Buying My Forever Wife novel Chapter 47

Ivy spent the next two days recovering in the massive estate.

Her strength quickly returned, and the nagging pain finally faded.

During dinner that evening, she couldn't help but glance across the dining table at Alaric. "Mr. Foster, do you think I could go back to work at Metropolitan General tomorrow?"

Alaric lifted his gaze, his strikingly handsome features devoid of any emotion as his cold voice cut through the silence. "The doctor explicitly stated you need at least a month of bed rest. It's barely been a week."

His underlying message was crystal clear: she was absolutely not going back to work yet.

Ivy opened her mouth to argue but quickly swallowed the words.

She didn't dare provoke his notoriously short temper. Getting kicked out of this luxurious mansion over a scheduling dispute would be a catastrophic mistake.

Sensing her frantic anxiety, Alaric added nonchalantly, "Your position is perfectly secure. Even if you don't step foot in that hospital for six months, no one is going to fire you. The hospital will continue covering your full health insurance, retirement fund, and all corporate benefits."

Ivy gasped, instantly seizing the opportunity to clarify. "Wait... does that mean I'm an official, full-time employee now?"

There was no way the hospital would pay for a premium benefits package unless her probationary period was officially over. If she was a permanent employee, her salary would literally double!

She stared at him, her dark eyes sparkling with unrestrained excitement and hope.

Visibly affected by her radiant joy, Alaric simply gave a curt nod before returning his focus to his elegantly cut steak.

Overcome with euphoria, Ivy flashed him a brilliant, breathtaking smile. "Thank you so much, Mr. Foster! I will never, ever forget your generosity. Honestly, if you'll let me, I will gladly work myself to the bone for you for the rest of my life!"

"Yay! This is amazing!" Stella cheered, tilting her little head with sheer delight. "Before, whenever there was a parent-teacher thing, it was always just Daddy. None of the other kids wanted to play with me because they said I was a weirdo without a mom. But now I have a mommy, and I don't want to play with those meanies anyway!"

The heartbreaking confession sent a sharp pang of sympathy straight through Ivy's chest. She leaned over and planted a tender kiss on the top of the girl's head. "That's exactly right. You have a mom now, and I'm going to make sure you are the happiest kid in the entire world."

"I know! With both Mommy and Daddy loving me, I'm already the luckiest girl ever," Stella chirped happily before diving back into her dinner with renewed enthusiasm.

Ever since Ivy had moved into the estate and started spending her days with Stella, the child's appetite had improved drastically.

Alaric observed the two girls across the table.

It was undeniably true—his daughter was thriving in a way she never had before. He had been quietly monitoring Ivy's every interaction, waiting for her mask to slip, but she genuinely seemed to adore the child. There wasn't a single flaw in her behavior toward Stella.