Chapter 8

Damon didn't keep his promise and show up at Ivy's room on time.

He just had a cake delivered by a delivery service — a strawberry cake, the flavor Ivy liked the least.

Ivy didn't even look at it, gave it to the servant Eleanor had sent to take care of her, and went back to packing.

Half an hour earlier, she'd seen Sienna's social media post. Sienna said Felix had somehow found out she was in the hospital and came to harass her again, but luckily Damon showed up in time and stopped him. She'd added a playful complaint that she'd only scraped her skin a little, but Damon made such a fuss and insisted she stay in the hospital for a whole week, which gave the creep a chance to bother her. But since Damon had been her hero and protected her, and even bought her favorite little cake to make up for it, she'd decided to forgive him.

Below was a photo of Damon half-kneeling on the ground, unwrapping a cake box.

Ivy tapped "like" on the post, then blocked both Sienna and Damon.

The servant came in and took the bag from her hands. "Miss Pemberton, the paperwork's all done and the car is waiting downstairs. We can go."

Ivy nodded.

When the elevator reached the eighth floor, someone got on and the doors opened wide.

She caught a clear view of the room directly facing the elevator — Sienna leaning in to kiss Damon on the cheek.

Ivy watched calmly. Not a ripple stirred inside her.

A week after she left the hospital was when she was supposed to go to Havenridge for the Arranged Bond.

Despite her repeated refusals, Eleanor insisted on throwing her a farewell dinner and even had a gown and jewelry prepared for her.

Ivy couldn't refuse, so she pushed her departure back slightly — she'd leave for the airport right after the dinner ended.

On the night of the farewell dinner, all the friends she'd grown up with came. The only one missing was Damon.

Someone couldn't hold back and sidled up to whisper in Ivy's ear. "You said you were breaking the Mate Promise, and Damon's been parading around with that rogue girl, so I really thought you two childhood sweethearts were done for good. But look at that — after everything, you two just can't stay apart. Must be fate, right?"

Ivy frowned, confused.

But when she pressed for more, they just winked and said nothing else.

Since there was no answer, Ivy let it go and focused on saying goodbye to the elders who'd looked after her, and giving her close friends a heads-up, inviting them to come to Havenridge for her wedding if they could.

When they heard the wedding would be in Havenridge, her friends froze.

"You and Damon are having the wedding in the Capital? Would Alpha Aldric even agree to that? All the Thorne Pack's allies and connections are here in Thornfield."

Ivy shook her head with a smile. "It's not with him."

Her friends exchanged glances, but no one knew what to say next.

In their minds, Ivy would sooner stay alone forever than bond with anyone other than Damon.

And for as long as they could remember, everyone knew Damon was going to be her mate. He'd driven away every suitor who came near her. If not Damon, then who?

The atmosphere turned awkward. Ivy didn't dwell on it. Seeing it was about time, she turned to go say goodbye to Eleanor.

The moment she walked away, someone rushed to call Damon.

The call barely connected before he blurted out, "Where are you? Why didn't you come to the dinner tonight? Do you know that Ivy, she—"

Damon cut him off. "Is she upset I didn't show? I'm actually on my way, but don't tell her — I want it to be a surprise. Hey, do me a favor. Find a way to bring Ivy up to the rooftop garden. I've set up a proposal there... Alright, gotta go, I just picked up the ring. Heading back now. Just make sure she stays."

Then he hung up.

His friend stared at the phone screen, unable to process what just happened.

What was going on?

One was saying she was going to the Capital to marry someone else, and the other was saying he was proposing tonight.

Who was he supposed to believe?

Before he could figure it out, Ivy had already changed and was directing people to load her luggage into the car.

He caught sight of it and ran over. "Where are you going? The Capital? Why the rush? Can't you just wait a little longer?"

Ivy paused, but assumed he was just having a hard time accepting her sudden departure since they'd grown up together.

She smiled. "Any later and I'll miss my flight. It's fine — we'll see each other again at my wedding. You have to come, okay?"

Her friend was frantic. "You're really marrying someone else? Does Damon know? Aren't you going to say goodbye to him?"

At the mention of Damon, the smile on Ivy's lips faded slightly.

She shook her head. "No."

Seeing he was about to say more, she glanced at the time. "I really have to go. I'm leaving now."

She pulled open the car door and got in.

The car slowly drove out of Thorne Manor.

At the same time, Damon's car passed hers going the other direction.

In the moment the two cars crossed paths, Damon looked down at the ring box in his palm, his eyes bright.

Ivy had once told him that when he proposed, everyone important had to be there.

Tonight, there were Aldric and Eleanor, who loved her like their own. There were the elders who'd watched her grow up. There were friends who'd been by her side for years. And there was him — the one she loved most.

Picturing Ivy's surprised reaction, his lips curved into a wide smile.

His Life Debt to Sienna was fully repaid. Tonight, he was going to propose to the woman he loved most.

He and Ivy would be together forever.