, spine stiff, face composed in that chilling mask of hers. My stomach churned. How many blows could one relationship take?
“Ivy,” I whispered, voice cracking, “I’m sorry.”
Silence.
Ivy didn’t say a word.