Almost a Wife Never His Love novel Chapter 8

Chapter 8

"Ivy!" Zane strode to her, fingertips grazing the red mark on her cheek. His expression was raw, pained—as if he'd been struck. "She hit you? What happened?"

Tearfully, Ivy recounted the story. Zane's face darkened with every word.

"It was a shawl," he turned on Nova, voice arctic. "Worth assault?"

"Just a shawl?" Nova's voice shook. "Zane, it was the only thing my grandmother left me!"

Zane paused.

In three years of marriage, Nova had always been gentle grace personified. Never raised her voice.

Her red-rimmed eyes and trembling shoulders now were… unfamiliar.

"Ivy didn't mean harm," he said, tone softening fractionally. "She offered compensation. What more do you want? If the amount was insufficient—" He pulled a checkbook from his inner pocket, scrawled a figure, and thrust it at Nova. "Will this suffice?"

Nova stared at the check. An invisible fist crushed her heart. Breathing became agony.

When she didn't take it, Zane frowned. He tore off another check. Wrote a larger sum.

"Not enough?" His tone was detached, transactional. "How about this?"

Check after check landed before her. Figures ballooned. Her heart froze solid.

Finally, she took the last one. Her fingers trembled.

"Enough." The word was whisper-soft, yet cost her everything.

Zane.

This check is enough…

And this marriage is enough.

She turned to leave.

"Stop."

Her steps froze. She didn't look back.

"You took the money. Now address the assault." His voice brooked no argument. "Apologize to Ivy."

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