Billionaire's Bounty Cost Of Love And Revenge novel Chapter 107

ax’s POV

80%

I couldn’t stop grinning. My jaw hurt, but I didn’t care. Ivy called me out of the blue for a date. Well, maybe not a date–date, but still. She said to meet her at her downtown apartment.

That had to mean something, right? It was her private apartment away from Asher. I was elated, to say the least.

I had been racking my head trying to come up with a plan to meet up with her, to fix things on my own. Now, she had invited me over?

My head buzzed with questions as I walked into her beautifully decorated living room. What was she thinking? What was going through her mind?

Was this her way of making peace? Or was this just… closure?

I didn’t care. I was here, and she wanted to talk to me.

The table was already set, candles flickering in the dim light, soft music playing in the background. It was intimate. More intimate than I’d dared to hope.

I took a seat, glancing around, trying to steady the stupid grin that threatened to split my face in two.

Then she walked in.

My breath hitched.

She wore… that. A dress that wasn’t even a dress–it was more like a suggestion of one. Thin straps barely clung to her shoulders, the hem stopping scandalously high on her thighs.

The deep neckline plunged so low I had to stop myself from staring too long.

Well, almost. Truthfully, I didn’t. I stared unashamedly.

I gaped like an idiot, my eyes shamelessly scanning her from head to toe. She was stunning, effortlessly sexy in a way that made my throat dry.

“You look…” I managed to croak, my voice lower than I intended. “So hot! could eat you.”

Ivy’s lips curved into a small, knowing smile as she pulled out the chair across from me. “Is that so?” sh

d, her voice smooth as ever.

The server appeared then, saving me from embarrassing myself further. They set the table, poured wine, and left us alone. Ivy’s smile lingered as she picked up her glass, swirling the liquid lazily..

I was still staring, probably too much, but I couldn’t help it. There was something about her tonight, something different.

“So,” she began, snapping me out of my trance. “Are you just going to sit there and gawk, or are we going to talk?”

I chuckled, shaking my head. “Can you blame me? Look at you.”

She raised a brow, but her smile didn’t fade. “Flattery’s nice, Max, but I didn’t call you here for compliments.”

I leaned back in my chair, swirling my own glass. “figured. Let’s get down to business, then. Why did you call me, Ivy? I assume it’s something pressing.”

Her smile faltered, and she let out a sigh, setting her glass down. “It is.”

I waited, watching her carefully as she toyed with the edge of her napkin.

“It’s Asher,” she said finally and heaved a sigh, her voice soft. “I’m.. tired of him, Max. Tired of everything.”

I raised a brow, staying quiet. This was a pleasant surprise.

1/3

11:12 H, 4 JUI GA

Chapter 107

80%0

She looked up at me, her expression raw. “I’m still heartbroken. And the worst part? I’m pretending. Pretending I’m okay, pretending it doesn’t hurt. But it does. His betrayal with her…” She paused, shaking her head. “I opened up to him, Max. I let him in, and he just-”

She broke off, her voice trembling slightly. “It’s like we never see eye to eye anymore. Everything feels strained, broken. And it’s killing me.”

Guilt twisted in my gut. I didn’t want to feel it, but I did. Because I knew. I knew I had also played a part in this.

I also had my affair with Taylor. I had broken her heart first, long before Asher did.

I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the table. “Ivy, listen. About Taylor-”

She cut me off, shaking her head. “I don’t want to talk about her. She’s a liar, Max. She’s… manipulative. I hate her.” She looked up at me from underneath long lashes, her blue eyes shimmering with tears. “I don’t know what I ever did to her…”

“I know,” I said quickly. “I know she is. Believe me. Taylor is deceptive. She always has been.” I hesitated, glancing down at my wine. “In my case… I never intended to cheat on you, Ivy. I didn’t. But Taylor… she has this way of-”

“Of what?” Ivy pressed, her eyes narrowing.

I shook my head. “Forget it.” I forced a smile, deflecting. “What about Asher?” I asked, with a mischievous glint in my eyes. “How’s sex with him? Is he huge?”

I thought I saw a flicker of annoyance on her face, but it was gone before I could confirm.

“Why do you want to know?”

I shrugged nonchalantly. “I want to know if you enjoyed fucking him. If you missed me, at least?”

Her brows furrowed, and she sighed again, picking up her glass and taking a long sip. “I don’t know. Maybe. Sometimes. But it doesn’t matter, does it? Not after everything.”

We fell into small talk after that, about the wine, the food, anything but the mess we were both avoiding. I was trying to trea loosened my tongue more than I intended.

‘y, but the wine

At some point, I stood, walking around the table to where she sat. I reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face before leaning down to kiss the top of her head. Her hair smelled like jasmine, and it took everything in me not to linger.

She looked up at me, her eyes searching. “Max.”

“Yeah?”

Her voice was quiet, almost hesitant. “Why do you even keep Taylor around? If you don’t… like her like that, then why?”

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